Chicago’s new Moxy hotel appears to live up to its name.
From the bold, industrial-chic design to a bevy of playful touches (press a button on the retro phone to hear a bedtime story — naughty or nice), moxie abounds in this 156-room property that opens today in River North.
“Our target audience is what we call ‘fun hunters,'” general manager Rob Mastro said during a recent sneak peek of Moxy Chicago Downtown. “They’re not going to stay in their room all night. They want to get out and explore or hang out with us downstairs.”
The millennial-minded brand by Marriott International debuted in Milan in 2014. The Chicago outpost at 530 N. LaSalle St. is the 26th Moxy worldwide and the seventh in the U.S.
Guests — er, fun hunters — don’t check in at a typical reception desk. They sidle up to Bar Moxy, where they’re given a room key and a complimentary cocktail, or a token for a free drink if it’s too early for alcohol-fueled fun.
The expansive, repurposed-wood bar is the central feature of the lofty lobby, aka the Living Room, which feels all the more spacious with its 20-foot ceilings and a pair of garage-door windows opening onto the corner of LaSalle and Grand.
On a wall above the bar, photos and selfies from fellow fun hunters who tag their Instagram posts #atthemoxy get streamed in a digital guestbook highlighting Moxy moments around the globe.
The airy Living Room has more places to chill than an igloo. One corner holds a library full of books, as well as vinyl records and a trio of turntables. There’s a game area with foosball, shuffleboard and Ms. Pac-Man. Some nights, podcasters and DJs will entertain from mobile booths. Comfy couches beckon folks to lounge, play Cards Against Humanity or get lost in their laptops and smartphones. The Wi-Fi is free and fast. Electrical outlets abound.
Another area is home to the food truck-inspired Zombie Taco. Open 24/7, the eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a mini-market stocked with snacks, drinks and grab-and-go items. Coffee beans come from Logan Square’s Passion House.
The taco-centric menu includes thick-cut jalapeno bacon ($3.75), braised brisket ($4), Baja-style fish ($4) and charred Korean beef ($4.50). Passers-by with the munchies can order at a walk-up window on LaSalle Street. Food and drink specials are offered 4-6 p.m., Monday-Friday.
“Our happy hour is called Adulting Is Hard,” said Mastro, whose business card calls him captain, as opposed to general manager.
Moxy has turned its undoubtedly tattooed back on traditional hotel amenities. No bellhops, concierge desk or room service here. The idea is to provide a friendly but unobtrusive staff in a place that has the bones of a boutique hotel and the communal soul of a hostel — at a price that doesn’t bust the travel budget.
The cozy rooms are well-appointed but on the small side; the largest measures 220 square feet. They make the most of their modest footprint. Folding desks and chairs hang on the wall, as do the 49-inch LED smart TVs. No bathtubs, just showers. Clothes get hung on pegs, not in space-hogging closets.
“We’ve chosen to focus on the basics and do those basics very well,” Mastro said.
As is the case with most hotels, the price for a room varies widely, depending on time of year and demand. Mastro said rates typically start in the $170-$200 range.
Expect to pay a slight upcharge, around $10, for rooms in the so-called inner circle. These surround an interior courtyard and have windows looking directly into rooms across the way — and the way isn’t far away. You can always close the drapes for privacy, but the voyeuristic element, Mastro said, is part of the charm.
“We have lightboards with messages like ‘Need more beer’ and ‘Meet me in the lobby’ so guests can talk to each other,” he said.
The compact courtyard is the stage for a rotating art installation set to change every five or six months. The inaugural piece by Richard Batts is a spin on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with ductwork painted to look like the Rainbow Serpent.
Colorful graffiti blankets the stairwell between the lobby and the restrooms above. Chicago artist Jeff Zimmermann, whose murals are peppered across the city, did the exterior artwork that spans six stories on the Grand Avenue side of the building, designed by DLR Group.
The fitness center has your standard gym equipment along with some quirky twists, like a stationary vintage cruiser bike, canisters of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Starbursts in lieu of apples and bananas, and pink boxing gloves to wear while wailing on the punching bag.
Despite the cool-kid vibe, Mastro insisted Moxy isn’t just for millennials.
“It’s not specific to an age demographic,” he said. “Moxy’s had fun hunters in their 80s.”
Twitter @lorirackl
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