What’s New, Noteworthy, and Next
Taking a 'momcation': Self-care event planned for Chicago area moms
October 06, 2025
The event at SOPHY focuses on selfcare for moms.
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The 8 Best Chicago Neighborhoods To Call Home In 2025
July 24, 2025
Hyde Park has a lot to offer including the SOPHY Hotel which is "a popular destination due to its central location and vibrant lounge."
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The Best Hotels in Chicago for Every Traveler
July 03, 2025
SOPHY Hotel is a sophisticated and artful boutique hotel in Hyde Park.
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Staycation at the Sophy in Hyde Park Chicago
June 22, 2025
SOPHY Hotel is the perfect place to stay to be in the middle of history, shopping, and a great food scene.
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The 12 best boutique hotels in Chicago
June 18, 2025
SOPHY Hotel celebrates all things art, with paintings and murals adorning every wall. Their bar and restaurant, or alfresco terrace are the perfect spots for any time of the day.
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These Are the 18 Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Chicago
May 28, 2025
SOPHY Hotel, the first boutique hotel in the area, is full of inspiration from "hometown literary and musical" figures.
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11 Hotels in Chicago Under $300 a Night
May 27, 2025
Rooted in Hyde Park’s vibrant energy, the Sophy is a 98-room boutique hotel inspired by its neighbor, the University of Chicago, and just steps from campus, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the future Obama Presidential Center. Its spacious, art-filled suites and thoughtful nods to local luminaries make it a favorite among visiting students and families.
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Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Hotels
May 15, 2025
SOPHY Hyde Park is one of the Best of the Best Hotels in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards.
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Cook County's first married couple of 2025 gifted ‘mini honeymoon’
February 28, 2025
Cook County's first married couple of 2025 was gifted a mini honeymoon by SOPHY Hotel.
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SOPHY Hyde Park welcomes moms for a relaxing weekend getaway
February 16, 2025
SOPHY Hotel hosts a self care weekend for moms.
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Best Hotels in Chicago, IL for 2025
February 13, 2025
SOPHY Hyde Park was named #18 Best Hotels in Chicago.
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Chicago Travel Guide
January 14, 2025
The SOPHY Hotel is mentioned in AFAR's Chicago Travel Guide.
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Small Business Sundays at SOPHY – Hyde Park
November 08, 2024
W9NTV Feature on SOPHY's Small Business Sundays, occurring throughout the month of November.
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Shop local during 'Small Business Sundays' at SOPHY Hotel
November 03, 2024
"Small Business Sundays" kicked off on the first Sunday of November at SOPHY, a luxury hotel in Hyde Park.
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What’s in Dia’s wallet: Old places with new eyes
October 29, 2024
SOPHY Hotel is described as a "boutique hotel" that "captures the neighborhood’s eclectic spirit perfectly."
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How to spend 24 hours in Chicago’s Hyde Park
October 23, 2024
Kick off your journey with Hyde Park’s newest hotel, the sleek Sophy Hyde Park, as your home base.
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The Best Boutique Hotels in Chicago
October 06, 2024
SOPHY Hotel was listed as one of the top 10 boutique hotels in Chicago by Boutiquehotels.org.
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Chicago Named #1 Best Big City
October 01, 2024
Chicago was named the #1 Best Big City for the 8th year in a row in the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards.
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Travel + Leisure Chicago Review
July 09, 2024
See the No. 1 pick and 14 more top cities in the United States, according to our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2024.
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SOPHY Hyde Park Receives Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Award 2024
May 30, 2024
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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The 11 best boutique hotels in Chicago
May 29, 2024
Time Out Chicago has listed SOPHY Hyde Park as one of the 11 best boutique hotels in Chicago. While Chicago offers some of the finest hotels in the world, large hotel chains might not suit everyone. Fortunately, the Windy City is home to a remarkable array of boutique properties that prioritize warm, personalized service and a unique atmosphere over sheer size.
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SOPHY® Hyde Park: Enhancements for Summer Stays in Chicago
May 23, 2024
Experience a luxurious summer escape at SOPHY Hyde Park, recently voted Chicago's Best Boutique Hotel by USA Today 10Best. Enjoy complimentary bikes to explore the city, alfresco dining at The Sanctuary, and the famous Weekend Brunch at Mesler Chicago, now featuring a DJ Brunch on Saturdays. With happy hours, a late-night menu, and exclusive summer offers like 24-hour checkout and in-room dining, SOPHY promises an unforgettable stay.
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Discover Summer Value Offers at SOPHY Hyde Park
May 23, 2024
Experience luxury at SOPHY Hyde Park this summer with new amenities, including complimentary bikes for exploring the city, outdoor dining at The Sanctuary, and other vibrant dining options at Mesler Chicago. Enjoy weekend brunch, happy hour specials, and a late-night menu on weekends. Take advantage of special offers like the “Around the Clock” package for a truly unforgettable stay.
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Chicagoans Doubled Bike Trips In Past 5 Years. The South Side Saw Some Of The Biggest Increases
May 16, 2024
Chicagoans are biking more than ever before. A recent study shows that bike trips have doubled in the past five years, with some South Side neighborhoods experiencing a 200% increase in bike trips. A large portion of the South Side saw some of the sharpest increases in the city.
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The 14 Best Hotels In Chicago
May 15, 2024
Modern Luxury ranks SOPHY as one of the 14 best Hotels in Chicago, citing the sophisticated and eclectic atmosphere as well as proximity to the Museum of Science and Industry.
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USA Today Readers' picks: An essential guide to the best of Chicago
May 02, 2024
"Readers voted SOPHY Hyde Park as a Best Boutique Hotel. The South Side vibe combined with the hotel's smart rooms, artistic indoor, and outdoor spaces complements the cultural essence of the neighborhood that the Obamas once called home."
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A Suite New Deal for a 24-Hour Hotel Experience
April 15, 2024
SOPHY Hyde Park's "Around the Clock" package lets guests enjoy a full 24-hour stay in a spacious Novel Suite, complete with living areas, a separate bedroom, and a large bathroom. This eliminates the inconvenience of standard check-out times and allows guests to maximize their luxurious hotel experience.
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Sandi Robinson is building community at Sophy and in the world
April 12, 2024
Sandi Robinson, a luminary in hospitality and co-founder of the nonprofit ChiGivesBack, is a force to be reckoned with. As director of sales & marketing for The Olympia Companies, she leads Sophy Hyde Park with aplomb. Recognized as the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association’s Department Head of the Year and HSMAI’s Director of Sales and Marketing of the Year, her accolades speak volumes. In an interview with rolling out, Robinson shares insights from her remarkable journey, including her dedication to philanthropy through ChiGivesBack.
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New Executive Appointments at Chicago's SOPHY® Hyde Park
March 06, 2024
SOPHY® Hyde Park announces two senior executive appointments for the award-winning hotel, a 98-room boutique property on the south side that has garnered numerous awards and accolades since opening in 2018. Developed by The Olympia Companies and SMART Hotels, SOPHY Hyde Park is managed by Olympia Hospitality.
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Mesler's SHEro Women Making History Series
March 06, 2024
Mesler's SHEro: Women Making History Series is a Mix & Mingle event at Mesler Chicago at SOPHY Hyde Park, highlighting women in business who are making an impact in their community.
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The 31 Best Hotels in Chicago
March 01, 2024
With world-class museums, restaurants, and entertainment, there are endless things to do in Chicago (just part of the reason our readers vote it the Best Big City in America year after year). And with that kind of on-the-go itinerary, quality R&R is key—and all the better in beautiful spaces. Enter Chicago’s hotel scene, a vibrant, growing landscape ranging from downtown destinations to cozy neighborhood inns. Like good friends, each one boasts its own distinct personality, ready to welcome travelers from near and far for their own take on a memorable stay; be it through thoughtful design, dynamic dining, state-of-the-art wellness, or award-winning hospitality. From a quaint B&B in Logan Square to five-star hotels on the Mag Mile, here are Chicago’s best accommodations to book now.
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The 14 Best Hotels In Chicago
January 31, 2024
Modern Luxury Chicago ranks SOPHY among their top 14 best hotels in Chicago.
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SOPHY® Hyde Park Honors Black History Month
January 17, 2024
Hyde Park is one of Chicago's most dynamic and culturally diverse areas, home to mostly locally owned businesses and a large African American population. It’s a neighborhood that honors Black history every day and, most notably, each February during Black History Month.
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Holiday Cocktails and Mocktails for Meetings
December 04, 2023
Hotel mixologists far and wide have rolled out end-of-the-year bar menus with creative options for business, neighborhood and family parties. These cocktails and zero-proof mixes for 2023 are perfect for any seasonal celebration you're planning.
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Meet the Chef: Eddy Arreola of Mesler
November 26, 2023
We sat down with Executive Chef Eddy Arreola of Mesler Chicago at Sophy Hotel Hyde Park in Chicago, Illinois. With its eventful New American cuisine—the restaurant, bar, and lounge is artfully composed with a contemporary library offering brunch, lunch, and dinner daily with morning and evening room service.
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SO-Merry & SO-Cozy for the Holidays
November 21, 2023
November 21, 2023. Chicago, IL – The best way to enjoy the holidays in Chicago is to check into SOPHY® Hyde Park, the welcoming 98-room boutique hotel in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. This year, a holiday version of its popular SOPHY SO-Cozy package is more festive than ever. Check into a SOPHY guestroom and receive two Corkcicle keepsake mugs and warm up with two Hot Toddies, best enjoyed by the double-sided lobby fireplace.
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The 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world
October 17, 2023
In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.
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SOPHY Hyde Park Welcomes Fall in Hyde Park
September 13, 2023
September 13, 2023. Chicago, IL. Fall in Hyde Park brings a roster of music, food, and art. At SOPHY® Hyde Park, the hotel welcomes the season with a special edition of Mix & Mingle with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler.
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SOPHY Hyde Park Celebrates National Black Business Month
August 18, 2023
SOPHY Hyde Park is recognizing National Black Business Month in Chicago during the month of August. The 98-room boutique hotel in the vibrant heart of historic Hyde Park is helmed by a diverse management team and was designed as a welcoming and sophisticated gathering space for the entire community.
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10 Best Boutique Hotels in the United States
August 18, 2023
Boutique hotels offer an escape all their own, complete with a more customized experience and the best modern amenities and service. And these 10 properties — voted by our readers as the best boutique hotels in the country — offer unique accommodations in the middle of some of the nation's greatest destinations.
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The 11 Best Hotels in Chicago
August 11, 2023
With its world-class cultural institutions (the Art institute of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra among them), 24 sand beaches right in the city, and a richly diverse population, Chicago remains one of the United States’ most visited metropolises. The Midwestern city drew nearly 49 million visitors in 2022—about 80 percent of pre pandemic numbers—and in recent years, the hotel scene has heated up, too, with both newcomers and reimagined classics. Whether you’re seeking an uber-luxe escape, a hipster hangout, or an architectural gem with killer views, you’ll find it on this curated list of Chicago’s 11 best hotels.
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Summer at SOPHY is SO-Chicago
June 29, 2023
It’s an exciting summer ahead in Chicago, a city that offers a feast of cultural attractions in a diverse and cosmopolitan landscape. The roster of events includes the blockbuster exhibit Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape, which has just opened at the Art Institute of Chicago and runs through September 4. Lollapalooza rolls into town from August 3-6, and the Chicago Jazz Festival runs from August 31 to September 3. In the heart of the summer, the alfresco Millenium Park Summer Film Series and the Millenium Park Summer Music Series are free and run throughout July and August.
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SOPHY Hyde Park to Host "Champions of Success" Fashion Awards
May 31, 2023
May 31, 2023. Chicago, IL. Sophy Hyde Park will partner with A\N/A A Non-Agency® to co-host the Chicago Leadership Escape for the fashion, creative, and retail industry trade on Monday, June 12th, drawing global industry leaders, as well as creators and influentials from Chicago’s vibrant fashion industry.
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23 Best Things to Do in Chicago
May 12, 2023
Home to 77 neighborhoods, a robust lineup of festivals, a sprawling waterfront, and charming parks and walkways throughout, Chicago packs in something for every one of its locals. Add to that list award-winning theaters, iconic architecture, and a dynamic dining scene, and you’re looking at a world-class destination, too—smack dab in America’s heartland. The city’s draws only continue to grow, thanks to arrivals in everything from music venues to Michelin-starred restaurants—and the town’s hospitality remains strong, invested in helping others to enjoy those experiences across the board. From an education in the arts to an entirely outdoors itinerary (and plenty of easy-to-elegant noshes along the way), here are some of the best things to do in Chicago now.
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Outdoor Dining Season at SOPHY® Hyde Park
May 08, 2023
Spring Into Summer at Mesler Chicago. May 8, 2023. Chicago, IL. Spring is the season of renewal and a prelude of what’s to come in the summer months. At SOPHY Hyde Park, Executive Chef Alejandro “Chef Eddie” Arreola of Mesler Chicago has unveiled a menu of delicious surprises to mark the return of balmier weather and seasonal celebrations.
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Polished Pebbles Programs Lead to Full-Time Employment for BIPOC Young Women
March 06, 2023
For nearly 15 years, Chicago-based nonprofit organization Polished Pebbles, has invested in young women of color to provide them with opportunities, skills and pathways for long term career opportunities. The organization is proud to share an impact story in the Hyde Park neighborhood, as three of the program’s alumni are working full-time at SOPHY Hyde Park. First introduced through the program’s internship and mentoring “Every Girl is A CEO” program, the young women are a testament to the power of investing in women for a diverse future.
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The Ultimate Hyde Park Guide
February 22, 2023
For all the best dining, shopping, and scenic locations, here is everything you need to know about Hyde Park, the lively south-side Chicago neighborhood that honors art and culture.
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Romantic Getaway For V-Day
February 03, 2023
This Valentine’s Day, skip the roses and chocolates—the way to your sweetie’s heart is a romantic getaway to reconnect over shared experiences in a special destination designed to make memories.
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Explore Chicago's Hyde Park Neighborhood
January 24, 2023
Chicago is the nation’s third largest city, but the Windy City retains its Midwestern feel when you break it down into the 77 neighborhoods that comprise the city. In recent years the Southside community of Hyde Park has grown in popularity partly due to it being the home of former President Barack Obama. With more Nobel Prizes per square mile than anywhere on Earth, home to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, many independent bookstores, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the University of Chicago, Hyde Park is the place for an intellectual tour of Chicago.
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A Winter Season of Celebration in Hyde Park
January 18, 2023
Chicago, IL. January 18, 2023. SOPHY Hyde Park, the 98-room boutique hotel in the vibrant heart of Chicago's historic Hyde Park, has become a welcoming and sophisticated hub for gatherings in one of the city's most dynamic and culturally diverse neighborhoods. During a cold Chicago winter, the hotel is melting hearts, thanks to Chicago Restaurant Week, Valentine's Day, and Black History Month, a celebration of poet Harold Green and a lineup of late afternoon Sunday Supper Music.
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A Taste of Chicago Luxury With Kids
January 12, 2023
Every once in a while, we like to trade in our hiking shoes, tents, and cabins for something a little more lux. This typically happens when visiting family in Chicago and the Atlanta area because we spend more time exploring and engaging in urban and tourist-like settings, so it works! After three long years away from my hometown, Chicago, I wanted our recent visit to keep us close to family, so choosing to stay in Downtown Hyde Park was an easy decision. I also knew I wanted the boys to see that luxury can be enjoyed in many ways and spaces. It was a treat showing them in an area I spent a lot of time in while growing up in Chicago.
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13 Best Hotels in Chicago, According to Travelers and Experts
January 04, 2023
A vacation in the Windy City means gorgeous lakefront views, spectacular sightseeing for all ages and some of the greatest shopping in the country. You've picked the location, you've started packing your favorite suitcase and even planned out your itinerary, now all you have to do is secure the perfect hotel. After all, finding the right place to stay can set the mood for your entire trip, and even make or break your experience. Of course, you want to make sure the spot you pick lines up perfectly with your vacation vibe and budget.
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Mansions & Millionaires: The Top Hotels in Chicago
January 01, 2023
What to see, where to stay, and where to play. Get ready for a first class tour of one of the worlds first class cities.
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SOPHY SO-Festive for the Holidays
November 16, 2022
November 16, 2022. Chicago, IL –During the holiday season in Chicago, there are countless ways to get festive in this city known for its shopping, food, and culture. At SOPHY® Hyde Park, the stylish and welcoming 98-room boutique hotel in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, the holiday version of its popular SOPHY SO-Cozy package is more sparkling than ever.
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Thomas Robertson Joins SOPHY Hyde Park as Mesler Chicago Food & Beverage Director
October 17, 2022
October 17, 2022. Chicago, IL - Thomas Robertson has been appointed Food & Beverage Director of Mesler Chicago restaurant at SOPHY Hyde Park. Robertson arrives at Mesler at a timely moment, as the restaurant scene in Hyde Park and the city of Chicago emerge re-energized post-pandemic.
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Three Buzzy Chicago Neighborhoods Worth a Visit
September 22, 2022
Internationally recognized chefs, striking architecture, world-renowned museums, and a friendly Midwestern attitude come together to make Chicago one of the country's best cities. Conde Nast Traveler's readers have awarded it the Best Big City in the United States for five years in a row.
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Styles Inspiration _ Eclectic Sophistication of the SOPHY Hotel
August 30, 2022
We are so excited to share this gorgeous styled wedding shoot showcasing the SOPHY Hotel in Hyde Park. First of all the hotel is gorgeous and offers so many wonderful amenities for out of town guests or a fun staycation location for Chicagoans. The SOPHY not only offers a great atmosphere and location but inside the lobby of the hotel you find Mesler, an awesome restaurant and bar with public and private dining options. They even have intimate wedding package options! Thank you to this amazing Chicago team for creating this beautiful wedding inspiration. Keep reading to hear the inspection behind this lovely styled shoot.
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Fall For Chicago This Autumn And Stay SO-Cozy at SOPHY Hyde Park
August 30, 2022
August 30, 2022. Chicago, IL – After a long, hot summer, Chicago will soon transition into its most delightful fall season. This is when the city enjoys cooler temperatures, the striking autumn light on Lake Michigan, and the changing foliage in the city’s many parks.
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Two Chicago Guidebooks– Hyde Park Architecture and Activities
August 01, 2022
August 1, 2022. Chicago, IL - For locals and visitors alike, Hyde Park holds a unique place in the city of Chicago. This historic neighborhood, home to the University of Chicago and one of the more culturally diverse areas in the city, has a rich legacy of intellectual, artistic and cultural innovation that continues to this day. Two just-published Chicago guidebooks showcase these aspects while also focusing on Hyde Park's vibrant daily life.
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Say "I Do" To Chicago's Newest Intimate Wedding Venue
July 15, 2022
Chicago, IL. SOPHY Hotel, the stylish 98-room boutique gem in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood, is now saying I Do to couples looking for a bespoke wedding venue with character and a personal touch. The scale of the hotel and design aesthetic are perfect compliments for elegant, small events on the big day. Named on of "The Best New Hotels in the World" by the editors of Travel + Leisure, SOPHY is located in the vibrant heart of Hyde Park, one of Chicago's most prized neighborhoods, known for its dynamic, innovative and culturally diverse community,
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SOPHY Named a Top 10 Hotel in Chicago by Travel + Leisure
July 13, 2022
The stylish 98-room boutique hotel is located in the cultural heart of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The property is near the University of Chicago, the new David Rubenstein Forum, the Museum of Science & Industry, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House and the site of the future Obama Presidential Center.
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SOPHY Hyde Park: Art Connection
June 05, 2022
Art in hotels is now as ubiquitous a hospitality design trend as aromatherapy and impossibly high thread count bedding. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but often times the art feels slightly stale, aiming more to just impress (or "insta-press") than actually being a meaningful curatorial selection or placement. For the team developing Chicago's SOPHY Hyde Park hotel, fortunately, it was a case of the latter, the art element approached not just as cool décor but also a means to connect with the local community and both the neighborhood and the city's history.
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The Best Boutique Hotels In Chicago
May 30, 2022
Chicago is known for historic landmarks, iconic attractions, urban parks, professional sports venues, and thriving cultural scenes and arts. Visitors will also find plenty of place to stay as it's home to many outstanding luxury hotels. And among them are the top boutique hotels in Chicago. Each neighborhood offers something a little different, which may make guests don't want to leave. So, if you're finding a place to stay in the Windy City, here are out list of fantastic best boutique hotel in Chicago worth a look.
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Mesler Chicago at SOPHY® Hyde Park is a Social Hub Serving Creative Comfort Fare
March 02, 2022
Since opening in 2018, Mesler Chicago has become one of the most stylish yet welcoming restaurants in Chicago. The restaurant, bar and lounge are at the heart of SOPHY® Hyde Park, the 98-room boutique hotel, considered the social hub of historic Hyde Park on the city’s South Side. Its role as the magnetic, gathering place in the neighborhood will only continue to grow now that the nearby Obama Presidential Center has broken ground. As the meeting place for local residents, academics from the nearby University of Chicago, hotel guests and for those simply out for a fun night on the town, Mesler is always buzzing with energy.
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Celebrating Black History Month and a Valentine Sealed with a Presidential Kiss
January 25, 2022
Hyde Park is home to the future Obama Presidential Center, DuSable Museum of African American History, Muhammed Ali and a First Kiss SOPHY Hyde Park, the 98-room boutique hotel that was named one of “The Best New Hotels in the World” by the editors of Travel + Leisure, is located in the vibrant heart of Chicago’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood. This is one of the most dynamic and culturally diverse areas of the city, with locally-owned businesses and a large African American population. The rich and proud diversity of Hyde Park dates back to the Great Migration of the 1920’s when African-Americans moving north from the rural south were drawn to area for its diversity, jobs, gracious homes and the rich, creative cultural vibe of the neighborhood that remains present today.
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Top things to do for Valentine’s Day in Chicago
January 13, 2022
After a lot of time spent at home, switching up your surroundings for a night or two may be the perfect way to escape with your Valentine. It’s also a great time to score deals, from upgraded rooms to unique packages. Sophy Hyde Park: Get cozy with two souvenir mugs, hot cocoa, and a credit to the in-house Mesler restaurant.
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Sophisticated and Eclectic, Get to Know SOPHY Hyde Park
December 23, 2021
What three words describe your business best? Authentically Chicago Inspired Sustainable Food & Beverage Artfully Composed What do you think is essential for any wedding? For the celebrated couple to experience ever detail planned. For them to remain present and enjoy the warmth and luxury of family and friend’s embrace. For their palate to be tantalized as if it’s their first bite. Thirst quenched by their thoughtfully selected signature cocktail.
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At Chicago’s SOPHY® Hyde Park, Every Girl is a Future CEO
December 21, 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, it’s the time of year when the SOPHY® Hyde Park team takes a moment to reflect on what mattered most, especially during a year that brought unprecedented challenges and instilled the passion and drive to overcome them. It was a year of the hotel doing what it does best – welcoming guests. In 2021, those included some of Chicago’s most promising young women, thanks to a new philanthropic partnership with Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, a non-profit organization based on the South Side that helps young African-American and Latinx women ages 7-17 develop communication and business skills to prepare them for the future workplace.
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Chicago’s Neighborhoods Not to Miss
December 14, 2021
Chicago has some 77 neighborhoods, and numerous more sub-neighborhoods, each with its own charm. Explore a handful for a real insight into the third largest U.S. city. For a true experience of culture and history in Chicago, head south to Hyde Park, home to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 (which spawned the Garden of the Phoenix and Museum of Science and Industry, where you can see a full-size submarine and go down into a coal mine) and Kenwood, home to some of Chicago’s grandest homes, including one belonging to Barack and Michelle Obama. This neighborhood is home to the University of Chicago and its striking Gothic campus, first designed by renowned architect Henry Ives Cobb and then added to by Eero Saarinen and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and others for a modern feel. The famed Frank Lloyd Wright Frederick C. Robie House sits on the campus, and you can take in one of the best views of the Chicago skyline from Promontory Point. Hyde Park has long been a center of Black culture in Chicago with the DuSable Museum of African American History but also with food at Virtue, a heralded Southern restaurant from famed chef Erick Williams, or Jamaican jerk chicken at Ja’Grill. Catch an array of live music—rock, electronic, dance, jazz, and more—at the Promontory. Where to stay in Hyde Park and Kenwood The Sophy Book now: from $229/night, expedia.com The Sophy, a boutique hotel, sits along 53rd Street near many restaurants and shops, like the Silver Room, owned by another Eric Williams, who is opening the Bronzeville Winery just north of Hyde Park in the historic neighborhood of Bronzeville.
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Appealing Chicago hotels that feature boutique vibes and amenities
November 15, 2021
How do you roll? Are you an art aficionado, history buff, workout fiend, interested in eating your way through a great restaurant city or just want to land in a genuine Chicago neighborhood and enjoy life as a native for a few days? No matter what, these properties dazzle in the details. For a stay that pins the needle at a solid ten on the cool meter,, consider Wicker Park's The Robey, near music venues, dive bars, boutique shopping and stellar restaurants (its own cafe serves excellent brunch seven-days-a-week, too). Publishing House Bed and Breakfast, in the restaurant-heavy West Loop, is ready for its close-up in Architectural Digest. 21C Museum Hotel has its own art museum within the hotel - a cost-free amenity perfect to peruse on a rainy/icy/sweaty day. Spend a day in historic Hyde Park and overnight at Sophy, a boutique hotel steeped in the culture of the south side neighborhood. Lincoln Park has the (still free) Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum, Chicago's largest park, nature museum, conservatory, lakefront trail and beaches. Choose Hotel Lincoln (with complimentary bike rentals) or the Neighborhood Hotel - an 1893 classic city walk-up transformed into a residential-style hotel. If your heart is set on nesting near downtown attractions, consider Nobu Hotel Chicago in the busy Fulton Market District; Pendry Chicago, housed in the gleaming 1920's Carbide & Carbon Building, a genuine American Art Deco landmark; the architecturally stunning Radisson Blu Aqua - nirvana for exercise enthusiasts; or Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop which works overtime for the sleep deprived (and isn't that just about all of us these days)?
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Chicago's Public Art Scene Is Like No Other — Here's What to See
September 19, 2021
One day this past June, I left my house on Chicago's South Side, where the leafy neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Kenwood meet, to take a walk with Adrienne Brown. A colleague at the University of Chicago, Brown studies architecture and the perception of race. We had a plan to look at the murals that run through about a mile of the underpasses in our neighborhood. Much of the public art near us has been made by Black, Latinx, and Indigenous artists, and its presence has seemed essential over the past five years of political upheaval and the pandemic. The South Side is a world away from the cultural institutions of downtown and the North Side, and while I still take pleasure in those grand halls and galleries, these days, I'm more often searching for art that reflects a sense of movement. Chicago's history can be told in migrations: the Great Migration of Black people from the American South; the passages from Mexico that have given the city the country's second-largest Mexican American population; the return migrations of Native people, who had been forced into exile and came back to labor here.
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The 7 Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Spend a Weekend
September 14, 2021
Where to stay: The ultra-chic Sophy Hotel, stashed near the massive, always fun Museum of Science & Industry, offers specials and packages for visitors (including the “SO - In Love” package, which recreates the Obamas’ first date in the neighborhood). The hotel also houses Mesler Kitchen, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus help guests feel constantly catered to (outdoors, too, where a patio with enclosed igloos warms visitors in winter months). For a more private stay, check out the Hamlin House Bed & Breakfast. Built in 1905 for Chicago opera singer George Hamlin, the property is beautifully restored, with five guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms, plus a Victorian-style dining room, and gardens. Visit the Smart Museum of Art during your stay, just steps away from the B&B’s front door.
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6 Hyde Park Wedding Venues for Your South Side Nuptials
July 30, 2021
With the gorgeous Lake Michigan on the east and the serene Washington Park on the west, it’s no wonder that Hyde Park is a top wedding destination in the Chicagoland area for couples. Home to the historical University of Chicago campus and an array of scenic parks, Hyde Park has much to offer any couple who dreams of saying ‘I do’ in the Windy City. We get it – it can be overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to finding the Hyde Park wedding venue that ticks all your boxes. That’s why we’ve curated this all-in-one list of venues to help you find your perfect match, so keep scrolling to discover the must-see wedding venues of Hyde Park, Chicago.
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Summer in the City at Mesler Chicago
June 07, 2021
Summer in the city has arrived and Mesler Chicago at SOPHY® Hyde Park is launching a sizzling new menu and fun ways to experience food and drink at one of Hyde Park’s coolest spots. The popular Happy Hour is back and fresh, new lunch and dinner offerings have been added to the seasonal menu, while the neighborhood’s beloved brunch at Mesler remains a favorite for leisurely South Side weekends.
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3 Great Reasons to Visit Chicago’s SOPHY Hyde Park
April 27, 2021
SOPHY® Hyde Park, the stylish boutique hotel in the cultural heart of Chicago’s South Side, is the social hub for the diverse urban community that is the very definition of the Hyde Park neighborhood. The lobby living room with its striking fireplace is a gathering space to mix and mingle, as is Mesler Chicago restaurant and bar, featuring design inspired by the iconic South Side. Art and science come together in SOPHY’s cutting-edge design and in Hyde Park itself. The hotel is close to the University of Chicago and the new David Rubenstein Forum, as well as the Museum of Science & Industry and Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark Robie House. It’s also walking distance to the site of the future Obama Presidential Center in historic Jackson Park, which breaks ground in September 2021.
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Rachel Clark Director of Sales & Marketing of SOPHY Hyde Park
April 08, 2021
Rachel Clark has been named the Director of Sales & Marketing for SOPHY® Hyde Park hotel in Chicago. The 98-room boutique hotel is home to Mesler Restaurant & Bar and is located in the dynamic Hyde Park community, close to the new David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago as well as the site of the future Obama Presidential Center. Ms. Clark is a 15-year veteran of the hospitality industry. A Pennsylvania State University graduate in Hospitality Management, Clark started her sales career with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place as a Corporate Management Trainee. She went on to work in sales and marketing for a number of Chicago properties, including the Hilton Chicago, Palmer House Hilton, Drake Hotel, Conrad Chicago and the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. She received Hilton’s Circle of Excellence award in 2014. “We are honored to welcome Rachel to SOPHY,” says Anthony Beach, General Manager of SOPHY Hyde Park. “She brings a depth of Chicago-based experience and a rich knowledge of the hotel landscape, as well as a genuine love of this city. Rachel’s exceptional talents are tremendous assets for a boutique hotel like SOPHY, a top lodging option, not only in Hyde Park, but within Chicago’s hotel market since opening in the fall of 2018.”
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These Hotel Brands are Helping First Responders During the COVID-19 Crisis
April 17, 2020
Travel for most of us may be significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are some who have no choice but to travel due to their particular job. Some first responders, including doctors, nurses and other support staff, have had to ramp up travel to assist in areas that need it most. Many are doing so at their own personal expense (not to mention risking their own health).
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Hotels Open as ‘Comforting Refuge’ for Health Care Workers
April 08, 2020
Hotels, some high-end, that have closed in recent weeks because of the coronavirus have reopened as lodgings for workers on the front line.
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How Hotels and Airlines Are Helping During the Pandemic
April 03, 2020
Hotels are offering free or low-charge rooms to communities for housing both caregivers and non-COVID patients. Standout individual hotel offers in hard-hit New York City include those from the Four Seasons Hotel, which was the first hotel in New York City to begin providing free stays to healthcare workers responding to the pandemic.
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SO-Close - A Staycation Package at Hyde Park’s Hip Hotel
March 09, 2020
For anyone feeling the need to getaway, even for a night or two, SOPHY® Hyde Park has designed a quick escape for those within driving distance of the city’s South Side. The SOPHY® SO-Close package is a true staycation designed to give everyone a little R&R and offers a great excuse to get a little closer with someone you love. Leave the car with the hotel valet for free overnight parking and then cocoon at a property that was named one of “The Best New Hotels in the World” by the editors of Travel + Leisure. The package comes with a $50 credit for Mesler Kitchen, where Chef Matthew Cappellini has a fresh array of comfort food favorites. It’s an offer to cozy up somewhere special that’s really so close indeed.
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The Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Spend a Weekend
February 03, 2020
South Side A weekend on the South Side is not enough time to see everything, but it is enough time to fall in love with it. Neighborhoods Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore brim with art and culture, with many things to do open and free to the public. History continues to be made on Chicago’s South Side, and its lasting influences and traditions are being revived and celebrated almost daily by the folks that live there. Come see for yourself. Where to stay: The ultra-chic Sophy Hotel in Hyde Park, near the massive, always fun Museum of Science & Industry, offers specials and packages for visitors -- including the “SO - In Love” package, which recreates the Obamas’ first date in the neighborhood, the “SO - Cozy Package,” a discounted “Winter in Hyde Park” deal, and more. The hotel also houses Mesler Kitchen, which offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as brunch.
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Chicago hotel’s new romance package inspired by a famous couple’s first kiss
January 31, 2020
It started with a kiss. In this case, “it” is a new package being offered at the Sophy Hyde Park hotel. And it’s inspired by a first kiss. Not just any first kiss. The Obamas’ first kiss.
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SOPHY Hyde Park Celebrates Barack and Michele’s First Kiss
January 29, 2020
SOPHY® Hyde Park, the 98-room boutique hotel in Chicago’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood, sits right across the street from the so-called Kissing Rock, marking the spot where Barack and Michele Obama shared their first kiss. That moment is commemorated with a plaque that reads, “’On our first date, I treated her to the finest ice cream Baskin-Robbins had to offer, our dinner table doubling as the curb. I kissed her, and it tasted like chocolate.’ President Barack Obama from an interview in O, The Oprah Magazine, Feb. 2007.”
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SOPHY SO-Cozy Package
December 05, 2019
Windy City Ice Skating, Hot Chocolate, Museum-Going and Winter Warming at Chicago’s SOPHY® Hyde Park Visitors to one of winter’s most legendary cities, Chicago, are leaving it to SOPHY® Hyde Park to keep them SO-Cozy this winter. The 98-room boutique hotel in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood, named one of “The Best New Hotels in the World” by the editors of Travel + Leisure, introduced a new SOPHY® SO-Cozy Package that’s designed to keep guests toasty.
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Matthew Cappellini appointed Executive Chef of Mesler Kitchen
September 18, 2019
Matthew Cappellini has been appointed the Executive Chef of Mesler Kitchen | Bar | Lounge at SOPHY® Hyde Park. Chef Cappellini was formerly the Executive Chef at Le Meridien Oak Brook and previously worked at the two Michelin star Sixteen restaurant at Trump International Hotel in Chicago. He also did stints at the University of Notre Dame’s Morris Inn and Harrah’s Joliet Chicago Hotel and Casino. A graduate of the culinary arts program at Joliet Junior College, Chef Cappellini is a member of the American Culinary Federation and is an active participant in ACF approved competitions.
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Mesler Kitchen Is More Than A Hotel Lobby
August 15, 2019
The Sophy Hotel’s in-house bar and lounge draws Hyde Parkers looking for everything from a date night destination to a stepped-up study break.
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Peak performance: The art of getting under the skin of Chicago
August 14, 2019
America’s third city may rank behind New York and Los Angeles in terms of size and limelight, but this midwestern delight, in the state of Illinois and on the shores of vast Lake Michigan, is one that ticks every box – and loads more you didn’t even know existed.
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Frank Lloyd Wright & Summer in the City at SOPHY® Hyde Park
July 16, 2019
SOPHY® Hyde Park welcomes its guests to explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, the Prairie-Style masterpiece recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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The Best Hotels in Chicago
July 11, 2019
The most American of all the big cities in the US, Chicago stands out not just for its ease of use (O’Hare airport is the world’s busiest) or its eminently friendly locals (they call it “Midwest Nice”), but also for its stunning architecture. Walk among its 77 distinct neighbourhoods and you’ll find International Style skyscrapers, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed single-family homes, and everything in between.
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Chicago Travel: Culture Club Thriving in the Art of the City
July 06, 2019
With its defining architecture, world-class museums and thriving arts scene, Chicago is America's favourite city break. Set on the banks of Lake Michigan, Illinois, it has all the buzz of New York as well as the sass of San Francisco but here there's space to breathe.
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Vacation in your own backyard: 5 summer staycations at Chicago's newest hotels
May 22, 2019
The South Side got a major hotel upgrade last fall with the debut of this 98-room boutique property that offers a “48 Hours in Hyde Park” package designed to get people out and about in this rapidly transforming neighborhood.
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Summer Sippin'
May 19, 2019
Put the Sophy, 1411 E. 53rd St., on your stay-cation must list. Hyde Park’s first upscale boutique hotel surrounds visitors with references to the neighborhood’s history and cultural contributions. See if you can spot the homage to the Ferris Wheel, introduced at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The Sophy’s smartly appointed patio, attached to the hotel’s restaurant, lends itself to sophisticated conversation while sipping a craft beer or cocktail. Given its proximity to the University of Chicago, it should come as no surprise that the Sophy’s bar has drinks down to a science: The menu features figurative drawings that settle once and for all what five- and eight-ounce pours should look like in a wine glass. Finally, math we can all use.
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Chicago's new Sophy Hotel is a boutique lodging option in Hyde Park
April 12, 2019
When I was young, my parents took my siblings and me to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood during visits to the Windy City. We always came away fascinated by the exhibits. But we never overnighted in Hyde Park — which has long been bereft of places to stay — and instead opted for hotels downtown. The lodging situation changed when the new Hyatt Place opened in 2013.
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Elections Matter: Off the Record with poet and activist Mario Smith in Hyde Park
March 26, 2019
“Off the Record” is a series of conversations with prominent Chicagoans in their communities. Tonight on Extension 720, Justin is joined by talk show host, poet and activist Mario Smith at the swanky Sophy Hotel in Hyde Park.
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It List 2019: Our Editors' Picks of the Best New Hotels in the World
February 22, 2019
Open only, since last fall, The Sophy has quickly become the social hub of Hyde Park.
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Mesler Brings Fresh Style to Hyde Park
February 18, 2019
There is a lot to like about Mesler, the restaurant in the Sophy Hotel. Its design is as shiny and new as the Sophy: a linear fireplace sets a cheerful and modish scene in the lounge that opens to the lobby, where guests relaxed with cocktails and appetizers.
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Go South for Real Chicago
February 10, 2019
The spacious rooms are a fraction of the cost of those lining the ritzy, packed Magnificent Mile.
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Instead of the Magnificent Mile, head to Hyde Park for a real sense of Chicago
December 06, 2018
Already a bolt-hole for locals, the just-opened Sophy Hotel is a neighborhood game-changer. The thoughtful nods to South Side heritage and culture — design elements honor local luminaries such as singer Mahalia Jackson, novelist Saul Bellow and scientist Enrico Fermi — reinforce the you're-in-Hyde Park vibe.
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SOPHY Hotel to Debut in Chicago Next Summer
November 16, 2017
The 98-room boutique hotel property SOPHY is set to arrive in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood during the summer of 2018 as the latest unit in the Smart Hotels portfolio.
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