River North’s Moxy Hotel plans spring 2018 opening

Moxy Hotels will open its first location in the Midwest in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, the brand announced with new details earlier in December. The project was kept under wraps, even as construction started, but the 156-room hotel at 530 N. LaSalle has set an official opening for June 2018.

The branch of Marriott boutique hotels is known for its modern, millennial-focused aesthetic with an affordable price tag. The contemporary, industrial space hopes to attract tech-savvy guests with “furiously” fast wifi and active atmosphere. Guests are also encouraged to add to the brand’s Instagram hashtag, #atthemoxy, which the hotel refers to as its “interactive guestbook.”

Courtesy of Moxy Hotels

Moxy has thrown out the stuffy front desk and replaced it with an energetic, social space. The lobby bar is where you can check-in, sip on a complimentary signature cocktail, grab snacks or play games like cards or jenga.

In the evening guests can order poke bowls or tacos from the lobby bar or from the hotel at the window walk-up counter. As for the rooms, they are a comfortable size with platform beds, peg walls in lieu of closets, motion sensor lighting, 49-inch LED tvs, and lots of power and USB outlets.

Courtesy of Moxy Hotels

"From photo booth elevators, communal ironing rooms to dial-up bedtime stories, every part of Moxy is a backlash to hotel clichés and conventions,” Vicki Poulos, senior global brand director for Moxy Hotels said in a statement.

Moxy Hotels first launched in Milan back in 2014 and has since opened 15 hotels globally. In addition to the Chicago location opening in 2018, the brand will also debut hotels in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Berlin and Venice.

• New renderings reveal River North’s mysterious Moxy Hotel [Curbed Chicago]