The Hoxton, Chicago

When the original Hoxton opened it seemed inextricably bound to the East London neighborhood that gave it its name. Further expansions in England, Europe, and now the United States, however, make it clear that it’s a concept that travels well. Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood is the kind of post-industrial environment that’s perfectly suited to their 21st-century boutique-hotel aesthetic, and it’s here that a disused meatpacking warehouse has been transformed into the Hoxton Hotel, Chicago.

Local architects GREC and hospitality designers AvroKO worked with Ennismore Design Studio, the Hoxton brand’s in-store creative team, and the result is not just stylish enough for Instagram but rewards closer inspection of the details. The rooms, sensibly sized Snug, Cosy, and Roomy, are smallish but full of visual interest, from the brass fittings and leather headboards to the custom-designed bedding and the marble-and-tile bathrooms. And while you won’t mistake the Hoxton for a full-on luxury hotel, the comforts are more than adequate, to say the least.

The social life, arguably more important than the accommodations, is also much more than adequate. Cira is the all-day Mediterranean restaurant, while Cabra Cevicheria serves a Peruvian menu in a light-filled rooftop space, and Lazy Bird is the swanky subterranean cocktail bar — all conceived by Chicago’s Boka Restaurant Group. And with a lobby lounge that’s perfect for a day’s work or an informal meeting, as well as a rooftop pool deck, you can easily pass a day without remembering to venture outside....