The Pump Room Returns
Back in the day, there was hardly a celebrity who would pass through town and not join Irv & Essie Kupcinet at Booth One at the Pump Room. The stately room was the place to see and be seen in Chicago for decades, and everyone from Frank Sinatra to Queen Elizabeth visited. Over the years, the Pump Room lost its luster, but now it’s back, thanks to a little magic (and a lot of money) from famed hotelier Ian Schrager.
The Pump Room in the 1940s | Photo Credit
The Studio 54 creator bought the waning Ambassador East Hotel and gave it a multimillion-dollar makeover, resulting in the ultra-hip PUBLIC hotel. And the restaurant? The Pump Room is back, but save the phone and the iconic black-and-white photos of the former famous visitors, the room is hardly the same. In a nutshell, this isn’t your father’s (or, for some, grandfather’s) Pump Room.
Go for the vibe and feel part of the über-hip scene as you enter a space filled with floating globe lights. At dinner, get treated to a menu crafted by famed New York chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who modeled it after his James Beard award-winning spot, ABC Kitchen. Everything is farm-to-table fresh with gorgeous, colorful and bountiful presentations. Snack on the schnitzel or indulge in fried chicken. Get a big, fat steak or the signature Public Burger with grated farm cheddar, herb mayo and pickled jalapenos.
Or, simply sit at the Bar or across the lobby in the Library and sip craft cocktails done with a modern twist while listening to the steady beats of a DJ. Take note: after 10 p.m. it does get a little clubby, channeling a bit of Hubbard Street. Stick around long enough and they leave, giving you more space to spread out and kick back with your drink.
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