Backbeat Hotel has offered a first look at its design by Studio Rodrigo Buelvas and Jonathan Splitt Architects.
Located in Chicago’s LGBTQ+ neighbourhood, the 50-key independent boutique hotel will offer modern, design-forward accommodations, including 12 suites, as well as amenities including a rooftop pool, street-level restaurant, gathering spaces and a below-ground lounge.
Inspired by Chicago’s connection to the origins of house music, “Backbeat” draws its name from the city’s legendary sound that rose from disco basements and house lofts which created a refuge through rhythm that still lives on Halsted Street today.
Each space within the 41,000ft2 property is conceived as a stage for individuality, with decadent textures, mirrored finishes and bold colours. Interpreting vintage charm through a modern lens, Backbeat merges high design with layered cultural references.
The lobby and lounge areas emphasize warmth and flexibility, combining bold, contemporary design, house-music and disco-inspired details, while sophisticated lighting technology evolves the mood of the space from day to night.
The ground floor will also feature a publicly accessible restaurant and bar concept wrapped in rich finishes and warm lighting, with indoor-outdoor space drawing inspiration from the site’s original inhabitant, Yoshi’s Café. Underground and tucked behind an unmarked door, a speakeasy style destination bar and lounge blends vintage charm with modern edge.
Designed as a destination for celebration and expression, the six-storey hotel’s rooftop pool and bar features skyline views, a retractable roof for all-season flexibility, and elevated entertainment space. Open to the public, the space will serve both hotel guests and local patrons, reinforcing the project’s commitment to the broader community and a culture of inclusivity.
“At Backbeat Hotel, hospitality becomes a celebration of identity, nostalgia, and unapologetic style,” says Rodrigo Buelvas, creative director of design. “Welcome to a singular property imagined as a sanctuary of glamour and expression, where design is a bold declaration. Interiors are wrapped in rich, sun-drenched palettes and electrifying nighttime tones, echoing the rhythms of Chicago’s legendary nightlife and the warmth of a community that thrives on self- expression.
“This hotel is a place where modern pieces flirt with retro silhouettes, comfort meets provocation, and everyone and everything becomes a passport to a world of glamour, sexiness and endless experiences. This destination is an homage to the legacy of Boystown, to freedom, to style without boundaries.”
Demolition of the existing structure is slated for later this year, with an anticipated opening in 2028.
