Every meeting planner knows that when it comes to venues, one size does not fit all. For smaller events especially, finding a space that’s not too big yet not too small can be a serious challenge. Why settle for cavernous banquet halls or cramped boardrooms when Chicago has some ideal in-betweens?
Below is our guide to smaller meeting spaces that will wow your attendees with modern design, unbeatable location and state-of-the-art functionality.
Event size: 250 & under
R29
Where: Loop
Capacity: 200 standing
Vibe & features: When they say “elevated modern” they mean it. R29 is perched on the 29th floor, with sweeping views of the Loop. The atmosphere is lounge-esque, with low-slung sofas, fireplaces, and moody lighting that allow for the floor-to-ceiling windows to do the real wowing.
Greenhouse Loft
Capacity: 225 standing; 200 seated
Vibe & features: Located in a LEED-certified building in one of Chicago’s trendiest ‘hoods, Greenhouse Loft lives up to its name in every way. Massive windows overlook a garden where attendees can mingle. The loft decor includes funky up-cycled furnishings and built-in drapery that can subdivide the space. And Greenhouse Loft prioritizes sustainability, from on-site recycling to eco-friendly catering partners.
Morgan’s on Fulton
Where: West Town
Capacity: 250 standing; 160 seated (rooftop and penthouse)
Vibe & features: Housing multiple raw-yet-refined spaces (including intimate studios and galleries, with capacity ranging from 50 to 165), Morgan’s on Fulton‘s centerpiece is the breathtaking rooftop and penthouse. With picture-perfect city views, interior/exterior bars, private cabanas, and a perimeter garden, attendees might think they stumbled into the hottest new nightclub.
Event size: 300 – 500 guests
Chez
Where: Streeterville
Capacity: 300 standing; 200 seated
Vibe & features: Located in a former 1930s nightclub just two blocks from Lake Michigan, Chez is urban, cosmopolitan, and sophisticated. The 5,000-square-foot main floor has expansive windows and a custom glass staircase that leads to a mezzanine level.
19 East
Capacity: 500 standing; 250 seated
Vibe & features: Operated by leading catering group Food for Thought, 19 East offers the convenience of all-in-one service. There are four separate rooms to accommodate events of various sizes, with aesthetic touches like wood floors, steel beams, mosaic tile, and built-in marble bars.
Venue Six10
Where: South Loop
Capacity: Crown Hall: 500 standing; 350 seated. Gallery 10: 400 standing; 250 seated
Vibe & features: Attendees at Venue Six10 will get a one-of-a-kind window into Chicago with panoramic views of downtown and Lake Michigan. The glassy, minimalist interiors give it a contemporary art gallery feel. Crown Hall is the central meeting space, and you can combine multiple rooms for larger events and breakouts.
Moonlight Studios
Where: West Loop
Capacity: 500 standing; 330 seated
Vibe & features: The epitome of industrial-chic (think glittering chandeliers set against rustic brick walls), the edgy event space comes alive beneath dramatic lighting. There are six versatile rooms that can be combined into virtually endless configurations.
