Dining at Mon Ami Gabi is a happy excuse to pass through the Belden-Stratford lobby. This grand old apartment hotel, built in the Beaux-Arts style, is situated on Lincoln Park West, right near the zoo and conservatory, and gives onto the glorious gardens that distinguish this street. Stars like Louis Armstrong and Gloria Swanson used to stay at this hotel back in the day.
The thing is, the Belden-Stratford still is a residential hotel. Yes, it’s full of apartments (like the kind Nick and Nora Charles occupy in The Thin Man) that people rent. I once dated a guy who was born in this building; his parents lived here for many decades. In this age of condos, only a few fancy apartment buildings still operate on this basis, but the few that I know of are real gems like this.
Doug says
Used to live a block away the Belden-Stratford. Miss that neighborhood.
Celia says
Chicago doesn’t get much better, in my opinion. You’re near the best part of the park and the lakefront, not too far from downtown but in a cozy neighborhood full of nice hangouts and beautiful housing. The ponds and the gardens are what make it for me. They’ve gotten only more beautiful with the years. . . . Thanks for writing in.
tina says
I have only good memories of this hotel. Thanks for your post because it reminds me about my stay. So I looked for some photos and here is the result. http://einzweiterblick.com/2013/02/14/erinnerungen-an-das-belden-stratford-hotel-in-chicago/
Celia says
Tina–thanks for sharing–i love the photo that shows the upper-story view!
Harley says
I often still see that grand old place-when I head downtown on the “151” or “156” bus; the route is on Stockton, which is just a coin toss from Lakeview, and there at the corner of Belden and Lakeview is that grand old place. . . . . A well taken photo of the lobby-very elegant.
Celia says
Harley–there are so many buildings to explore–looking at this one makes me wonder about all the other treasures yet unseen. A friend once invited Mr C and I to attend a dinner at a friend’s down the street. It was a big condo building at the foot of Lincoln Pk W, with the most amazing mahogany paneling all throughout the corridors inside. I never would have guessed from the street that it was so fancy and old . . . . thanks again for commenting. Celia