Sometimes, it’s okay to judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to hotels––a good façade is often a good indicator that something even greater lies beyond it. At Found Hotel in Chicago, we put our theory to the test and were far from disappointed.

In the heart of the Windy City, this is a staycation destination where creativity isn’t just encouraged, but rewarded. A boutique hotel where vintage vibes takeover a lobby that feels more lounge. A communal space where wanderlust roams freely within its retro walls. Never ones to resist temptation, THE STAYCATIONERS willingly allowed themselves to fall under Found Hotel’s transportive trance…and so began a night of adventure. 

THE SPOT: Found Hotel | 613 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

THE STATS: 60 rooms offering both private and shared accommodations, sophisticated dining inside the trendy Mason restaurant, and all-night-long karaoke at Blind Dragon. 

PERFECT FOR: Immersing yourself in a retro-abstract creative bubble and sharing new experiences within a community of like-minded individuals. 

As a boutique-hotel that’s all about fostering community, Found Hotel’s funky aesthetic amplifies exactly what our millennial-minded idea of accommodation is all about. And THE STAYCATIONERS are in full agreement that experience itself is of the utmost importance. When offered a room furnished with bunk beds where we could allow ourselves to feel the sweet nostalgia of slumber parties past, we immediately broke out the bathrobes and bubbly, reliving the glory days (but with wine instead of two-liters). 

From the whimsy of the lobby filled with 1970’s style décor to the downstairs gameroom stacked with old board games, Found Hotel inspired us all to live in a simpler time—before technology dictated the day—and connect on a deeper level. (THE STAYCATIONERS are nothing if not genuine). After a few fine cocktails (shoutout to The Benevolent and Spicy Siena), drinks weren’t the only things being spilled. 

In an old-fashioned room adorned with oil paintings under the soft glow of dim lighting, four STAYCATIONERS stuffed their faces inside Mason as elegantly as they could. This spot gives the five-star treatment to every dish on the menu, but if we’re talking standouts, go for the oysters, pigs in a blanket, and roasted trumpet mushrooms. There was zero monkeying around over the seriously delicious monkey bread, a lot of cheesing over the Aspen Ridge cheeseburger, and a group consensus that the medium rare Filet Mignon was done quite well. Downstairs in Blind Dragon—the in-house karaoke speakeasy—the Shogun Assassin punchbowl helped us murder our favorite songs, and by the end had us convinced that we’re all Britney, bitch. And after one last rendition of “Valerie,” we bid the evening a fabulous farewell. 

A special thanks to Found Hotels, Mason, and Blind Dragon for making this round possible. Give it up for guest staycationers Elizabeth Margulis, Ariel Ginsburg, and Adam Sokolowski. 

Styling by Elizabeth Margulis of Big Hair Big City via Wild Prairie Vinyl & Vintage, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Big Hair Big Collection. 

Photography by Sammy Sutter for THE STAYCATIONERS. Follow him on Instagram here.

Written and produced by Staycationer-at-Large Nika Sagalchik.