Graduate Evanston

"Why book? The Graduate pays homage to Evanston’s Northwestern University with a retro-collegiate vibe that doesn’t take academia too seriously. Set the scene What do Zooey Deschanel, Meghan Markle, and Eddie Vedder have in common? Besides fame, they all attended Northwestern University in Evanston and are enshrined in caricature among 16 well-known alumni in the gallery at the Graduate. Occupying the 1928 Colonial Revival apartment-hotel The Homestead, the 119-room newcomer nods to the Wildcats throughout in flashes of purple (purple and white are the school’s colors) but keeps the tone professorial-friendly, with tweedy couches, groupings of flea market art, Persian-inspired rugs, and chess tables. Expect mobs of families and well-heeled alums on Big Ten football days. The hotel is also home to The Graduate Homestead Room, a cozy lounge and restaurant offering seasonal dishes and hand-crafted cocktails inspired by Chicago’s beloved John Hughes. The backstory Part of a group of hotels located in college towns. Graduate Hotels is based in Chicago and this is their first project near home (Evanston is a first ring suburb of Chicago). The rooms University pride echoes in the use of purple in the guest rooms, wallpapered and curtained in plaid, and furnished with vintage-style settees and armchairs. Paintings of nearby Lake Michigan hang above the beds. Feels 1940’s coed. Food and drink The Trophy Room invites fans and guests to gather around the fireplace or belly up to the wooden bar to relive the glory days. Due to the pandemic, the restaurant is on hiatus and expected to return in October; the bar is currently open for limited hours and serves light food including salads and sandwiches. The neighborhood/area Northwestern’s leafy campus is just a few blocks away, but so is lively downtown Evanston, filled with independent restaurants and boutiques. The beaches and parks along Lake Michigan beach are a few minutes’ walk east. For families The décor and spirit of the Graduate Evanston go a long way toward selling Northwestern to prospective families and students. Pet friendly rooms cost an extra $25 a night. Accessibility Yes. Anything left to mention? If you’re coming for football, expect a two-night minimum stay to apply." - Elaine Glusac