Alysa Guffey

Indianapolis will add a name to its lengthy list of hotels this winter with the opening of the Intercontinental in the historic Illinois Building.

Billed as the first luxury hotel to open downtown in nearly two decades, the 11-story Intercontinental will feature 170 guest rooms, two restaurants, 5,000-square-feet of event space and a penthouse suite with views of Monument Circle. It will be operated by IHG Hotels and Resorts as one of the company’s two dozen Intercontinental branded hotels in the country.

Local developer Keystone Group bought the Illinois Building at the corner of Illinois and Market Streets in 2013, promising to bring new life to the languishing site. Now, the nearly century-old building will reopen to the public with a completely different feel than its beginnings in 1926 as office space.

Here are five takeaways from the nearly completed Intercontinental ahead of its opening to the public.

It’s not ‘a convention hotel’

The Intercontinental wants people to know it’s not a convention hotel. Located steps away from Monument Circle, the Intercontinental is blocks away from the Indianapolis Convention Center.

Historic design elements inside the main door pay homage to the longtime downtown building’s history. But the second-floor lobby will have a very different feel with Italian marble and intricate fireplace detailing.

“When you walk in level one, you’re like, oh my goodness, this is glorious and classic in design. And then you get off the elevator on [floor] two, and it’s 180 degrees from a design standpoint,” said general manager Michael Moros.

Moros said the hotel expects to attract guests in town for business mid-week and people looking for a luxury weekend getaway or staycation. Currently guests can book rooms for stays on Saturday, January 25 and beyond. Room rates on TripAdvisor start at $269.

Rooftop bar with be a high point — literally

Perched on the 11th story of the building, Astrea Rooftop Bar, one of the two restaurants in the hotel, will be the highest rooftop bar in Indianapolis.

Even though the city has a fairly robust skyline, unlike other cities Indianapolis is not known for rooftop restaurants, which makes Astrea a gem that the hotel expects to draw in tourists and residents alike.

“You look to the right, and you see the monuments and the history. You look to the left, and you see the Statehouse. There are no other views like that,” Moros said.

The bar operates on an indoor and outdoor layout, with Moros saying the staff will take a “wait and see” approach on how to adapt to the colder months.

Large events and wedding receptions can be held on the rooftop, too, which the hotel is already booking.

Marquee restaurant will serve Hoosier favorites with a twist

Chef Craig Baker, who has cooked in many kitchens around the city as a consultant over the past several years, will serve as a head chef once again, taking the reins at the Intercontinental. He’ll create a menu to go alongside those unparalleled views of the city.

At Astrea Rooftop Bar, Hoosier favorites will meet global fusion. The menu will start with shareables and progress to larger items, allowing diners to enjoy a bite or a full meal.

Serliana Cafe, the hotel’s second-floor restaurant, will serve classic fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cafe will be a home base for guests, Baker said, with a menu of reimagined local favorites.

“If you’re coming into town, we’re going to have some offerings you can’t get anywhere else, but our Hoosier hospitality represents ourselves,” Baker said.

Many on staff have Indiana ties

General manager Moros himself has spent years at various hotels around Indianapolis, including seven years at the Alexander and stints at the Westin and Marriott. When recruiting staff for the city’s newest hotel, Moros looked for managers with connections to the state or the Intercontinental brand.

“They all have a tie back, and that means a lot to us, because it means they want to have a little skin in the game with the city that they love,” Moros said.

Illinois Building restoration will finally be complete

When Indianapolis’ Intercontinental officially opens its doors, it will be a historic day 11 years in the making for the building that once topped Indiana Landmarks’ List of Most Endangered Buildings.

Keystone bought the building in 2013 for an undisclosed price and poured $110 million into the renovation.

While the building is contemporary on the inside, the outside maintains a classic look.

“It’s going to be so magical,” said Moros. “That building has meant a lot to people over the last 100 years.”