Sophy Hyde Park, the new 98-room boutique hotel located at 53rd Street and Dorchester Avenue in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, was named one of “The Best New Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure. The March issue of the magazine says that “Open only since last fall, The Sophy has quickly become the social hub of Hyde Park.”

The open lobby and bar that lead into the adjacent Mesler Kitchen | Bar | Lounge is often buzzing and has a lively vibe throughout the day. Socializing continues in an outdoor lounge area that accomodates approximately 40 guests. There is also an indoor private dining room for 14 with exclusive access to its own outdoor patio and fire pit.

Location is also a hallmark of the hotel. Sophy Hyde Park, says Travel + Leisure, is “the first high-end boutique retreat to hit the South Side. The brick-and-glass building on high-energy 53rd Street gives a wink to the city’s industrial lofts and converted factories, while softening any harsh edges in a style that echoes Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Robie House down the road.”

Indeed, the historic Hyde Park neighborhood alongside Lake Michigan holds a unique place in the history of Chicago. Home to the University of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry and the future Barack Obama Presidential Center, it is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the city with a rich legacy of intellectual, artistic and cultural innovation. The developers and designers of the first boutique hotel in Chicago’s South Side took inspiration from this unique heritage when creating Sophy Hyde Park.

Travel + Leisure adds that “notable Chicago residents are celebrated throughout — Nobel Prize physicist Enrico Fermi’s nuclear fission blueprints adorn the wall of the bar; works by writers like Saul Bellow decorate the ever-hopping restaurant, The Mesler; the lobby draws inspiration from gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Upstairs, fine art by abstract impressionist Joey Korom hangs everywhere and most rooms come with turntables and old-school vinyl so you can get your groove on before supper.”

Developed by The Olympia Companies and SMART Hotels, Sophy Hyde Park is managed by Olympia Hotel Management and aligns with Olympia’s expertise in developing and managing independent, award-winning boutique properties that evoke a strong sense of place and become an integral part of the community. Designed as a four-diamond property and awarded LEED Silver certification, Chicago-based GREC Architects are the architects of Sophy Hyde Park while the design firm of Stonehill Taylor is responsible for all of the hotel’s interiors.

Sophy Hyde Park, www.sophyhotel.com