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New East Side
Profile
New East Side is one of Chicago’s newest neighborhoods (relatively speaking). It’s rapidly growing, with plenty of new high-end apartments and high-rise condos, offering a nice balance between beautiful green spaces and glitzy downtown life.
Perched on the edge of the Loop and in close proximity to other Near North Side neighborhoods, you’re close to the action — but you’re also surrounded by the river, the lake, and Millennium Park. If you work in the Loop, your commute can’t get much better and is second only to actually living in the Loop itself. On top of that, it’s only a short walk to a variety of museums and galleries, or the dining and nightlife of Gold Coast, River North, and Streeterville.
New East Side is a great choice for families, professionals working downtown, or just about anyone who wants a modern home in the heart of the city, but with water and greenery to escape to. Imagine a morning commute strolling the Chicago Riverwalk as you sip a coffee from The Drunken Bean. Or take a walk through Lakeshore East Park with your doggo (or kiddo), grab a donut from Stan’s, and watch the sun gleam off the towering skyscrapers.
New East Side is gazing across downtown Chicago from the window of your 40th-story apartment. It’s feeling mesmerized by the mash-up of swaying trees, sparkling waters, and shining urban architecture. It’s bookending your days with sunrise jogs by the river and sunset strolls by the lake. It’s balmy summer evenings watching sailboats glide by as the sun sets over the cityscape.
Backstory
The New East Side we know was established in the mid-1980s, which means it’s basically a baby by Chicago standards. But of course, there’s more to the story than that — the current land that New East Side stands on used to be part of Lake Michigan. Projects began in the 1800s to fill things in, followed by plenty of construction and development, all of which created this brand new neighborhood.
In the 1950s, the first of the neighborhood’s many skyscrapers was built: One Prudential Plaza (which was the city’s tallest at the time). However, the 80s and 90s brought a real boom in construction, and the early 2000s saw the completion of some of the most popular residential properties in the area — as well as the much-loved Lakeshore East Park.
Today, New Eastside is turning into a nice enclave of downtown living with access to a nice dose of nature — and more restaurants and boutiques are starting to trickle into the area. Still, it’s mellow in the evenings, and the park and waterfront walkways provide calm spaces to breathe.
Local Fare
- Eggy’s Diner: An all-day, 60s-inspired diner serving homestyle comfort food on the south edge of Lakeshore East Park. Their crunchy French toast is rated a ‘must try’ by the Travel Channel.
- Gordo’s Tiny Taco Bar: To be clear: the kitchen is tiny, not the tacos. Gordo’s specializes in classics like carne asada and al pastor, which you should probably pair with their fresh margaritas (frozen or on the rocks). Sit on the patio (shared with Eggy’s) for nice views overlooking the park.
- Island Party Hut: Right on the Riverwalk. When summer rolls around, stop by to sip drinks, play cornhole, and lounge at one of the many picnic tables. There’s often live music, and you can also get tickets for their floating tiki bar.
Things to Do
- Chicago Architecture Center: It’s easy to lose a day here. The 10,000 sq ft. center has a ton of exhibits, including the Chicago City Model: a miniature recreation of the city with over 4,000 tiny buildings. But they also offer over 80 different city tours by boat, bus, foot, and L train.
- Chicago’s First Lady Cruise: When friends and family come to visit, take them on a tour of Chicago from the water. Or, hop on yourself one of these days - it’s surprisingly fun, interesting, and not nearly as “touristy” as one might expect. It’s not ranked Chicago’s #1 boat tour for nothing.
- Lakeshore East Village Market: A convenient shopping center with a variety of restaurants and shops. You’ll definitely be grabbing groceries from the massive Mariano’s.
Sights to See
- Chicago Riverwalk: Hugging the edges of Lake Michigan and the river, the Riverwalk is lined with cafés, bars, and plenty of public art. It’s continuing to be developed, so it’s only going to get better as time goes on.
- Lakeshore East Park: The award-winning park is full of crisscrossing paths, dedicated doggie spaces, playgrounds, and beautiful landscaping. It’s a relaxing haven in the center of New East Side.
- Jeanne Gang’s Aqua Tower: There are plenty of eye-catching megastructures in New East Side, but Aqua Tower stands out with unique curvy lines that stretch up to the sky. This is the second tallest building in the world designed by a female architect. The first tallest? The St. Regis — which is also in New East Side, and also designed by Jeanne Gang.
- DuSable Bridge: Usually called Michigan Ave Bridge, this official Chicago Landmark is considered the city’s most famous bridge, and it’s over 100 years old. Take a walk beneath its many flying flags, and check out the historic stone sculptures carved into the four bridgehouses.
Transportation
The easiest way to get around New East Side is on foot. In fact, you can also reach several North Side neighborhoods by walking, and you have instant access to the famous underground tunnels of the Chicago Pedway. There are buses nearby, or you can take a short stroll to the Loop to grab any L train you need. If that wasn’t enough, the Millennium Metra station is just around the corner.
- the Loop: ~10-15 min walk
- the Lake (DuSable Harbor): ~5 min walk
- Museum Campus: ~35 min walk; ~30 min by public transit; ~15 min by bike
- Rush St. Area Dining (Gold Coast): ~30 min walk; ~15 min by bike
- O’Hare: ~60 min by public transit
- Midway: ~45 min by public transit