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River North
Profile
River North is like the Loop’s energetic alter ego, a night owl who’s always on the move. The neighborhood has great shopping, tons of art, and fantastic nightlife options, all in a super walkable area. And you can find plenty of beautiful high-rise housing along the twinkling Chicago River.
Living in River North is definitely for people who want to be in the heart of the action. You’re close to all the downtown offices, and it’s a short walk to the Loop — plus there’s lots of easy access to public transportation. You’ll find beautiful historic buildings and high-rises, as well as several rooftop bars for those summer afternoons. There’s an incredible art scene — River North’s Gallery District has the second largest concentration of art galleries in the entire country. The area is dog-friendly for such an urban landscape, especially along the Riverwalk, where you can see Art on theMART: a massive projection of digital artwork.
There’s a bit of an urban playground vibe, with post-work drink and dinner options everywhere. Along Hubbard Street and in the surrounding area, you can find everything from steakhouses and tiki bars to BBQ spots and gastropubs. But there are also some mellow pockets and quiet enclaves close to the river, complete with small, but charming, parks and pathways, if you want the best of both worlds.
River North is a night of rooftop cocktails, set against the backdrop of glittering city lights. It’s lazy brunch along the river, and dancing all night to live music. It’s high rises, high fashion, and larger-than-life art exhibits. It’s looking out your window to see Chicago’s glowing skyline, and just for a second, feeling like you did the first time you ever saw it.
Backstory
Following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, River North was rebuilt as an industrial hub. It was full of warehouses, shipping buildings, and railroad tracks — and the locals were people employed to work at all of the above. This is when the area was called ‘Smokey Hollow’ because of the thick smog from heavy industry and railways.
In 1930, after years of construction, the massive, 25-story Merchandise Mart opened. At the time, it was the largest building in the world. But with the Great Depression, Merchandise Mart closed up shop for the next few years.
Little by little, River North started to grow and take on a new identity. Chicago’s NBC Studios established itself in the Merchandise Mart and, in the late 70s, businesses and galleries were drawn to River North’s convenient location, low rent, and ornate Victorian architecture.
Development only increased, alongside a growing nightlife and gastronomy scene, and then ballooned as River North’s new designer lofts and apartments became must-have places to call home. This neighborhood has emerged from a smog that was so thick it blocked out the sunlight, to become one of Chicago’s most sophisticated areas.
Local Fare
- Tanta: Peruvian cuisine, weekend happy hour, incredible brunch, and one of the most beautiful rooftops in the city.
- Xoco: This casual Rick Bayless spot has wood-fired tortas, fresh-made churros, and sweet-tart margaritas (try the hibiscus-lemongrass).
- Bar Goa: An upscale Indian-Portuguese gastropub, where the menu includes pork vindaloo sliders and peri peri fries. They also host comedy shows, and there are DJs on the weekends.
- Sunda: Their New Asian menu covers a lot of ground, from sashimi to garlic noodles to tuna truffle pizza. On the weekends, get in here for brunch with ube waffles, and their massive bloody mary (topped with a bao bun, crab roll, and tiny grilled cheese).
- Steakhouses: Have fun trying to decide. Just for starters, there’s glitzy RPM Steak, or dark and cozy Bavette’s, both of which have plenty of truffle-laced side dishes to go with your melty filet. Make reservations and be ready to splurge.
Things to Do
- Art galleries: From hot-wax creations to Asian sculptures, there’s an almost overwhelming variety of art in River North, and an incredible number of galleries to explore. To get started, check out the free tours on the second Saturday of every month, starting at the Addington Gallery.
- Bars: There is such a variety in River North. You can do dive bars like Rossi’s, classic pubs like Green Door, tiki drinks at Three Dots and a Dash, BBQ and whiskey at Bub City, or cocktails and dessert at Gilt Bar. And that’s just a few quick highlights — there are seriously way too many options to list here.
- Club scene: If you’re looking for night clubs and dancing, River North has a bunch of options. You can go for Vegas energy with an Asian motif at Tao, retro fun at Disco, an eclectic rooftop at Joy District, or dance to live music at The Bassment.
Sights to See
Marvel at the Merchandise Mart: The striking Merchandise Mart is a giant behemoth on the edge of the Chicago River, and is pretty incredible just on its own. But there’s also the Art on theMart light show: the largest permanent digital art projection in the entire world, projected across the front of this massive structure on the water.
Transportation
For the most part, you can get around River North on foot. You can also jump on the Brown or Purple Lines at Chicago/Franklin, or the Loop’s just across the river — where you can catch pretty much any L train you need at Clark/Lake.
- the Loop: ~20 min walk
- the Lake (Ohio Street Beach): ~20 min by public transit; ~30 min walk
- Fulton Market: ~15 min by bike; ~30 min walk
- O’Hare: ~60min by public transit
- Midway: ~45min by public transit