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Streeterville
Profile
Streeterville is an upbeat neighborhood with a little bit of everything. There are lakefront walkways for your morning jog, and lakeside views for happy hour. You can head one direction to walk around Navy Pier, and the other direction to shop on Magnificent Mile. There are multiple grocery stores and shops, as well as plenty of restaurants and glowing cocktail lounges.
Set on the edge of Lake Michigan just north of downtown, the location is pretty incredible. You’re just across the river from Millennium Park, minutes from the Loop, and in easy striking distance of Gold Coast and River North. Northwestern has several buildings in the area, including the Memorial Hospital, School of Medicine, and School of Law.
The area has an urban jungle vibe with skyscrapers, bridges, rooftop restaurants, and great shopping. Plus, with the lakefront and Riverwalk right there, you also have beautiful walkways and splashes of nature. You can find a variety of high-rise condos, luxury apartments, and pre-war buildings, including a few designed by famous architect Mies van der Rohe. If you have kids, Streeterville has plenty for them, too — from park playgrounds to outdoor movies, and all of Navy Pier, with its seasonal events and giant ferris wheel.
Streeterville is a sunset walk along the water before dinner, and blustery autumn strolls to the latest art exhibits on the weekends. It’s watching Navy Pier fireworks from your living room window. It’s the energy of downtown living, the convenience of central shopping, and the beauty of waterfront parks, all in one place.
Backstory
Wondering where this neighborhood’s bizarre name comes from? Back in 1886, an ex-Union Army private named George Streeter crashed his steamboat into a ridge off the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether or not that was deliberate is still up for debate...
After the “incident,” George and his wife Maria claimed the area as their own. They transformed their wrecked boat into their home and called that small parcel of land “the U.S. District of Lake Michigan”.
For almost 30 years, authorities tried to kick the Streeters out, but it never worked. Eventually, Streeter was jailed for murder (that’s a longer story) but only served nine months: the governor of Illinois pardoned him, and Streeter was free.
Fast forward to the 1920s, and the area began to develop big time. Michigan Avenue Bridge opened in 1921, making Streeterville a gateway to downtown Chicago, with hot property and prime real estate. Then came Northwestern’s downtown campus, luxury stores along North Michigan Avenue, and dazzling hotels across Lake Shore Drive.
Over the years that followed, booming construction only continued, transforming Streeterville into the exciting area we know today. High-rises go hand-in-hand with historic houses, Navy Pier, shops, restaurants, university buildings, and museums.
Not bad for a neighborhood that started as a crashed steamboat.
Local Fare
- Althea: This high-end vegan restaurant sits on the seventh floor of Saks Fifth Avenue. It’s weird, but worth it. They serve plant-based cacio e pepe, spicy kung pao cauliflower, and artisanal “cheese” plates along with a full bar menu.
- Robert’s: Namesake chef Robert spent two decades perfecting the thin crust, which is baked in a brick oven. Get the cup and char pepperoni.
- Crushed by Giants: The beer is brewed in-house and sent straight to the tap, so it’s about as fresh as possible. Their kitchen serves some solid burgers, pizzas, and fried chicken sandwiches.
- Cupitol: A cafe, bakery, restaurant, and bar with full menus for breakfast and lunch. Great spot for lounging with a book and a pastry, or catching up with a friend over brunch and mimosas.
- Coco Pazzo: They’ve been here since 1992, serving old school Tuscan cuisine in the gorgeous loft of a century-old building. Try the handmade pasta — seriously, their gnocchi helped convince me to move to Chicago.
Things to Do
- Ohio Street Beach: Soak up every drop of summer on the white sand, or take a walk along the Lakefront Trail.
- Winter’s Jazz Club: Live jazz and cocktails in a snazzy basement space. Come early for happy hour drinks and no cover.
- Chicago Children’s Museum: This center for exploration caters to kids of all ages. There’s even a three-story ship rig — from cargo hold to crow's nest — that the whole family can climb through.
- Navy Pier: Home to everything from ice cream shops to independent brunch spots, kids’ play areas, and trendy shopping.
- Magnificent Mile: You’ll find iconic boutiques like Gucci and Tiffany, plus literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from.
- Museum of Contemporary Art: The permanent collection features work from everyone from Pablo Picasso to Andy Warhol. On summer evenings, you can listen to live music and sip cold drinks while you browse the galleries.
- Driehaus Museum: This lavish museum is loaded with art, and design from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. It’s almost worth visiting just for the building — the Nickerson Mansion was finished in 1883, and is also known as The Marble Palace.
Sights to See
Transportation
Traveling to and from Streeterville on public transit is easy, with plenty of buses, nearby Red Line stops, and all the trains in the Loop. If you’re driving, you can hop on Lakeshore Drive or I-90.
- the Loop: ~15 min by public transit; ~30 min walk
- the Lake (Ohio Street Beach): ~10-15 min walk
- O’Hare: ~60 min by public transit