SOUTH LOOP

 

 

Chicago’s South Loop is a growing area with peaceful, family-friendly neighborhoods alongside world-class cultural attractions, outstanding shopping and dining, famous jazz clubs, and waterfront parks on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Iconic South Loop neighborhoods include the beautiful and historic literary hub of Printer’s Row, the elegant architecture of the Prairie District, and upscale shopping and contemporary living spaces within the converted car showrooms of Motor Row.

 

 

 

This eclectic area of Chicago has a huge variety of shops, restaurants, parks, museums, and performance venues. Home to both soaring high-rises and quiet residential neighborhoods of single-family homes, South Loop is a central stretch of the city that encompasses much of what makes Chicago such a dynamic place to live.

 

 

Wabash Avenue runs north to south through South Loop and has long been home to a large concentration of restaurants. These include some of Chicago’s finest foodie destinations, such as the two-Michelin-starred Acadia. Acadia’s star chef Ryan McCaskey blends Maine-style seafood dishes with subtle Vietnamese influences to create a unique dining experience where options include a lavish 10-course tasting menu. Other Wabash Avenue standouts include elevated pub and pizzeria fare fused with Polish-American dishes at Flo & Santos and sublime Southern-style seafood boils at Lowcountry.

 

A few blocks to the east, Michigan Avenue runs parallel to Wabash Avenue.The classic 1960s Essex Inn on Michigan Avenue completed a $75 million renovation and relaunched as Hotel Essex in 2019. Inside this luxurious hotel, guests and visitors can enjoy first-rate French bistro cuisine and wine at Grant Park Bistro or combine hand-crafted cocktails with sweeping views over Grant Park and Lake Michigan at the two-story SX Sky Bar.

 

In the northwest corner of the South Loop district you’ll find the Roosevelt Collection—an open-air shopping plaza with premium restaurants, retailers, and a state-of-the-art movie theater.

 

The family-run Sandymeyer’s Bookstore in Printer’s Row curates a wonderful collection of bestsellers and more obscure titles. Also in Printer’s Row, Jazz Showcase has been Chicago’s premier jazz venue since it opened in 1947, attracting an impressive lineup of outstanding musicians.

 

The Spoke & Bird in the Prairie District is a charming neighborhood café serving single-origin organic fair trade roasts and delectable pastries.

 

 

The southern section of the sprawling 319-acre public green space of Grant Park extends along South Loop’s Lake Michigan waterfront. Grant Park’s 57-acre Museum Campus is home to many of the city’s most impressive cultural attractions. These include Shedd Aquarium, which houses 1,500 distinct species and is the most visited attraction in the city. Adler Planetarium has three full-sized theaters and a vast array of scientific exhibitions and displays. The Field Museum of Natural History has a collection comprised of more than 24 million specimens and artifacts, providing a fascinating insight into the world’s geological and biological evolution. The NFL’s Chicago Bears play at Soldier Field, which is also located within the Museum Campus. Burnham Harbor sits on Museum Campus’ lake shoreline. Home to the Burnham Yacht Club, the harbor boasts stunning skyline views and 1,126 boat slips.

 

Just south of Museum Campus, McCormick Center is the largest convention center in North America, hosting large annual events such as the Chicago Auto Show and the International Home and Housewares Show. Wintrust Arena at McCormick Place hosts many concerts and sporting events, including the 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Northerly Island is a 40-acre manmade peninsula connected to Grant Park’s Museum Campus with spectacular city views and a pavilion staging large outdoor concerts and events.

 

Other popular South Loop attractions include guided tours of Chess Records studio on Michigan Avenue, a recording place for legendary figures ranging from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones. Nearby Reggie’s Rock Club keeps Chicago’s musical heritage alive with thrilling performances from a variety of acts. Regular musical performances also take place at Michigan Avenue’s PianForte Chicago, the city’s largest piano showroom. Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens in the Prairie District is a beautifully-landscaped green space with a fieldhouse featuring an indoor playground and fitness studios. The park and gardens are nestled between two historic attractions: the 1880s Richardsonian Romanesque Glessner House and 1836 Greek Revival-style Clarke House Museum.

 

 

South Loop Elementary School, Public, K-8: