WEST LOOP

 

 

West Loop is a trendy downtown Chicago neighborhood full of art galleries, boutique shops, and some of the city’s finest restaurants. This former industrial area has been transformed into a bustling creative hub with thriving music and art scenes. Randolph Street is Chicago’s restaurant row, offering an enticing mix of upscale dining at establishments run by star chefs, chic wine bars, and authentic international eateries. West Loop’s Greektown neighborhood is another dining hotspot with an abundance of choices for authentic Hellenic cuisine. Housing options include industrial loft conversions as well as stylish new townhouses and condominium buildings.

 

 

 

The eclectic West Loop area is one of the most exciting places to live in Chicago. Living in West Loop means living in close proximity to everywhere in the downtown area and having some of the city’s finest shopping and dining right on your doorstep. West Loop is a vibrant, walkable district with excellent transportation links.

 

 

Randolph Street and the roads adjacent to it are home to some of the best restaurants you’ll find in any city on earth. Top Chef and James Beard Award winner Stephanie Izzard’s Girl & The Goat is a perfect example. With a vibrant dining space featuring an open kitchen, Girl & The Goat offers outstanding standing service and creative small plates described by Zagat as “life-altering.”

 

The ever-changing tasting menu at chef Grant Achatz’s NEXT draws on wide-ranging influences to craft a dining experience that has won Michelin star status, the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, and a record 19 four-star reviews from the Chicago Tribune. The Publican is a lively spot with a focus on pork and seafood. Specials here include $1 oysters and BLT (Brunch Ladies Tunes) events with guest female chefs and DJs on the last Sunday of each month.

 

SOHO House is a luxurious boutique hotel and private members club housed within a former belt factory in the Fulton Market district. Members enjoy access to exceptional recreational facilities and dining spaces, including a rustic kitchen utilizing fresh local ingredients and a rooftop lounge with elevated gastropub fare. Also in Fulton Market, The Aviary is an ultra-stylish cocktail lounge with an emphasis on exquisite preparation and presentation.

 

Box Shops by Related is a hip Fulton Market shopping destination with boutique stores and frequent events housed within shipping containers. Other retail options include numerous shops throughout West Loop and a vast array of vintage items at the monthly Randolph Street Market. More than 100 vendors participate in the Randolph Street Market. Highlights include vintage clothing and jewelry, antique appraisals, and a vinyl swap meet. Between May and September, the market adds an outdoor area with extra vendors and a beer garden.

 

 

In mid-June, more than 18 of Randolph Street’s finest restaurants combine to provide tastings for the Taste of Randolph Street celebration. Along with the divine cuisine, the festivities include two stages of live music featuring some of the best up-and-coming bands and Chicago house DJs.

 

In late August, the focus turns to Hellenic culture and cooking with the Taste of Greektown, featuring delicious food, dance troupes, special activities for kids, and a gyros eating contest. Greektown’s National Hellenic Museum has an extensive collection of exhibits that cover Greek pride and history—from ancient Athens to the immigrant experience of Greek-Americans. In addition, the nonprofit Merit School of Music is a fantastic local resource that aims to introduce local children of all backgrounds to advanced music education.

 

The sprawling greenspace of Union Park on the Near West Side is one of Chicago’s largest public parks. Covering over 13 acres, Union Park has several large sport fields for football and baseball, basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, and playgrounds. Numerous festivals are held in Union Park throughout the year. Since 2006, the popular music site Pitchfork has held a music festival at Union Park. The Pitchfork Music Festival has a diverse lineup of some of the hottest acts from a variety of genres.

 

 

West Loop is zoned to the City of Chicago School District. Highlights include: