Welcome to West Loop

An explosive overhaul of former factories, wholesale markets, and warehouses transformed the West Loop into a diverse array of reputable eateries, gallery and designer spaces, and converted lofts and condos for singles and families alike.

Key Details

Attributes

trendy, artsy, edgy, industrial, off-the-beaten-path, energetic, diverse & eclectic, for foodies, dusk-until-dawn nightlife, affordable, lofts, public parks

LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

Commute Times
McCormick Place 31m by train, 12m by car
Merchandise Mart 17m by train, 8m by car
Union Station 10m by train, 5m by car
Millennium Park 23m by train, 12m by car
Boundaries
East to West Chicago River to Ashland Avenue
North to South Grand Avenue to Van Buren Street
Nearby Neighborhoods Chicago Loop, River North, and Wicker Park

Around the Block

West loop:
Luxe lofts, galleries, boutiques, and restaurants are still distinguished by West Loop’s industrial roots.

From a gritty, partially abandoned manufacturing corridor to a burgeoning neighborhood flush with must-visit spots for foodies, eclectic art galleries and shops, and numerous acres of redeveloped park space, West Loop is now one of the hottest downtown areas in which to settle down.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block

What to expect:
An ingrained creative vibe at the edges of downtown Chicago.

Time Magazine deemed it “the land of the living dead” in 1949, but the West Loop of today is very much alive. Art galleries and antique sources for collectors of all kinds, stylish shops for fashion-forward consumers, innovative restaurants and bars, and a thriving music and street fair scene regularly draw crowds.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block

The lifestyle:
Endless dining and bar options that will keep you up ‘til dawn.

A slew of openings centered around Randolph Street and Fulton Market make restaurant- and bar-hopping in untrodden territory a nightly possibility. You can go from taqueria to futuristic cocktail lounge, sushi bar to secret underground speakeasy, whole-animal butcher shop to wine tasting, burger bar to champagne salon—and the neighborhood’s evolution is far from finished.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block

Unexpected appeal:
A budding family-friendly atmosphere.

There’s a growing market for young families as more businesses (and young professionals) infiltrate the neighborhood. Townhomes and larger condo units can still be hard to come by as many are snapped up almost as quickly as new development blueprints can be drafted! But there are exceptional public and private education options along with a number of parks in the area.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block

The market:
Newly developed luxury condos and urban lofts with open layouts in remarkable, antiquated buildings.

Fresh condo buildings are cropping up along with the influx of newcomers, and prices have kept up with the change in population. Airy loft conversions feature newly-minted interiors with original exposed brick, high timber ceilings, and huge factory-sized windows within the bones of decades-old buildings.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block

You'll fall in love with:
The city’s only year-round, indoor market and “Restaurant Row,” where you can try a new dining spot every night.

In addition to the loft-style living, residents savor trips to the Chicago French Market, which showcases local artisans and purveyors most days of the week, and the vibrant strip of Randolph Street dubbed “Restaurant Row,” which is lined with some of the city’s best eateries.

Neighborhood Block
Neighborhood Block Neighborhood Block

Other Neighborhoods in Chicago to Explore