River North
Whether you are an art lover or love to shop, the River North area of Chicago has something special for you. Just north of the downtown Loop, bound by Chicago Avenue to the north, Michigan Avenue to the east, and the Chicago River to the south and west, River North has a cluster of hotels, galleries, convenient transportation, and great places to eat, shop and enjoy Chicago’s art culture. The Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower and the former Chicago Sun-Times Building (now the site of Trump International Hotel and Tower) are part of this remarkable section of the city. The “Cathedral District,” near the intersection of State and Huron, has a significant number of new residential skyscrapers surrounding the Catholic Holy Name Cathedral and the Episcopal St. James Cathedral.
What distinguishes River North from the rest of the Windy City is its Gallery District. Once an old manufacturing and warehouse area, the River North Gallery District has the greatest concentration of art galleries in the United States, outside of Manhattan. Emerging artists of all kinds display their work beside established artists in an area dense with hot bars, cool dance clubs, and all kinds of entertainment venues. The House of Blues ranks among these highlights, where people come from all over the world to enjoy blues music and folk art as well as southern-inspired cuisine. If jazz is your thing, Andy’s Jazz Club on East Huron Street, shouldn’t be missed. Chicago’s top artists perform a range of musical stylings from Traditional, Swing and Bop to Fusion, Latin and Afro-Pop.
When lunch or dinner time rolls around, you can satisfy your appetite at one of the theme-restaurants—popular with out-of-towners—like the tropical-themed Rainforest Cafe (a “wild” place to eat and shop) or Ed Debevic’s 1950s style diner, or any of the upscale restaurants in the vicinity. River North is also home to the Merchandise Mart, the world’s largest commercial building, just a short, leisurely walk from the famous Magnificent Mile. This Chicago institution spans two city blocks of floor after floor of shops and showrooms filled with commercial and luxury interior furnishings.
River North’s attractive tree-shaded streets are lined with lovely vintage residences as well as newly built high-rises and lofts, especially in areas like Kingsbury Park, near Erie Street and the Chicago River. And for those who prefer a short commute to work, the old Montgomery Ward building in Kingsbury Park was redesigned into contemporary office space that includes financial firms, advertising, marketing, and telecommunications companies. Also in the landmark building is the signature Japanese-French fusion cuisine of Japonais Restaurant-Lounge, one of Chicago’s hottest fine dining establishments. Voted by Conde-Nast Traveler as “one of the top 66 restaurants in the world,” Japonais is a great place for celebrity sightings and superior sushi with a Parisian twist.
For those new to the city, folks in town for work or pleasure, or lifetime residents, this is one part of Chicago where there’s an endless amount of things to see and do around every corner.
- CLICK HERE FOR RIVER NORTH & RIVER WEST NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
- CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE IN RIVER NORTH & RIVER WEST
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Interested in River North real estate? |  |
River North Restaurants & Bars |
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River North Resources |  |
River North Shopping |
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River North Entertainment |  |
River North Schools |
Dining in River North
| Bin 36 339 N. Dearborn St. Cuisine: American |
Crofton On Wells 535 N Wells Cuisine: American |
Houston's Restaurant 612 N Rush St Cuisine: American |
| Doc's River North 661 N Clark Cuisine: American |
ESPN Zone 43 E.Ohio Street Cuisine: American |
Erawan Royal Thai Cuisine 729 N. Clark St Cuisine: Thai |
| Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que 739 N. Clark Street Cuisine: Barbeque |
Hard Rock Cafe 63 W Ontario St Cuisine: American |
Harry's Velvet Room 56 W Illinois St Cuisine: American |
| Brasserie Jo 59 W. Hubbard Street Cuisine: French |
Cerise 520 N Michigan Ave Cuisine: French |
Once Upon A Thai 3705 N Southport Ave Cuisine: Thai |
| Hubbard Street Grill 351 W Hubbard St Cuisine: American/Barbeque |
Jl Leisure 509 N Wells Cuisine: American |
Bob Chinn's Chicago Crabhouse 315 N La Salle (River) Cuisine: Seafood |
| Rainforest Cafe 605 N Clark St Cuisine: American |
Ben Pao 52 W. Illinois St. Cuisine: Asian |
Centro Ristorante 710 N Wells St Cuisine: Italian |
| Ed Debevic's Short Order 640 N Wells St Cuisine: American |
Chicago Rib House 800 N Dearborn St Cuisine: Barbeque |
Gaylord India Restaurant 678 N Clark St Cuisine: Indian |
| CHIC Cafe 361 W. Chestnut St Cuisine: French |
Narcisse 710 N Clark St Cuisine: French |
Coco Pazzo 300 West Hubbard St Cuisine: Italian |
| Chilpancingo 358 W Ontario Cuisine: Mexican |
Frontera Grill 445 N Clark St. Cuisine: American |
Shaw's Crab House 21 E Hubbard St Cuisine: Seafood |
| Pita-Ria 441 N La Salle Dr Cuisine: Greek |
Vong 6 West Hubbard Cuisine: Asian |
| Bars: | |
| Funky Buddha Lounge 730 Grand Ave |
Red Head Piano Bar 16 W. Ontario |
| Emmit's Irish Pub & Eatery 495 N. Millwaukee Ave |
Bar Louie 226 W. Chicago |
Resources in River North
| Chicago Police Precinct District 18 113 W. Chicago |
Post Office 222 Merchandise Mart 540 N. Dearborn |
Hospital |
Entertainment in River North
| House of Blues 329 N. Dearborn |
Sotheby's 215 W. Ohio |
| Chicago
Center for the Performing Arts 777 N. Green |
Chicago Dramatists 1105 W. Chicago |
| Chicago Fine Arts Exchange 815 W. Chicago |
Flat File 119 N. Peoria |
| Julia Friedman Gallery 118 N. Peoria |
Intuit Gallery 756 N. Milwaukee |
| S2 Art Gallery 300 W. Superior |
Walsh Gallery 118 N. Peoria |
| 4 Taste 415 N. Milwaukee |
The Fifth Floor 440 N. Halsted |
| Rednofive 440 N. Halsted |
Shopping in River North
| Merchandise Mart 222 Merchandise Mart Place |
Schools in River North
| Northestern Illinois University 770 N. Halsted St. |
Feltre School 22 W. Erie |
| Frances Xavier Ward School 751 N. State |
Illinois Institute of Art 350 N. Orleans |
| Institute of Clinical Social Work 68 E. Wacker |
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