Loop
Chicago | Near North Side (Downtown)
Overview
The heart of downtown, The Loop is the city's ultimate business district and is so named for its “loop” of elevated trains. It's mostly hustle and bustle, with one of the busiest places being the Chicago Board of Trade. The CBOT has been up and running since 1848, when it traded only agricultural merchandise such as corn, wheat and oats. The CBOT now trades many non-agricultural items, including U.S. Treasury bonds and stocks. World-famous landmarks include the outdoor Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza, Louis Sullivan’s Carson Pirie Scott building, the Chicago Cultural Center, and retail giant Macy’s on State.
Shopping
The Carson Pirie Scott building is famed for its commercial architecture. Construction began with visionary architect Louis Sullivan in 1898, and was finally completed with an addition in 1961. While its interior looks like a regular department store, the exterior still has most of Sullivan’s architectural work intact. Cast-iron ornamentation covers the first and second floor windows in frames.
Macy’s on State is also well-known in Chicago. Corner clocks on the exterior of the building have served as Chicago landmarks for more than a century. Every December, hundreds of people gaze through the store’s windows, lavishly decorated with a children’s story each year. The building covers an entire city block on State Street.
Dining/Nightlife
The Loop is absolutely full of dining options, from some of the city's most classic restaurants to new and constantly evolving modern American restaurants housed throughout the area, some at very high altitudes. Cheap, everyday options are available, as are high-end possibilities, along with Chicago-only edibles like the flavorful product at Garrett Popcorn Shops.
Culture & Attractions
Over 300,000 works of art can be admired at the Art Institute of Chicago. There are a multitude of collections, ranging from modern art to European painting and sculpture to African and American Indian art. Free admission is offered on Tuesdays and hours can be spent admiring and interpreting paintings. There is also a gift shop where you can find a smaller version of your favorite piece of art, grab a coffee mug or an art institute T-shirt.
Unleash your dramatic side in Chicago’s theatre district. The League of Chicago Theatres has a membership of 170-plus theatres, as their membership stretches not only across Chicago but into its suburbs as well. The Chicago Theater is a landmark in Chicago, and simply visiting the theater is an experience in itself. The theater opened in 1921 and is beautifully breathtaking, with much architecture to admire. The classic CHICAGO sign and marquee are another world-recognized Chicago feature, and all of the theaters classic features--from the crystal chandeliers to the sweeping grand staircase--add to the feeling of old-fashioned elegance and a night of entertainment.
Within the Richard J. Daley Center at Washington Street is Picasso’s sculpture. First viewed as meaningless modern art in 1967, it is now a familiar Chicago icon. It is made of the same material as the Daley Center, corrosive tensile, and began to turn downtown Chicago into an open-air sculpture gallery with more than 100 works of public art spread all over The Loop.
The Low Down
The busiest, most people-populated area in Chicago during the day, the Loop can empty out at night apart from certain venues, including mostly restaurants and theaters. Taxis and public transportation options are numerous, and it's tightly packed enough to make walking viable--just watch out for road rage-style driving in vogue here.
Listings within the Loop Area
111 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-781-4483
17 W. Adams St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-427-3170
136 N. LaSalle St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-696-2420
200 N. Columbus Dr. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-565-7997
1 W. Washington St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-368-1900
47 W. Polk St. , Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-347-0000
1924 S. State St. , Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: 312-326-9800
30 N. La Salle , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-920-9662
35 W. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-346-3500
222 S. Riverside Plaza , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-441-0821
56 W. Randolph , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-346-9492
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive , Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-588-1044
35 E. Monroe , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-372-0072
224 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-431-7600
233 S. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-466-0200
111 W. Adams St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-236-6656
185 North Wabash , Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 312-345-1710
216 N. Wabash , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-263-0200
111 N State Street , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-781-1000
111 N State Street , Chicago, IL 60602
310 W. Randolph St., , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-201-1441
111 N. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-263-6443
111 E. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-616-3363
111 N State Street , Chicago, IL 60602
71 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-7005
71 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-7005
27 W. Washington St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-977-9771
134 N. La Salle St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-977-9971
733 W. Madison St. , Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: 312-602-2104
65 E. Wacker Pl. , Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-201-0410
51 S. Clark St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-621-0200
440 W. Randolph St. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-575-9900
1 N. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-750-9700
11 N. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-521-PARK
150 N. Dearborn St. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-422-0150
61 E. Madison St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-236-1777
65 E. Adams St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-786-9911
172 W. Adams St. , Chicago, IL
1 S. Dearborn St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-384-1900
77 E. Adams St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-360-0000
233 S. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-756-1770
111 N State Street , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-781-1000
190 S. LaSalle St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-781-7300
221 N. LaSalle St. , Chicago, IL
Phone: 312-739-3900
225 N. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-236-9300
447 N. State St , Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-595-1409
500 W. Madison Street , Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: 312-575-0266
24. S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-372-4243
33 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-960-0000
71 W. Monroe , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-7005
10 N. Dearborn St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-984-1718
71 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-4040
111 N State Street , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-781-3125
122 S. LaSalle St , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-3210
Altman's Men's Shoes and Boots
120 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-0667
10 S. State St. , Chicago, IL
Phone: 312-634-0111
233 S. Wacker , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-466-0223
1 E. Jackson , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-280-8155
150 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-606-0750
116 S. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL
Phone: 312-407-0000
230 S. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-427-5580
609 N. State , Chicago, IL
Phone: 312-335-8006
1 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-553-1055
28 S. State St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-977-2121
22 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-274-1111
5 S. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60603
335 N. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-782-7101
29 E. Madison St. Suite 808, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-782-4208
111 N. State St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-781-4483
29 E. Madison St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-372-2415
24 N. State St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-377-5500
35 N. State St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-551-0522
8 E. Delaware Pl. , Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-335-1353
120 S. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-372-1699
303 E. Wacker Drive , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-616-0016
200 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-461-9277
418 S. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-922-8311
925 W. Chicago Ave, , Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 312-738-2427
2 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-373-6000
2 N. LaSalle St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-332-9095
310 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-913-9800
20 S. State St , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-269-9919
21 N. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-263-1757
55 E Washington St , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-443-1460
601 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-266-7677
224 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-922-8687
78 E. Washington St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-849-8300
78 E. Washington St. , Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-744-6630
77 E. Randolph Street , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-742-1190
Chicago Theater Stories Walking Tour
Corner of Randolph & Michigan , Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 773-508-4894
175 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-462-6300
20 N. Wacker Dr. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-419-0033
170 N. Dearborn St. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-443-3800
78 W. Randolph St. , Chicago, IL 60607
821 N. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-337-0665
20 N. Wacker Drive , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-332-2244
27 N. Wacker Dr. Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 630-480-3345
Oriental Theater- Ford Center for Performing Arts
24 W. Randolph St. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-782-2004
233 S. Wacker Dr , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-875-9696 or 1.877.SKYDECK
224 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-663-0600
111 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-443-3600
The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 E. Randolph Dr , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-334-7777
22 W. Monroe St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-977-1700
209 S. LaSalle St. , Chicago, IL 60604
1100 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 312-922-2900
Hostelling International Chicago
24 E. Congress Parkway , Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-360-0300
172 W. Adams St. , Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-332-1200
65 E. Lake St. , Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-251-0200
303 W. Lake St. , Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-332-7783
