Welcome to The Loop
Bustling downtown district with iconic skyscrapers.
The Loop is a bustling 35-block area in the heart of Downtown Chicago. It’s Chicago’s central business district and is second only to Midtown Manhattan among the United States’ largest business hubs. Some of the world’s earliest and most iconic skyscrapers were erected in the Loop from the 1870s onward.
The Loop is home to major corporate offices, theaters, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and amenities, including the sprawling green space of Grant Park. The Loop is bordered to the east by Lake Michigan and to the south by Roosevelt Road while the Chicago River forms its northern and western boundary. Housing options here include luxury apartments in high-rise residential towers.
What to Love
- The heart of Downtown Chicago
- Iconic skyscrapers
- Thriving business district
- Grant Park
People & Lifestyle
The Loop is the heart of Downtown Chicago. Historic financial institutions in the area include the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. This dynamic district has a real big city buzz with endless shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
State Street is one of the nation’s most iconic shopping streets. The 12-story flagship Macy’s department store is a historic landmark that features a grand domed Tiffany ceiling and an elegant restaurant The Walnut Room, which was the first restaurant ever opened inside a department store. Across the street from Macy’s, Block 37 is a stylish retail complex housing brand such as Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Disney, Francesca’s, L’Occitane, Sephora, and Zara. The Dearborn at Block 37 is a chic tavern serving market-driven seasonal cuisine and great cocktails.
Other big-name brands here include Forever 21, Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth, and Target. State Street is also home to trendy boutiques such as AKIRA and premier hotel restaurants, including Staypineapple’s innovative chef-driven Atwood and refined bistro The Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton, which invented the brownie for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The Berghoff is another iconic State Street eatery that has been delighting diners for well over a century. First opened in 1898, The Berghoff serves authentic German cuisine and beer steins. More outstanding restaurants can be found along the Chicago Riverwalk at the Loop’s northern edge. Highlights here include pub grub and craft beer at Chicago Brewhouse, artisanal cheese plates and wine on tap at City Winery, and inventive takes on comfort classics at Beat Kitchen.
Things to Do
The Art Institute’s permanent collection of around 300,000 works includes Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks”, Pablo Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist”, and George Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte”, and Grant Wood’s “American Gothic”. At the southern end of Grant Park, the Chicago Museum Campus is home to Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium. Just across the street from Millennium Park the Chicago Cultural Center is a historic landmark featuring two stained-glass domes that host many free arts and cultural events throughout the year. The Loop is also home to Chicago’s Theatre District, where venues such as the Auditorium Theatre, the Cadillac Palace Theatre, and the Nederlander Theatre host world premieres and Tony Award-winning productions.
Schools
The Loop is served by the City of Chicago School District.
- The Ogden International School of Chicago, Public, K-12
- Phillips Academy High School, Public, 9-12
- Jones College Prep High School, Public, Magnet, 9-12, ranked the best high school in Illinois
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