The buzzing hub of dining, shopping and nightlife — River North and the Magnificent Mile, with the best restaurants, rooftop bars, galleries, clubs and flagship stores, just north of the river. Lively, central and upscale, walkable to downtown and the lake; the base for travellers who want the best food, nightlife and shopping on their doorstep. The most happening area to stay. Energetic and convenient.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$450–800
typical per night in United States
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Chicago.
Where it sits
The circle is River North & the Mag Mile and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- The Architecture River Cruise9 min walk784 m
- Millennium Park & The Bean17 min walk1.4 km
- Willis Tower Skydeck18 min walk1.5 km
- The Art Institute of Chicago20 min walk1.7 km
- The Lakefront Trail & beaches25 min walk2.1 km
- Comedy at Second City26 min walk2.2 km
- Shedd Aquarium10 min taxi3.2 km
- The Field Museum10 min taxi3.2 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 5.Deep-dish pizza — Chicago's most famous food — deep-dish pizza, a glorious, buttery-crusted, pie-like creation loaded with cheese, chunky tomato sauce and toppings, so thick you eat it with a knife and fork. Debate the best spot (Lou Malnati's, Pequod's, Giordano's), order one to share (it's enormous and rich), and settle in for a proper Chicago feast. Whatever you think of the deep-dish debate, it's an essential, only-in-Chicago experience; the city also does a superb thin-crust 'tavern style'. A delicious, iconic must. Come hungry.
- 6.The Magnificent Mile — Chicago's grand shopping boulevard — the Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue lined with flagship stores, department stores, hotels and landmarks like the historic Water Tower (a survivor of the Great Fire) and the Wrigley Building. Stroll the bustling avenue, shop or window-shop, admire the architecture, and cross the river for the skyline views. Even if you're not buying, it's a lively, grand promenade at the heart of the city; especially pretty lit up at night and at Christmas. A classic Chicago wander.
- 13.Blues & jazz — Chicago is the home of electric blues and a jazz powerhouse, and hearing live music in a smoky club is essential — catch a raw, soulful set at a legendary blues joint like Buddy Guy's Legends or Kingston Mines, or cool jazz in a Green Mill-style lounge (a former Al Capone haunt). The music is world-class, the atmosphere intimate and electric, and it's woven into the city's very soul. A quintessential, only-in-Chicago night out for any music lover. Soulful, historic and unforgettable. Don't miss it.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to River North & the Mag Mile; flights via Google Flights.