West Loop: Warehouse District Turned Foodie Haven

By Joe Carey, Homescout

Joe’s Opinion

"Eating in the West Loop is a pretty amazing experience. The chefs and restaurants here take their food very seriously and really want to be the best you've ever had."

- Joe, Homescout

Average Rental Range

Studio: $1,100 - $1,400
1 bedroom: $1,500 - $1,800
2 bedroom: $2,000 - $2,400
3 bedroom: $2,800 - $3,200

Overall

Obsessed with dinners out in swanky restaurants? Working in or near the Loop and can’t (or won’t) cook? Either way, the West Loop has enough restaurants of just about any cuisine you could want. So living here can easily keep you out of your kitchen for a long time in addition to offering you a short commute to work. This neighborhood also offers a growing number of art galleries (and therefore artists), and some upscale trendiness. It’s short on retail, though, so you’ll have to plan your shopping trips accordingly.


Sleeping

The West Loop provides a variety of housing, from high rises to old warehouses converted into lofts. Studio apartments average about $1,200 and one bedrooms around $1,600, while two bedrooms go for close to $2,100 and three bedroom apartments are usually near $3,000.

Eating and Drinking

First off, Chicago’s super tasty Greek Town is right here in the West Loop, including the well-known Parthenon, where the saganaki is fantastic. When you’ve had your fill of the Mediterranean, head to Red Light for a delectable Asian fusion feasting experience, or to Marche for a fine French inspired evening with some seriously wacky decoration. And when you’re ready for something more on the domestic side, head to Wishbone for some Southern fare, where you can eat collard greens and grits to your heart’s content, and munch on something a little out of the ordinary, like their crunchy French toast, for brunch. For an evening (that is, Friday or Saturday evening) of super swank, Ghostbar will fit the bill; for something a little less uppity, Plush offers an upscale appearance with a more laid-back environment. When you need an absolute lack of pretense in the West Loop, try Dugan’s, the random Irish bar in Greek Town.

Having Fun

Living in the West Loop provides immediate access to Union Park, where events such as Pitchfork Music Festival are held, as well as outdoor movies in the summer. And for one weekend of each month from May through October, get your treasure hunt on at the Chicago Antique Market. This awesome event is held indoors in the Randolph Street Market District, so no need to worry about any inclement weather. Regardless of the weather, you can always rack ‘em up at City Pool Hall, or catch a concert or Bulls or Blackhawks game at the United Center.


Getting Around

Living in the West Loop gives you immediate access to the hundreds of trains that come and go from Union Station every day. The Green Line stops at Ashland and Clinton, the Blue Line stops at Racine and Halsted. City buses run from Union Station down most streets and from all major streets near the Green and Blue Line stops.


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