What to do in Streeterville

A guide of what to do in Streeterville, a small neighborhood next to both downtown Chicago and the lakefront.

Where is Streeterville

Streeterville is located along Lake Michigan and just north of the Chicago River. It’s bordered by River North to the west and the Gold Coast to the north.

How to Get to Streeterville

The closest el stops are the Chicago and Grand Red Line stops. Streeterville is a small neighborhood and is very walkable.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier is known for being touristy and crowded. Navy Pier is a long pier that goes out into Lake Michigan and there are many restaurants and activities located on the pier. In the summer, fireworks can be viewed from the pier on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Navy Pier also hosts outdoor film screenings, concerts, and other events. Plus, there is also a massive Ferris Wheel located on the pier.

Tall Ship Windy

This schooner gives sailing tours of Chicago. It’s great way to see the skyline from the lake and they do offer fireworks cruises too.

Lake Michigan Cruises

There are a variety of different cruises that depart from Navy Pier. There are dinner cruises, speedboat tours, private charters, and more.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Also located on Navy Pier, this museum brings arts programs, STEM experiments, and imaginative play to children.

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Don’t be confused by the name of this theatre – it isn’t just Shakespeare works that they produce. This fall, a musical version of The Notebook with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson will premiere here. This theatre company produces plays and musical all year and features as many as 20 productions a year.

Oak Street Beach

This beach along Lake Michigan is located between the Streeterville and Gold Coast neighborhoods. The beach has great views of the Chicago skyline and has a small cafe and volleyball courts.

Museum of Contemporary Art

This museum has a collection that includes painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, installation, performance, and moving image and sound spanning from 1920 to today. In addition to their permanent collection, MCA hosts a wide range of traveling exhibitions – some of which are hugely popular and require purchasing tickets in advance (such as the Bowie and Warhol exhibitions).

Chicago River Boat Architectural Tours

These tours that take guests on a cruise down the Chicago River depart from a dock in Streeterville. In addition to the architecture tours, there are also jazz and cocktail cruises and fireworks cruises. The architecture tour is one of the most popular tourist activities in Chicago – add it to your must-do list.

360 Chicago

360 is an observation deck at the top of the John Hancock Tower. The deck provides a 360 degree view of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. You can also try Tilt, which lets you tilt down towards the streets below.

Magnificent Mile Shopping

Located on the line between River North and Streeterville, the Magnificent Mile is a mile-long stretch of Michigan Avenue running from the Chicago River to Oak Street in the Gold Coast. This area is known for its upscale shopping and architecture. Both the Shops at North Bridge and the 900 North Michigan Shops are located on the Mag Mile, as are shops including Neiman Marcus, Saks, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci. It’s also where you will find Chicago’s Starbucks Reserve, the largest Starbucks in the world. Many of Chicago’s finest hotels including The Peninsula, The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, the Park Hyatt, and The Drake are on this stretch of Michigan Avenue.

900 North Michigan Shops

This upscale mall is located along the Mag Mile on the border of Streeterville and the Gold Coast and is home to a massive Bloomingdales and other high-end retailers.

Where to Eat in Streeterville

The Purple Pig

This restaurant is known for serving pork, wine, and cheese. The menu is made up of small plate Mediterranean food. I love the grilled broccoli with an anchovy vinaigrette and roasted garlic, the salt-roasted beets with whipped goat cheese and pistachio butter, and the milk-braised pork shoulder.

Beatrix

Beatrix has several locations in Chicago and is known for their healthy yet delicious menu and their well-stocked pastry counter. The restaurant serves three meals a day and their caramel pie is one of the best desserts in the city. The non-dessert items on the menu are uncomplicated and made with fresh ingredients.

Volare

It might be easy to walk by Volare without thinking much of it, but it is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The menu features classic Italian cuisine with some modern twists including gnocchi all vodka, seafood carbonara, and Sardinian Malloreddus.

Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken

This specific location of the popular donut shop also serves fried chicken sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches. When it comes to doughnuts, they serve both dense cake style and fluffy yeast donuts in flavors like candied maple bacon, pistachio-meyer lemon, and Boston cream.

The Hampton Social

The popular River North eatery has a second location in Streeterville and serves lunch and dinner plus weekend brunch. It’s known for it’s Instagram-ready decor and East Coast inspired cuisine. The menu features lots of seafood including shrimp, salmon, tuna, swordfish, and oysters, plus a lobster roll.

Where is Streeterville

How to Get to Streeterville