Best Shopping Centers & Malls In Chicago
There are so many wonderful shopping opportunities in Chicago, it can be difficult to select the best. From sophisticated Oak Street, with its designer boutiques, to the trend-setting stores found in the neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Bucktown, there are fantastic shopping areas no matter where you live and work in the city.
Although there are plenty of sprawling malls and shopping centers populating the surrounding Chicago suburbs, those who live and work in the city know that some of the best shopping centers and malls in Chicago are conveniently located right downtown. In the Loop, the Magnificent Mile takes precedence. Just steps from office skyscrapers, fantastic Chicago dining and the lively theater district are great shopping centers and malls like Water Tower Place and The Shops at 900 North Michigan.
900 North Michigan
900 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 915-3196
http://www.shop900.com
The shops at 900 North Michigan are some of the most fashionable in Chicago. With Bloomingdale's as its anchor, this shopping mall features about 70 fine designer stores and upscale restaurants. And with six levels, there's plenty to keep shoppers occupied. The mall features weekend entertainment, and when you get weary (or if you are a visitor from out of town and need a place to stay), drift over to the attached Four Seasons Hotel.
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 595-7437
http://www.navypier.com
This is the place for visitors to Chicago to have some fun and do a little shopping while they're at it. With a giant Ferris wheel (with a bird's-eye view of the city), boat rides on Lake Michigan, Children's Museum and IMAX theater, this is the perfect place to entertain children on a weekend afternoon. But it's not just for kids; there are plenty of adult-focused events held here in the large conference space, such as huge commercial art or garden shows. There's also a Shakespeare Theater and stained glass museum. With all these activities, it's a given that there would be some great shopping and dining thrown in as well. While many stores focus on souvenirs, there's also a bookstore and some great stores for home decor, as well.
Northbridge
520 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 327-3200
http://www.theshopsatnorthbridge.com
With more than 50 stores (including a huge Nordstrom as its anchor), 20 restaurants and five opulent hotels, Northbridge is a shopper's extravaganza of activities and merchandise. Need some help or have special requests? Look no further than the concierge service, on call in the central lobby to assist you (as well as providing a great place to store your packages).
Water Tower Place
835 N. Michigan
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-3166
http://www.shopwatertower.com
Without a doubt, this has to be one of the best and most visited shopping malls in Chicago. Across the street from the old Chicago Water Works (now converted into The Looking Glass Theater by David Schwimmer and friends), Water Tower Place is just steps from the Museum of Contemporary Art. Anchored by Macy's and Lord & Taylor, the mall boasts about 100 shops and restaurants, as well as a movie theater. Water Tower is also famous for its stunning apartments, and high in the tower above the mall lives one of the city's most famous residents: Oprah Winfrey.
