The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

General Features
Home›featured-blogs›General Features›Chicago Riverwalk: Spend a few hours — or a full day — at this popular pathway for locals and tourists

Chicago Riverwalk: Spend a few hours — or a full day — at this popular pathway for locals and tourists

By TheRealChicagoOnline
July 15, 2018
1011
0
Share:

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

By Trent Modglin

If you didn’t know it was there, you could easily miss it.

But if you traverse down a flight of stairs to discover the vast possibilities, quietly nestled just below the bustling city, you may spend an entire day in its grasp.

The Chicago Riverwalk is a winding, open-air 1.25-mile pathway located on the south bank of the main branch of the Chicago River, running from Lake Shore Drive to Franklin Street, essentially connecting the lakefront with the heart of downtown. In the works for more than a decade, it’s a seamless blend of city energy and outdoor living that officially opened in 2015 and has been a popular playground for locals and tourists ever since.

Wherever you go to grab a bite or a drink along the Riverwalk, watching the parade of boats and people passing by as the city sounds disappear is intoxicating in itself.

City Winery, already with a popular, sprawling restaurant and bar in the West Loop, added a second location along the Riverwalk (11 W. Riverwalk South), providing locally made wine served through a unique tapping system.

Craft beer afficianados were pleased to see the additions of the Chicago Brewhouse (31-35 E. Riverwalk South) and The Northman (233 E. Riverwalk), a local hotspot for ciders, this year.

Tiny Tapp (55 W. Riverwalk South) has a great signature craft cocktail concept and tasty sandwiches, while the Tiny Café next door features locally roasted coffee, fresh-baked pastries and ice cream. O’Brien’s, a longtime staple in Old Town, serves up American pub fare and a nice selection of beer, wine and cocktails (45 E. Riverwalk South).

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Want to feel like you’re on a vacation within your vacation? Head to Island Party Hut (355 E. Riverwalk) for a Polynesian/Caribbean escape. You can even hop on a floating tiki bar to take the fun out onto the water.

For a cold treat, swing by Frost Gelato to enjoy a rotation of handcrafted flavors served from an old-fashioned gelato cart.

To tap into a little history of the river itself, head to the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum to experience not only a landmark bridgehouse and the inner-workings of Chicago’s massive bridge system, but also an unparalleled view of the city. BridgehouseMuseum.org

Feeling a bit more active? You can take a tour with Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruiseline or paddle at your own pace with Kayak Chicago.

Want to bounce around between a handful of landmarks including Navy Pier, the Willis Tower and Museum Campus? There’s absolutely no need to battle our infamous potholes or the traffic downtown when you can conveniently cruise down the lakefront or the Chicago River in style on one of Shoreline Sightseeing’s six water taxis. Save time and the headache — and get a few great photos along the way. ShorelineSightseeing.com

Warning, however: Expect to spend more time than you anticipate along the sparkling new Riverwalk. It has a way of making you not be in a rush to be anywhere else. ChicagoRiverwalk.US

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

TagsChicago BrewhouseChicago RiverwalkCity WineryIsland Party HutMcCormick Bridgehouse MuseumMercury CruiselineO'Brien's ChicagoShoreline SightseeingThe NorthmanThe Real ChicagoTiny CafeTiny Tapp
Previous Article

Dining outside: Food and travel blogger Kit ...

Next Article

Finally: One fan’s long, excruciating wait to ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • Shop Around the Corner

    Shop Around the Corner: Rediscover some old media gems at The Exchange

    September 1, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • We Ask, They Answer

    We Ask, They Answer: Q&A with comedian and “Cash Cab” star Ben Bailey

    May 4, 2013
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Signature Dishes

    Chicago’s Signature Dishes: The tater tot poutine and ancho chile grilled fish tacos at Timothy O’Toole’s

    July 25, 2017
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Dining outside: Food and travel blogger Kit Graham’s favorite summer restaurants in Chicago

    July 13, 2018
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Shop Around the Corner

    Shop Around the Corner: Build your own jewelry creation at String a Strand in Old Town

    October 4, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    Chicago Insider: Meredith Franczyk on Quartino, Hopleaf and Half Acre beer, and dresses at Bazar

    December 11, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Tastebud Tours: A walking tour of Chicago that includes generous portions of the city’s best grub? Count us in

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Southport shopping spree: Plenty of unique stores on this quaint street

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • LATEST REVIEWS

  • TOP REVIEWS

Timeline

  • November 11, 2021

    Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

  • July 31, 2019

    Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & Ash

  • July 30, 2019

    First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater experience

  • July 28, 2019

    Finger lickin’ good: Six trusted Chicago spots for a stellar barbecue experience

  • July 25, 2019

    The Big City Blog: Four Friday Night Flights beer tastings remain this summer, including July 26 in Ravenswood

Latest Comments

  • The 14 Best Fireplaces in Chicago | UrbanMatter
    on
    October 11, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: The Real Chicago […]

    Cozy on up: We asked active Chicagoans for their favorite spots to warm up in the ...

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum | FreeForAll.org
    on
    January 16, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum – FreeForAll.org
    on
    October 23, 2016
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • The Real Chicago – The Big City Blog: A very Chicago night on the town
    on
    May 31, 2016
    […] up was The Redhead Piano Bar for drinks and live music. I’ve said it before ...

    Friendly, unfussy, and serious about music: Hanging with Marshall Nelson from the Redhead Piano Bar

  • Scouting Logan Square: A Renewed Historical Neighborhood - The Annex, a blog by Casamatic
    on
    March 10, 2016
    […] (cover photo via The Real Chicago) […]

    The rise of Logan Square: Why this diverse area has quickly become one of Chicago’s hottest ...

Find us on Facebook

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
  • Latest Posts

  • Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    November 11, 2021
  • Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 31, 2019
  • First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 30, 2019

Photostream

    Follow us

    © Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.