Once upon a time in Chicago, the West Loop was a meatpacking district. But today, the former industrial district and its historic warehouses have been transformed into an epicurean wonderland brimming with some of the most exciting dining destinations in the city.

 

Fulton Market, with its sterling array of restaurants, bars, shops, and boutique hotels, is a particularly vibrant hotspot on the West Loop landscape. Here you’ll find an outpost of Nobu atop the Chicago edition of its eponymous signature hotel brand, the hipster chic
Ace Hotel and the members only Soho House Chicago sidling up to spirited speakeasies like Blind Barber and The Office and the finest of fine dining establishments like Chef CJ Jacobson’s Aba, Hoxton Hotel’s Cira and the stalwart Swift & Sons steakhouse, both helmed by Chef Chris Pandel.   

 

Meanwhile, along a stretch of Randolph Street known as Restaurant Row, venerated eateries including James Beard award-winning chef Stephanie Izard’s The Girl and the Goat, and the oh-so-very-British
The Darling, mix it up with low-key local favorites like diner-style bar and restaurant Au Cheval, and the sticky and sweet sensation BomboBar. Also in the West Loop is Greektown, a hub of traditional restaurants, bakeries, and delis, and the National Hellenic Museum — the second oldest American institution dedicated to Greek culture.

 

And, finally, there’s the recently reopened Time Out Market, a food hall concept born in Portugal that is now taking root in the West Loop. In this culinary emporium of sorts, 18 eateries, showcasing a range of one-of-a-kind eateries from some of the leading stars of the local food scene including a standout bar, featuring a stellar line-up of mixologists as well as a Chicago-centric bar list, a demo kitchen,an event space, and a rooftop terrace combine to create one of this already booming neighborhood’s most unique dining experiences.