Chicago has the unique benefit of being a Midwestern city with a big collection of waterfront neighborhoods thanks to both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The CTA’s ‘L’ and bus lines help residents get around the city, but a different type of transportation offers the optimal way to explore neighborhoods on the river. The Chicago Water Taxi has seven stops that make it easy to explore some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.

The Chicago Water Taxi stops.

Chinatown

Ping Tom Memorial Park.
Ping Tom Memorial Park. 

The Chicago Water Taxi stops right at Ping Tom Memorial Park in the Near South Side neighborhood of Chinatown. While some neighborhoods seem to easily blend into one another, the entrance to Chinatown is immediately recognizable thanks to the Chinatown Gate.

Within the neighborhood, you’ll find a rich cultural pride reflected in the restaurants, shops, and architecture. Spend the day wandering through Chinatown Square sampling some of the best food in the city. The water taxi doesn’t run all night long, but if you decide to linger well into the evening, Chinatown has some of the best late-night food in the city. 

Spots like MingHin Cuisine stay open until at least 2 a.m., while the lights stay on and the kitchen stays open at Three Happiness Original Restaurant 24 hours a day. 

Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile, Chicago.
Photo by Kenyon Edmond

The Chicago Water Taxi stop at Michigan Avenue is the ideal disembarking point for anyone who wants to spend a day on the Magnificent Mile. The Mag Mile is just a small strip of a neighborhood, but it’s one of the most recognizable in the entire city. Chicago’s go-to shopping district and home to iconic spots like The Drake hotel and Tribune Tower, this neighborhood is constantly alive with the movement of residents and tourists.

Hop off at this water taxi stop if you want to spend the day laden with shopping bags or taking in your fill of window shopping. This one-mile stretch of the city is also an excellent spot for the finer aspects of dining out. Try the multiple steakhouses dotting the Mile, or truly elevate the experience by ascending to The Signature Room, a restaurant on the 95th floor of the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center.

River North

The Wells St. bridge crossing the Chicago River.
The Wells St. bridge crossing the Chicago River. Photo by Kenyon Edmond 

The Chicago Avenue stop on the water taxi route is in the middle of River North and River West, making it an ideal starting place to get to know both neighborhoods. River North, just across the river from the Loop, is another busy downtown neighborhood. In the summer, you’ll find the Riverwalk busy with residents and tourists alike taking advantage of the view and the pop-up restaurants that dot the riverfront. 

While the Riverwalk is one of the neighborhood’s most popular stretches, you’ll find the interior just as attractive. River North is a big name in eating out. You can find everything from the fast-casual (Portillo’s is a beloved Chicago classic) to the upscale (Bavette’s Steakhouse and Bar is steeped in the dim lighting and dark wood of a restaurant that suggests the importance of making a reservation beforehand).

If you’re on the hunt for a drink after a hearty meal, River North’s restaurant scene is easily matched by its bar presence. You could hit one of the clubs along Hubbard Street, or if you’re more interested in the latest in craft cocktails, try the hip Broken Shaker at the Freehand Hotel, the upscale Gilt Bar, or the subterranean tiki bar Three Dots and a Dash.

River West

The outdoor patio at the corner of Chicago and Halsted.
The outdoor patio at the corner of Chicago and Halsted. Photo by Kenyon Edmond

Hop off the water taxi at Chicago Avenue for an introduction to one of Chicago’s formerly industrial but now oh-so-trendy neighborhoods. River West is less established than River North as a posh neighborhood destination, but its star is on an undeniable rise. Condos and lofts converted from the neighborhood’s industrial days attract a crowd looking for the latest “it” spot in the city.

Outside of its homes, River West dabbles in a little bit of everything. You’ll find upscale boutiques (like ZipFit Denim), restaurants with outdoor patios, art galleries, gyms with a trendy twist, and a spa with baths inspired by Ancient Greece and Rome. The relatively small size of the neighborhood makes it easy to explore on foot once you leave the water taxi. 

West Loop

The West Loop's Fulton Market.
The West Loop's Fulton Market. Photo by Kenyon Edmond 

For a day in the West Loop, step off of the water taxi at the Ogilvie/Union stop. The West Loop fits neatly with the trend clear among many of the city’s riverfront neighborhoods: undeniably modern and full of good places to eat. Pass a pleasurable day strolling the dense streets—often shaded by its towering office and condo buildings—of this Chicago neighborhood.

A larger community with its own pocket neighborhoods, like Fulton Market, the West Loop is home to professionals who want to work close to home and indulge in an active nightlife. Randolph Restaurant Row is a concentrated strip of some of the city’s best restaurants (Au Cheval, Bar Siena, City Winery, Girl and the Goat) all within walking distance of one another. Randolph Street is also home to its own antiques market, which offers a rich collection of vintage finds and serves as a buzzy social spot.