GOLD COAST
Chicago's Gold Coast, which hugs Lake Michigan from Oak Street to North Avenue, is the city's most up-scale and exclusive neighborhood. Among these quiet, tree-lined streets you'll find elegant multi-million dollar brownstones, numerous historic mansions and some of the wealthiest families in Chicago. Surrounded by the lake to the east, Lincoln Park to the north, Old Town dining and nightlife to the west and Michigan Avenue shopping to the south, this is an outstanding Chicago neighborhood and a great place to explore no matter the season.
As you stroll through the neighborhood, it's hard to believe that this area consisted of undeveloped marshland and cemeteries up until the 1880s. In the early 1880s, Potter Palmer, a wealthy retailer turned real estate tycoon, bought much of the land in the area and built a mansion. The area was transformed as many other wealthy Chicagoans followed Potter's lead and moved north from Chicago's near south side.
The Gold Coast includes the once infamous Rush Street nightlife district, which is now a gentrified area of upscale restaurants and bars. The main entertainment area runs up Rush Street from Walton Place to Division Street. The diagonal Rush Street ends when it meets State Street, forming a triangle which is the center of activity in the area. With places like Gibson's Steak House, LUXBAR and The Tavern on Rush, you'll find a generally older crowd (30's on up) of people who want to see and be seen. Don't be surprised to see Bentley's or Lamborghini's being valeted as you walk by. This is a great area to eat and drink the night away.
Just to the north and adjacent to the Rush Street nightlife area you'll find the bars of Division Street. These bars are generally much more casual than those found on Rush Street. The Division Street bars are anchored by the legendary Butch McGuire's, The Lodge and Mother's, with many bars featuring nightly DJs, dancing and very late-night (4:00am - 5:00am) liquor licenses. Elm Street, the street just south of Division, also has a couple of bars worth checking-out.
For a fun, informative walking tour of the Gold Coast featuring its historic residential district, be sure to take our FREE self-guided walking tour. All of our self-guided tours are located in the "Tours" section of eVisitorGuide, or simply tap the button below to get started.
As you stroll through the neighborhood, it's hard to believe that this area consisted of undeveloped marshland and cemeteries up until the 1880s. In the early 1880s, Potter Palmer, a wealthy retailer turned real estate tycoon, bought much of the land in the area and built a mansion. The area was transformed as many other wealthy Chicagoans followed Potter's lead and moved north from Chicago's near south side.
The Gold Coast includes the once infamous Rush Street nightlife district, which is now a gentrified area of upscale restaurants and bars. The main entertainment area runs up Rush Street from Walton Place to Division Street. The diagonal Rush Street ends when it meets State Street, forming a triangle which is the center of activity in the area. With places like Gibson's Steak House, LUXBAR and The Tavern on Rush, you'll find a generally older crowd (30's on up) of people who want to see and be seen. Don't be surprised to see Bentley's or Lamborghini's being valeted as you walk by. This is a great area to eat and drink the night away.
Just to the north and adjacent to the Rush Street nightlife area you'll find the bars of Division Street. These bars are generally much more casual than those found on Rush Street. The Division Street bars are anchored by the legendary Butch McGuire's, The Lodge and Mother's, with many bars featuring nightly DJs, dancing and very late-night (4:00am - 5:00am) liquor licenses. Elm Street, the street just south of Division, also has a couple of bars worth checking-out.
For a fun, informative walking tour of the Gold Coast featuring its historic residential district, be sure to take our FREE self-guided walking tour. All of our self-guided tours are located in the "Tours" section of eVisitorGuide, or simply tap the button below to get started.
There's much to see and do in the Gold Coast. Below are some of our favorites.
Getting to the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is an easy taxi or ride-share from the downtown Loop area, or can be reached by taking the CTA Red Line. You can get off at Chicago Avenue and walk north up State or Rush Streets, or get off at Clark/Division and walk a couple of blocks east (to the Division Street nightlife district) then south on State Street to the Rush Street area or north into the Gold Coast's historic residential area.
The Gold Coast is an easy taxi or ride-share from the downtown Loop area, or can be reached by taking the CTA Red Line. You can get off at Chicago Avenue and walk north up State or Rush Streets, or get off at Clark/Division and walk a couple of blocks east (to the Division Street nightlife district) then south on State Street to the Rush Street area or north into the Gold Coast's historic residential area.