Explore Life in Chicago’s Fulton Market District

Known as a city of neighborhoods, Chicago offers a diverse range of living options and lifestyles. Each neighborhood is a tapestry of restaurants, shops, gyms and, of course, apartments – making the options for what your life looks like in this city endless.

If convenience, trendiness and access to the latest and greatest are important to you, look no further than Fulton Market. Nestled adjacent to the West Loop and across from River West, its options for dining, culture and living can’t be beat – and with new high-rise luxury apartments popping up seemingly monthly, the time is right to seek out a lease.

Read on for a full overview of day-to-day life in this part of Chicago.

Where you’ll live

As Fulton Market grows, more opportunities for living in this fantastic area are proliferating. Some new, high-profile opportunities to rent are:

Parq Fulton

1400 W Randolph

Parq Fulton has an amazing location right near Union Park, proximate to Fulton Market and River West – and has gorgeous new units.

900 Randolph

900 W Randolph

900 Randolph is due for completion in 2024, and will boast 300 loft style apartments and incredible, hotel-like amenities.

Fullbrix Apartments

160 N Elizabeth

Fullbrix is a highly-anticipated development that will allow future residents the option of studios, one-, two- and three-bedrooms – some of which will have private balconies.

Interested in exploring more up and coming buildings in Fulton Market? Click here!

Where you’ll eat

As the epicenter of excellent dining in the city, Restaurant Row on Randolph street is home to many of Chicago’s most beloved restaurants. That tradition of quality expands to Fulton Market, just a block away.

A few must-try restaurants in this neighborhood include:

• Roiser, a fine dining spot owned by the Alinea Group that focuses on seasonal ingredients and excellent preparation.
• Uncooked, a great option for a healthy (and vegan!) fast-casual meal on the go.
• Good Ambler, a coffee shop with an in-house bakery that’s a great place to get work done.
• The Publican, a standby with great brunch and dinner options. We love this spot for out-of-towners!

Where you’ll shop

While many major retailers are beginning to call West Loop and Fulton Market home, there are still plenty of incredible local shops to enjoy. We recommend:

• The Pop Up houses vintage jerseys, tees, shoes and art – and, as a bonus, is located on the chic first floor of the Hoxton Hotel.
• Uncommon James was created by TV personality Kristin Cavallari and sells on-trend jewelry and unique household goods.
• Scratch Goods is situated in a gorgeous loft space right on Randolph Street. In addition to selling hand-made skincare, they also offer DIY mask bar classes!
• Asrai Garden is a local go-to flowers, gifts and decor, and, situated next to the Emily Hotel,  is a wonderful space to wander in.

Where you’ll go out

Where you find wonderful restaurants, you’re sure to find wonderful drinking establishments. From local haunts to fancy cocktail lounges, Fulton Market’s bars have something for everyone:

• Blind Barber is an aptly-named speakeasy with a bustling vibe on the weekends as well as great cocktails and grilled cheese on the late-night menu (!).
• The Aviary, created by the Alinea group, offers award-winning cocktails that would make an amazing complement to dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants nearby.
• Punch Bowl Social, housed in a mighty warehouse space right on Fulton street, has bowling, billiards and ping pong – and is a great option for hanging with a big group.
• Federales is a beloved local spot that’s at its best on a summer day when you can enjoy a drink on their expansive patio.
• Tony’s Rooftop Bar sits atop Time Out market and has one of the best happy hours in the area. Since it’s proximate to the food below, it’s a great bar for meeting up with friends while having a quick bite.

Where you’ll caffeinate

No matter what new neighborhood you move to, there’s no more important spot than your new local coffee shop. Thankfully, Fulton Market is full of a range of options to get your caffeine (and work-from-wherever) fix:

• La Colombe is known for excellent coffee, and this outpost has their good stuff on draft. It also happens to be a wonderful, vibey place to get work done (if you’re lucky enough to get a table!).
• Good Ambler is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful coffee spots in Chicago, and for good reason: not only are the coffee and house-made pastries incredible, it’s also a gorgeous, airy space that would make a great backdrop for a work meeting or long weekend hangout.
• Sawada Coffee shares a space with Green Street Smoked Meats, and serves up funky drinks such as the military latte, which is made with both espresso and matcha.
• Bittersweet Coffee and Patisserie is housed within Time Out Market, giving it a boost by allowing for multiple breakfast options nearby. Be sure to try a pastry!
• Howdy Kolache might not focus on coffee, but the kolaches (a mix between a bun and a bagel) are one of the best possible ways to start your day.
• The Goddess and The Grocer just opened its newest location on Randolph Street, and continues to delight with fun lattes and a full breakfast menu.

What you’ll do 

Surrounded by incredible restaurants, you’ll find no shortage of things to do in Fulton Market on a regular basis. That said, there are also great local cultural hotspots as well as seasonal events to keep you entertained throughout the year:

• Fulton Market Kitchen hosts gallery viewings as well as live paintings in its restaurant space.
• The United Center is an old standby for concerts, Bulls games and Blackhawks games.
• Fulton Street Collective is an artist collective with a full calendar of art and music events.
• Time Out Market consistently hosts jazz brunches, DJs and cooking classes.
• Punch Bowl Social is home to Meetup events in its game and bar space.
• The Taste of Fulton Market, which is held each September, caps off summer by bringing local restaurants and vendors together for a festival on Fulton Street.
• The Rooftop Cinema Club runs throughout summer and into October, and shows new and vintage films al fresco on the Emily Hotel Rooftop.

With so much to do, places to eat and up-and-coming places to live (literally!), Fulton Market is the next great neighborhood destination in Chicago. If you want in on the action, reach out to our Luxury Living agents or follow the link below to get started with your search!