Best Shopping Malls in Cook County Area

"Featuring the largest number of stores exclusive to Chicago, Water Tower Place changed the face of Windy City shopping when it opened in 1975. Shifting attention from State Street to North Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place Mall is a unique high-energy urban shopping experience. The stunning eight-level atrium features Macy’s as its headline store, with more than a hundred other shops for your perusal."

"Whether you have the money for a Chicago-style shopping spree or just want to walk around window shopping while pretending that you do, the Water Tower Place is a great place to check out while you're in town. Here you'll see the big retailers and plenty of high-end stores. This seven-story complex also has a food court and the Lego and American Girl stores if you're there with the kids."

"Water Tower Place is located in the vicinity of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago Sports Museum, universities, and a spacious park. The mall got its name after a nearby water tower was built in 1869. It is located in a nine-story skyscraper that was opened in 1976."

"900 North Michigan in Chicago is a world-renowned skyscraper that stands 871 feet tall and is the eighth-tallest building in Chicago. Completed in 1989 by Urban Retail Properties, 900 North Michigan was built as an upscale sister building to Water Tower Place one block away and was the second vertical mall built on the Magnificent Mile. The skyscraper is home to an upscale shopping mall known as 900 North Michigan Shops spanning more than 450,000 square feet of space with luxury stores like Bloomingdale's, Gucci, MaxMara, Kate Spade New York, Micheal Kors, L'Occitane and J."

"The shops at 900 North Michigan are based within a skyscraper of the same name. Situated between Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, the six-storey atrium offers an elite shopping experience; with Bloomingdales as headliner, the architecturally stunning building is home to such stores as Gucci, Michael Cors, Coach and Karen Millen. Once you have covered the 450,000 square feet of designer shops, dine in style at the award-winning Seasons Restaurant in the attached Four Seasons Hotel, or head to exclusive eateries like Oak Tree, Baisi Thai or Forty Carrots at Bloomingdales."

"Shopping at 900 North Michigan is one of the coolest things to do in downtown Chicago. Not only does it offer amazing views from its pillar-like towers, but since it’s all indoors, it’s perfect for a cold or rainy day. Hundreds of retailers call it home."

"With a bridge spanning the city streets of downtown Chicago, The Shops at North Bridge has unique architecture for a shopping mall. A grand escalator takes shoppers to any of three floors, but the stores aren’t limited to the enclosed mall. The retail complex covers a total of seven blocks and includes Italian superstore Eataly."

"This mall on Michigan Avenue is all about fun, fashion, food and family. The Shops at North Bridge is a four-level shopping centre. It is home to over 50 world-class retailers: fashion stores, cosmetics, toy stores, electronics for tech-savvy visitors, and more."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user One Homo Sapiens used under CC BY 3.0. Heading to the Southwest Side of Chicago?. Ford City Mall has stood there since 1945."

"Potter Palmer, Marshall Field, Daniel Burnham, David Adler and Bruce Graham are just a handful of the notable burials at Graceland Cemetery in the Uptown neighborhood. While cemeteries may creep some people out, this one is notable for being a lush, tranquil place for Chicagoans to relax and enjoy the silence. The 2,000 trees and 50 species here are certified by the Morton Arboretum and carefully maintained."

"Although cemeteries can be eerie to some, this spot is anything but scary. Bring a blanket, your favorite book and pop a squat under one of the many honey locust trees for a relaxing day in the shade."

"Near Irving Park Road, this graveyard has crypts that are almost as strikingly designed as the city skyline. A number of Chicago's most…"

"No trip to Chicago would be complete without a stroll up Michigan Ave and the Magnificent Mile, so head up there after the aquarium. Most of the shops here are super high-end (think Gucci), so if you’re like me, you’re mostly window shopping, but it’s still fun to walk along and enjoy what is Chicago’s version of NYC’s Fifth Avenue."

"Take transit (or walk) up Michigan Avenue north of the river to shop the Magnificent Mile. If you’re not in the mood for shopping, check out Navy Pier which is a Chicago Landmark and offers a variety of attractions for all ages to enjoy."

"Michigan Avenue, or Mag Mile as some call it, is a potpourri of historic buildings, upscale boutiques, department stores, and posh hotels."

"The Wooden Pavilion at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Pond is a fantastic way to frame Chicago’s skyline around the John Hancock Center. Additionally the structure itself is fun to photograph and a fun spot for portraits. South Pond on Google Maps"

"Next seems to be unique in the same way all molecular-gastronomy restaurants are unique: the restaurant creates dishes with obscure ingredients, strange presentation, innovative cooking methods, and crazy flavor combinations. But Next pushes boundaries of experimental cuisine by rotating themes. For example, they’ve run a service they called “The Hunt,” which served game-centered dishes on logs."

"The most forward-thinking restaurant in the country, in my opinion, Next is another ticketed experience from the team behind bucket-list worthy Alinea. Every quarter they completely reconceptualize the space and food from Paris 1906 to Thailand 2020 and even had a whimsical Childhood menu with edible finger paints. The buzz definitely justifies the hype."

"Next restaurant offers family-style meals that change weekly. You can also choose to add a cocktail kit from The Aviary."

"The best example of an ice cream parlor that toes the line between bygone nostalgia and modern polish is Cone, the adorably named West Loop parlor with an Irish accent. Prior to Cone's opening, I wasn't aware Irish ice cream was a thing, but apparently it is, and it's pretty great, because any opportunity to consume Jameson in ice cream form is pretty cool. From milkshakes and sundaes to candy and soft-serve, the menu covers the whole spectrum of dessert."

"Description: Cone Chicago is a family-owned ice cream shop specializing in unique flavors like birthday cake ice cream covered in Lucky Charms."

"ChinatownThai-style rolled ice cream had a moment a couple years back, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s still the belle of the sweet, sweet ball. This Chinatown hotspot was one the first to introduce Chicago to the curious confection, curling luscious portions of Matcha Queen (green tea and strawberry), Double Trouble (Oreo and Nutella), Key Lime Pie, and other originals into neat rolls by hand to the delight of admiring onlookers.How to book: Stop by for counter service, order take-out online, or get delivery via GrubHub, Postmates, DoorDash, and Uber Eats."

"If you’re a fan of hand rolled ice cream then you should definitely check out Legend Tasty House. At this Chinatown ice cream shop, employees hand roll the ice cream in front of you and finish it off with mix-ins such as fresh fruit, oreo cookies, taro and a bunch of other amazing toppings!"