10 Best Chicago Neighborhoods for Foodies
Looking to live in a Chicago neighborhood with great food? Explore some of the hotspots of Chicago’s food scene for the best deep-dish pizza, Italian beef, and Chicago-style hot dogs.
South Loop’s invigorating blend of business and pleasure attracts a wide range of residents who love to stay active and participate in a fast-paced, modern lifestyle. Located just south of central downtown, South Loop encapsulates most of the Grant Park area and borders the shore of Lake Michigan. Many locals are able to walk to work, and the exceptional access to public transportation makes it easy to get anywhere in the city.
This area’s diverse population includes students, musicians, politicians, artists, and professionals of many industries. A superb selection of world-class restaurants draws foodies from across the city, and the local nightlife incorporates everything from music venues to dive bars to swanky nightclubs. The famous museums of the neighborhood cater to more academic tastes, and the waterfront parks offer lush environments to relax and enjoy gorgeous views of the lake. With Soldier Field right next door, it’s the perfect location for Bears fans.
As of April 2025, the average apartment rent in South Loop is $1,747 for a studio, $2,075 for one bedroom, $2,841 for two bedrooms, and $3,161 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in South Loop has increased by 0.2% in the past year.
Studio
452 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,747/month
Average Rent
1 BR
572 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,075/month
Average Rent
2 BR
775 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,841/month
Average Rent
3 BR
857 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$3,161/month
Average Rent
Looking to live in a Chicago neighborhood with great food? Explore some of the hotspots of Chicago’s food scene for the best deep-dish pizza, Italian beef, and Chicago-style hot dogs.
Walker's Paradise
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
Lace up your walking shoes because this area is considered a walker’s paradise.
Excellent Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You’ll have excellent transit living in this area, with several nearby transit stops.
Very Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.