8 Best Neighborhoods in Chicago for Young Professionals | Brixbid

Being a young professional in Chicago can be very exciting. But, you need to be in the right place to meet people and have the experiences you need to grow your career and have fun. Choose one of these 8 neighborhoods to find an apartment, and have the city at your fingertips.

1. Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is situated less than two miles from The Loop and sits north of the Downtown area. This neighborhood also has two L train stations to get to other Chicago locations without driving. CTA buses are also available.

Many apartments in Lincoln Park are situated along its namesake park and are near the L train stops. Residents have their choice of remodeled buildings, converted homes, and luxury apartment complexes. 

If you want a dazzling view, look for apartments near Lake Michigan. On weekends, hit North Avenue Beach to relax or play volleyball with friends. 

There are plenty of places to eat around Lincoln Park. Summer House Santa Monica, Homeslice, and Willow Room are especially popular in this neighborhood. For live entertainment, try Kingston Miles for blues music while sipping beers.

2. Bucktown

Living in Bucktown offers proximity to the Loop and Lincoln Park and home to mansions turned apartments and new condo developments. Bucktown also boasts 100-year-old brownstones converted into apartments.

As one of the best neighborhoods for young professionals, you can blow off steam after work jogging along the 2.7-mile long 606. The converted train line turned walkway also features community art projects.

For after-work drinks and music, try the Hideout. Lottie’s Pub is also a popular hangout that does pop-up themes and has a dancefloor in the basement. Or for more options, the Gallery Cabaret hosts comedy shows for late-night laughs.

Just because you’re a career professional doesn’t mean you’re not a kid at heart. You can rediscover the fun at Whirlyball for mini-golf, arcade, bowling, and laser tag. And if you want to play life-size shuffleboard, Royal Palms has you covered.

3. West Loop

West Loop is one of the most popular neighborhoods for young professionals. It used to be a meat-packing district. Now it’s a hub for high-end restaurants, trendy bars. West Loop is close to tech employers, including Google. Take your pick of luxury apartments, lofts, or converted homes. 

Beyond high-rise apartments, West Loop is also home to scores of office space, like the Wacker Drive office towers. Allstate recently acquired it for their potential new headquarters. 

A section of Halsted is called Greektown and features some of the city’s best Greek food prepared and served by authentic culinary masterminds

West Loop is a stone’s throw from bars and music venues, like the punk rock Bottom Lounge. A popular hotspot is Kaiser Tiger, a restaurant/bar with a nice beer garden that has ice curling in the winters. 

Emporium Fulton Market offers pinball and arcade games, pool tables, and air hockey for some weekend fun. Or go indoor rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders.

4. Logan Square

Logan Square is among the best neighborhoods in Chicago for students, as well as career-climbers. Take your choice of apartments in converted bungalows, Greystone buildings, and luxury units. 

Hip, young professionals also live in Logan Square for its bohemian vibe. You’ll find creative energy and proximity to a bustling commercial strip. There’s never a shortage of pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops. 

Logan Square locals gather for craft cocktails at Spilt Milk after work. Or take in an indie flick at the Logan Theater. 

Park and Field is also really popular here. This vintage sports club has farm-to-table food, and bocce courts. The farmers market here in the summer is popular, too.

5. River North

River North is the place for nightlife and some of the best cocktails in town. You’ll find luxury complexes, high rises, and warehouses turned into apartments. Although you won’t find much green space, you have your choice of art galleries and restaurants.

Stunning high rises line the streets of River North. The landmark Marina City is a weekend hotspot thanks to the House of Blues. Hot places to go in River North are The Hampton Social, Joy District, Three Dots and a Dash, Celeste (they have a light-up dancefloor that’s really cool). There are also a lot of brunch spots over here, including Beatrix, Etta, Meli Cafe.

Art lovers feel right at home living in one of Chicago’s best neighborhoods for museums and galleries. The River North Gallery District is home to the biggest concentration of art galleries outside of Manhattan. 

Beyond art, you’ll also find the River North Design District. The community boasts interior design offerings and trendsetting housewares.

6. Gold Coast

It’s easy to see why Gold Coast is among the best neighborhoods in Chicago for young professionals. The upscale community features some of the city’s most visited attractions, restaurants, and entertainment. 

Gold Coast residents live in mansions, rowhouses, and high-rise apartments. People often compare the neighborhood to Manhattan’s prestigious Upper East Side.

The Magnificent Mile features luxury shopping along Michigan Avenue. Over at Newberry Library, you can find rare books, scholarly literature, and free events. The Gold Coast also has its own party district, or you soak up the culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. 

For some time outdoors, enjoy the sunshine at Oak Street Beach. Or take your coffee to the local Washington Square Park to relax in one of the city’s oldest parks that still exists today. 

7. The Loop

Young professionals enjoy The Loop’s location near work, culture, and urban amenities. New development rapidly developed in the Loop and offers luxury apartments and condos. The neighborhood is home to juggernauts Sprout Social, JP Morgan Chase, and Morningstar, among others.

One of the biggest benefits of living in The Loop is its convenience. There are eight L stations in the Loop for quick access to work.

The Loop features some of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll find The Bean, Millennium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Shopping, theater, and dining options fill The Loop and keep it bustling. Locals walk along the Riverwalk before work with a cold iced coffee for some time outdoors. 

Speaking of the Riverwalk, there are tons of activities here for young professionals. This area is rich with restaurants, wineries, beer gardens. You can hop on a kayak and row on the river or grab an architectural riverboat tour to learn more about Chicago’s buildings.

8. Lakeview

Lake View is among the best neighborhoods for young professionals in Chicago. The area is walkable to work, the L train, or area attractions. You’re also just 2.5 miles to Downtown.

As a dense, urban neighborhood, Lakeview is home to lots of vintage buildings and high-rises alike. You can also make the most of your views by living near the waterfront. 

Take your clients out to a game at Wrigley Field or meet friends after work at Music Box Theater. The comedy scene is strong in Lake View, and there’s always a place to dance or see some theater. 

Lake View also includes the smaller neighborhoods of Wrigleyville and Boystown. Wrigleyville is home to Wrigley Field and convenient if you love baseball or work at the ballpark. Or, you may know Boystown as the first officially recognized gay village in the United States. Both of these are major party areas.

If you’re looking to live in a calmer area of this neighborhood, Lakeview East and Roscoe Village are great options. Southport is also a charming little area with vintage buildings that house tons of local shops and mid-to-high end favorites like Lululemon, Soulcycle, Free People, and Anthropologie.

Find Your Dream Apartment on Brixbid

Chicago is a great place to live as a young professional. There are infinite opportunities for you to have fun, network, and have amazing experiences if you know which neighborhoods are the best in Chicago for young professionals.

Ready to find an apartment? Brixbid helps you find the best neighborhoods in Chicago for young professionals and directly make an offer to the landlord. It’s an easy way to negotiate your rent in Chicago without hassle. 

Get all the convenience of proximity to work and urban fun in Chicago at a negotiated price when you browse apartments on Brixbid.