Water Tower Place is a vast retail and entertainment center, which has assorted clothing stores, a sports museum, a theater and restaurants. It occupies eight floors of a towering skyscraper and is one of the earliest examples of a U.S. vertical mall. Opened in 1976, Water Tower Place brought mid-range shopping to Chicago’s traditionally upscale Magnificent Mile commercial zone.
Ride the glass elevator to the atrium-style levels and visit over 100 stores. Browse for the latest styles in men’s, women’s and children’s fashion at the shops of popular clothing brands. Purchase casual, formal and sporting footwear. Peruse the electronics, health and housewares shops and specialty outlets, including luxury jewelers.
Take a break from your shopping spree and visit the variety of eating and drinking options. Enjoy a hearty meal at a full-service restaurant or pick up coffee, hot pretzels and sandwiches to eat on the go. Try everything from healthy salads to freshly baked pastries and barbecue ribs at the Foodlife urban food hall, which has more than a dozen different stands.
Have fun with interactive exhibits and revisit sports history at the Chicago Sports Museum. Try hands-on challenges and compare your performance with acclaimed Chicago sportspeople. Learn about sporting myths, team rituals and fan superstitions. See the large-size Super Bowl winner’s ring of Chicago Bears player William “Refrigerator” Perry and scan the inside of Sammy Sosa’s corked bat.
Book tickets for a show at the Broadway Playhouse. Watch performances of hit musicals such as Traces and Rock of Ages.
Located in the northern section of the Magnificent Mile, the mall is easy to reach via public transportation. Public buses stop outside the main entrance and an L train station is a 5-minute walk away. Visit nearby city attractions including the City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Water Tower Place is open daily. Find individual opening hours of the shops and restaurants listed on the mall’s official website.
