Water Tower Place
4.5(14K)google
3.6(372)yelp
DowntownIndoor
Overview
Water Tower Place is an iconic, bustling nine-story vertical shopping resort towering prominently over the energetic core of the Magnificent Mile. Anchored by a spectacular, soaring glass atrium and dramatic cascading express escalators, this premier retail destination features over a hundred high-end fashion boutiques, unique specialty stores like the massive American Girl Place, and an array of diverse dining options. It serves as an exciting, all-inclusive urban consumer haven that combines world-class shopping convenience with breathtaking indoor architecture, making it a must-visit staple for families and fashion seekers visiting downtown.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 1.5-3 hours
Best TimeAccessible year-round, but highly recommended during the holiday shopping season in late November and December. The soaring vertical multi-story atrium features breathtaking Christmas displays and lights. It serves as an iconic indoor retail haven to escape Chicago's bitter winter wind.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned on the Magnificent Mile. Take the 'L' Red Line to the Chicago station, walk east for about 5 minutes to Michigan Avenue, and turn north for half a block to enter this landmark vertical shopping mall with its glass-atrium elevators.
Travel Tips
- The shopping center's iconic glass atrium elevators suffer from extreme queues. For rapid transit between shopping tiers rather than sightseeing, use the regular enclosed elevators hidden deep in the side corridors. Avoid the peak rush between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekends.
- Per corporate security mandates, a strict Youth Escort Policy activates every Friday and Saturday after 4:00 PM. All visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older; security guards heavily station entrances to verify photo IDs and turn away unescorted minors.
- The building's underground garage charges exorbitant hourly rates, and standard retail spending rarely grants validation waivers. Secure a nearby parking slot via SpotHero. For rideshares, set your pin to Pearson St instead of the gridlocked Magnificent Mile lanes.
Reviews
Positive
- As the Magnificent Mile's iconic multi-story indoor shopping mall, its grand atrium glass elevators and vertical marble layouts are fully real.
- It gathers high-fun global flagship brands like American Girl and LEGO, offering fully-integrated family shopping, dining, and leisure fun.
- It links directly to extensive city bus lines, offering unbeatable convenience with ample clean accessible public restrooms and clear signs.
- The food concourse and retail shops offer rich seasonal promotions; order is tightly maintained with visible security, ensuring great peace of mind.
Heads up
- With recent closures of traditional anchor department stores like Macy's, the retail volume has declined, making upper floors feel sparse.
- During Black Friday, Christmas shopping seasons, or long weekends, tourist density explodes with massive noise and packed elevator queues.
- The on-site underground parking garage charges rates that are among the highest in the city, carrying a clear premium commercial markup.
- Due to its massive skyscraper footprint, certain accessible elevator signs are tucked away, making navigating the layout feel like a maze.