Sub-area
Riverside Plaza, West Loop
Riverside Plaza is the West Loop's office-tower cluster south of Madison Street, sitting between Halsted Street and the Chicago River. The area takes its name from the South Riverside Plaza buildings along the west bank of the river; its newest anchor is the 727-foot BMO Tower at 320 South Canal, opened in 2022 on a former Amtrak parking lot. Most of the area's daytime population is commuter, sharing Union Station's Metra access — a handful of long-running restaurants, a historic diner, and one hotel anchor the off-work hours.
Quick facts
- Formal name
- South Riverside Plaza office district
- Span
- Between Madison Street and the Eisenhower Expressway, west of the Chicago River, east of Halsted Street
- Also known as
- South Riverside Plaza · South Canal office district
- Part of
- West Loop, Chicago
History
The northern end of the broader Riverside Plaza area is anchored by the former Chicago Daily News Building at 2 N Riverside Plaza, completed in 1929 — the first American skyscraper built with air rights over railroad tracks and the first to incorporate an open-air plaza into its design. The cluster south of Madison filled out through the late 20th century with 222 South Riverside Plaza and 300 South Riverside Plaza joining the riverfront, and the area now includes a mix of mid-century and post-2000 office towers. The most recent addition is the BMO Tower at 320 South Canal, opened in spring 2022 as the U.S. headquarters of BMO Bank — 51 stories, 1.5 million square feet, with a 1.5-acre public green plaza at street level. Anchoring the south end of the district, Lou Mitchell's opened in 1923 on West Jackson and has served Union Station commuters and visitors continuously since.
Today
Today the area is mostly weekday commuter territory: corporate headquarters, financial services, law firms, and a handful of tenant-only employee cafés. The street-level retail leans toward quick lunch and food-court fare aimed at the office crowd, plus the Union Station food court on Canal between Adams and Jackson. A few destination-worthy spots sit within walking distance — Lou Mitchell's for breakfast, 9 Muses for Greek and cocktails, and Ahuevo for the egg-sandwich concept that drew national attention. The Holiday Inn & Suites on West Harrison anchors the southern edge of the district.
Anchor restaurants
The destination food and drink spots inside the district.
- Lou Mitchell's A West Jackson breakfast diner that opened in 1923, serving Union Station commuters and visitors for more than a century.565 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60661
- 9 Muses Bar & Grill Greek cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails on South Halsted.315 S Halsted St 1st, Chicago, IL, 60661
- Ahuevo West Harrison egg-sandwich concept that drew national attention for its over-medium-egg-on-toast format.520 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Canal Street Eatery & Market Italian-inspired eatery, market, and bar a few blocks north along the river.320 S Canal St 1-2 Space 0103, Chicago, IL, 60606
Quick lunch and casual
For weekday office-floor or commuter-pace eating.
- Eriks Deli Weekday-only Van Buren deli built around sandwiches, soups, and salads.525 W Van Buren St 1st, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Byrd's Hot Chicken Halal hot-chicken counter near the BMO Tower.319 S Jefferson St 1, Chicago, IL, 60661
- Himalayan Sherpa Kitchen Himalayan cuisine — momos, thukpa, dal bhat — on South Halsted.518 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Beggar's Pizza West Loop location of the regional Chicago pizza chain founded on the South Side in 1976.310 S Clinton St 1st, Chicago, IL, 60661
Coffee and bakery
Where to caffeinate before a Metra train or an office-tower meeting.
Hotel
The single hotel inside the district.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Riverside Plaza in the West Loop?
- Riverside Plaza is the office-tower cluster in the southeast corner of the West Loop, sitting between Halsted Street and the Chicago River, south of Madison and north of the Eisenhower Expressway. The name comes from the South Riverside Plaza buildings along the west bank of the river. The district is dominated by daytime office traffic — most workers commute in via Union Station, which sits just north.
- What is the BMO Tower?
- The BMO Tower at 320 South Canal is the newest skyscraper in the district — a 51-story, 727-foot tower completed in spring 2022 as the U.S. headquarters of BMO Bank. It sits directly south of Union Station on a site that was previously an Amtrak parking lot. The building includes a 1.5-acre public green plaza at street level.
- How do I get to Riverside Plaza by transit?
- Union Station (Amtrak and several Metra lines) sits at the north edge of the district at 225 South Canal. Ogilvie Transportation Center is one block north of Union Station. The CTA Clinton station (Blue Line) and Clinton station (Green and Pink Lines, a separate stop with the same name) are both within walking distance. Several CTA bus routes also run along Canal Street and Jackson Boulevard.
- Where can I get breakfast near Union Station?
- Lou Mitchell's at 565 West Jackson has served breakfast since 1923 — it's the long-running answer to the "where to eat before a train" question. The Union Station food court on Canal between Adams and Jackson has the standard quick-service options (Dunkin', Auntie Anne's, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike's, Pret a Manger). Meddle Coffee Bar and Meli Café are nearby for a slower start.
- What's the difference between Riverside Plaza and West Loop Gate?
- They're adjacent areas. West Loop Gate sits north of Madison; Riverside Plaza sits south of Madison. Both are dominated by office towers and Metra-adjacent commuter traffic. The original Chicago Daily News Building at 2 North Riverside Plaza (1929) sits in West Loop Gate, even though "Riverside Plaza" as an address pattern runs both north and south of Madison.