Chicago’s Loop includes the area known as the New East Side, which in turn includes the Lakeshore East development. You’ll find all of your major apartment options in the Loop and New East Side on our at-a-glance list of downtown apartments.
Our goal is to help you find the apartment that best fits your needs. Renters simply have so many differing priorities – and budget constraints – that singling out an overall best building would be a pointless exercise. We’ll identify the Loop / New East Side buildings that rank highest on each of eighteen different criteria in three main groups:
Location. Views; Grocery shopping convenience; Public transit access; Close to parks, beaches; Proximity to the expressway grid; Walking distance to Loop; Most dining, nightlife nearby; retail shopping
Building features. Affordability; Amenities package; Boutique ambiance; Pet-friendliness
Apartment features. Apartment finishes; Private outdoor space; Studio / convertible floor plan; One-bedroom floor plan; Two-bedroom floor plan; Three-bedroom floor plan
Aqua has the most extensive common-area amenities in the Loop / New East Side neighborhoods. On the downside, however, some of the amenities are shared by Aqua’s 474 apartments, 334 hotel rooms and 262 condominiums.
The newer buildings in the Loop / New East Side all have solid amenities packages. Randolph Tower stands out among the converted buildings, with a large fitness center, multiple resident lounge areas, and high-floor indoor pool that’s a real gem.
Chime in with a comment if you disagree with our selections.
You’ll find links to our objective, visually-rich apartment reviews of Loop / New East Side buildings, and links to near real-time availability checks for most of the buildings, at our downtown apartments at-a-glance list, and some tips and advice at our Guide to renting in Chicago’s Loop / New East Side.
We’ve also spotlighted the best apartments in River North, Streeterville, the South Loop and the West Loop / Near West neighborhoods.
Next topic: Boutique ambiance.