Are you looking for some unique places to shop in and around Chicago? Listed below are some of the best shopping centers and marketplaces in and around Chicago, Illinois.
Is there anything better than shopping in Chicago? There are so many ways to shop in the windy city. Indoor malls, outdoor malls, boutiques, luxury stores, department stores, marketplaces, and more. If you’re planning a shopping day or looking for a special grocery store experience, check out this list of malls and marketplaces in Chicago!
You are going to learn about a few well known malls as well as some others that are located in the suburbs. I’m also including a few marketplaces that are worth visiting for a unique experience.
This post is my list of 11 Fun Malls | Where to go Shopping in Chicago in 2023.
Malls in Chicago
Water Tower Place
Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue is a shopping staple of Chicago. I’ve been going to this mall since I was a kid. Some of my favorite childhood memories are at this mall, riding the escalator, and getting lunch from the food court located in the basement level. This is an indoor mall split up into several levels.
Currently, this mall has a lot of unique shops like Unicorn World, Designs by Yanina, and Ragstock. There are also several stores that are family friendly like Lego and American Girl Cafe, and The Painted Penguin.
The Shops at Northbridge
Another mall that I always have to visit when I’m in the city is The Shops at Northbridge on Michigan Avenue. My boyfriend and I love Royce’ Chocolate, and it’s not the easiest chocolate to find, so any chance we can get we stop here and pick up a few boxes as gifts (and one for ourselves). Other stores in this mall include: Untuck It, Nordstrom, Aesop, and MAC. This mall does a lot of special events, too! If you’re looking for something unique to do while visiting, consider checking out their website and seeing what they may have scheduled.
Block 37
Next up in the list of where to go shopping in Chicago, is Block 37 on State Street. It’s another indoor mall and where the famous Magnolia Bakery can be found. Don’t miss out on their incredible banana pudding. Some of their stores include Zara, Royal Bee, L’Occitane, Akira, and Anthropologie.
Malls Outside of Chicago
Oakbrook Center
The Oakbrook Center mall is located in Oakbrook, about 30 minutes outside of downtown Chicago. This is one of my favorite malls! It is an outdoor mall, with fun recreational areas in the center. At the time we were there, they had a display of cute, artsy, merry-go-round structures. This makes shopping so much more enjoyable for kids, when there’s something fun for them to do in between.
If you are looking for items for the home, this mall is a great one stop shop. They have several furniture and home decor stores including Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Arhaus, Joss & Main, West Elm, Casper, Parachute, The Container Store, and Restoration Hardware.
If you’re looking for something to eat consider The Table at Crate, Crate & Barrel’s restaurant or Sweetgreen. We chose to stop for lunch at Sweetgreen, they have the best salads!
The best part about driving out a bit to get to this mall is the free parking and easy accessibility. If you’re looking to get away from the city for a while, I highly recommend checking this mall out.
Fashion Outlets
Located in Rosemont, Fashion Outlets of Chicago is a popular place to check out for discounted luxury items. They have several outlets as well as regular stores. Some of the outlet stores include Lululemon, Armani, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Guess Factory Store, Janie and Jack, and Tory Burch.
This location offers free covered parking which is super convenient in the winter or on hot summer days.
Woodfield Mall
If you’re staying near the O’Hare International Airport, Woodfield Mall is located just 15 minutes away in Schaumburg. This is another fantastic mall. It’s huge! It’s an indoor mall that has just about every store you can imagine. Living in Michigan, there are no Uniqlo stores, but there is one here, and more easily accessible compared to the one located in downtown Chicago. Other popular stores at this mall include: Anthropologie, H&M, Lacoste, Lego, Offline, Primark, Psycho Bunny, and Urban Outfitters.
A lot of the popular mall restaurants can be found here including Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, China Wok, Mrs. Fields, TCBY, Sbarro, Surf City Squeeze, and The Cheesecake Factory. If you’re wanting to step back in time to that nostalgic mall culture period, definitely check this place out.
Yorktown Mall
A smaller mall located about 40 minutes from Chicago is Yorktown Center in Yorktown. This indoor mall has a lot of the classic stores you’d find in a shopping center such as The Buckle, Bath & Body Works, Claire’s, JcPenney, Famous Footwear, Victoria’s Secret, Pacsun, and Spencer’s. This indoor mall has free parking too.
Marketplaces
Looking for something even more unique? Maybe you want to feel like you’re stepping into a different country or want to try the flavors of other cultures? Check out these marketplaces!
Seafood City
Seafood City is located on the northwest side of Chicago. This supermarket has Filipino groceries and some popular Filipino restaurants and bakeries like Jollibee, Grill City, Crispy Town, and Baker’s Avenue. After picking up a few groceries, stop in Jollibee for a yum burger, fried chicken, and peach mango pie!
Mitsuwa Marketplace
Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese supermarket in Arlington Heights. We love coming here for groceries and lunch. They have a large food court with several vendors offering ramen and sushi. Santouka Ramen is a famous ramen restaurant in the US, with only a few locations, one found here. I mentioned earlier that we love Royce’ Chocolate, and the other location in Chicago can be found here. Another one of our must stops is Lady M Bakery. They have the most delicious crepe cakes.
Sahar Brand
In operation for over 20 years, Sahar Brand is a popular marketplace for Middle Eastern groceries. They offer Persian, Iranian, Arabic, and Turkish products. You’ll find a variety of rice, teas, chocolates, and cooking oils. I recommend picking up a package of traditional Turkish delights!
Eataly
Finally, I have to mention Eataly. This is a beautiful marketplace that offers Italian groceries as well as Italian dining. I recommend dining in, enjoying homemade pasta and then gelato for dessert.
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