THE MART
THE MART — well-regarded food in River North. The space has a modern, polished edge. Not your typical menu, in a good way. "The outside patio with lounge seating & wifi access next to the river was the best part for" — Chelsea Nichols [patio]
What 2,553 diners keep saying
What 2,553 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Prosperity has an Addresss and its time to come on down now. Wonder of a building, you can hang out in any number of little lodges and bleacher seats and scent-controlled waiting rooms.. oh yes money smells as fragrant as Lord Shiva. You can cobble together a decent meal in there, too. It also contains the 72 Chambers of Oops All Hardware Stores, if you have that kind of budget. I love this place man, seriously you gotta check it out it is well worth your time.”

“The Merchandise Mart was built in Chicago by Marshall Field & Co. as a massive wholesale marketplace where retailers could purchase furniture, fabrics, and other goods under one roof. Construction began in 1928, and the building opened on May 5, 1930. At the time, it was regarded as the largest building in the world by floor area, containing approximately 4 million square feet of space. During the Great Depression, Marshall Field's wholesale business declined, and the building did not achieve the financial success originally expected. In 1945, it was purchased by a group led by Joseph P. Kennedy. The Kennedy family owned the property for more than 50 years before it was sold to Vornado Realty Trust in 1998. Over time, the Merchandise Mart evolved from a wholesale marketplace into a mixed-use commercial center. Today, it houses design showrooms, corporate offices, restaurants, retail spaces, and technology companies, while remaining one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks. A notable modern feature is ART on THE MART, a large-scale digital projection program displayed on the river-facing façade of the building. The Mart continues to serve as a major center for business, design, and events in Chicago. Fun fact: The Merchandise Mart was so large that it once had its own ZIP Code, 60654, before postal boundaries were adjusted.”

“We had a great time! There are many restaurants and common spaces to work or relax. Unfortunately, my boss and I had to call the police while we were there because someone stole her wallet right off the table. Security and the police worked together to identify the suspect using security camera footage and were very communicative with my boss throughout the process. I’m so glad that the Mart security was so helpful. It made a bad situation much better. Thank you!!”

“There's so much to see at the Mart. Furniture shops and art decor everywhere. I was helping Red Cross that day at the blood drive.”

“This spot is so cool very airy restaurant obviously sitting outside with the tent above you. The food was really good. It was decent. However, my one as she was it literally took 42 minutes from the time we submitted our order to the waitress to the time our food came out. They were really busy though. There’s a lot of people that showed up all at once. There was a lot of music so that was great. My friend got this mushroom Swiss burger. I got the cheeseburger and my friend got the smash burger. They both said that their burgers were amazing smash burger is obviously the highest rated and with reason I got a sweet tea. It was OK and then I switched over to a Coca-Cola. We were gonna get desserts, but we just didn’t wanna wait another hour and a half for desserts to come out.”

“love the home and office designs. must go back. the collagen late was great at landing”

“massive and impressive in a very Chicago way. The scale alone is striking, especially when seen from the river. Inside, it feels clean, modern, and surprisingly calm for a building of this size. The mix of design showrooms, offices, and public areas gives it a professional, creative energy without feeling closed off. Easy to walk through, great river views, and the building itself is worth seeing even if you are not there for business. A landmark that still feels relevant and well used rather than frozen in time.”

“Wow. I Mean Wow!!! This place was awesome. All the Players in thr Industry were there... GE Monogram, SubZero Wolf and Cove, Gaggenau, Meile appliances. Not to forget Waterworks, Brown Jordan and WoodMode or any of the Other Dozens of Design Showrooms that were on-site. I admit I was Geeking out a Bit while walking thru the hallways. We were in the one of the Upper Conference rooms for a Training. And I could think about was seeing who else was hidden in the vast halls. Unfortunately I could see all that there due to time restrictions. I recommend anyone who can visit this location. Do it.”

“Just drove passed it and had no idea what it was till after when I googled it. Pretty cool watching it while at a red light”

“My very first time stopping to see this art show a day after my 39 birthday. 9/10.”

“The art on the Mart experience was a great Chicago activity that was not only fun but free”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More dining in Downtown & River North
See the ranking →In the same lane
If it's packed, walk to…



More good rooms in River North, minutes away.






