River North is the go-to district for art and design lovers. The area is bursting with energy, with an array of fabulous art galleries and history-defining buildings like the twin corncobs at Marina City and the 330 N. Wabash skyscraper by Mies van der Rohe. Immerse yourself in the Gilded Age at the stunningly preserved Richard H. Driehaus Museum, aka Chicago’s “Marble Palace.”

One of the neighborhood’s most famous landmarks is theMART, which sits on the award-winning Chicago Riverwalk. Inside, take a cooking classes at The Chopping Block and wander through high-end interior design studios. Outside, be awed by Art on theMART, the world’s largest video projection art installation that takes over the building’s massive facade in the evenings.

Cultured by day, River North shifts into high gear by night. A mecca for nightlife, people come from all over the city to enjoy River North’s clubs, bars, and music venues. Dance the night away trendy club-restaurant hybrid TAO or rooftop hidden garden Celeste. Or get that Rat Pack vibe with old-school crooning at Redhead Piano Bar.

And the dining scene is always buzzing, from authentic Italian food hall Eataly to high-end steakhouses like RPM Steak to the award-winning Avec. For some after-hours fun, enjoy tiki drinks and tropical vibes at Three Dots and a Dash or order a bathtub-size cocktail at sultry The Bassment.