If you know me personally, you know that I’ve been a bit of a nomad since making the move from New Jersey to Chicago. Despite the fact that I really don’t like moving, it seems to be a trend every year as we “outgrow” our apartment for various reasons. This time around, we wanted more space, more storage, and a more centralized location. While we loved being west, it felt a bit inconvenient for our lifestyle. Everything we love (i.e. workouts and restaurants) is in River North, so it only made sense to migrate.

Luckily, we weren’t strangers to the ‘hood because Jacob and I both have/had offices close by, but since moving downtown to the River North neighborhood just over one week ago (feels like much longer!) we’ve taken advantage and explored a ton. It’s so easy to be active here. In Logan Square, I felt like I needed to uber or drive everywhere, but now there is so much within walking distance.

I get questions all the time asking for Chicago hot-spot recommendations, and typically, visitors stay in the Downtown area. With that said, I wanted to round up some of my neighborhood favorite workouts and restaurants in River North, although I can assure you this list will grow soon! I have to thank these local businesses for making this part of the city feel so right. We’ve devoted a whole lot of heart into making this apartment feel like home, and the surrounding neighborhood has only made us fall more in love. I don’t think we’ll be moving next year ;).

Cafes/Smoothie Shops/Restaurants

Real Good Juice Co

If you follow me, you already know I pretty much stalk down Real Good like it’s my job. With three locations currently (Southport in Lakeview, Oldtown, and Bucktown) I always find a way to get there and get either there avocado toast (hands down my favorite in Chicago), Bluce Wayne juice, a smoothie or their NOYO FROYO. Well, good news! They’re opening another location in River North and I couldn’t be happier.

Left Coast Food and Juice

A staple in Chicago that has also expanded crazy amounts. Their bowls, salads and smoothies make for a perfect quick and casual lunch in their beautiful restaurant space. I’ve tried just about everything on the menu, and you can’t go wrong.

Hi-Vibe Superfood Juicery

This menu is probably the most trendy of smoothie spots in Chicago. The menu’s smoothies include superfoods and adaptogens, with bulletproof matcha, coffee, tonics and even keto bowls available as well. There’s offerings available to fit all dietary needs, as well as the option to customize and add-on as desired. They also have really good raw rolls that I had for dinner the other night! The location right by the river is key. I love getting their Chocolate Shaman and going to the Wells bridge by the river.

Joe and the Juice

I was SO excited when I found out Joe and the Juice was coming to Chicago, but it took me months to finally get there! Now that there’s a location within feet of my apartment, it’s become a daily stop, and it’s actually Jacob’s favorite for a smoothie and a flatbread. I personally prefer their juices to smoothies (because their smoothies are a bit fruitier and sweeter than what I’m used to), and their coffee is good too! My favorite juice is Joe’s Green Mile.

Sawada Matcha

This spot was made for matcha-loving millennials. With the friendliest staff, various types of nut milk offered (hello macadamia!) and matcha concoctions beyond lattes offered, you truly cannot go wrong. My personal favorite is a matcha latte with macadamia milk, no added sweetener (yes, you must ask for this!). If you get iced, I highly recommend opting for light ice to get more drink ;).They also have matcha lemonade which I’m dying to try.

3 Greens Market

Okay, I heard a lot of hype about this place. To be honest, I had no idea what to really expect. I was picturing a food hall with few healthy options, but I was shocked to learn that was completely false. I fell in love with this picturesque workspace, salad bar (with all pre-cooked veggies made with olive oil – not canola oil) and coffee shop. The drink fridge had pressed juicery, Health-Ade and spindrift. Hello, dream fridge. I cannot wait to go back here and hopefully get some work done too!

True Food Kitchen

This one’s obvious because I go here all the time! It’s actually a tradition of Paige and mine to go to True Food after every photo shoot. I could practically live off their charred cauliflower, miso glazed eggplant apps, and ancient grains bowl entree. In the winter, they have a butternut squash pizza that is probably my favorite pizza ever. It’s dairy-free (made with almond ricotta), and you can order gluten-free crust too!

Sweetgreen

I never lived near a Sweetgreen before, and now that I do, I find myself craving it CONSTANTLY. It’s so nice to have a go-to salad place that is equal parts convenient and healthy. My mind is always at ease when I eat there because the ingredients are fresh, nutrition is readily available and orders are customizable. Lately, I’ve been ordering on the app in advance and it’s such a game changer. My favorites are the Fish Taco warm bowl and the Mexican Elcote Warm bowl (subbing out cheese/tortilla chips and adding avocado to both).

Ēma

Hands down, this is my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. The concept is Mediterranean shared plates, and while you order a ton of food to share, the food is lighter fare. The ambiance is beautiful and in the summer the open up all the windows. I actually don’t have any food photos from here, because I always tend to go for more special occasions. It’s perfect for a date night, anniversary meal or for visitors. The hummus, eggplant spread, chicken kebab and seafood dishes are my favorite. Pro Tip: If you’re gluten-free, they also have a gluten-free menu available.

Beatrix

Beatrix is another restaurant that is more than a restaurant. The cafe/bakery is drool-worthy (the same baked goods are at Summerhouse Santa Monica) with literal GF cookies the size of your face. The cafe has unique offerings like Butterfly cortado (made from butterfly pea which is an herbal, naturally purple caffeine-free tea) and cinnamon matcha lattes, and offers oat milk. The space is right down the street from Ema, and also has big open windows and a ton of spaces to work throughout the day. Brunch and dinner are a hit as well!

Little Beet Table

This is more toward Gold Coast, but I’ll let it slide ;). This is an entirely gluten-free restaurant, and it’s amazing! The Shrimp and Quinoa salad they offer is what inspired my recipe here. I also love their veggie burger, cauliflower hummus, Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. No joke, I truly think that good brussels sprouts can make or break my opinion of a restaurant, and these are one of my absolute favorites! I’ve also ordered this for delivery on Caviar before. It took forever and wasn’t the cheapest, but it did not disappoint.

Doc B’s Kitchen

Also more Gold Coast, but a great restaurant to provide you options for just about everything. They have amazing salads and you can put just about any protein on top! I love getting a salad and ordering a turkey burger as my protein to switch things up. It’s also super close to Michigan Ave and Oak Street beach, so it’s a perfect pit stop on warm-weather shopping or beach days.

There’s a few other places I didn’t name or highlight, such as: Goddess and the Baker, The Hampton Social and Brown Bag Seafood Co., but I wanted to highlight the few you probably see me posting to my story on a regular basis. There are SO many options and I am truly just getting started. Would love to hear your recommendations as I create a bucket list. 🙂

Workouts

As I mentioned, all of my favorites tend to be in this area, mainly because River North seems to be such a hub for fitness! Best part: most of these are on classpass!

Barry’s Bootcamp

One of my absolute favorites because the environment is just so motivating. The dark, red-lit room, with blood pumping music to parallel the intervals you’re running or lifting really pushes you beyond your limits and takes your mind off of anything else. I always leave Barry’s feeling mentally and physically stronger and happier. Their fuel bar also has amazing smoothies! My favorite is the Queen Latifah with plant protein instead of whey.

[Solidcore]

Never having done pilates before, I had no idea what to expect when I signed up for my first [Solidcore] class. People here describe it as the SoulCycle of pilates, and that’s because the dark room, loud music and energizing instructors push you through every slow movement to help you reach your optimal strength. I am obsessed! I also have a promo code that offers $5 the introductory 2-pack special ($39, now $34) with code Solidbunundone. Can’t recommend it enough!

Studio Three

Offering yoga, interval class, and spin, this class is a hot space for a lot of River North locals. I have yet to try anything but the yoga, but I absolutely love the vibe. Plus, Graze is at the bottom level, offering smoothies, bowls and kombucha on tap. Can’t beat that.

Ritual Hot Yoga

This is new to Chicago and SUCH a different vibe than any other yoga you’ve taken before. I experienced this for the first time last week and honestly was so intimidated and nervous beforehand! I was told its similar to Y7 in New York, and I hadn’t taken that in years. But, to my dismay, all butterflies went out the door as soon as the Drake v. Kendrick Lamar themed class began. You flow to the beat in an extremely hot, dark, candlelit room. The studio provides mats, towels and essential oils, and they provide amazing assists and adjustments during the 50-minute class. It’s perfect when you’re in the mood for a challenging, intense, sweat-sesh when you need to free your mind and escape for a bit. I truly can’t wait to go back!

Chill

Chill is a yoga and meditation studio, known for classes that combine gentle yoga and meditation, as well as strictly breath classes. While I am very new to the world of meditation, I know it is exactly what my mind needs at times. It can be frustrating to feel out of control of our mind like we can’t shut it off, but with patience, I believe it will get easier. I look forward to coming back to this awesome space and incorporating meditation into a larger part of my regimen more regularly.

SoulCycle

Of course, the loop location is right across the Riverwalk on Wacker, and I LOVE that I’m finally in walking distance to one. Since I’ve been focusing more on strength training, spin class, along with Barry’s is a perfect way to incorporate cardio. I love how SoulCycle is all about community, good music, and produces only positive vibes. I always find that its the perfect release.

This week, I’m also trying Hardpressed strength training classes. This is more of a personal training type of vibe, and they encourage you to lift heavy. I am both nervous and excited and I can’t wait to share my thoughts afterward. Of course, these studios and classes can add up, so I try to mix them in with my TIU daily workouts during the week. It’s so motivating to get a change of atmosphere once and a while, and I love finding workout classes because it’s truly a chance to disconnect from my phone and forget about the day or week’s stresses.

It is so important to create a home and find an apartment in a place that makes you happy. I finally feel settled into a place that provides me comfort in the inside of the home, as well as with what surrounds it. Thank you for taking this neighborhood tour with me! I would LOVE any recommendations you may have, as I am sure there are plenty I have missed. Tag me when you hit up these spots, too! xoxo

photos by Paige Babilla