The High-Low River Drift & Beef Dip

To truly grasp Chicago’s architectural ego, one must stand at the intersection of the Chicago River and Wacker Drive, where the city’s skyline acts as a 25-story canvas. This route, the High-Low River Drift, rejects the sanitized tourist experience in favor of an unapologetic juxtaposition: world-class digital art followed immediately by a face-first dive into a greasy Italian beef. It begins at the Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin Streets for ART on THE MART, the largest permanent digital projection in the world ART on THE MART | Art in…. While the show spans 25 stories of the MART’s facade, the experience is visceral rather than just visual, as the projections shift from avant-garde international works to local conceptual art right as the sun dips below the canyon Art on The Mart. The pivot from high-concept art to the gritty reality of River North is what defines the city’s character. A ten-minute trek north leads to Mr. Beef on Orleans, a site of culinary pilgrimage that has traded its humble neighborhood status for global fame. This isn't the place for a curated tasting menu; it is a temple of au jus and giardiniera. The logic is simple: the beef must be wet, the peppers must be hot, and the seating must be communal. Closing the loop requires ascending back to the skyline at Raised. While many rooftop bars in the Loop feel like corporate after-hours traps, Raised offers a strategic vantage point over the bascule bridges that define the river's industrial history Free Things To Do Near S…. Finishing the trek back at the water level via the Riverwalk allows for a quiet, street-level-free stroll under the glow of the skyscrapers, providing a final perspective on the massive scale of the architecture encountered at the start Exploring the Chicago Ri….

What to Expect

Expect to walk just under two miles, mostly on flat but high-traffic urban sidewalks. The ART on THE MART shows typically run for about 30 minutes starting around 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM depending on the season The 2025 season of Art o…. Mr. Beef is legendary for its brisk service and 'no-frills' attitude; do not expect a leisurely dinner. At Raised, the dress code is 'smart casual'—ditch the flip-flops if you want to blend in with the River North crowd. Total costs will be modest for food (~$15 at Mr. Beef) but higher for cocktails (~$18-22 at Raised).

The Route

1

ART on THE MART

79

Navi Walkability Score

Path Popularity22

Infrastructure85

Terrain100

Safety95

Lighting100

Amenities60

Transit80

"Grab a seat on the Riverwalk steps early, but don't blink—the best projections are famously short and usually happen right after the countdown."

30-45 min10 min

10 min · 831 m79

2

Mr. Beef

79

Navi Walkability Score

Path Popularity22

Infrastructure85

Terrain100

Safety95

Lighting100

Amenities60

Transit80

"Forget the burger—order the beef juicy with hot peppers and snag a spot at the communal table in the back to soak up the old-school vibes."

30-45 min18 min

18 min · 1.0 mi82

3

RAISED | An Urban Rooftop Bar

82

Navi Walkability Score

Path Popularity67

Infrastructure85

Terrain100

Safety95

Lighting100

Amenities34

Transit80

"Skip the long wait for the terrace and snag a spot near the bar—you'll get the same killer river views without the standing around, plus faster service for those craft cocktails."

30-45 min7 min

7 min · 586 m79

4

Riverwalk,Chicago

79

Navi Walkability Score

Path Popularity55

Infrastructure81

Terrain100

Safety93

Lighting98

Amenities49

Transit66

"Skip the street-level traffic and dip down here at sunset to catch the skyscraper glow without hitting a single crosswalk."

45 min - 1 hr14 min walk

Frequently Asked Questions