Elephant & Castle
16 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
5 min bike
via downtown streets
1248 m / 4094 ft
straight-line distance
91 places
within a 5-min walk
Elephant & Castle is a bar at 185 North Wabash Avenue, about 1248 m (16 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. A solid choice for after-work drinks, catching a game, or starting a night out in downtown Chicago.
Elephant & Castle sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Lake (Red) (Red line), about a 2-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 18 minutes away on foot — so reaching it without a car is easy.
Map & Location
Dashed line shows the straight-line route to 311 South Wacker Drive (1248 m · ~16 min walk).
Getting to Elephant & Castle
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head northeast — it's about 1248 m on foot (16 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Lake (Red) (Red line); from the platform exit it's roughly a 2-minute walk. A Ventra card or contactless bank card works on all CTA trains and buses.
From Union Station (Metra / Amtrak)
Exit toward Jackson Boulevard and walk 18 minutes; taxis and rideshare pickups are on Canal Street.
From the Airports
O'Hare: CTA Blue line to the Loop (~45 min) or 30–60 min by car. Midway: CTA Orange line to the Loop (~25 min) or about 20–30 min by car.
If You're Driving
The nearest public garage in this directory is 60 East Lake Self Park, about 1 min away on foot — reserve ahead through a parking app for the best rate, or see the 311 S Wacker parking guide.
Walking Times to Chicago Landmarks
| Chicago Theatre | 109 m | 1 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 382 m | 5 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 395 m | 5 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 695 m | 9 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 1003 m | 13 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1102 m | 14 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 1241 m | 16 min walk |
| Union Station | 1405 m | 18 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1601 m | 20 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Elephant & Castle
| Nearest coffee | Intelligentsia Coffee | 2 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 2 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Chase | 2 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | 60 East Lake Self Park | 1 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 8 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 15 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Elephant & Castle
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 34 hotels: Virgin Hotels Chicago, Blueground The Loop pool gym nr park CHI-1187, Blueground The Loop pool wd nr par CHI-1186, Blueground The Loop pool wd nr park CHI-1189 (+30 more)
- 7 restaurants: Morton's The Steakhouse, Giordano's Pizzeria, Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe, The Dearborn (+3 more)
- 7 cafes: Intelligentsia Coffee, Stan's Donuts & Coffee, Starbucks, Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee (+3 more)
- 11 attractions: American Writers Museum, We Will Chicago, Cow, Museum of Illusions (+7 more)
- 10 entertainment: Chicago Theatre, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago Cultural Center, James M. Nederlander Theatre (+6 more)
- 4 health & wellness: First Ascent Block 37, Strobel Dentistry, Kraff Eye Institute, Relationship Reality 312
- 6 parking: 60 East Lake Self Park, Wabash-Randolph Parking Garage, Hotel Parking, Theater District Self Park (+2 more)
- 4 banks: Chase, Chase, U.S. Bank, Bank of America
- 4 pharmacies: Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Walgreens
- 2 corporate services: WeWork, DHL
The Neighborhood: The Chicago Loop
The Loop is Chicago's beating heart — the elevated trains that give the district its name rattle overhead past century-old skyscrapers, LaSalle Street's canyon of banks, State Street's flagship stores and the Theatre District's glowing marquees. By day it hums with office workers; by evening the riverfront, Millennium Park and dozens of restaurants keep it alive.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near Elephant & Castle
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 9.2/10 · 10 reviews · 1 min walk from here
Check RatesMake an Outing of It
A visit to Elephant & Castle pairs naturally with the blocks around it. Then start with American Writers Museum (1 min away). Then continue with Morton's The Steakhouse (2 min away). Then continue with Intelligentsia Coffee (2 min away). All three have full detail pages in this directory with maps and walking times.
Good to Know: Local Tips
After-work happy hour (roughly 4:30–6:30pm) is the Loop's busiest bar window — arrive by 5pm for a table. Illinois bars card everyone who looks under 40, so carry ID, and note that many Loop taverns close earlier on Sundays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Elephant & Castle from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Elephant & Castle is about 1248 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 16-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Elephant & Castle? +
The closest 'L' stop is Lake (Red) (Red line), about 136 m away — a 2-minute walk.
What else is within a short walk of Elephant & Castle? +
Within about five minutes on foot you'll find 14 other places to eat or grab coffee, plus more bars, shops and attractions — see the "within a 5-minute walk" section on this page.
More Bars & Pubs Nearby
City Winery at the Chicago Riverwalk
11 West Riverwalk South
16 min from 311 S Wacker
The Row Tavern
17 North Wabash Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Bar Louie
333-335 North Dearborn Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker
Jojo's Shake Bar
23 West Hubbard Street
19 min from 311 S Wacker
O'Callaghan's
29 West Hubbard Street
19 min from 311 S Wacker
Lobby Bar at Palmer House
17 East Monroe Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Elephant & Castle
Virgin Hotels Chicago
203 North Wabash Avenue
16 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
60 East Lake Self Park
60 East Lake Street
16 min from 311 S Wacker Parking
Blueground The Loop Pool Gym Nr Park CHI-1187
North Garland Court 201
17 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground The Loop Pool Wd Nr Par CHI-1186
North Garland Court 201
17 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground The Loop Pool Wd Nr Park CHI-1189
North Garland Court 201
17 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground The Loop Pool AC Nr Park CHI-1188
North Garland Court 201
17 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels