Lobby Bar at Palmer House
11 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
4 min bike
via downtown streets
875 m / 2871 ft
straight-line distance
89 places
within a 5-min walk
Lobby Bar at Palmer House is a bar at 17 East Monroe Street, about 875 m (11 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.
Lobby Bar at Palmer House sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Monroe (Red) (Red line), about a 1-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 14 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 (875 m · ~11 min walk).
Getting to Lobby Bar at Palmer House
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head northeast — it's about 875 m on foot (11 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Monroe (Red) (Red line); from the platform exit it's roughly a 1-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 14 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 Adams-Wabash Self Park, about 2 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
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 275 m | 3 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 372 m | 5 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 554 m | 7 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 563 m | 7 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 780 m | 10 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 807 m | 10 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 840 m | 10 min walk |
| Union Station | 1142 m | 14 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1950 m | 24 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Lobby Bar at Palmer House
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 1 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 2 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Bank of America | 2 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Adams-Wabash Self Park | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 1 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 8 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Lobby Bar at Palmer House
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 19 hotels: The Palmer House Hilton, Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown, LIVN Millennium Park Downtown Chicago Superior 1BR, LIVN Millennium Park Downtown Chicago Studio (+15 more)
- 20 restaurants: Naf Naf Grill, Subway, Brightwok Kitchen, Dunkin' (+16 more)
- 9 cafes: Starbucks, Starbucks, Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea, Corner Bakery (+5 more)
- 16 attractions: Pritzker Military Museum & Library, Begin Route 66, Large Interior Form, Lion "on the prowl" (+12 more)
- 4 entertainment: CIBC Theatre, Symphony Center, AMC Dine-In Block 37, Chicago Cultural Center
- 2 health & wellness: Kraff Eye Institute, Strobel Dentistry
- 3 parking: Adams-Wabash Self Park, Grant Park North Garage, Grant Park South Garage
- 4 banks: Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Chase, Bank of America
- 5 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy (+1 more)
- 3 print shops: The UPS Store, FedEx Office, FedEx Office
- 2 corporate services: Chicago Loop Post Office, Spaces
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 Lobby Bar at Palmer House
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 9.4/10 · 17 reviews · 2 min walk from here
Check RatesMake an Outing of It
A visit to Lobby Bar at Palmer House pairs naturally with the blocks around it. Then start with Pritzker Military Museum & Library (2 min away). Then continue with Naf Naf Grill (1 min away). Then continue with Starbucks (1 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 Lobby Bar at Palmer House from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Lobby Bar at Palmer House is about 875 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 11-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Lobby Bar at Palmer House? +
The closest 'L' stop is Monroe (Red) (Red line), about 80 m away — a 1-minute walk.
What else is within a short walk of Lobby Bar at Palmer House? +
Within about five minutes on foot you'll find 29 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
2Twenty2 Tavern
222 South Wabash Avenue
11 min from 311 S Wacker
The Row Tavern
17 North Wabash Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Roanoke Restaurant
11 South LaSalle Street
7 min from 311 S Wacker
The Living Room Bar W Chicago City Center
172 West Adams Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker
Elephant & Castle
185 North Wabash Avenue
16 min from 311 S Wacker
Bar Allegro
171 West Randolph Street
10 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Lobby Bar at Palmer House
The Palmer House Hilton
17 East Monroe Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Starbucks
17 East Monroe Street
10 min from 311 S Wacker Cafes
The UPS Store
17 East Monroe Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker Print Shops
Naf Naf Grill
28 South Wabash Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Subway
120 South State Street
10 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown
10 South Wabash Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels