South Branch
4 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
1 min bike
via downtown streets
358 m / 1175 ft
straight-line distance
72 places
within a 5-min walk
South Branch is a bar at 100 South Wacker Drive, about 358 m (4 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.
South Branch sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 5-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 4 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 (358 m · ~4 min walk).
Getting to South Branch
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head north — it's about 358 m on foot (4 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines); from the platform exit it's roughly a 5-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 4 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 The Poetry Garage, about 4 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
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 238 m | 3 min walk |
| Union Station | 287 m | 4 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 534 m | 7 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 1005 m | 13 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 1034 m | 13 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 1174 m | 15 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 1228 m | 15 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 1653 m | 21 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2724 m | 34 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near South Branch
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 2 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 4 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Chase | 1 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | The Poetry Garage | 4 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 3 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Paramount Cleaners | 5 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of South Branch
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 6 hotels: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago Downtown, Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown - The Loop, Canopy by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn (+2 more)
- 30 restaurants: Potbelly, Just Salads, Dunkin', Jamba (+26 more)
- 7 cafes: Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, Starbucks, Corner Bakery (+3 more)
- 3 attractions: The Ledge, SkyDeck Chicago Willis Tower, Color Factory
- 1 entertainment: Civic Opera House
- 2 health & wellness: One Medical, Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC)
- 4 parking: The Poetry Garage, Tower Self Park, Monroe & Wells Parking, Washington Franklin Self Park
- 9 banks: Chase, U.S. Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Fifth Third Bank (+5 more)
- 1 pharmacies: Walgreens
- 1 dry cleaners: Paramount Cleaners
- 1 shoe repair: Leathercare Shoe Repair
- 2 print shops: The UPS Store, FedEx Office
- 1 corporate services: TechNexus
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 South Branch
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 8/10 · 3736 reviews · 3 min walk from here
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Make an Outing of It
A visit to South Branch pairs naturally with the blocks around it. Then start with The Ledge (3 min away). Then continue with Potbelly (1 min away). Then continue with Starbucks (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 South Branch from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
South Branch is about 358 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 4-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to South Branch? +
The closest 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 400 m away — a 5-minute walk.
What else is within a short walk of South Branch? +
Within about five minutes on foot you'll find 37 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
Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
225 South Canal Street
3 min from 311 S Wacker
Madison Tavern
500 West Madison Street
8 min from 311 S Wacker
Little Toasted
300 South Riverside Plaza
2 min from 311 S Wacker
The Living Room Bar W Chicago City Center
172 West Adams Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker
Ovie Bar & Grill
120 North Canal Street
10 min from 311 S Wacker
Roanoke Restaurant
11 South LaSalle Street
7 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near South Branch
Potbelly
150 South Wacker Drive
3 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Chase
30 South Wacker Drive
6 min from 311 S Wacker Banks
Just Salads
120 South Riverside Plaza
4 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
U.S. Bank
71 South Wacker Drive
5 min from 311 S Wacker Banks
Leathercare Shoe Repair
30 South Wacker Drive
6 min from 311 S Wacker Shoe Repair
Fifth Third Bank
1 South Wacker Drive
6 min from 311 S Wacker Banks