The Library
17 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
5 min bike
via downtown streets
1322 m / 4337 ft
straight-line distance
69 places
within a 5-min walk
The Library is a bar at 230 West Kinzie Street, about 1322 m (17 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.
The Library sits in River North. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Merchandise Mart (Brown & Purple lines), about a 2-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 16 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 (1322 m · ~17 min walk).
Getting to The Library
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head north — it's about 1322 m on foot (17 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Merchandise Mart (Brown & Purple lines); 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 16 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 210 N Wells Self Park, about 5 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 Riverwalk | 473 m | 6 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 759 m | 9 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1158 m | 14 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 1223 m | 15 min walk |
| Union Station | 1254 m | 16 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 1287 m | 16 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 1434 m | 18 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 2014 m | 25 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2214 m | 28 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near The Library
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 1 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 2 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Chase | 3 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | 210 N Wells Self Park | 5 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 3 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Shiny Cleaners | 9 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of The Library
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 47 hotels: River N 1BR w gym pool lounge nr L CHI-817, River North 1br w gym pool roof nr Riverwalk CHI-816, Blueground River N gym pool nr Riverwalk CHI-128, Blueground River N gym pool nr Riverwalk CHI-824 (+43 more)
- 5 restaurants: Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Freshii, Meli Cafe, Frontera Grill (+1 more)
- 1 cafes: Starbucks
- 1 entertainment: Celeste
- 1 health & wellness: Thread Away
- 1 parking: 210 N Wells Self Park
- 3 banks: Chase, Old Second National Bank, Chase
- 2 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy
- 1 print shops: The UPS Store
The Neighborhood: River North
North of the Chicago River, River North mixes gallery-district polish with big-energy nightlife. Steakhouses, rooftop bars, design showrooms and the Merchandise Mart sit within a few minutes' walk of the Magnificent Mile's shopping.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near The Library
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 7.9/10 · 360 reviews · 3 min walk from here
Check Rates
Make an Outing of It
A visit to The Library pairs naturally with the blocks around it. Then start with Constellation (6 min away). Then continue with Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (2 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 The Library from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
The Library is about 1322 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 17-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to The Library? +
The closest 'L' stop is Merchandise Mart (Brown & Purple lines), about 133 m away — a 2-minute walk.
What else is within a short walk of The Library? +
Within about five minutes on foot you'll find 6 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
Gilt Bar
230 West Kinzie Street
16 min from 311 S Wacker
Reverie
414 North Orleans Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker
The Bassment
353 West Hubbard Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker
La Mez Agave Lounge
108 West Kinzie Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker
The Boss Bar
420 North Clark Street
18 min from 311 S Wacker
The Baton Show Lounge
436 North Clark Street
19 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near The Library
Starbucks
222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza
16 min from 311 S Wacker Cafes
River N 1BR W Gym Pool Lounge Nr L CHI-817
311 W Illinois St
18 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
River North 1br W Gym Pool Roof Nr Riverwalk CHI-816
311 W Illinois St
18 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground River N Gym Pool Nr Riverwalk CHI-128
311 W Illinois St
18 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground River N Gym Pool Nr Riverwalk CHI-824
West Illinois Street 311
18 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground River North Pool Gym Nr Riverwalk CHI-1049
West Illinois Street 311 #1113
18 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels