A Design Lover's Travel Guide To Chicago In A Day

Sometimes trips are about a mission and not just seeing the sights or eating the food. Designers have a particular eye, so each city curates its own style that is as unique as the famed tourist spots. Chicago is a bustling design mecca, so if you only have a limited amount of time to explore, here are some shops that will blow your designer mind!

Haute Living

It it’s posh you’re looking for, Haute Living is the venue to hit up. Their furniture includes up-and-coming styles that many designers haven’t even considered yet. They carry all of the big names in contemporary style and even hold intimate gatherings with the world’s most renowned designers. This is the place where every velvet lover’s dream comes true, so take a moment and browse all the best that Chicago has to offer.

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Luminaire

Johnathan Adler

If you’re a designer aspiring to turn your clients’ homes into Instagram-famous sensations, then make sure to stop by Johnathan Adler. Not only do they have an other worldly selection of awesome furniture and accessories, but they also allow clients to customize with different fabrics and colors. Jonathan Adler is constantly on the edge of the newest trends and breaking the mold.

Bloomingdale’s

Sure, there are Bloomingdale’s all over the U.S., but Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue location is second to none. It’s as much about the building as it is about what you’ll find inside, as the architecture reflects some of Chicago’s earliest influences. And, of course, the shopping is phenomenal, as well.

The Golden Triangle

For those looking to steer away from millennial pink and go back to the classics, be sure to stop by The Golden Triangle. This fanciful shop holds many European- and Asian-influenced pieces, so it’s perfect for the designer who loves the elegance of antiques without the stuffy feeling of an 1800s Victorian mansion. The art collections here are especially exquisite and will make a statement in any room.

Merchandise Mart

There is no better place to end the perfect designer’s day in Chicago than at the Merchandise Mart. It’s basically Oz for anyone who loves sleek lines and curated color palettes. The Mart has everything from tile designers to window masters, so if you love design at all, you’ll be a kid in a candy shop. You might have to buy a new house just to renovate with all of The Mart’s amazing vendors.

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Alinea

For people with a perfect eye, there must be food to match! Wrap up your perfectly designed Chicago day with dinner at Alinea, where each dish is thoughtfully composed with the utmost elegance. The Michelin-starred Chicago staple is known for outrageously unique dishes that always look magazine ready.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.