The Cloud Gate aka ‘The ‘Bean’

The Bean is a big tourist attraction. One really cool thing about it is, if you stand in front bean you can see the skyline of the city. It’s a great place to take pictures with friends.

One of the most iconic things you can do when you are in Chicago. Come earlier in the day or at night to avoid the crowds, unless you want a bunch of tourists in your photos. It’s nearby a lot of other landmarks so you might as well come check it out.

If you’re new to Chicago, yes it’s a must go tourist site!
We should have taken our chances when freezing sleet was coming down, so that we could have taken awesome pictures with no one there… Otherwise it’s always swarming with people.
Definitely get a picture with the Chicago landmark and don’t forget to walk around the front to take pictures as well! It’s a different view from the back.

A must see in Chicago. The Bean is always a popular place in the city, with lots of people milling around for photo ops. The reflections can be really interesting, whether you’re looking at yourself, at other people, or at the city’s skyline.
The location is great in the centre of the city, in the wonderful Millennium Park. There’s no reason not to squeeze the Bean into a visit to the park, the Art Institute, or the Buckingham Fountain, all of which are also worth checking out.

This was my first time at «The Bean!» My 2 cousins were here from NYC so we came to check it out.
Pretty cool! Tourists… come now!

The Bean is all you could ask for in a tourist photo opportunity. I went on a rainy evening in October — right before it the sun set. It was a beautiful sight and not crowded at all. I do suspect it is probably packed with people when the weather is better and it is earlier in the day. If I’m ever back in Chicago with friends, I will definitely come back and show them The Bean!

I went to Chicago for the first time in August and The Bean was definitely on my list of things to do. I’m glad I finally got to see it in person! As a native New Yorker, I imagined that it would be absolutely enormous; it is very big, but not as monumental as I imagined it would be. Regardless, it’s fun to walk around and beneath it!
Above all, I appreciate works of art that incorporate their context and change based on their surroundings. Since The Bean is reflective, the viewer’s experience of it changes based on the weather, the angle from which you view it, the time of day, how many other people are there, etc. etc. etc. It’s a cool spot to take pictures and it’s a must-​see if you ever visit Chicago! For the full experience, grab a Chicago dog at the hot dog stand nearby.

I can finally say I’ve bean here!
The Bean is definitely a must-​go when visiting Chicago. I stayed at the Central Loop hotel, and I was thrilled to find out that the Bean was within walking distance. The Bean is also very close to the Art Institute, another popular tourist attraction. I came during mid-​December, and if you’re interested in ice skating, there’s a rink right next to it! I would recommend paying the Bean a visit during the day and at night… the reflection of the city is to die for. I seriously couldn’t get enough. Such a beautiful sculpture in the heart of a beautiful city.

It’s quite fascinating to have a work of art bring people together like this one. If you love taking selfies, photographing your reflection, or people watching doing those things, you will thoroughly enjoy the «Bean.»
I don’t have much to add that is any different than reviewers before me. 5 stars because it just is cool and makes you do silly things.

What can I say that others havnt said. Visiting Chicago was a great experience. The bean was something on my list of places to visit while there and I was glad I got to see it first hand.

This luminous, large legume has become an icon of Chicago.
I’m used to it, so it isn’t a destination for me on a romp through the city, but it actually is delightful. Not only is the reflective surface fun for selfies, but you can people-​watch and see so much: proposals, kisses, fights, smiles, tears, whatever. I’ve snapped many photos here and know several people that experienced proposals next to this polished bean.
Interesting to note: «Cloud Gate» is a sculpture by Indian-​born British artist Anish Kapoor. It is 110 tons of steel… whoa! Underneath the artwork is a 12-​foot high ‘gate’ for people to walk under and admire. Come to think of it, this IS a pretty impressive piece of work.
Very cool to have in Chicago. A must-​see if you’re a tourist. A must-​avoid if you’re a local (unless you know the best times to avoid the crowds).

If the Cloud Gate sculpture («the Bean») doesn’t release your inner 5-​year-​old, well, I guess there’s no hope for you. I’m sure there’s a plaque somewhere near it that explains the artist’s motivation and purpose and all, but I was too busy people-​watching and mugging in front of it myself to seek it out.
From way back, it reflects a curvy Chicago skyline; up close, a funhouse version of you. The best though, is underneath-it’s like Salvador Dali ate some really good mushrooms. Sure, it’s crowded and touristy. But it’s also lots of fun!

When mentioning my trip to Chicago, several people mention «The Bean», so we definitely had to go check this «bean» out.
We arrived around noon, so the location was pretty crowded but you still had the ability to take great pictures. I was beyond amazed at how the stainless steel plates that were used to create this piece of art doesn’t have any visible seams.
I definitely recommend those visiting Chicago to swing by. For any future trips there, I will definitely go back, but this time either at sunrise because the pictures would look great with the sun picking out and the location won’t be as packed, or I would do late at night where you have the lights of the buildings reflecting the steel and not many tourist around.

You gotta check out Cloud Gate if you’re visiting chicago.
Unilocal, you guys need to update since I looked up the bean in the app and got nothing but coffee shops.
It’s huge and shiny and a sight to see.
Only problem is it’s so crowded that it’s hard to get a solo pic in there like any other popular tourist spot.

I came to see the Bean, I touched the Bean, I took picture with the Bean, I walked under the Bean, and I walked out like a champ.
Believe it or not, but the Bean has only been around since its completion in 2006. Walk under the Bean and you’ll see the distortion view of your surrounding!
It is a very touristy spot, but it has now become an iconic symbol of the city & the Millennium Park. Come and see the Bean yourself — wouldn’t you want to take picture with this giant shiny metal object out in the open?

Visited: 06/​27/​2015.
I feel like it’s tradition to see this gigantic art work most known as the Bean. It’s an iconic tourist must visit spot. I’d advise going super early in the morning or late at night to avoid the massive crowds of people ;)

My favorite bean in the world is in the fabulous city of Chicago! The Cloud Gate aka the «Bean» is one amazing work of art! It looks like the Coolest jelly bean ever!!! A large metallic looking bean that you can view the most reflective images on!
Expect tons of people when visiting this iconic Chicago landmark. It is absolutely a «Must See» in Chicago! Pretty cool to sit back and watch everyone take selfies and do all kinds of strange poses. :)

[Out-​of-​Towner Review]
It was everything I wanted…
Me and a hundred of my closest friends milling about trying to take selfies, convince random strangers to take our pics, and various other shenanigans that happen near a popular landmark.
It has a name other than «The Bean,» could have fooled me? I was so ecstatic to finally find the infamous Bean that I was too happy to care about the crowds, the heat, or the lack of quality pictures I was getting.
Don’t judge, but on my first trip to Chicago, I couldn’t find the bean. When you go running at 6AM in the morning before your flight, it’s hard to find people who will direct you too it as you are on your run, near Lake Michigan. I should have used « Unilocal,» but I was sweaty, thirsty, and a little disoriented from the humidity to think properly.
Which is why this first experience was so exhilarating. We didn’t spend much more than 10 minutes here. But finally seeing it in person, touching it, and just taking the entire thing it was a great, albeit super touristy, feeling!
Don’t be shy. Ask a stranger to take your picture, because I’m sure they did the exact same thing about 30 seconds ago. Take a self, or five. Walk through it, stop right underneath it. Do whatever makes your experience special to you.
There are random vendors nearby who are selling snacks and beverages, take a break and enjoy the chaoticness that is the «Bean»!
This is my exception to my «no beans» rule ;)

If you’re on the fence about coming here like I was, I’d say it’s worth a visit.
Part of the reason I wanted to skip The Bean was that I thought there would be too many other tourists around to get a good photo. Then I discovered that there aren’t always a flock of tourists there, especially if you arrive early on a weekday.
There were only a handful of other people there at 7:30am on Tuesday. Most were snapping photos and selfies and I saw a few others incorporate The Bean into their morning jog: past The Bean… around The Bean… under The Bean.
It looks like someone dropped a huge blob of mercury in the middle of downtown Chicago. I saw it before in the movie The Break-​Up but I didn’t realize it was so big. It’s at least three stories tall and I didn’t see any seams so it’s not clear how they put it together. You have to figure they didn’t get it to Millennium Park in one piece but how DID they do it?
One of the night watchmen yelled for me to get down when I climbed on a concrete pillar to get a better shot. I didn’t see any signs posted so I felt like I was just minding my own business and not doing anything wrong. I walked over to ask them if there were any other rules I needed to know.
They were actually pretty nice. Apparently people get a little carried away taking pictures of The Bean (myself included) and one of their duties is to keep everyone safe and accident-​free. They’re also responsible for keeping people out of Millennium Park and away from The Bean after they close at 11pm. That’s harder than it sounds since there aren’t any gates.
If you’re wondering how they keep the sculpture so shiny… it’s washed on a regular basis. They remove all the rain spots and bird offerings to keep it photo ready. These cleanings usually take place at night. The guards said it was in need of washing on the day I visited but it still looks gleaming in my photos.
The Bean is one of those obligatory Chicago tourist stops but it’s surprisingly fun. You only need about ten minutes to experience it so it shouldn’t be missed.

The Cloud Gate aka the ‘Bean’ aka the Photo Op aka a Tourist Trap. The famous sculpture of Chicago and is synonymous with the city as Michael Jordan is with the Chicago Bulls. It’s a death trap. It’s flooded with people on the weekend and you seriously can’t get a clear picture of the thing. It’s terrible.
Fortunately for me, I visited it in the early afternoon on a week day when nobody was there. It’s a pretty dope piece of art in Millennium Park where everyone and their mama has taken a picture of it. You have the pinch picture, the palm up like you’re holding it, the mouth open wide, and my personal favorite is the pooping it out. Anyway, you have to appreciate it for what is and know the history behind it.
History Lesson:
The Cloud Gate actually is from the future and was brought back in time by the Dark Knight as he took the Road to Perdition. Batman had an epic battle with Ferris Bueller at some record store in Wicker Park on the Northwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Honore Street. Some fugitive with one arm was the referee of the battle.
Now, you know the history of the Cloud Gate and maybe you can appreciate it in all of its glory. Thank Batman for his troubles.

Quoi? Il n’y a aucun avis français sur le Haricot de Chicago! Unbelievable!
The Bean, c’est quand même LA grande attraction de la célèbre ville qu’est Chicago.
Lors de mon séjour, j’ai très vite souhaité me rendre dans le Millenium Park où est situé le Cloud Gate (de son vrai nom).
Quand on arrive, on se dit «wouah, c’est donc ça!». Un haricot énorme en acier, qui reflète parfaitement son environnement: les immeubles, les arbres, le ciel et les nuages, c’est vraiment magnifique, surtout par beau temps!
Cette sculpture est pourtant récente puisqu’elle a été terminée en 2006, cependant, sa notoriété est immense. En témoigne le nombre de personnes qui tourne autour à la recherché de LA bonne photo.
Ce qui est génial, c’est qu’on peut vraiment s’en approcher, la toucher, passer à l’intérieur, de quoi voir la sculpture sous tous ses aspects.
Vous l’avez compris, si vous allez à Chicago, vous devez absolument y faire un saut :)

die Skulptur besticht durch ihre Einfachheit: eine silberne Kugel, Kaffeebohne oder so ähnlich.
Wie soll kam das fotografieren, ohne dass es nach Photoshop Fisheyeoption aussieht? Viele Leute stehen im Weg, dennoch ein Must-​See.