/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65491824/80052577.28.jpg)
Great food and drink make the losses feel a little less worse
View as Map
Some may say Chicago is suffering through a sports apocalypse with a string of disappointing seasons — thank goodness for the Chicago Sky and its 2021 WNBA championship.
But Chicago fans are known for their ability to look past losses and to support their teams through thick and thin. Some may call that passion while others may call that being creatures of habit. Regardless big games call for more than gathering around a puny laptop and hoping that illegal Internet stream will come through. Below, find Eater Chicago’s picks for best sports bars in the city. They feature plenty of screens for viewing and great food and drink — especially for the Super Bowl. Save those frozen pizza rolls for another ocassion.
Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
A friendly Rogers Park place that has the hallmarks of a dive, but can also accommodate families with young children during the day. The food can be hit or miss depending on who’s in the kitchen. The atmosphere and staff are the main draws, and that energy helps create a fun game day.
In an area of the city saturated by sports bars, Murphy’s Bleachers rises above the fray. Open under various “bleachers” names since the 1930’s, it offers a singular gameday experience just across the street from Wrigley Field with plenty of streetside space for watching the world go by.
A Lakeview classic for a lot of University of Kentucky fans. There’s a classic pub menu with wings, tacos, and more. The fans here tend to get hyped for the games, so if you’re there on a gameday on a date — unless you and your partner are there for the sports — maybe take your night elsewhere.
Lincoln Park has seemingly lost its title as the neighborhood with the most annoying sports bars in Chicago. The current champion may be Wicker Park. But not all sports bars are awful. Broken Barrel, on a quiet residential strip, is an example. It’s got plenty of TVs, a friendly waitstaff, and a bar menu that won’t make fans regret staying through overtime. The chicken wings come in fried or smoked, which are some of the best. And there’s a patio.
The Bob Inn is an old person’s bar only until it isn’t. This is a dive for shots and a beer, with the type of aesthetic that big beer companies love to steal for its commercials. Yes, the crowd skews younger as the night goes on, but make no mistake: This bar takes its baseball seriously. Check out the neon sign in the front declaring it a North Side White Sox bar.
Logan Square’s retro sports bar offers daily games on the bocce court, a massive outdoor space in front, and weekend bottomless boozy brunches.
Julia Shell knows a thing about bars. The longtime PR executive has taken over a Lincoln Park space with a charming sports bar with a serious food menu. Albion Manor should appeal to soccer fans of all leagues with thoughtful drinks and a menu that includes sausage sliders, wings, and fish and chips.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71284913/51946583519_7899d358cb_o.0.jpg)
From the owners of the Scofflaw, this Logan Square bar caters to sports fans with TVs and a pub menu that includes burgers, wings, and salads. The beer selection is simple (with an emphasis on sours), but the cocktails are the highlights, as Scofflaw is one of the city’s best cocktail bars, and they’ve shared some of that magic to their younger sibling. There’s also a patio.
This longtime Wisconsin and Kansas bar in Bucktown is always packed. It’s also a popular setting for TV’s Chicago Fire.
Illinois bars are a dime a dozen, but all alums seemingly eventually find themselves at Joe’s. This large entertainment complex near Lincoln Park is good for those who want to start the day with sports and end with some music.
The Fifty/50, with their infamous chicken wings and 25 TVs, is one of Wicker Park’s OGs for sports.
Cleo’s is more known as an international soccer bar, but it also offers NFL Sunday Ticket on its 16 HD screens for the other type of football.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65491820/cleos.0.jpg)
This bar opened in time for FIFA World Cup 2022 in West Town with a global menu and fun drinks. There’s a lot to take in at Passport, which caters to the international sports fan with soccer and F1 racing. There’s also a separate basement speakeasy-style bar for when the score gets out of hand or fans need a break.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71905989/52520903739_b319e1af5c_h.0.jpg)
One of the city’s best sports bars has a quality menu that will satisfy non-sports fans dragged to a gamewatch.
The bar’s owners, DineAmic Hospitality, know what it takes to throw a party. They revamped the former Public House, added twinkle lights, high-end finishes, and a new menu. This place has all the amenities a sports fan would want, and there’s no need to move if postgame festivities are desired. DineAmic will bring the party to the fans.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69949964/51331992909_718ee02df6_o.0.jpg)
For 14 years, WestEnd served the sports fans near the United Center, living between dive and upscale, providing patrons with something for everyone. WestEnd’s owners closed the bar during the pandemic to convert it into a location of its popular Ranalli’s bar that’s been a Lincoln Park fan favorite. Customers haven’t missed much. The decor is brighter and there’s build-your-own tavern-style pizzas.
The South Loop spinoff of the Wicker Park bar is back near McCormick Place. It features a large beer list, Sunday brunch, and it’s probably the closest bar to Soldier Field.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65491821/FatpourMcCormick_1_1200x800.0.jpg)
South Siders of a certain age have warm feeling surrounding Williams Inn, a restaurant that featured Chicago-style stuffed pizza. Closed for years, Williams Inn reopened in September as a sports bar that strives inclusivity. Watch the Bears, the Sky, and baseball while sinking your teeth into the same stuffed pizza that fueled so many memories.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69950538/Pizza.0.jpg)
A quick walk from Sox Park, Turtle’s gets crowded after baseball games as fans crowd the space. It’s got a deep beer list, popular burgers, and pizza to sate any fan. This is a favorite among South Side Chicago chefs.
When a James Beard Award winner opens a sports bar, food-loving fans should take notice. Daisy’s Po-Boy opened in August with sandwiches, gumbo, fried chicken, and more. Williams is channeling is aunt with southern food inside a spacious restaurant with plenty of TVs and draft and packaged beer. It’s a rare Black-owned sports bar in the city of Chicago.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71284914/52284888367_d70674115e_h.0.jpg)
This Hyde Park classic continues to chug with a friendly clientele and famous pitchers and burgers. The cheap prices may appeal to college kids at the University of Chicago, but the bar formerly known as Jimmy’s welcomes all. Note: They’re cash only.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69949966/1048804_393033860818332_185120404_o.0.0.jpg)
Link copied to the clipboard.
A friendly Rogers Park place that has the hallmarks of a dive, but can also accommodate families with young children during the day. The food can be hit or miss depending on who’s in the kitchen. The atmosphere and staff are the main draws, and that energy helps create a fun game day.
In an area of the city saturated by sports bars, Murphy’s Bleachers rises above the fray. Open under various “bleachers” names since the 1930’s, it offers a singular gameday experience just across the street from Wrigley Field with plenty of streetside space for watching the world go by.
A Lakeview classic for a lot of University of Kentucky fans. There’s a classic pub menu with wings, tacos, and more. The fans here tend to get hyped for the games, so if you’re there on a gameday on a date — unless you and your partner are there for the sports — maybe take your night elsewhere.
Lincoln Park has seemingly lost its title as the neighborhood with the most annoying sports bars in Chicago. The current champion may be Wicker Park. But not all sports bars are awful. Broken Barrel, on a quiet residential strip, is an example. It’s got plenty of TVs, a friendly waitstaff, and a bar menu that won’t make fans regret staying through overtime. The chicken wings come in fried or smoked, which are some of the best. And there’s a patio.
The Bob Inn is an old person’s bar only until it isn’t. This is a dive for shots and a beer, with the type of aesthetic that big beer companies love to steal for its commercials. Yes, the crowd skews younger as the night goes on, but make no mistake: This bar takes its baseball seriously. Check out the neon sign in the front declaring it a North Side White Sox bar.
Logan Square’s retro sports bar offers daily games on the bocce court, a massive outdoor space in front, and weekend bottomless boozy brunches.
Julia Shell knows a thing about bars. The longtime PR executive has taken over a Lincoln Park space with a charming sports bar with a serious food menu. Albion Manor should appeal to soccer fans of all leagues with thoughtful drinks and a menu that includes sausage sliders, wings, and fish and chips.
From the owners of the Scofflaw, this Logan Square bar caters to sports fans with TVs and a pub menu that includes burgers, wings, and salads. The beer selection is simple (with an emphasis on sours), but the cocktails are the highlights, as Scofflaw is one of the city’s best cocktail bars, and they’ve shared some of that magic to their younger sibling. There’s also a patio.
This longtime Wisconsin and Kansas bar in Bucktown is always packed. It’s also a popular setting for TV’s Chicago Fire.
Illinois bars are a dime a dozen, but all alums seemingly eventually find themselves at Joe’s. This large entertainment complex near Lincoln Park is good for those who want to start the day with sports and end with some music.
The Fifty/50, with their infamous chicken wings and 25 TVs, is one of Wicker Park’s OGs for sports.
Cleo’s is more known as an international soccer bar, but it also offers NFL Sunday Ticket on its 16 HD screens for the other type of football.
This bar opened in time for FIFA World Cup 2022 in West Town with a global menu and fun drinks. There’s a lot to take in at Passport, which caters to the international sports fan with soccer and F1 racing. There’s also a separate basement speakeasy-style bar for when the score gets out of hand or fans need a break.
One of the city’s best sports bars has a quality menu that will satisfy non-sports fans dragged to a gamewatch.
The bar’s owners, DineAmic Hospitality, know what it takes to throw a party. They revamped the former Public House, added twinkle lights, high-end finishes, and a new menu. This place has all the amenities a sports fan would want, and there’s no need to move if postgame festivities are desired. DineAmic will bring the party to the fans.
For 14 years, WestEnd served the sports fans near the United Center, living between dive and upscale, providing patrons with something for everyone. WestEnd’s owners closed the bar during the pandemic to convert it into a location of its popular Ranalli’s bar that’s been a Lincoln Park fan favorite. Customers haven’t missed much. The decor is brighter and there’s build-your-own tavern-style pizzas.
The South Loop spinoff of the Wicker Park bar is back near McCormick Place. It features a large beer list, Sunday brunch, and it’s probably the closest bar to Soldier Field.
South Siders of a certain age have warm feeling surrounding Williams Inn, a restaurant that featured Chicago-style stuffed pizza. Closed for years, Williams Inn reopened in September as a sports bar that strives inclusivity. Watch the Bears, the Sky, and baseball while sinking your teeth into the same stuffed pizza that fueled so many memories.
A quick walk from Sox Park, Turtle’s gets crowded after baseball games as fans crowd the space. It’s got a deep beer list, popular burgers, and pizza to sate any fan. This is a favorite among South Side Chicago chefs.
When a James Beard Award winner opens a sports bar, food-loving fans should take notice. Daisy’s Po-Boy opened in August with sandwiches, gumbo, fried chicken, and more. Williams is channeling is aunt with southern food inside a spacious restaurant with plenty of TVs and draft and packaged beer. It’s a rare Black-owned sports bar in the city of Chicago.
This Hyde Park classic continues to chug with a friendly clientele and famous pitchers and burgers. The cheap prices may appeal to college kids at the University of Chicago, but the bar formerly known as Jimmy’s welcomes all. Note: They’re cash only.