Top 10 Sports Bars in Chicago in 2027

1Sluggers Chicago

Sluggers takes the top spot because it pairs a Wrigleyville address steps from Wrigley Field with screens on every wall across multiple floors. An upstairs floor adds batting cages, pop-a-shot, and games, turning watching into doing. Cheap drafts, beer buckets, and shots keep group tabs low while Cubs game-day energy spikes with every run.

It is built for Cubs fans and big groups chasing the full Wrigleyville night out, not a quiet pint. The trade-off is real: game days bring crushing crowds, lines, and higher prices. Murphy's Bleachers below offers a calmer patio-and-rooftop pregame, but Sluggers wins on sheer screens, games, and volume.

2Murphy's Bleachers

Murphy's Bleachers ranks second for its location directly across from the Wrigley Field bleachers, a position it has held since long before the neighborhood was polished. The outdoor patio and rooftop give game-day views, while interior screens keep other games in sight. Cold draft beer flows and the food stays to burgers and bar staples.

This is for Cubs fans who want the classic pregame and rooftop ritual rather than a multi-floor party. It trades away the games and batting cages that put Sluggers on top, and it leans baseball-first over all-sports. Off days it becomes a relaxed neighborhood haunt with serious history.

3Old Crow Smokehouse

Old Crow Smokehouse lands third by combining a serious smoked barbecue kitchen with a big, screen-filled bar in the heart of Wrigleyville. Ribs, brisket, and wings come off the smoker, while boozy slushies and spiked lemonades run alongside the beer. A DJ or live crowd keeps weekend energy going from brunch through last call.

It suits groups who want real food and a lively party with the game still visible on screens throughout. It trades away the dive-bar prices of Murphy's Bleachers above and tilts toward party over pure sports focus. Expect a younger, dressed-up crowd and a higher tab than the classic Wrigley rooms.

4Will's Northwoods Inn

Will's Northwoods Inn earns fourth as the best value play in Chicago game-watching, a Lakeview Wisconsin tavern where football Sundays bring free brats and cheap beer. The wood-paneled, supper-club-meets-cabin room is Packers and Wisconsin sports headquarters in the city. Cheese curds and screens tuned to the games round out the deal.

It is for Packers and Wisconsin fans who want affordable drinks, free food, and a warm, no-attitude room. It trades away the barbecue menu and party polish of Old Crow Smokehouse above, and the room is older and no-frills. The value pricing and free brats are what keep it this high.

5Theory Chicago

Theory ranks fifth as the polished, restaurant-grade viewing room of the list, with dozens of HD screens and a huge projection wall in River North. The sprawling space fills with downtown professionals on game nights, the kitchen does elevated bar food and shareables, and the bar runs a deep beer and cocktail list. It scales easily for big groups and watch parties.

This is for River North groups who want sightlines to every game plus real food and a grown-up crowd. It trades away the cheap-beer value of Will's Northwoods Inn above in favor of higher prices and a more corporate feel on slow nights. The screen setup is among the best pure viewing rooms in the city.

6Timothy O'Toole's

Timothy O'Toole's takes sixth as a dependable all-sports headquarters just off the Magnificent Mile in Streeterville, with screens filling every angle of a sprawling Irish pub. The kitchen is known for solid wings and pub grub, and a deep beer list plus cocktails keeps locals, hotel guests, and out-of-town fans happy. It hosts fan-club watch parties across leagues.

It is for downtown visitors who want a guaranteed good game-watch without hunting for the right room. It trades away the neighborhood character of Wrigleyville spots and the projection-wall scale of Theory above, and it can feel touristy given the location. Reliability and central access are the selling points.

7The Cubby Bear

The Cubby Bear ranks seventh as a Chicago landmark across from Wrigley Field that morphs from packed game-day sports bar into a live-music and party venue at night. The cavernous space goes wild on Cubs days with screens, cheap beer, and a roaring crowd, then hosts bands and DJs once the game ends. The scale handles big groups and overflow crowds.

It is for Cubs fans who want to watch the game and keep the party going long after the final out. It trades away the cozy neighborhood feel of Timothy O'Toole's above, and the huge room can feel impersonal off-peak. Crowds and lines arrive on big Cubs days.

8Brando's

Brando's comes in eighth as a friendly, unfussy South Loop sports bar that flips into a beloved late-night karaoke spot. Early on, screens carry the games while a relaxed crowd settles in with cheap drinks and bar food; later, the room becomes one of downtown's favorite karaoke hangs running into the early hours. Bartenders are easygoing and value is strong.

It suits Loop visitors who want sports first and a singalong after, a versatile pick for mixed groups. It trades away the screen scale of The Cubby Bear above, with a smaller viewing setup that can get overtaken by the karaoke crowd late. The dual personality is the draw.

9Benchmark Chicago

Benchmark places ninth in Old Town thanks to a big retractable-roof rooftop and patio that make it a standout warm-weather game-day spot. Inside, screens cover the bar and dining areas, the kitchen does a strong American menu, and the cocktail and beer programs sit a cut above the average sports bar. The crowd skews young-professional and social.

It is for Old Town groups who want an open-air game day rather than a windowless sports cave. It trades away the late-night karaoke versatility of Brando's above and the value pricing of the fan bars, running premium for the neighborhood. When the roof opens, it feels more like a party than a sports den.

10Stretch Bar & Grill

Stretch Bar & Grill closes the list at tenth as a serious game-day headquarters in the Wrigleyville and North Side area with a strong Chicago Bears following and a wall of screens covering every league. Game-day drink specials, solid bar food, and a fired-up fan crowd keep it dependable, and it hosts watch parties for fan clubs across sports.

It is for Bears fans who want an authentic, no-frills game-watch at good value. It trades away the rooftop polish of Benchmark above and the food program of the higher-ranked rooms, and the best energy is reserved for big game days. Less polished and less touristy is exactly the point.

How we ranked these

We weighted each bar against what makes watching a game out genuinely better than watching at home, drawing on local press, regular-customer reviews, and each room's game-day reputation. The weighting: Atmosphere & vibe 25%, Screens & viewing setup 20%, Drinks & menu 20%, Crowd & service 15%, Value 10%, Location & access 10%. A bar with great TVs but a dead crowd, or huge energy but no sightlines from half the seats, drops fast.

We deliberately ignored hype cycles, social-media follower counts, and whatever opened most recently, because none of those predict whether a room will actually be full and loud for a Tuesday night Bulls game. We also discounted celebrity endorsements, paid list placements, and decor budgets. What survived was game-day reputation earned over seasons, not a launch weekend.

Related questions

What makes Sluggers the best overall sports bar in Chicago?

Sluggers sits steps from Wrigley Field and stacks screens across multiple floors, plus an upstairs with batting cages, pop-a-shot, and games. Cheap drafts and beer buckets keep groups happy, and the crowd erupts the moment the Cubs score. It is loud, crowded, and unapologetically a party, which is exactly what most people want near the Friendly Confines.

Is Will's Northwoods Inn really the best value sports bar in Chicago?

Yes. Will's pairs cheap beer with free brats on football Sundays in a wood-paneled Wisconsin tavern, which is hard to beat on price anywhere in Lakeview. Cheese curds, an unpretentious neighborhood crowd, and screens tuned to the games round it out. It is not flashy, and that is the point: affordable drinks, free food, zero attitude.

Where should visitors watch a game downtown instead of Wrigleyville?

Theory in River North offers dozens of HD screens, a huge projection wall, elevated bar food, and a deep drink list, making it one of the best pure viewing rooms in the city. Timothy O'Toole's near the Magnificent Mile is the reliable all-sports alternative, with screens at every angle and fan-club watch parties across leagues.

Which Chicago sports bar is best for Bears fans on game day?

Stretch Bar & Grill in the Wrigleyville and North Side area is a serious Bears headquarters, with a wall of screens covering every league, game-day drink specials, and a fired-up fan crowd. It is less polished and less touristy than downtown rooms, which is exactly what fans chasing an authentic, no-frills game-watch are after.

Can Packers fans find a home bar in Chicago?

Will's Northwoods Inn in Lakeview is the city's Packers and Wisconsin sports headquarters, complete with free brats on football Sundays, cheese curds, and cheap beer. The supper-club-meets-cabin room draws a warm, no-attitude crowd that actually wants to watch the game, not just be seen at it.

What should a group do after the game ends in Wrigleyville?

The Cubby Bear morphs from packed game-day sports bar into a live-music and DJ venue once the final out lands, and its cavernous space handles big groups with ease. Old Crow Smokehouse keeps the party going with BBQ, boozy slushies, and spiked lemonades. Both let you stay under one roof instead of bar-hopping.

Which sports bars work best when the weather is warm in Chicago?

Benchmark in Old Town has a retractable-roof rooftop and a big patio with screens throughout, making it a standout warm-weather game-day spot. Murphy's Bleachers, directly across from the Wrigley Field bleachers, offers a large outdoor patio and a rooftop with a view of the action. Both turn game-watching into an outdoor event.

Is there a Chicago sports bar that stays fun after the game?

Brando's in the South Loop and downtown Loop runs sports early and flips into a beloved late-night karaoke spot that goes into the early hours. The Cubby Bear adds live music and DJs, and Old Crow Smokehouse turns into a full party. Each gives a group a reason to stay past the final whistle.

FAQ

What is the best sports bar in Chicago overall?

Sluggers in Wrigleyville is our top pick, combining wall-to-wall screens, upstairs batting cages and games, cheap drafts, and peak Cubs energy steps from Wrigley Field. It is loud, crowded, and built for groups. No other room pairs location, screens, games, and crowd quite the same way on a Cubs game day.

What is the best value sports bar in Chicago?

Will's Northwoods Inn in Lakeview wins on value with cheap beer and free brats on football Sundays in a cozy Wisconsin-themed room. Cheese curds and an unpretentious neighborhood crowd round it out. It is not flashy, and that is the point: affordable drinks, free food, and a warm, no-attitude room full of real fans.

Where should I watch a Cubs game near Wrigley Field?

Sluggers, Murphy's Bleachers, and The Cubby Bear are all steps from Wrigley and deliver the full Wrigleyville game-day experience. Murphy's has a patio and rooftop across from the bleachers, Sluggers has batting cages upstairs, and The Cubby Bear adds live music after the game. Arrive early on game days.

Where is the best downtown sports bar in Chicago?

Theory in River North offers dozens of HD screens, a big projection wall, and elevated food, making it one of the best pure viewing rooms in the city. Timothy O'Toole's near the Magnificent Mile is a reliable all-sports pub for visitors, with screens at every angle and fan-club watch parties across leagues.

Where can Bears or Packers fans watch in Chicago?

Stretch Bar & Grill is a strong Bears game-day headquarters with a wall of screens and drink specials, while Will's Northwoods Inn is the city's go-to for Packers and Wisconsin sports fans, complete with free brats on football Sundays. Both draw crowds that genuinely care about the score.

Which Chicago sports bar is best for a group that wants more than the game?

Old Crow Smokehouse turns into a party with BBQ and boozy slushies, The Cubby Bear adds live music and DJs, Brando's flips to late-night karaoke, and Benchmark offers a retractable-roof patio. Each gives a group a reason to stay well past the final whistle instead of heading home.

Do I need to arrive early at Wrigleyville sports bars on Cubs game days?

Yes. Wrigleyville bars like Sluggers, Murphy's Bleachers, and The Cubby Bear get mobbed and pricier on Cubs game days, with real lines and waits during big games. Arrive early, or pick a downtown room like Theory or Timothy O'Toole's if you want elbow space and easier seating.

Which Chicago sports bar has the best screens for watching multiple games?

Theory in River North leads with dozens of HD screens plus a huge projection wall and sightlines from nearly every seat. Timothy O'Toole's in Streeterville fills every angle with screens and hosts watch parties across leagues. Both beat smaller neighborhood bars where you may end up craning your neck.

Are Chicago sports bars good for out-of-town visitors?

Yes. Timothy O'Toole's near the Magnificent Mile draws hotel guests and visiting fans, and Brando's sits in the Loop with affordable drinks and easygoing service. Both put every league on and welcome outsiders. Wrigleyville rooms are worth the trip too, especially on Cubs game days.

What matters less than the hype when picking a Chicago sports bar?

The single trendiest new bar matters less than the hype suggests. For sports, rooms that consistently draw a real fan crowd, carry every game, and run honest drink prices beat whatever just opened. The classics on this list have earned their game-day reputations over seasons, not a launch weekend.

Sources

• https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Sports+Bars&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL
• https://chicago.eater.com
• https://www.thrillist.com
• https://www.timeout.com/chicago
• https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago
• https://www.choosechicago.com
• https://www.sluggersbar.com
• https://www.murphysbleachers.com
• https://www.theorychicago.com
• https://www.willsnorthwoodsinn.com

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