Sports bars in Chicago
There's a specific kind of joy in watching a big game shoulder to shoulder with strangers who instantly become friends when your team scores. Chicago has 40 sports bars where you can do exactly that. Below are the real spots — names, addresses, what kind of place each one is — plus how to pick the right one for game day. Names you'll see below include Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, First Draft, Murphy's Bleachers, and 37 more across town.
The sports bars scene in Chicago
We indexed 40 sports bars in Chicago. The scene leans Restaurant, American Restaurant and Pub. You'll find them in Schaumburg, Homewood, Lombard. Jake Melnick's Corner Tap (Sports Bar, Wings Joint) on 41 E Superior St (at N Wabash Ave). First Draft (Sports Bar) on 649 S Clark St. Murphy's Bleachers (Sports Bar, Beer Garden) on 3655 N Sheffield Ave (at Waveland Ave).
Sports bars in Chicago
Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
A wings joint spot 2.0 km from central Chicago.
First Draft
A sports bar 0.5 km from central Chicago.
Murphy's Bleachers
A beer garden spot 8.1 km from central Chicago.
Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern
A restaurant spot 8.1 km from central Chicago.
Timothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago
A pub and american restaurant spot 1.8 km from central Chicago.
Will's Northwoods Inn
A dive bar spot 7.0 km from central Chicago.
The Moonlighter
A sports bar 7.8 km from central Chicago.
R Public House
A pub spot 15.7 km from central Chicago.
My Buddy's
A sports bar 9.8 km from central Chicago.
Output Lounge & Sports Bar
A restaurant and cocktail bar spot 3.8 km from central Chicago.
Finley Dunne's Tavern
A sports bar 8.2 km from central Chicago.
Billy Goat Tavern
A burger joint spot 3.0 km from central Chicago.
Mitchell's Tap
A sports bar 5.2 km from central Chicago.
The Graystone Tavern
A sports bar 7.7 km from central Chicago.
Rizzo's Bar & Inn
A sports bar 8.2 km from central Chicago.
How to pick a sports bar in Chicago
Screens beat everything.
Count the TVs before you count the taps. A good sports bar has sightlines from every seat — if you have to crane your neck, keep walking.
Sound matters for big games.
Playoff games and finals deserve a bar that turns the sound on. Call ahead if the game matters to you; the best bars advertise which matches they're showing.
Arrive early for the big ones.
Championship games, derbies and rivalry matches fill sports bars an hour before kickoff. The regulars know this. Now you do too.
Food is part of the deal.
Wings, nachos, burgers — sports-bar food is its own cuisine. Kitchens get slammed at halftime, so order before the break.
Common questions
What is the best sports bar in Chicago?
The honest answer depends on your team and your vibe — some bars are built for football crowds, others for hockey or basketball nights. The listings above show you every option with its address so you can pick by neighborhood and style.
Do sports bars in Chicago show live games with sound?
Most do for major matches, but policies vary by venue and by game. If sound matters, call the bar ahead of time — especially for finals and rivalry games.
Are sports bars in Chicago family-friendly?
Many are restaurants first and bars second, especially earlier in the day. Evenings and big fight nights skew adult. When in doubt, go before 7pm.
Photos: Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA via Wikimedia Commons. Venue listings by 
Foursquare.