Wrigleyville is a whirl of intensity when the Cubs are playing, a crazy quilt of offerings that is amplified during the postseason. How to navigate the mishmash of bars before, after and during the game? Just in time for the post-season, Food & Dining has updated our guide of every alcohol-slinging spot in the blocks around the ballpark — 48 bars and restaurants in all — to give you an idea of what to expect as you head out. (And remember: Your starting point is Wrigleyville during a Cubs game. We all know what that means.)
Cubby Bear
62 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 10 a.m. on game days); 50+ HD TVs; Cubby Blue shots.
Also of note: This iconic Cubs venue opened more than 50 years ago, and Cubs memorabilia lines some of the walls. Expect a rowdy crowd.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Vines on Clark
95 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 11 a.m.); large outdoor patio and rooftop deck; wall-to-wall TV screens and projection screen.
Also of note: Most of the beer list is domestic and overpriced, but some local brews are surprisingly decent deals. For example, a 16-ounce Daisy Cutter from Half Acre costs the same, $8, as a Bud Light Lime-a-Rita.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Sluggers World Class Sports Bar and Grill
233 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: More than 30 HD TVs and six 10-foot projection screens; dueling pianos after every home game.
Also of note: This Wrigleyville institution is more than 25 years old. An upstairs sports area has batting cages, skee ball, air hockey and pop-a-shot basketball.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
HVAC Pub
328 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: The pizza. Unusual pies include the Graceland ($15) with pulled pork, mustard and pickled jalapenos; post-9 p.m., you can order a limited selection by the slice.
Also of note: Watch the game with $5 Bryant Bombs (made with Red Bull Blue Edition) in hand. Opens two hours before all Cubs games; second floor can be booked for a pregame party.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Lucky Dorr
361 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Specialty beers from Begyle, Dovetail, Lake Effect, Blue Nose and Revolution only available at Lucky Dorr, and oversize German-style pretzels with beer cheese, dried salami chips and sausages. Kegged cocktails and ciders.
Also of note: Named for famed Wrigley Field groundskeeper Bobby Dorr.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
John Barleycorn
394 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: A postgame they may not remember with a right-out-of-college crowd.
Also of note: If you do want to watch the game here, there are plenty of TVs and two 100-inch projection screens. The downstairs is filled with tables; upstairs has far less seating. A bar menu has mostly burgers and sliders.
Best for:
Postgame
Moe’s Cantina
427 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Even by Wrigleyville standards, the reputation of this cavernous bar is low, but there are large TVs, margaritas and Mexican food.
Also of note: Bottle service available for parties of six or more.
Best for:
Postgame
Budweiser Brick House Tavern
427 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Swanky digs, proximity to stadium, 100-ounce Moscow mule for $40, for sharing (we think).
Also of note: Raffles for tickets; open before and after games.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Merkle’s Bar & Grill
459 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Local beers including Revolution and Lagunitas; plenty of TVs tuned to game; chance of scoring a barstool or table.
Also of note: This is a comfortable dive with a small food menu. Opens at 11 a.m. 20 TVs.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Irish Oak
525 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking; comprehensive selection of Irish beers and whiskies; more TVs than you’ve ever seen in one bar.
Also of note: Irish food including Guinness stew, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd’s pie. Craft beers and Irish whiskies. Rent space for 10 to 200 people for a pre- or postgame party. 40 TVs.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Old Crow Smokehouse
558 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 10 a.m. for noon games); moonshine cocktails; barbecue platters; 12-panel video walls.
Also of note: The sleek spot has a retractable glass roof and open-air windows. Get here early or there’ll likely be a line.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Rizzo’s Bar and Inn
558 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: 72- ounce Notorious Burger that feeds six to eight people. The song “Notorious” by Biggie Smalls will blast over the speakers when you order.
Also of note: Large format cocktails and 19-inch pretzel.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Deuce’s and The Diamond Club
591 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 9 a.m. for noon games); dozens of HD TVs; Cubby Blue fishbowls and a truly epic selection of liquor.
Also of note: Deuces, the downstairs bar, has Revolution beers on tap and a side patio with a fountain. The Diamond Club, upstairs, offers bottle service. Reservable cabanas on the patio.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Casey Moran’s
591 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Five full-service bars. Open at 9 a.m. for 1:20 games; noon for 3 p.m. games; 3 for 7:05 game; otherwise, open by 5. Opening 9 a.m. for Monday and Tuesday playoff games. Beer garden has retractable roof and rooftop has two full bars.
Also of note: The bar has a full food menu and a rooftop garden with a retractable roof. Book any of several private rooms for a Cubs party.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Bernie’s
623 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 10 a.m. day games, 3 p.m. night games); four full-service bars; 30 HD TVs spread over two floors; beer garden and sidewalk cafe.
Also of note: A Wrigleyville mainstay since 1954, Bernie’s has a full food menu and free shuffleboard to enjoy during any lulls in play.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Sports Corner Bar and Grill
656 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (open by 11 a.m. daily); sidewalk and rooftop seating; TVs everywhere; game-day specials (recently $3 you-call-it mixed drinks and $3 brats).
Also of note: An extensive bar menu includes wings, mozzarella sticks, nachos, burgers, wraps and salads. No table reservations during games, but private party spaces available.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Stretch Bar and Grill
656 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: $12 beer and burger special on game days; 128-ounce cocktails served in oversized Mason jars; 14 60- and 70-inch HD TVs and two 100-inch HD video walls.
Also of note: The bar takes table reservations on its website. Opens two hours before all Cubs games.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Press Box
689 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Drinks within stumbling distance of Addison Red Line.
Also of note: This was formerly The Dugout, made over only weeks ago by Bar Rescue. Tiny with a hidden entrance, it’s possibly the smallest bar in Wrigleyville.
Best for:
Postgame
Nola Cafe & Bar
689 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 11 a.m.); table reservations (but not during games); interesting menu with everything from bulgogi kimchi fries to Jamaican jerk wings.
Also of note: This isn’t a sports bar, but has 10 TVs airing the game. And don’t think you’re headed to a New Orleans-inspired venue — Nola is a portmanteau for North Lakeview.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Roadhouse 66 Gas n’ Grill
722 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Burgers and excellent blue cheese garlic fries; late-night eats (kitchen open until 2 a.m.); weekend brunch before day games; some TVs.
Also of note: The bar has a roadhouse decor and 40-seat patio.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Bar Celona
722 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Strong mojitos; postgame dance party (DJ after 10 p.m.).
Also of note: This bar is Spanish in name only; the menu features tacos and fajitas.
Best for:
Postgame
Cannikin
755 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with $5 Tito’s, Captain, Jack, half off drafts and half off appetizers. Get a tallboy and a shot for $8. Open late.
Also of note: Full kitchen with burgers and appetizers.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Rockit Burger Bar
755 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: The 14 specialty burgers, including one with deep-fried mac and cheese “buns;” limited late-night menu; heated patio with TVs; day drinking (opens 10 a.m. for day games); extensive whiskey list including pours from 14 rare bottles.
Also of note: Table reservations available for away games only. Cubs parties available in private event space, including trolley shuttle service from your office.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Lucky’s Sandwich Co.
787 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Over-the-top sandwiches stuffed with fries; good beer list with Metropolitan, Revolution and Half Acre on tap; late-night food.
Also of note: This spot’s claim to fame: It was featured on an episode of “Man v. Food.”
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Country Club
853 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: The whiskey list; Southern menu including “white boy tacos,” Nashville hot chicken sandwich; postgame dance party to country music.
Also of note: Game-day table reservations available; opens at least two hours before all Cubs games.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Yak-Zies
853 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Wings, available in increments of 10; day drinking (opens 10 a.m.); and 22 TVs.
Also of note: This Yak-Zies location has been watching the Cubs win and lose for 25 years. Rooms available to book pre- or postgame parties on request.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Trace
886 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Late drinking (open until 4 a.m. Sundays-Fridays, 5 a.m. Saturdays); large plasma screens tuned to game; craft beers including Delirium Tremens, Allagash White, Dragon’s Milk and Arrogant Bastard.
Also of note: Opens two hours before home games. Book the second floor (15 to 150 people) for a private party.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Raw Bar and Grill
951 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Dinner before or after the game (raw bar, fried calamari, fish tacos, etc.). The 70-seat dining room was remodeled over the summer.
Also of note: Pregame specials vary, but recently have included $6 oyster shooters and $5 Cubby blue shots.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Full Shilling Public House
984 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Day drinking (opens 11 a.m.); free hotdogs an hour before and after home games; $6 16-ounce domestic cans.
Also of note: This Irish pub has multiple TVs, a full food menu (try the fish and chips) and daily food and drink specials during playoffs.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Gman Tavern
1,148 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Low-key vibe (think jukebox, pinball); draft selection includes Half Acre, Great Lakes and 4 Hands Brewing.
Also of note: The longtime cash-only bar recently began taking credit cards.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Chicago’s Blarney Stone
1,148 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Pool, darts and foosball; cheap drinks and shots.
Also of note: This is the definition of a dive bar — it’s approaching its 50th birthday and looks like it hasn’t been updated since the ’70s.
Best for:
Postgame
Murphy’s Bleachers
1,148 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Lively atmosphere packed with Cubs fans; ample TVs; large sidewalk patio; daily food and drink specials; good beer including Half Acre and 3 Floyds.
Also of note: Murphy’s has been an iconic Cubs fan experience for nearly 80 years (originally Ernie’s Bleachers). Located directly across from the field, this is where crowds swarm to drink after home games — despite the tiny bathrooms.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Graystone Tavern
1,148 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Large back patio with a handful of TVs; creative tacos (try the fried chicken with mac and cheese and hot sauce); Revolution Citra Hero and more on draft; food served until 2 a.m.
Also of note: Recent game-day specials have included $5 Miller Coolers and Bud Lights. $2 tacos every Wednesday. Limited table reservations available.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Clark St. Beach
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Cheesy beach theme; beer pong; some TVs.
Also of note: This is the sister bar to BEER on Clark next door; the two share a menu.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
BEER
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Beer pong; grilled cheese, hot dogs, burgers and wings; karaoke every night at 9 p.m.; some TVs.
Also of note: Game-day table reservations available but go quickly. “Piano Bob” pops up often to serenade guests. Beware of the bathrooms.
Best for:
Postgame
Pick Me Up Cafe
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Breakfast all day; food served until 1:30 a.m., closes at 2 a.m.; a caffeine hit (the iconic Zombie drink contains two cups of coffee and three shots of espresso); full bar.
Also of note: A full-service restaurant with no bar seating, vintage signs and plenty of students, this cafe manages to keep a chill, decidedly un-Wrigley vibe.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Nisei Lounge
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Beloved dive bar atmosphere; pool and darts; a Chicago handshake (a shot of Malort and an Old Style tallboy).
Also of note: Kicking since 1951, this is the oldest bar in Wrigleyville. It’s no longer cash-only, and owners have added a few flatscreens, but otherwise not much has changed.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Dark Horse Tap and Grille
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Year-round back beer garden with TVs; goat bratwurst (from Paulina Market) on toasted pretzel roll; serious beer list, including Scary Jesus Rock Star from (unaffiliated) Dark Horse Brewing; weekday specials (recently $4 local drafts, $3 Jameson shots, half-priced appetizers).
Also of note: Six flavors of wings include Sriracha honey and ghost pepper blueberry.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Underground Lounge
1,312 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Live music after the games; $5 game-day drink specials.
Also of note: This is a vintage Wrigleyville basement dive.
Best for:
Pregame
Redmonds Ale House
1,476 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: $6 Bud/Bud Light tallboys; tons of TVs; beer garden; “Forty Fridays” featuring $3 40-ounce beers.
Also of note: Table reservations available, with a hearty bar food menu. If you’re looking for a postgame crowd, Redmond’s packs ’em in.
Best for:
Watching game
Postgame
Irie Jerk Bar and Grill
1,476 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Rum punch specials and jerk chicken, which match the island vibes here; 10 TVs upstairs and 6 TVs downstairs.
Also of note: Reservations available; a great meet-up location.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Houndstooth
1,640 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Postgame dance party to country music; ample TVs; burgers including the Bryant-Denny, topped with mac and cheese and bacon.
Also of note: Thursday is Country Night (with live music instead of a DJ); specials include $3 Jameson shots, $10 domestic pitchers, and $1 sliders, but aren’t valid during home games.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Myron Mixon’s Smoke Show Barbecue
1,640 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Barbecue before or after games (kitchen serves 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on game days). This chain is from Discovery Channel star and cookbook author Myron Mixon and has three smokers that can each handle up to 800 pounds of meat at a time.
Also of note: 24 TVs around the restaurant will air the games.
Best for:
Pregame
Postgame
Uncommon Ground
1,640 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: The food! Brunch includes pork belly eggs Benedict and ham and cheese stuffed French toast; dinner features shared plates, thoughtful cocktails and organic beers from sister brewery, Greenstar Brewing.
Also of note: The restaurant operates a certified organic rooftop farm, while Greenstar is Illinois’ first certified organic brewery in Illinois.
Best for:
Pregame
Lowcountry
1,804 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Plentiful seafood boils; half-priced beer and cocktails before 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; large TVs above bar.
Also of note: Private rooms for parties 12 or more; karaoke.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
El Jardin
1,804 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Strong (but pricey) margaritas; two patios; late-night menu on game days.
Also of note: The food may be best consumed after a margarita or two.
Best for:
Postgame
Sheffield’s
2,133 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Sizable outdoor beer garden with TVs; good barbecue; game-day specials (recently $5 Half Acre drafts).
Also of note: This bar is a Chicago classic. Goose Island’s party bus has stopped here to pour vintage Bourbon County Stout at Cubs pre-parties. There’s also a whiskey list with some decent scotches.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Higgins’ Tavern
2,789 feet from Wrigley
Fans go for: Free popcorn; friendly bartenders; a place to watch the game outside of the Wrigleyville fray.
Also of note: A bar menu includes $4 footlong hot dogs and $4.50 grilled cheese.
Best for:
Pregame
Watching game
Postgame
Sources: Tribune reporting, bar websites, Google maps.
Photos and web design by Jonathon Berlin, Chicago Tribune. Feet from Wrigley is measured from Clark and Addison.
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