Where to Eat and Drink Near Wrigley Field

Most people going to a Cubs game make a day of it, starting with food and drinks before the first pitch and ending with a few more (often consolation) drinks after the last out. It's a good thing the Red Line stops right next to the ballpark. Here's where to eat and drink in Wrigleyville, sorted by the kind of day you want.

Two things to know first. On game days, every bar within a few blocks of Clark and Addison is packed from a couple of hours before first pitch, so either get there early or walk a few blocks out. And a lot has changed around the park since this page was first written. The Cubs' 1060 Project renovation remade the ballpark and the lots around it between 2014 and 2019, and the Captain Morgan Club that used to be built into the stadium is closed. Gallagher Way, the plaza on the Clark Street side where parking lots used to be, has a big video board that shows the game. Our Cubs games guide explains who can get in on game days.

For the full game-day party

The Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison St.) is right across from the marquee and has been there since 1953 (Wikipedia). It's a huge sports bar with private rooms that look out at the park, and it books local bands and DJs. After a win it's a celebration. After a loss it's where people drink until they forget. You don't come here for a quiet beer.

Sluggers (3540 N. Clark St.) calls itself a sports bar on steroids, and that's fair. There are batting cages, arcade games and dueling pianos upstairs. It's loud and it's huge, and it's open until 2am, 3am on Saturdays.

For die-hard fans

Murphy's Bleachers (3655 N. Sheffield Ave.) is the classic Cubs bar, right across from the bleacher entrance. It's packed before and after every game, and if you couldn't get tickets, its front patio is the next best seat in the neighborhood. We cover its history on our Lakeview page.

If you'd rather watch from above, the rooftops across Waveland and Sheffield sell all-inclusive packages with food and drink. Our Cubs games guide has the details.

For beer people

Lucky Dorr (1101 W. Waveland Ave.) is a small bar a block or so from the park, and its taps are mostly local craft beer. Come here when you want something better than what they sell in the stands.

Pilot Project (3473 N. Clark St.) is the Wrigleyville outpost of the Logan Square brewery incubator, where the tap list is made up of small brands you won't see elsewhere. It's on our breweries and brewpubs page, along with the rest of the city's taprooms.

Sheffield's (3258 N. Sheffield Ave.) is about a 10-minute walk south, toward Belmont, and it's been a Chicago craft beer bar for more than 30 years. The beer garden is the reason to go on a summer afternoon, and these days the kitchen smokes its own barbecue, from baby back ribs on down. The bar is open until 2am most nights and 3am on Saturdays.

Uncommon Ground (3800 N. Clark St.) is a restaurant and cafe with its own organic brewery, Greenstar, and live music. It's a few blocks north of the park and a lot calmer than anything on Addison.

For cheap eats

Al's #1 Italian Beef has a Wrigleyville shop at 3420 N. Clark St. Al's has been making Italian beef since 1938. Order it dipped, with hot giardiniera, and read our food and drink page for how to eat one without ruining your shirt.

Byron's Hot Dogs (1017 W. Irving Park Rd.) is about a 10-minute walk north of the park, and The Infatuation says its hot dogs and brats are better and cheaper than the ones inside Wrigley. Get yours with everything. See our page on Chicago-style hot dogs for what that means.

Output (3720 N. Clark St.) is a sports bar that's really a wing place. Wings come traditional, boneless or grilled, tossed in house sauces, and an eight-piece order is $20.

For a sit-down meal

Big Star (3640 N. Clark St.) is a taco bar with a big patio. The Infatuation likes its fresh-fried chips. It works for a group that wants tacos and a drink without a frat party.

Tango Sur (3763 N. Southport Ave.) is a candlelit Argentine steakhouse about a 10-minute walk northwest of the park. It's BYOB and doesn't take reservations, so go early or expect a wait. Split a filet and a plate of empanadas.

For more choices west of the park, including breakfast at Southport Grocery, see our Lakeview neighborhood guide.

For a quieter afternoon

Guthrie's Tavern (1300 W. Addison St.) has been a neighborhood bar since 1986. It's a few blocks west of the park, and it's known for its shelf of board games. It's where locals go when the game-day crowd gets to be too much.

The farther you walk from Clark and Addison, the quieter it gets. Head south on Clark toward Belmont or west toward Southport and you'll find more couples and families than drunk fans. With kids in tow, Uncommon Ground is the easiest pick of the places above, and a daytime Wrigley Field tour may suit them better than nine innings anyway.

Staying the night

If you want to walk home after the game, see our list of hotels near Wrigley Field. For more on the team and the park, read the Chicago Cubs.

Photos by terren in Virginia, wallyg