8869 Burlington Ave., Brookfield
This Brookfield pub serves Irish-American grub and smooth pints of Guinness.READ MORE
2432 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Park
At this friendly neighborhood bar in Lincoln Park, a long wooden bar runs the length of the room in the front and red vinyl booths line the walls in the rear. Sports fans can chow on Buffalo wings, homemade pizzas or spicy popcorn shrimp while watching the games, or stop by to shoot pool. Home to the Buffalo Bills and the Big 10, Lincoln Station boasts 13 HD televisions, including two big screens. READ MORE
4264 N. Lincoln Ave., North Center
This down-to-earth, family-run hangout attracts a mid-20s and 30s-crowd looking for a relaxed spot to grab a brew. The bar is stocked with Goose Island, Sierra Nevada, Bell's Oberon and Summit, as well as the standard compliment of Budwiser and Miller products. The menu includes plenty of pub grub favorites (nachos, burgers, quesadillas), plus a few surprises: Boursin cheese pizza with Italian sausage, spinach and roasted red pepper; breaded pork Milanese, served with a mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette and spicy mustard mashed potatoes. READ MORE
431 N. Wells St., River North
This masculine, upscale sports bar in River North is just steps away from the Merchandise Mart. The name gives a nod to the city's two major sports teams, plus a hint at the subtle stock market theme throughout (note the stock ticker stretching across the main bar and the menu, called "The Wells Street Journal.") If you want to take advantage of this spot's coolest feature--pay-by-the-ounce beer taps built right into the table--make a reservation for one of five premium booths sitting 8 to 15 or so people (depending on the day, minimums may apply). With a solid food menu by David Blonsky (Quartino), Bull & Bear's kitchen will be slinging eats all day long, from entree salads and gruyere-topped Kobe burgers at lunch to honey-miso salmon and pork chop with apple fennel salad for dinner. Happy hour appetizers are sports bar classics amped up a notch, from pigs in a blanket with citrus slaw to truffle fries with garlic-lemon aioli. READ MORE
3516 N.Clark St., Wrigleyville
This Wrigleyville bar and grill opened Dec. 2004 (in a former Billy Goat tavern) to serve classic American fare, including homemade burgers and fries, three different flavors of wings, chicken sandwiches, wraps and warm chocolate chip cookies, served with a cold glass of milk. Dark mahogany wood, a marble bar and rare black and white photos give the place a nostalgic feel, but the 11 plasma HDTVs keep this tavern in the present day. Steps from Wrigley Field, Merkle's is a pre- and post-game spot for Cub fans and plays host to loyal Illinois and Iowa alumni. READ MORE
3485 N. Clark St., Wrigleyville
The look at this revamped spot (it used to be Tryst before the owners Cortland's Garage reconcepted it as The Stretch) is sleek and contemporary, thanks to cedar paneling stretching behind the bar. Framed photos of guests singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" keeps the decor somewhat Wrigleyville-reverent. Specialty drinks served in 16-ounce or super-sized 32-ounce Mason jars range from Long Islands and Arnold Palmers. A menu of nicer-than-standard bar food (created by Jim August, most known for his eats at Oak Park's Cafe le Coq) features made-from-scratch dishes such as three-bean chili studded with shortrib meat and artichoke dip blended with lump crabmeat. Of course, you'll still find plenty of burgers (8 variations, including turkey and veggie burgers) and gut-busters such as a cheddar-stuffed, bacon-wrapped hot dog on a pretzel bun. On nights when the game isn't the main event, the lights will dim down and a DJ will turn it up. Like Tryst, the back room is still a great spot for private parties. READ MORE
2095 S. Kirk Rd., Geneva
On the Illinois Prairie Path, the Geneva Country House echoes the design of the Clarendon Hills original on a larger scale, with a spacious cedar deck overlooking a landscaped pond. The pub menu offers several types of burgers including a half-pound beef sirloin, buffalo and ostrich, as well as onion rings, salads, grilled salmon. Try your burger on dark rye, topped with cheese, tomato, leaf lettuce and perhaps grilled or raw onion.READ MORE
351 W. Hubbard St., River North
Enjoy family-style seating at this rustic sports bar, where you'll find favorites like chicken wings with whipped Stilton blue cheese, poutine cheese curds, a kobe beef burger with house made bourbon barbecue sauce and shallots and a selection of handcrafted drinks, like spiced plum and strawberry basil sodas. There's also whiskey bottle service and a wide beer selection. Enjoy it all while watching one of 25 televisions in the room.READ MORE
22221 N. Pepper Rd., Lake Barrington
A fully operational brewhouse, this Lake Barrington gem has been wetting suburban whistles since 1996. Its in-house restaurant opened in 2003 and offers an enormous menu and a private party room for up to 200 guests. It has a full bar with 11 hand crafted beers on tap. READ MORE
2913 N. Clark St., Lake View
This Lakeview spot is sometimes classified as a bar, sometimes as a restaurant, and it's easy to see why. The Duke of Perth is an authentic Scottish pub, complete with almost 75 kinds of single-malt whiskey, probably the largest selection in Chicago. But it also has a complete restaurant menu featuring such Scottish specialties as Hebridean leek pie. Half-pound burgers are even given a Scottish accent with names like "The Sean Connery Burger." Every Wednesday and Friday the Duke fills to the rafters for the $9.50 all-you-can-eat fish and chips special, which is a great deal. There's a nice beer garden out back that's open whenever weather permits. READ MORE
1204 N. State St., Gold Coast
This bistro named�for the famous�Manhattan watering hole attracts a more mature clientele than many of its rowdy Rush and Division neighbors with a menu of American standards, including burgers, ribs, pot pie and an lineup of entree-sized salads. The decor features carved oak, brass railings and chic black-and-white tiles. Music piped through the place starts with '60s rock and�moves back in time to include Frank Sinatra and other vintage crooners. READ MORE
1615 N Wells St, Lincoln Park
This Irish pub/grill set in Old Town has a friendly neighborhood feel and serves up the traditional fare of bangers and mash, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie. For the less traditional (Irish) and more typical (American) palate, try the meatloaf, chili or grilled sandwiches. Sports fans can park it in a booth and watch the main events on one of three TV sets. Those not into sports can relax in the outdoor beer garden or sidewalk cafe. READ MORE
3540 N. Clark St., Wrigleyville
Sluggers is the neighborhood sports bar on steroids. In addition to a video layout that feels like every customer has his or her own TV screen (our scouts kept losing count), there are two big screens up front. The satellite array rivals NASA. Test your skill against 90 m.p.h. pitches in a batting cage at Sluggers. Is it easier or harder after a few beers? The upstairs batting cages approximate both softball and baseball pitches; there's also mini-bowling, Pop-a-Shot and high-ball (a basketball-type game played on a trampoline). Dining-wise, Sluggers offers a full bar food menu of salads, burgers, wings and pizza. In an addition to the upstairs, Sluggers added dueling pianos, which light up the neighborhood every Friday and Saturday night (as well as after most Cubs home games). Also catch the dueling pianos for no cover on the main floor Thursday nights (10 p.m.). Musicians from across the country, in addition to a talented group of regulars, pair up to put on an interactive show where every song request is fair game. Guests are encouraged to sing along, drink and even dance on the pianos. The laid-back environment is perfect for bachelor and bachelorette parties and other special party events. READ MORE
1758 W. Grand Ave. , West Town
This Ukrainian Village bar is an equal-opportunity sports spot – you’ll find baseball, basketball, football and hockey games broadcasted on 16 TVs, as long as it’s a Chicago-based team. Just a few blocks from the United Center, expect to find die-hard sports nuts flocking to the friendly neighborhood spot. On top of that, there’s a bevy of bar eats like burgers, salads, sandwiches and specialty wings with 10 types of house-made sauces. The vibe is strictly laid-back, with local folks kicking back and enjoying one of 60 domestic, imported and craft beers in bottles and on draft. On weekends things definitely liven up, with three party rooms featuring sports, house music and low-key, lounge vibe. READ MORE
1300 W. Wellington Ave., Lake View
This corner bar has that everyone-knows-your-name kind of flair, thanks to its tucked-away location on a residential street in Lakeview. The building's been around since the World's Fair, so the owners completely rehabbed the place to restore the tin ceilings and add lots of cozy woodwork. A laid-back crowd of locals keep busy with Golden Tee and shuffleboard; the spot also hosts its own weekly shuffleboard tourneys with drink specials. With $1 burgers and $2 cheeseburgers every day, you can also fuel up to stay out late. READ MORE
3281 W. Armitage Ave., Logan Square
This quirky neighborhood hangout comes to Logan Square courtesy of Mike Dyra and Joe Sabath, the former owners of Cleos in West Town and Bucktown. The decor is quirky -- think marbles everywhere you look -- and the menu is, in a word, wallet-friendly. Most menu items are under $5, from a spicy mayo-drizzled fried chicken hoagie to pita pizzas to diner-style burgers with customizable toppings. A dozen beers on tap include local craft picks such as Half Acre Daisy Cutter and Three Floyds Alpha King. The kitchen stays open late churning out booze-soaking snacks such as fried cheddar cheese curds and wings matched with sauces such as bourbon barbecue and pico lime, a creamy chili-lime sauce. Vegetarians, don't miss the homemade garlic-avocado hummus, veggie burger or veggie hoagie. Daily deals such as $3 Jameson shots every day and a $4 bloody mary bar on Sundays are sure to keep the neighborhood's so-called broke hipsters happy. The only thing that could make everyone happier? The 90-seat back patio that's tented and heated during the winter. READ MORE
2118 N. Damen Ave., Bucktown
This rustic spot in the former Duchamp space has a hidden, 100-seat patio, seasonal cocktails and a menu that skews world-fusion, with dishes like confit chicken poutine and lamb neck sloppy joes. READ MORE
3101 N. Sheffield Ave., Lake View
This dark North Side bar is flea market chic. Inverted lamps and picture frames hang from the ceiling, and snowboards and dominoes hang on the walls. There are plenty of cozy leather booths and tables for conversation. For a more intimate feel, wander downstairs into the candle-lit Baby Atlas lounge, where you can sink into cushy couches. Tunes vary from Guided By Voices to the Dave Matthews Band to Johnny Cash. Libations range from 10-ounce martinis to an eclectic wine list with five whites and nine reds by the glass. Try the Envy Martini -- Absolut Citron, Midori and sour mix, or the Mandalay Martini -- Bacardi Limon, Midori and pineapple juice. Matilda is also into single malt scotches and bourbons and there are 12 beers on tap. For eats, dig into the flat bread pizza, shrimp diablo pasta, and walnut and apple quesadilla. READ MORE
2100 W. Irving Park Rd., North Center
The name is Irish, but you won't be deluged by Emerald Isle kitsch at this friendly neighborhood restaurant and pub. You may, however, find yourself enchanted by the tableside magic show. Located in North Center, O'Donovan's draws a good mix of late-twentysomething blue- and white-collar patrons with a full menu (options include everything from burgers to prime rib) and a healthy selection of microbrews. An expansive beer garden is covered and heated in inclement weather. Magicians perform tableside magic Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, in an homage to the bar's original owners who were magicians. READ MORE
3369 N. Clark St., Lake View
Houndstooth Saloon brings a touch of Southern hospitality to a sports bar-heavy stretch of Clark Street in Wrigleyville. Alied with the University of Alabama, the bar's name refers to Bear Bryant, the Alabama football coach known for his houndstooth hats. After several years at its original location, Houndstooth has upgraded to a bigger space one block south. The bar's front room models the original location, with a long bar, and DJ booth in the back. Pass through a secondary seating area with houndstooth-patterned wallpaper to get to a party room equipped with three oversized booths, each equipped with a trio of TVs and beer taps built right into the tables. For sports-watching sustenance, the chicken fingers, sliders and pulled pork sandwiches continue to be favorites. READ MORE
