Part Of PubClub’s Best Bars Near Baseball’s Most Historic Ballparks Series
There’s Wrigley Field, and then there’s Wrigleyville. Long before the first pitch and long after the final out, the neighborhood surrounding one of baseball’s most historic ballparks becomes one giant outdoor party. Here’s where to experience it.
By Kevin Wilkerson, Editor & Publisher, PubClub.com
The best time to hang out in Wrigleyville is before and after Cubs games. It’s one giant party from three hours before the game until three hours after the final out.
Wrigley Field has been called the largest singles bar in Chicago – okay PubClub.com calls it the largest singles bar in Chicago – and the bars in the area have that same reputation.
Why Wrigleyville Is Different From Other Ballpark Neighborhoods
- It’s an entire neighborhood built around the ballpark.
- The bars open hours before first pitch.
- People without tickets still come.
- After games, it turns into one huge block party.
Bars To Go To Before Cubs Games
Before the game, Murphy’s Bleachers is packed with people preparing themselves for the worst (a Cubs loss) or getting a head start to celebrate the impossible (a Cubs win). It is a huge indoor/outdoor bar and is the place to scalp tickets if the game is sold out.
The Captain Morgan bar is another pre-game party spot and it gives you a stamp to go in and out of the game, too. So you can drink here before, after and even during the game!
Chicagoans love their Cubbies, which is what makes Wrigley Field and Wrigleyville such fun party places.
Bars To Go To After Cubs Games
The most notorious bar is the Cubby Bear directly across the street from the main entrance of Wrigley Field. After games, the entire Bleacher section wind up here. The DJ plays all the crowd favorites and there is a video cam which broadcasts the craziness of the dance floor to the others in the bar across the TV screens.
This is a very diversified crowd ranging in age from 21 to 75. Its’ a guaranteed good time and a trip to a Cubs game is not complete without a stop at the Cubby Bear. On weekends, its usually showcases local bands after the Cubs fans have left the area.
Another after-game spot is Bernie’s.
Sluggers is the other big hangout after the games. It plays Top 40 hits from the past 20 years and the crowd can get pretty crazy.
High Tops is a favorite among the locals all year ’round. The dance floor usually gets pretty nuts and people will start dancing on top of tables with the slightest of encouragement.
It’s a bit offbeat, but the best souvenirs in Wrigleyville are the pens at the Wrigleyville Tap. The bar is a dive, but the pens say “Stolen from Wrigleyville Tap,” on them, which makes for interesting conversations back home.
A great Saturday night hang spot is Redmond’s. There is a small outdoor patio that is awesome for people-watching. This bar has great bartenders and a lot of regulars.
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and nightlife expert who has covered destinations, events and nightlife for more than two decades. While working as a newspaper reporter, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism.
Next Stops On The Wrigleyville Party Bus
• Wrigley Field Is The Best Ballpark In America
• The Nightlife Blogger: The Awesome Wrigley Field Experience
• Old Style Beer Is The Wrigley Field Style
And…
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