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Northwestern v Gonzaga
Will it be a wild or mild March for Northwestern?
Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

Where to Watch the NCAA Basketball Tournaments

Mourn those busted brackets at a bar worthy of March Madness

by Ashok Selvam Updated
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Will it be a wild or mild March for Northwestern?
| Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images
by Ashok Selvam Updated

It’s March Madness and the local women's and men’s teams have stacked the top 25 rankings all season. The women’s tournament starts Wednesday, March 15 with the Final Four taking place on Friday, March 31 and the final on Sunday, April 2. The men’s tournament starts Tuesday, March 14 with the Final Four on Sunday, April 1 with the championship on Monday, April 3.

Conference tournaments have already started with the Big 10 men’s tournament underway at the United Center as food workers threaten to go on strike. This is one of the best times of year in Chicago to visit bars with St. Patrick’s Day also here and the city ready for a spring awakening. Check out some of Eater’s picks for the best spots to watch the tournaments.

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Cunneen's

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This Rogers Park Irish pub is near Loyola’s campus — and was founded by a Loyola grad student — and provides an ideal backdrop to cheer on the Ramblers. Find cheap beer and plenty of students crowding this space.

1424 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 274-9317
(773) 274-9317

Also featured in:

A. J. Hudson's Public House

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In Lakeview, this European-themed soccer bar is a good choice for hoops fans. There’s a solid pub food menu and plenty of TVs to catch all the action.

3801 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-2767
(773) 348-2767

Also featured in:

The Pony Inn

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This bar continues to be a great place to witness buzzer beaters and Cinderella stories. Warning: it gets really depressing after a Kentucky loss, so be prepared to mourn with fellow Wildcats or be a classy fan and troll them.

1638 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 472-5139
(773) 472-5139

Also featured in:

Roundhouse Sports Bar

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Logan Square’s new sports bar features plenty of TVs and an eclectic menu with items like Italian beef fried rice. Warning: the kitchen doesn’t serve late, so order before those West Coast matchups.

2535 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 770-9182
(773) 770-9182

Park & Field

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Logan Square's temple to retro sports provides a great spot to spend tournament time. Tons of craft beer and a chef-driven bar menu make this a sports bar worthy of the neighborhood. If the weather is nice, the front patio — with fire pits — is a decent spot to hang out. Just stream the game on a phone.

3509 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(765) 426-6657
(765) 426-6657

Also featured in:

The Moonlighter

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From the folks who gave Chicago the iconic cocktail bar Scofflaw, Moonlighter is the sports bar that Logan Square didn’t think it needed. Find burgers, wings, and a killer selection of local beer.

3204 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8896
(773) 360-8896

Also featured in:

Lottie's Pub

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This Wisconsin and Kansas bar in Bucktown is nearly always packed. It's also a popular setting for TV's Chicago Fire. Ownership is the Pioneer Tavern Group, also responsible for Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern.

1925 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-0738
(773) 489-0738

Joe's Bar on Weed Street

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Illinois fans know about this multi-story, cavernous venue. It’s big on table reservations, so impress friends and reserve one to catch the action. The place morphs into more of a club vibe with live music at night. There’s a lot of good people watching. This is not an intimate spot.

940 W Weed St, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 337-3486
(312) 337-3486

Also featured in:

Ina Mae

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Ina Mae Tavern is a New Orleans-inspired bar from Pioneer Tavern Group, the same company that gave Chicago Frontier and Lottie’s Pub. The bar was a former dive that’s been heavily remodeled with po’boys and more from acclaimed chef Brian Jupiter. Plenty of bars have fried food — fresh from the freezer! But with shrimp, fish, and more, there’s real taste and technique at Ina Mae’s.

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 360-8320
(773) 360-8320

Also featured in:

Mac's Wood Grilled

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An old favorite in Wicker Park, Mac’s is a strong neighborhood pub that will put on the sound for select games. Find a strong beer selection, a tasty burger, and a no-frills atmosphere that’s comfortable for staying for the first game of the day until the nightcap.

1801 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 782-4400
(773) 782-4400

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap

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When a fan is trapped in Streeterville, it’s hard to find a handle on the bar situation. And it’s easy to disregard Jake Melnick’s, which has gone through several iterations and remains really hard to get into on weekends. Perhaps this is the state of Streeterville, but there are several food specials and Melnick’s continues to fall back on their wings. Not a bad fallback.

41 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 266-0400
(312) 266-0400

Also featured in:

Theory

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This classy Hubbard Street bar with loyalties to Georgetown and Kansas encourages table reservations. One of those teams is relevant. Theory's got a tasty menu and wonderful service.

9 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 644-0004
(312) 644-0004

Also featured in:

Radio Room

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This glitzy facelift for the former Public House in River North maintains the fun motif of its predecessor. The space gets a little wild at night, but there’s plenty of screens for sports watching, and a menus of sliders and other bar snacks.

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 706-5228
(312) 706-5228
The party never ends at Radio Room.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Ranalli's West Loop

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Many mourned the loss of WestEnd, a longtime sports bar near the United Center. In a pandemic era move, ownership converted that space into a pizzeria. Though it doesn’t have the same bar feeling as the old spot, Ranalli’s is an established brand and gives fans plenty to cheer for in the West Loop.

1326 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 981-7100
(312) 981-7100

Also featured in:

Roots Handmade Pizza - South Loop

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The Printer’s Row edition of this family favorite includes an outdoor area with a retractable roof. Find the same Quad Cities style pies that are also available in Lincoln Square, West Town, and Old Town. There’s a festive atmosphere inside, and kids are welcome.

744 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 645-4909
(773) 645-4909
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

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Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar

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Before closing its previous location, Williams Inn’s deep-dish pizza was legendary on the South Side. It has since resurfaced as a sports bar in the South Loop with the same pizza recipe and a welcoming atmosphere.

2210 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 753-3108
(312) 753-3108

Also featured in:

Cork & Kerry

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Perhaps this popular Beverly Irish pub will bring some luck to your favorite team. This little joint will be showing key games. The Bridgeport location also serves food.

3258 S Princeton Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-0769
(312) 842-0769

Also featured in:

Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap

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This Hyde Park dive may be popular with the University of Chicago student body, but since the division III U of C isn’t playing in the tourney, feel free to root for other teams. Catch every team vying for the title while trying many drink specials.

1172 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 643-5516
(773) 643-5516
A long, narrow dive bar lined with people on bar stools. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

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Cunneen's

1424 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60626

This Rogers Park Irish pub is near Loyola’s campus — and was founded by a Loyola grad student — and provides an ideal backdrop to cheer on the Ramblers. Find cheap beer and plenty of students crowding this space.

1424 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 274-9317
(773) 274-9317

A. J. Hudson's Public House

3801 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

In Lakeview, this European-themed soccer bar is a good choice for hoops fans. There’s a solid pub food menu and plenty of TVs to catch all the action.

3801 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-2767
(773) 348-2767

The Pony Inn

1638 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

This bar continues to be a great place to witness buzzer beaters and Cinderella stories. Warning: it gets really depressing after a Kentucky loss, so be prepared to mourn with fellow Wildcats or be a classy fan and troll them.

1638 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 472-5139
(773) 472-5139

Roundhouse Sports Bar

2535 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Logan Square’s new sports bar features plenty of TVs and an eclectic menu with items like Italian beef fried rice. Warning: the kitchen doesn’t serve late, so order before those West Coast matchups.

2535 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 770-9182
(773) 770-9182

Park & Field

3509 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Logan Square's temple to retro sports provides a great spot to spend tournament time. Tons of craft beer and a chef-driven bar menu make this a sports bar worthy of the neighborhood. If the weather is nice, the front patio — with fire pits — is a decent spot to hang out. Just stream the game on a phone.

3509 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(765) 426-6657
(765) 426-6657

The Moonlighter

3204 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

From the folks who gave Chicago the iconic cocktail bar Scofflaw, Moonlighter is the sports bar that Logan Square didn’t think it needed. Find burgers, wings, and a killer selection of local beer.

3204 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8896
(773) 360-8896

Lottie's Pub

1925 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622

This Wisconsin and Kansas bar in Bucktown is nearly always packed. It's also a popular setting for TV's Chicago Fire. Ownership is the Pioneer Tavern Group, also responsible for Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern.

1925 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-0738
(773) 489-0738

Joe's Bar on Weed Street

940 W Weed St, Chicago, IL 60622

Illinois fans know about this multi-story, cavernous venue. It’s big on table reservations, so impress friends and reserve one to catch the action. The place morphs into more of a club vibe with live music at night. There’s a lot of good people watching. This is not an intimate spot.

940 W Weed St, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 337-3486
(312) 337-3486

Ina Mae

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622

Ina Mae Tavern is a New Orleans-inspired bar from Pioneer Tavern Group, the same company that gave Chicago Frontier and Lottie’s Pub. The bar was a former dive that’s been heavily remodeled with po’boys and more from acclaimed chef Brian Jupiter. Plenty of bars have fried food — fresh from the freezer! But with shrimp, fish, and more, there’s real taste and technique at Ina Mae’s.

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 360-8320
(773) 360-8320

Mac's Wood Grilled

1801 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

An old favorite in Wicker Park, Mac’s is a strong neighborhood pub that will put on the sound for select games. Find a strong beer selection, a tasty burger, and a no-frills atmosphere that’s comfortable for staying for the first game of the day until the nightcap.

1801 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 782-4400
(773) 782-4400

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap

41 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

When a fan is trapped in Streeterville, it’s hard to find a handle on the bar situation. And it’s easy to disregard Jake Melnick’s, which has gone through several iterations and remains really hard to get into on weekends. Perhaps this is the state of Streeterville, but there are several food specials and Melnick’s continues to fall back on their wings. Not a bad fallback.

41 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 266-0400
(312) 266-0400

Theory

9 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

This classy Hubbard Street bar with loyalties to Georgetown and Kansas encourages table reservations. One of those teams is relevant. Theory's got a tasty menu and wonderful service.

9 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 644-0004
(312) 644-0004

Radio Room

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

This glitzy facelift for the former Public House in River North maintains the fun motif of its predecessor. The space gets a little wild at night, but there’s plenty of screens for sports watching, and a menus of sliders and other bar snacks.

400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 706-5228
(312) 706-5228
The party never ends at Radio Room.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Ranalli's West Loop

1326 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Many mourned the loss of WestEnd, a longtime sports bar near the United Center. In a pandemic era move, ownership converted that space into a pizzeria. Though it doesn’t have the same bar feeling as the old spot, Ranalli’s is an established brand and gives fans plenty to cheer for in the West Loop.

1326 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 981-7100
(312) 981-7100

Roots Handmade Pizza - South Loop

744 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

The Printer’s Row edition of this family favorite includes an outdoor area with a retractable roof. Find the same Quad Cities style pies that are also available in Lincoln Square, West Town, and Old Town. There’s a festive atmosphere inside, and kids are welcome.

744 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605
(773) 645-4909
(773) 645-4909
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Related Maps

Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar

2210 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Before closing its previous location, Williams Inn’s deep-dish pizza was legendary on the South Side. It has since resurfaced as a sports bar in the South Loop with the same pizza recipe and a welcoming atmosphere.

2210 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 753-3108
(312) 753-3108

Cork & Kerry

3258 S Princeton Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Perhaps this popular Beverly Irish pub will bring some luck to your favorite team. This little joint will be showing key games. The Bridgeport location also serves food.

3258 S Princeton Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-0769
(312) 842-0769

Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap

1172 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

This Hyde Park dive may be popular with the University of Chicago student body, but since the division III U of C isn’t playing in the tourney, feel free to root for other teams. Catch every team vying for the title while trying many drink specials.

1172 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 643-5516
(773) 643-5516
A long, narrow dive bar lined with people on bar stools. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Related Maps