5 Best Sports Bars in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 7 min read

Chicago's sports bars do not lack for competition, but a handful of names keep pulling the biggest crowds and the biggest review counts. Timothy O'Toole's Pub and Miller's Pub have each logged more than 5,700 Google reviews, and every bar on this page holds a rating of 4.4 or better, a tighter cluster than you would expect from five very different rooms.

Short answer: Timothy O'Toole's Pub leads on volume with 5,975 reviews at 4.4 stars, close behind Miller's Pub at 5,741 reviews, a Loop institution serving American food since 1935. For a more upscale sports-lounge feel, Theory and First Draft both hold 4.5 stars, and Kasey's Tavern posts the highest rating on the list at 4.6. Expect drinks and bar food in the roughly $10 to $30 per-person range.

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1. Timothy O'Toole's Pub…
2. Miller's Pub
3. Theory
4. First Draft
5. Kasey's Tavern
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Chicago's sports bars, side by side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Timothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago	4.4 ★	5,975	Volume pick, near Michigan Ave	View ›
2	Miller's Pub	4.4 ★	5,741	Historic Loop institution	View ›
3	Theory	4.5 ★	1,664	Upscale sports lounge	View ›
4	First Draft	4.5 ★	1,603	Craft beer and wing specials	View ›
5	Kasey's Tavern	4.6 ★	1,081	Highest rating, dive-bar character	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Timothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago

4.45,975 Google reviews

Timothy O'Toole's Pub sits near Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area, a downstairs pub with tons of TVs tuned to sporting events across a wide seating area. It runs a full American pub menu including wings, burgers, and a French dip sandwich, alongside a late-night bar. The pub has the deepest review history of any sports bar on this page.

What people praise

Widest range of TVs showing sporting events across the room
Popular menu items include wings, burgers, and the Birria Grilled Cheese
Family-owned feel with friendly, attentive staff repeatedly praised
Open until 2am most nights, later on weekends

Worth knowing

Gets crowded and loud on busy game nights
Some reviewers note it can be a downstairs squeeze at peak times

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume5,975 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown63% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed sports bar in Chicago on this list, and it earns that volume with a genuine wall-to-wall TV setup. A safe default for catching most games near the Mag Mile.

Website Book now +1312-642-0700 Directions

622 N Fairbanks Ct, Chicago, IL 60611

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Miller's Pub

4.45,741 Google reviews

Miller's Pub has served the Chicago Loop since 1935, with a 50-foot bar, dark wood interior, and stained glass that give it a nostalgic, old-Chicago feel. It covers American cuisine alongside a few Greek menu items, a nod to the family that has owned it for decades. Walls of vintage photos show the athletes, actors, and musicians who have stopped in over the years.

What people praise

Nine decades of history in the same Loop location
Reviewers consistently praise dishes like lamb chops and prime rib
Long-tenured staff, one server mentioned as having worked there for decades
Extensive beer selection alongside the full dinner menu

Worth knowing

Not currently a Google-verified listing
More of a classic dinner pub than a dedicated screens-everywhere sports bar

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume5,741 · 93rd

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown64% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A Chicago institution with a near-identical review count to the top pick, built more around food and history than a wall of screens. Go here if atmosphere matters as much as the game.

Website Book now +1312-263-4988 Directions

134 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Theory

4.51,664 Google reviews

Theory in River North has run as an upscale sports lounge and restaurant since 2008, built around a combination of food quality and attentive service rather than a straightforward pub feel. It handles big-game bookings for groups of six or more and has hosted watch parties for events like Team USA matches. The room mixes bar and lounge seating with a full kitchen menu.

What people praise

Owner and staff personally accommodate groups on busy match days
Food quality consistently praised alongside the sports-bar setup
Handles reservations for larger groups around major games
Energetic but manageable atmosphere even when full

Worth knowing

One reviewer reported a drink pricing dispute mid-visit
Weekday hours start later in the afternoon than a typical pub

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume1,664 · 83rd

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown71% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A step up from a standard pub, with real attention paid to groups on big match days. Worth booking ahead if you are bringing a crowd for a specific game.

Website Book now +1312-644-0004 Directions

9 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

#4🕑 Open 7 days

First Draft

4.51,603 Google reviews

First Draft in Printer's Row is a pub and brew bar with a wide beer selection, wings, burgers, and vegetarian options on the menu, including a Wednesday wing special reviewers return for weekly. It runs late, open until 2am most nights and 3am on Saturdays. The kitchen covers barbecue, chicken wings, and vegan options alongside the standard pub fare.

What people praise

Wednesday wing special repeatedly named as a weekly draw
Wide beer selection with knowledgeable, friendly staff
Vegetarian and vegan options, unusual for a sports-bar menu
Good pre-show spot near the Auditorium Theater

Worth knowing

Beer selection is not cheap according to several reviewers
A couple of reviews note the smoked chicken ran dry

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume1,603 · 78th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown67% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick if beer variety and food options matter as much as the game itself. The Wednesday special and vegetarian menu set it apart from the other names here.

Website Book now +1312-461-1062 Directions

649 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60605

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Kasey's Tavern

4.61,081 Google reviews

Kasey's Tavern in the South Loop bills itself as Chicago's second oldest tavern, with a beer list running past 130 options including domestic, midwest craft, and imports from around the world. It holds the highest rating of any sports bar on this page. The food menu is limited mostly to pizza, though reviewers note you can bring in outside food.

What people praise

Highest rating on this list at 4.6
Beer selection exceeds 130 options
Genuine dive-bar character without feeling run-down
Plenty of TVs for catching a game over a beer

Worth knowing

Food menu is limited, mostly pizza
Can get noisy and asks for ID even from older-looking patrons
Smaller review base than the two biggest names on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,081 · 63rd

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown73% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The top rating here, driven by beer variety and an unpretentious dive-bar feel. Bring your own food or stick to pizza, and settle in for the beer list.

Website +1312-427-7992 Directions

701 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the bar’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, measured against the other Chicago sports bars on this page. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a score built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than one from a few hundred. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No bar can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a night at a Chicago sports bar cost? (2026)

Pricing across these bars follows standard Chicago pub rates, with reviewers citing typical per-person spend in the $10 to $30 range depending on how much food and drink you order.

Watching sport around Chicago

These bars spread from Streeterville near Michigan Avenue down through the Loop, River North, Printer’s Row, and the South Loop. Searching for a sports bar near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can check hours and screen availability before you head out.

What to check before heading to a sports bar in Chicago

Do they take reservations for group watch parties?
Which screen or section will show your specific game?
Is there a cover charge or minimum spend for major matchups?
What time does the kitchen close relative to the game?
Do they have vegetarian or vegan options if your group needs them?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these sports bars?

We started from bars and pubs in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which Chicago sports bar has the most reviews?

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub, with just under 6,000 Google reviews, narrowly ahead of Miller’s Pub.

Do I need to book ahead for a big game?

It depends on the venue. Theory and First Draft take reservations, which is worth doing for major matchups, while Timothy O’Toole’s and Miller’s Pub tend to handle walk-in crowds.

The bottom line

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub is the safe default given its review volume and wall of screens, while Kasey’s Tavern is worth it if you care more about the beer list than the game itself. For a bigger group on a marquee night, call ahead to Theory and reserve a spot.

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