Sluggers

Let's be honest- you can't expect too much when you walk into a Wrigleyville sports bar. Most Cubs fans and Chicagoans are satisfied with a dive that offers Old Style and PBR on tap with the required flat screen TV's and memorabilia covering all available wall space. Sluggers finds a way to offer this, while at the same time transcending the blandness typically associated with Chicago sports bars. Located close to the main entrance gates of Wrigley in one of the best bar areas in the country, Sluggers certainly offers a superb spot for game patrons and nightlife seekers alike. The bar's unique three floor layout is what elevates it from the dozens of bars that surround it. The second floor offers the typical, twenty-something bar scene. Top 20 beats and classic oldies blare on, regardless if there is a DJ or not. It can get way too crowded and extremely difficult to order a drink, particularly on game days. The lower floor is something of a hidden gem- many people don't even know it exists and it can serve as a respite from the masses that descend on Wrigleyville on game days. It's a little darker, but tables are often open down here and the music isn't quite as loud. Serious Cubs fans come down to relax and rehash the games events over a game of pool, away from the bustle upstairs. The third floor, however, is what truly distinguishes Sluggers. When you walk up the steps, you'll think you have arrived in a sort of post-college person's wonderland. Jam packed with pop-a-shots, skee ball units, pin-ball machines and other arcade games, competitive bros are in heaven. If you want some laughs, post up by the batting cages (yes, they have batting cages) and watch stoned former frat guys cut wildly at pitches while trying to prove their athletic mettle to their friends. In the next room, Sluggers has a fantastic dueling pianos show after every game. When they play classic hits, the whole floor will often sing along. It is difficult to maneuver your way around in Sluggers after Cubs games, but it is still worth checking out the action. Wrigleyville is a superb place to spend a full day, and the crowds often don't thin out until early in the morning. As far as drink specials go, Sluggers doesn't really offer much on game days. Wednesdays when there isn't a game, however, is a good time to go with $2 Coronas and $3 bombs. The menu isn't great, but it does offer a wide variety of foods.

Sluggers is definitely one of the best bars in Wrigleyville. There is just so much to do there. On the main floor, you can dance and mingle with the other guests. When you go upstairs, you can play arcade games, darts and do all sorts of other activities. The upstairs section also has a room for dueling pianos, which is my favorite part of the bar. Two guys will play the piano and sing all sorts of tunes. They even take requests and encourage you to sing along.