Are you ready for a month of riveting basketball? The most engrossing month of college basketball commences on March 21st. If you’re a fervent college fan, love an underdog story, or just waiting for your bracket to bust, the NCAA Basketball Tournament will be on all our minds for a full month of basketball love affair. From beer buckets to special food deals, these sports bars are the best spots to watch March Madness in Chicago.
1. Old Town Pour House
Looking for the ultimate sports bars for March Madness in Chicago? From March 19 to April 8, you can catch every thrilling shot on massive HDTVs while cheering on your favorite college basketball teams.
In celebration of the tournament, Pour House will feature their special Final Fourange, a boozy orange crush cocktail crafted with Ketel One Oranje, triple sec, and a mix of citrus flavors. Adding to the elation of March Madness, you’ll be gifted a scratch-off ticket, where you’ll get a shot at winning one of several prizes, such as gift cards and delectable bar bites.
Dates: March 19 to April 8.
Deals: scratch-off ticket, Final Fourange drink
2. Benchmark
Benchmark is one of the quintessential places to watch March Madness in Chicago. Known for its energetic atmosphere, the sports bars have over 40 TVs splattered across the bar. This will be your go-to spot, along with a menu of shareable snacks, burgers, pizza, beer, and signature cocktails.
Dates: March 21 – April 8
Deals: $7 Coors or Bud Light Stadium Cups, $6 Mozzarella Sticks, $10 Nachos
3. Cody’s Public House
Cody’s Public House in West Lakeview will open early to host game-watch parties for every leg of the March Madness tournament in Chicago. Every NCAA basketball game will be broadcast on eight 65-inch TVs around the bar, for a total of 10 throughout the space. Look out for game day specials, including $5 Miller Lite stadium cups, $6 Dobel Tequila, $6 Proper 12 Irish Whiskey, and $30 Surfside buckets.
Dates: March 21— March 22
Deals: Happy Hour is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and prices range from $4 Mimosas to $5 Modelo and Pacifico drafts, $6 Screwdrivers, and $7 Bloody Marys. All-day specials include $25 Corona family buckets (Corona, Corona Light, Corona Premier) and $6 Dobel shots.
Dates: March 28 — March 29
Deals: “Sweet 16 Happy Hour” will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring 16 different $4 drafts. Additional specials will include $5 Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and $5 House Wines.
Dates: March 30
Deals: Voodoo Ranger hosts the “Beat The Ranger” Pop-A-Shot game at 1 pm for prizes. Additional specials include $5 Voodoo Ranger, $6 Dobel, $6 Proper 12
4. The Graystone Tavern
The Wrigleyville sports bar will host watch parties for each round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Chicago, opening at 10:30 a.m. for early games. Graystone Tavern broadcasts the games with sound on 9 TVs throughout the bar and offers a winterized beer garden with TVs, so there’s never a bad seat in the house.
Specials throughout the tournament will include $6 Pizza Puffs, $6 Stadium Nachos, $6 Dirty Monkey Shots, $6 Proper 12 and Proper 12 Apple shots, $6 Buzzer Beater Bombs, and $30 Stateside and Surfside buckets.
Dates: March 21
Deals: 25 Corona family buckets all day (Corona, Corona Light, Corona Premier). Corona Claw Game from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a chance to win Corona swag
Dates: March 22
Deals: Beat The Brewer Pop-A-Shot from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a chance to win New Belgium-branded swag. $5 Bells Drafts and $5 New Belgium Drafts (available all day)
Dates: March 24
Deals: Twisted Pop-A-Shot from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a chance to win Twisted Tea swag. All day specials will include $5 Twisted Tea drafts, $5 Sam Seasonal drafts, $5 Truly Vodka
5. The Rambler
The Rambler Kitchen + Tap in North Center will open early throughout the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Chicago to broadcast all the games on 20 60-inch flat-screen TVs. Game day specials will include $5 Miller Lite stadium cups, $6 Dobel Tequila, $6 Proper 12 Irish Whiskey, $30 Surfside buckets, $5 Pizza Puffs, and $12 Blackened Chicken Nachos.
Dates: March 21— March 22
Deals: “Tip Off March Madness” drink package from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The $30 per person package will include import and domestic bottles, all drafts, premium liquors, and house wines.
Dates: March 28 — March 29
Deals: “Sweet 16 Happy Hour” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. featuring 16 different $4 drafts. Additional specials will include half-off wings, $5 Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and $5 House Wines.
Dates: March 31
Deals: Voodoo Ranger hosts the “Beat The Ranger” Pop-A-Shot game at 3 pm for prizes. Additional specials include $5 Voodoo Ranger, $6 Dobel, $6 Proper 12
6. Highline Bar
Looking for a casual spot to watch March Madness in Chicago. Highline offers an upscale bar menu with free arcade games and is a staple for happy hours, lunch, and dinner throughout the week.
Dates: Every game
Deal: $10 Pizzas, $10 Boneless Wings, $30 High Noon Buckets, $45 Shareables
7. Kirkwood
Head to Kirkwood to watch March Madness in Chicago with friends. Known for sumptuous food and drinks and a spacious beer garden that can accommodate any size group, from small gatherings to large groups, you can bring your whole squad to watch your college team.
Dates: Every game
Deal: $7 Domestic Stadium Cups, $8 Vegas Bombs & Green Tea Shots
8. Gaslight
This lively neighborhood bar in Lincoln Park with three full bars, a delectable menu, and an ample year-round patio that is open seven days a week for brunch, lunch, and dinner. A place for the entire party to drink beer and watch the NCAA Basketball Tournaments in Chicago
Dates: Every game
Deal: $10 Pizzas, $10 Boneless Wings, $25 Domestic Buckets, $30 High Noon Buckets, $40 Jumbo John Daly’s
9. Kindling
This March, Kindling at Chicago’s Willis Tower is transforming its second-floor bar space into the ultimate Pop-A-Shot tournament for all sports lovers to come to watch the game, eat and drink, and embrace their competitive spirit. The Pop-A-Shots will be available to play from March 19 through April 8, with tournament competitions during the Final Four weekend.
Kindling will also partner with Moor’s Brewing, which will feature specialty beer pours, swag giveaways during the pop-a-shot tournaments, and more.
Deal: $5 George Motz Style “Perfect SmashBurger,” $1 raw oysters, $2 wood-fired HillBilly oysters, $10 BBQ chicken and cheddar flatbread, $5 crispy Brussels sprouts with a ginger ponzu glaze, and $12 Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders.
10. Tree House Chicago
Equipped with state-of-the-art screens and audio systems, Tree House Chicago NCAA basketball fans will feel courtside as they cheer on their favorite teams. The venue offers various culinary delights, including gourmet burgers, artisanal Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizzas, and handcrafted cocktails, ensuring everything satisfies every palate.
Deal: $10 Neapolitan Margherita Pizza, $10 Tree House Burger & Fries, 1/2 Off Wings, $25 Domestic buckets, $35 Import buckets, $35 Seltzer buckets (excluding High Noon), $5 Coors light draft, $5 Blue Moon draft
11. Homeslice
12. Frontier
Between brackets, drinks, and feasts—it’s March madness at frontier! You’ll have your pick between $25 dollar soda buckets and $25 dollar craft beet pitchers. And for those who miss the gourmet southern food that makes your stomach rumble, Frontier will have whole smoked big meals and 20% off Frontier duo and trio feasts.