Check out this Chicago Bears Bar Guide 2012 from Chicago resident and Bears fan Michael Schlereth and find which Chicago bars are perfect for a Sunday afternoon game.
Gino's East Sports Bar (521 S. Dearborn St. 312-939-1818) - This is definitely not a conventional place to hang out post-game. Gino’s East Sports Bar is a pizzeria chain that also offers a decent craft brew lineup. You can get local beers like Flossmoor Station, 5 Rabbit and Metropolitan. If you happen to pop by Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays, ask for their famous Revolution Brewery drafts that cost a mere $4. The bar has also been revamped and it’s now better equipped to accommodate its growing nightly crowd especially during football season. (Also check out: Best Spots for French Toast in Chicago)
Cactus Bar & Grill (404 S. Wells St. 312-922-3830) - The best things in life are free, at least that’s what the crew at the Cactus Bar & Grill think who would willingly give patrons a ride via their free shuttle busses on home Bears game days. If you want a ride, you have 90 minutes to be at the bar before the game starts. Afterwards, you can catch the same (free) bus back to the bar to celebrate a win, hopefully. How’s that for convenience? Good deals are also found at the Cactus Bar & Grill - enjoy $5 appetizers and wash it down with $5 bloody marys after 5 p.m.
Bull & Bear (431 N. Wells St. 312-527-5973) - Apart from good company and great drinks, you’ll get the chance to win tickets for your favorite Bears game at the Bull & Bear Bar. This well-known sports hub is also a celebrity magnet with many a Bears fan spotting their sports heroes here from time to time. Specials include 22-ounce drafts of Stella Artois, Bud Light, Hoegaarden and Goose Island 312 or Green Line available for a mere $5. If you prefer cocktails, there is a good variety, and as usual you only pay $5.
Jimmy Green's (825 S. State St. 312-386-9000) - Who says bars don’t serve good food? Fans of Jimmy Green’s Bar beg to differ - walk inside this friendly bar and you might spot more game day brunchers here than most other places. For only $7.95, you get to choose from Jimmy Green's brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jimmy Green’s serves one of the best breakfast burritos, as well as a hearty dish of sausage, eggs and peppers. Most notable are their jumbo bloody marys that are garnished with their famous skewer consisting of pepperoncini, salami, pickles, celery and green olives - all for $7. (Also check out: Best Bars in Chicago for Celebrating Christmas)
Mahoney's (551 N. Ogden Ave. 312-733-2121) - Rooting for your favorite team can make you hungry, and where better to satisfy your cravings than at Mahoney’s $11.95’s all-you-can-eat buffet? Instead of a salad bar, you get a do-it-yourself bloody mary bar where you can concoct your own for only $4. Mimosas are only $1 each while their $5 bombs and cocktails are to die for. A crowd favorite is grabbing a shot of Jameson for $4 a pop.
Have a favorite Chicago sports bar to watch a Bears game at, let us know. E-mail your ideas to Chicago@aboutguide.com.
