Bar: Sluggers World Class Sports Bar & Grill and Dueling Pianos

Address: 3540 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Score: 9.0/10

Today is the day. The most glorious day of the calendar year. Opening day at Wrigley field for the Chicago Cubs. It is hard not to get romantic about this time of year. Opening day is the best for your team. Opening day is something on my bucket list that I hope to experience soon. What makes opening day in Wrigleyville so much sweeter is the bar scene around the stadium. A few weeks ago I blogged about Murphy’s Bleachers and I hinted that it was my second favorite bar in Wrigleyville. Well, Sluggers is my first. 

I do not think there is any rivalry between these bars, they both get their fair share of customers. You truly cannot go wrong with either place; it is all about personal preference.

When you see Sluggers from the street you see a beautiful brick building accompanied by an awesome giant baseball bat neon sign. When you walk into the bar you notice the sheer size of the place. You notice the massive wooden bar that wraps around the whole main level, with seating around it and even seating in a separate section. When in doubt, you can get a seat at this bar. If it is a big game for the Cubs, this may be a different story. Plan ahead of time and you’ll be in good shape. In addition to the indoor seating, they have a great patio. Nothing better than a patio during the Chicago summers. The decor inside the bar is as you would expect. Cubs signage everywhere along with all of the beloved Chicago sports teams. To me, this is perfect. Exactly what I want to see in a Chicago sports bar. 

One feature that I have not come across in any of the bars I have visited is a bathroom attendant. Look, you either love or hate a bathroom attendant, but for all the years I have visited Sluggers, I see one or two of the same people and they are sweet. Super nice and not pushy to get any money, but at the same time, tip your damn bathroom attendant. Nobody talks about how much of a grind it must be to stay in a bathroom all day, at least throw him a few bucks. 

If Sluggers only had one level, it would still be my favorite bar in Wrigleyville, lucky for everyone, they have two more. The next level features Dueling Pianos with even more seating. I have only been to Sluggers during Cubs day games and have not experienced this area of the bar, but I hope too soon. I have only heard great things. I mean, who doesn’t love a dueling piano bar? 

The third level is the granddaddy of them all, what makes Sluggers very unique. A massive batting cage and arcade level. I do not know if I will ever see another bar featuring a batting cage in my life, quite frankly, I hope I don’t. It adds to the legend, that is Sluggers. 

This is a legit batting cage as well, something most do not realize, they have slower speeds, but rev it up in certain parts of the cage. It is an awesome people watching experience to see drunks attempt this. Truly one of my favorite pastimes. I could do this for hours. 

Well, there you have it. All three levels of Sluggers. To put the cherry on top, Sluggers has some of the better bar food in Wrigleyville, in my opinion (shit, I guess all this is my opinion). Great wings and solid cheese curds, those are my go-to. My absolute favorite thing about Sluggers besides the cages, food, or great service is the sense of community in a bar that sees so many tourists/travelers. Everything is so welcoming and you feel like this is your neighborhood bar. So next time you are in the area, make this a stop on your list and sit back and crack open a cold Old Style and watch the Cubs wave the W. 

Decor: Chicago. Chicago. Chicago. I mean what were you expecting? 

Price: Typical of most bars in this area. ~$5 a beer or so.

Service: I have always had awesome service for how busy this bar is.

Atmosphere: A+ on game days. Even if the Cubs are not playing it is still a good spot to hit. 

Cleanliness: Clean!

Bonus Points: No bonus points.