You knew it was coming - after covering beer gardens in Edgewater, Old Town, West Loop, Logan Square, North Center and Andersonville, it's about time we got to the beer-friendly confines of Wrigleyville. Though the neighborhood is packed with locals and visitors year-round, there's no better time to party in Wrigleyville than in the summer. Come one, come all for some outdoor drinking near Wrigley Field - just remember to keep a low profile if you're a Sox fan.
Casey Moran's: This expansive sports bar is one of the top spots for Cubs fan on any game day. With thirty 52-inch plasma TVs, you'll never miss the baseball action. Plus, Casey Moran's menu of sandwiches and snacks is perfect for filling up pre- or post-game. Their garden café area features a retractable roof for inclement weather, but the prime drinking location in this bar is undoubtedly the rooftop garden. Enjoy gorgeous views while sipping a beer with your pals just steps from Wrigley Field. 3660 N. Clark St.; 773-755-4444
Vines on Clark: Wrigleyville's bars can get pretty packed and sweaty, especially in the summer, so for an escape from the heat, head to the beer garden at Vines on Clark. The spacious area has ample room for you to spread out along with prime views of the entertaining crowds along Clark Street. The menu features pizzas, as well as an assortment of drinking-friendly appetizers, like nachos, hot pretzels and wings. 3554 N. Clark St.; 773-327-8572
Goose Island Wrigleyville: You'll find plenty of cheap domestic bottles in Wrigleyville, but if it's craft brews you're craving, then stop by Goose Island Wrigleyville. In addition to their many award-winning beers, Goose Island Wrigleyville also offers a large back patio where drinkers can sip outside. It's worth noting that the food at this tavern is just as tasty as the beer; think burgers topped with figs and bacon relish, mac and cheese with duck confit and a foot-long Kobe beef hotdog with wasabi mustard.3535 N. Clark St.; 773-832-9040
Yak-zies on Clark: Yak-zies keeps the party going well into the night on its spacious multi-level beer garden. This no-frills watering hole tends to attract a rowdy yet friendly crowd of younger sports fans who are either there to support the Cubbies in the summer or a Big Ten college team in the fall. The kitchen is typically open until 1 a.m., so it's also a popular spot for bar-hoppers who need some late-night refueling.3710 N. Clark St.; 773-525-9200
Murphy's Bleachers: Easily one of the most well-known bars in Wrigleyville, Murphy's Bleachers is located right across from Wrigley Field. The bar features both a sidewalk patio area and a rooftop beer garden, both of which become so packed on game days that sitting is not an option. While it's pretty tame during the off-season, Murphy's is definitely a place to party with beer in hand while baseball season is in full swing. 3655 N. Sheffield Ave.; 773-281-5356