Best Marquette bar in Chicago?

[Avenue Commons]

I haven't gone out to watch a Marquette game in Chicago since the games used to be at Halligan's on Lincoln in Lincoln Park. I guess not as many people go there anymore. I heard the Schoolyard in Lakeview draws big crowds and some people go to Finley Dunne's. Anyone in Chicago give me any feedback on a good place to go Thursday night/Saturday?

[LastWarrior]

Finley & Dunnes at Lincoln & Addison.  I was there for our 2003 upset of Kentucky and will be there for our 2007 upset of North Carolina.

Now let's all start praying for Jerel's thumb to heal by Thursday!!

[MilTown]

School Yard gets insanely packed with a younger crowd. Finley Dunne's is a great spot to watch MU. It gets a nice mix of alumni and is usually not too crowded. However during tourney time in Chicago, almost every sports type bar gets pretty crowded. Key is to send a spotter to get a table early, and then you are set.

[MU Chi_IL]

The Four Shadows on Ashland and Diversey is a new Marquette Bar, good space and not that crowded.

[bartmiller#1]

Is 4 shadows the bar that flies the Villanova flag?

I saw a bar on Ashland near Diversey with that flag and I thought it was interesting.

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

Yeah, if you look closely you will see the fly an MU flag too.  along with villanova and iowa. 

[MilTown]

I don't know if it flies a Villanova flag. I think it flies a Iowa Hawkeyes flag. Great spot to watch a game. Awesome flat screens throughout the whole bar. Also, has a fantastic spicy chicken sandwhich.

[MU Chi_IL]

They fly Nova, Iowa and MU flags outside the bar. 

[Avenue Commons]

The Four Shadows on Ashland and Diversey is a new Marquette Bar, good space and not that crowded.

I've never even heard of it. What kind of crowd does it get for MU games? Or is it just an MU bar because you go there? Just kidding. Let me know what the story is. May be a good option.

[LastWarrior]

I'm with you Avenue... Tell us more!  Any place with plasmas and no ILL-INI fans is a good thing in my book! 

[Harrison]

Back in the day Hi-tops across from Wrigley was THE place for MU games, but then that was 15 years ago when i was sowing the oats in Wrigleyville and Lincoln PArk.

[LastWarrior]

Hi-Tops... the place for visiting ball-players and under-age, suburban girls!!   

[MU Chi_IL]

The Four Shadows on Ashland and Diversey is a new Marquette Bar, good space and not that crowded.

The four Shadows opened a few months ago (forget what was there before).  They did some very nice renovations to the space and added plasma screens running on both walls about every 10 feet so no matter where you look, you have a TV in your face.

For game days, it gets a good crowd, but is not pack like Finley Dunes usually is.  I don't think many people know about it yet. 

Food is standard pub-grub, and the specials are usually decent.  The guys who own it are childhood friends (one I think went to Iowa and the other to Wisconsin I think - so I don't know why it's a Marquette and Nova bar).

I found it by driving past and seeing the MU flag hanging out front. 

[mugoose]

I think the Cubby Bear is owned by a MU alumni

[77fan88warrior]

Cubby Bear is owned by a former Northwestern football player I believe.

[augoman]

If I'm in chicago during football season, I always watch Packers at the Northwoods Inn, and John (owner) tells me it's great for ALL sports from the great northern state.  Unfortunately, this would imply that there'd be a large UW contingent, too.  I love the atmosphere and owner's geniality.  Worth a try.

[MU Chi_IL]

If you are referring to the Will's Northwoods Inn, http://www.willsnorthwoodsinn.com/, then the old manager is actually one of the guys that started the Four Shadows.

[ppp098]

Will's is a huge badgers and packers hangout. Go to schoolyard.

[Jackson_Downer]

Agree on not going to Will's.  Good bar but definitely not a place to watch sports, IMHO. 

Finley Dunne's has been consistently the best bet in my experience.  Very good service, good specials, nice crowd, good Marquette contingent and I think the Ryan Burger is one of the best in the city.  Also, they have a John Carroll flag on the wall. 

I have been curious about that Four Shadows place as well though.  I drive by it all the time and I see the MU flag hanging outside and it looks 100% better than it used to. 

[MURFC]

As far as I know...there are four possible bars in Chicago to view the game:

1.  Schoolyard (School and Southport) - Place gets packed with MU fans.  The past two seasons they have run specials where you buy an MU mug, which holds about two beers, and you can refill it for $5.

2.  Finley Dunne's (just north of Roscoe on Lincoln) - Draws a solid MU crowd.  Finley's also cater's to Dayton, but since they are not in the NCAA's, that shouldn't be a problem.  Some decent televisions....couple of plasmas in front and back...if I remember correctly.  Food is pretty decent as well.

3.  Halligans (Armitage and Lincoln) - I watched the Pitt game here during the 2003 Final Four run.  Not sure if it still draws an MU crowd.  I know that this is a Notre Dame bar as well.  Since ND doesn't play until Friday, this place may be decent to watch the game.

4.  Four Shadows (Diversy and Ashland) - I was there after a couple of softball games this past summer.  Nice place.  Looked decent for sports viewing, even though that is not what I was there for in the past.  Just noticed the MU flag the other day, it is flying next to the Iowa and Villanova flags. 

- I think myself and around 4-5 of my buddies (all MU) are going to watch the game at Four Shadows. 

[Avenue Commons]

Will's is a huge badgers and packers hangout. Go to schoolyard.

Will's Northwoods sucks. That place is annoying as hell if you aren't a Cheesehead. If people like the State of Wisconsin so much, they shouldn't have left.

[IAmMarquette]

Will's is a huge badgers and packers hangout. Go to schoolyard.

Will's Northwoods sucks. That place is annoying as hell if you aren't a Cheesehead. If people like the State of Wisconsin so much, they shouldn't have left.

Sure, it sucks if you hate free food (brats, hotdogs, burgers, cheese, crackers & sausage), free raffles, and an all-around good time on Sundays. Besides, saying "they shouldn't have left" WI is like saying people from Chicago shouldn't go to Marquette because they love Chicago. Sheesh. Lighten up.

[Avenue Commons]

Will's is a huge badgers and packers hangout. Go to schoolyard.

Will's Northwoods sucks. That place is annoying as hell if you aren't a Cheesehead. If people like the State of Wisconsin so much, they shouldn't have left.

Sure, it sucks if you hate free food (brats, hotdogs, burgers, cheese, crackers & sausage), free raffles, and an all-around good time on Sundays. Besides, saying "they shouldn't have left" WI is like saying people from Chicago shouldn't go to Marquette because they love Chicago. Sheesh. Lighten up.

Yeah, sure it's great for people from Wisconsin. That's my point. If you aren't from Wisconsin the place sucks. Especially if you're a Bears fan.

[spiral97]

If you aren't from Wisconsin the place sucks. Especially if you're a Bears fan.

I gotta imagine that nearly every sports bar sucks for bears fans right now..

[Avenue Commons]

If you aren't from Wisconsin the place sucks. Especially if you're a Bears fan.

I gotta imagine that nearly every sports bar sucks for bears fans right now..

Chicago Bears, 2006-2007 NFC North and NFC Division Champions. I'll take it. Doesn't suck.