Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest and most famous athlete in the history of sport and hence the city of Chicago, where he dominated the Bulls basketball court for most of his career, is almost as well known across the globe.
Southern Cross Shuffleboards is a huge supporter of basketball and big fan of the Chicago Bulls (including this year’s MVP, guard Derrick Rose), but we are most impressed right now to hear that the Windy City has a thriving shuffleboard scene!
Check out these five hot-spots for playing table shuffleboard in Chicago…
1. Wellington’s Tavern
Address: 1300 W Wellington Ave , Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: +1 773 524 1111
Website: www.wellingtonstavern.com
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About the place: Wellington’s Tavern carries on the tradition of classic Chicago neighborhood taverns, combining vintage comfort with modern entertainment that invites our customers to settle in and enjoy an evening with friends new and old. Expansive upholstered booths and ample barstool seating are complemented by hardwood floors, vintage stamped tin ceilings, and a free shuffleboard table.
Punter reviews:
“Nice little neighborhood place with a few large TV’s for game watching, bar shuffleboard, and Guinness on tap (among others). Happy as a clam.” - Brad H (yelp.com)
“It’s a great atmosphere at reasonable prices and a good crowd. The fact that they have a shuffleboard table in the back is icing on the cake.” - Dan M (yelp.com)
“Everytime I have been to this corner place I have had an amazing time. My buddy and I usually hold the shuffleboard table all night long taking on all challengers.” - Brad S (yelp.com)
“Wellington’s has been the cause of many fun evenings. Friends and I would own the shuffleboard table for hours on end while drinking $2 Miller Lite’s.” - Fred M (yelp.com)
“It’s your basic long narrow room with a shuffleboard area in the back. The crowd on this particular night was about 90% men so not a great place for singles.” - Miles B (yelp.com)
“Okay, so I”m alittle bias (3.25 to a 4 star) because, they sponsor my flag football team and the owner of the bar graduated from my university. $1 beers on Thursday nights? Can’t beat that. The bar is alittle tight but that’s great for drinking, mingling and watching games on their TVs. The shuffleboard in the back is great too.” - David W (yelp.com)
2. Weegee’s Lounge
Address: 3659 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: +1 773 384 9423
Website: www.weegeeslounge.com
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About the place: Popular first and foremost because of its free shuffleboard table and its old-school cocktails, Weegee’s Lounge is a cool and cozy little neighbourhood bar worth checking out in Chicago’s Logan Square area. The nostalgic touches – tin ceilings, old-fashioned wooden bar, photo booth tucked in the corner, black and white photographs, no TVs, and house-controlled jazz, swing and blues tunes – are a nod to Weegee.
Punter reviews:
“Perfect cocktails? Check. Amazing beer selection? Check. Shuffleboard? Checkmate.” – Christopher M (yelp.com)
“The most important word in my review is: shuffleboard. They have frakking shuffleboard! That’s just rad!” - Mark K (yelp.com)
“What a perfect hang! The vintage cocktails were excellent & quite generous. Fantastic bartender. Douchebag free zone. Easy parking. And the topper? Free shuffleboard, photo booth & an old school poloroid photographer on hand taking photos for $5!” – Lisa H (yelp.com)
“It’s never that crowded. There is shuffleboard. They have several great tequilas.” – Claire M (yelp.com)
“Super cool music, awesome shuffleboard, board games galore, amazing old timer cocktails, super cool extensive beer list, and a great atmosphere.” – Julie q (yelp.com)
“Great Whiskey Sours, fun shuffle-board, terrible staff, rats in the courtyard/ patio situation.” – Kat L (yelp.com)
“Shuffleboard, fancy beer, dim lights, italian opera, casual scene. What else do you need to know?” - noel c (yelp.com)
“Free Shuffleboard!! Need I say more. And you’ll end up making tons of new friends playing against all the friendly patrons.” – moe f (yelp.com)
“Eh, I probably wont go back. I did enjoy the shuffleboard though.” - Sheri W (yelp.com)
“Cool, unpretentious little place. And the shuffleboard… damn, I loves me a good game of shuffleboard.” – yamil a (yelp.com)
3. The Boundary Tavern & Grille
Address: 1932 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: +1 773 278 1919
Website: www.boundarychicago.com
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About the place: “Where good days meet great nights” is The Boundary’s slogan and we like it. This splashy tavern and grill is housed in a massive brick building that used to house an auto body shop; check out the garage door facade that opens onto the street in warmer months. Spacious booths and plenty of tables offer an array of seating options for the stereotypical USA dinner and an expansive bar serves a variety of beer all night long. Plasma TVs let patrons keep an eye on the city’s basketball and baseball teams, while the tavern’s shuffleboard table lines the back wall and is always busy.
Punter reviews:
“Food and drink might be a 3-star, but their shuffleboard takes them up to a 4.” - Morten H (yelp.com)
“What is nice about this place is that it is huge! You walk in and it is just this big open place. PLUS, they have a table shuffleboard! How cool!” - Karen L (yelp.com)
“They have a sweet shuffleboard table in the back. Frustratingly fun.” - Jason S (yelp.com)
“I absolutely adore this bar! I love the layout of the bar and the free shuffleboard!” - Ellie B (yelp.com)
“Here’s what this place has going for it: location, menu, decent service, cozy seating (almost always immediately available) and shuffleboard.” - Annie G (yelp.com)
4. Fat Cat
Address: 4840 N Broadway Street, Chicago, IL 60686
Phone: +1 773 506 3100
Website: www.fatcatbar.com
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About the place: Fat Cat is a relaxed chill bar that still delivers a rocking atmosphere on the right night and pure sport lover fantasy on another. Plenty of beers (including some uniques), plasma TVs on every wall, trivia nights, cool bar, outdoor area and a popular backroom that boasts a shuffleboard, billiard table and some video games. The shuffleboard is either free or $2 for unlimited play – you leave the money at the bar.
Punter reviews:
“At the risk of spoiling what is apparently a secret… this place has shuffleboard! It’s $2 for unlimited play! Aside from what is obviously their best feature, i can’t say too much. They pour beer well from the tap, they have a good beer selection and the bartenders are pretty cool, in a badass tattooed hipster kind of way.” - Bailey h (yelp.com)
“The place looks cool and has everything I’d want in a drinking spot especially as the weather gets better. From a pretty good layout inside, ample tables outside, decent amount of flat screens in the bar and even the shuffleboard in the back.” - Rafael C (yelp.com)
5. The University of Chicago Pub
Address: Ida Noyes Lower Level, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: +1 773 702 9737
Website
About the place: The Pub is the University of Chicago’s own private club. Annual memberships are good from September 1 – August 31 are $10 for students, alumni and their spouses, faculty, staff and their spouses; eligible non-members or guests of members pay $3 at the door.
Student reviews:
“My favorite thing about it is the hand-shuffleboard table. One of the best bar games around. The pace is slow enough to get in drinks and shit talking while feeding your inner competitiveness.” - Jon (gettingbeatlikeyoustolesomething.com)
“The food is solid bar food, they got a massive flat screen, free pool and shuffleboard and the fact that it is UChicago related people only makes for a very relaxed, comfortable environment.” - Will C (yelp.com)
“The Pub has never, ever let me down. Here’s why: Wing Night monday (15 c wings. Undergraduate night), Trivia Tuesday ($3 entry, up to 8-person teams, 5 rounds, 10 questions each–8-10 PM) and over 100 beers and good cheap wine/sangria all of the time. Shuffleboard, pool, and phoosball are free, though on Monday nights you might have to jostle for next up.” – Andrea G (yelp.com)
