Chicago Itinerary Feedback

Au Cheval, Bavettes, and Pequod's are all great picks. I liked the Publican but it's a shared plate scenario so hopefully you're simpatico with your travel mates.

Beer Temple is a great call as are Lone Wolf (guessing you're gunning for Zombie Dust) and HopLeaf.

The Wendella tour is awesome and a great way to see the city. Try to get to Half Acre just because you want to hit one Chicago brewery (besides Haymarket which seems to sell as much of the guest taps as their own). I have no criticism other than you're gonna be busy as that's a full trip. Plenty of coffee and avoid any hangovers!

 

Yeah man, youre hitting good stuff but that's crazy busy, maybe I'm just old...

 

I really like Bitter Pops, but if deciding between that and Beer Temple for buying bottles, Beer Temple is the clear winner.

 

I have a question for Cubs fans RE: the bleachers. Since it's general admission, any advice on what time to arrive/line up at Wrigley? I'm dong a similar trip for Labor Day weekend and we're hitting the Giants game Thursday night.

(Have a blast @ocl1536 ! I'd like to pick your brain after your trip for any input as I've got a number of the same things in mind.)

 

Agreed Beer Temple wins, besides they just got named top 50 beer store and I agree they are the best in Chicago land.

Local option imo has one of the best draft list year round. Architecture boat tour is great. Second city is a blast. Looks like you got all the right spots and yes that is a jam packed itinerary. Getting to and from Wrigley will take time. Cheers!

 

I was at a playoff game last year in the bleachers and the seats were actually assigned, but that might have been for playoffs only. I do recall bleachers previously being general admission in which case if you want front row or a specific spot then get there little before gates open. I do recall some line and when I got there about 30 minutes before game time we just found any spot we can. Plus going early ya can grab some Hot Doug's.

 

I live near Corridor, and have been there often. I would skip it. Their beer is OK, but their service sucks, and the people that work their generally have a bad attitude. Much better options elsewhere.

 

Link's Taproom never get's any love but I'd check it out

 

Bleacher seats are general admission EXCEPT for playoff games, and then they are assigned. The gates open 2 hours prior to game start. People are lining up 3+ hours for bleachers.

 

Gates open about 2 hours before game time. If you want the first few rows, line up before the gates open. If you just want good to decent seats, get there at least an hour before game time. If you get there right before the game starts, you'll be under the scoreboard and that sucks.

 

Au Cheval = hour + wait....

Why Old Town Ale House? Do they have a good craft beer list? I'm familiar with it from years ago as a a shitty dive bar. Walk the half mile down scenic Old Town from 2nd City and go to Old Town Pour House instead. Probably have the best tap list in Old Town (which Old Town is a beer desert so it isn't saying much)... If you are a bit more mobile, it might be worth going to Goose Island Clybourn instead of Old Town Ale House. It's about 3/4 of a mile West of 2nd City.

 

Things could change a bit with back to schol, but they're drawing massive crowds even on weekdays. Personally, the beer options are so poor inside of Wrigley (Goose IPA is the Tokyo Rose) that I'd settle for lesser bleacher seats and try more beers nearby. Now Wrigleyville is one of the worst neighborhoods in the city for craft unfortunately. If you go to Old Crow Smokehouse you can at least drink Daisy Cutter, Oberon, and Anti-Hero.

I haven't been to Murphy's recently enough to comment on their craft selection. But all of the neighborhood bars with a crowd are a good time

 

You might want to consider Sheffield's instead of Murphy's for pregame beers if you want better beer. Murphy's doesn't have a great selection and will be packed since it's right behind the stadium. Sheffield's is a few blocks from Wrigley and has a great selection. It will be pretty full with people going to the game too. Taking the Red Line to/from Wrigley is super easy and you won't have any trouble. Just make sure you have enough money on your card for the return trip before you head to the station so you don't have to wait behind hundreds of other people needing to fill up their cards. Have fun!

 

Great itinerary! Couple things...

Like others have said, Au Cheval will be over an hour wait. But they have a cool app you can download to see how many people are in line before you. Publican is one of my favorite restaurants in the city, especially for brunch.

I would skip Murphy's and go to Sheffields. They have one of the best beer lists in the city. I one time rolled in there on a weekend afternoon and Abraxas was on tap.

Local Option is great, they always have ZD on tap. It's pretty easy to find on tap around the city, bottles on the other hand are very tricky. Whole Foods and Plum Market usually have really good beer selection on top of Binnys.

Aviary is reservation only. Pequods sucks, I don't understand why it gets so much hype. It is 85% dense bread then a sliver of cheese and sauce.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

@BuffaloBill12 wizard!

Posted same thing about Sheffields at the same time.