Admit it. There's nothing like watching America's favorite pastime during the most relaxed and warmest months of the calendar year. And to top it all off - baseball is played and showcased on TV seven days a week. While it's a true joy to take your kids to the ballpark and let them chase home run balls, beg for autographs during batting practice and gasp at the sight of their favorite players, sometimes the adults need to have a little fun on game day too.
Major League Baseball cities have become great at giving baseball fans a complete game day experience by strategically building small communities outside of ballparks around the country. These communities often offer a variety of hotel, dining, shopping and sight seeing options that gives baseball fans a reason to come back all summer. We wanted to take the time and shine a spotlight on what we believe to be the five best neighborhoods in Major League Baseball. Enjoy!
5. Eutaw Street/Washington Boulevard - Baltimore Orioles
Oriole Park at Camden Yards was perhaps the most groundbreaking ballpark in the history of Major League Baseball when it opened in 1992. No other ballpark had ever incorporated the surrounding area and city skyline into a ballpark the way the Baltimore Orioles did with Camden Yards. The most distinctive feature is the old B&O Warehouse in right field. Below the warehouse and behind the ballpark sits Eutaw Street, a party area full of street vendors and a massive congregation of Orioles fans. Eutaw Street is also home to the Orioles team store, the Mid-Atlantic Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame and the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. It is also the longest building on the East Coast. Here you'll also find plaques commemorating members of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame along with plaques commemorating home run balls that have struck the warehouse during game play. Former Oriole Luke Scott hit a record six home runs that struck the B&O Warehouse.
Dempsey's Brew Pub
333 W. Camden St.
Baltimore, MD 21320
410-843-7901
Named after former Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey, Dempsey's Brew Pub offers a wide variety of appetizers, seafood, burgers, flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and desserts. Dempsey's also offers many baseball-themed specialty beers. Other local favorites include their Old Bay crab dip, rock fish tacos, and Camden Yards crab cakes, chicken quesadillas, hand-breaded chicken tenders, loaded nachos or the new ballpark classic bacon on a stick. Dempsey's patio is located on the vibrant Eutaw Street.
Sliders Bar and Grill
504 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21320
410-547-8891
Locally owned sports themed brew pub adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Large beer selection with a special game day menu and large outdoor patio for Orioles fans.
Pickles Pub
520 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-752-1784
The most popular sports bar in downtown Baltimore; a staple since 1988 and hot spot both before and after Orioles games. Offers craft beers, appetizers, burgers, salads and specialty sandwiches. Also offers an outside game day menu.
One of the many home run plaques on Eutaw Street denoting home run balls that landed in the area.
The Washington Boulevard strip outside of Camden Yards.
Gate H at Eutaw Street.
4. The Banks - Cincinnati Reds.
The Banks is a mixed use neighborhood that debuted it's first phase of development in 2011. With it's location between Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, and Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, The Banks is a prime area for game day fun. The area boasts dining, office space, retail and apartment living with plans for a hotel in the future. The Banks sits on the former site of Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field, former home of the Cincinnati Reds. The most popular bar and dining establishments at The Banks include The Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Crave, the Holy Grail, Tin Roof, Jefferson Social and Moerlein Lager House.
Freedom Way on game day, the main artery through "The Banks".
Holy Grail Tavern & Grille
161 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-621-2222
The Holy Grail is by far the most popular bar and establishment at The Banks. Many of the local sports radio stations will hold their live broadcasts at the Holy Grail. Boasts 31 flat screen televisions, the closest proximity to Great American Ball Park and a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, beers and appetizers. Try the Holy Grail nachos!
Smale Riverfront Park at "The Banks".
Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-421-2337
Named after Christian Moerlein, a German immigrant that settled in Cincinnati and started a brewing company in 1853. Moerlein Lager House has by far the largest beer selection of any establishment at The Banks. The beer offerings are almost exclusively German. Offers the typical pub fare with an exclusive late night menu. Moerlein Lager House has multiple levels of dining with a number of patios.
Jefferson Social
101 E Freedom Way
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-381-2623
Jefferson Social's mantra is classic cocktails, fine foods and craft beers. Their menu is primarily Tex-Mex based with a wide variety of tacos and appetizers as well as a huge Tequila selection.
Tin Roof
160 E Freedom Way
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-381-2176
Tin Roof is a large franchise and has a location in most large cities. They feature live music more than any other establishment at The Banks and have a menu with many offerings. For weeknight games before 7 PM, Tin Roof offers $2 and $3 draft beers.
3. Fenway/Yawkey Way - Boston Red Sox.
Yawkey Way was formerly called Jersey Street and is the main artery outside of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. It was later renamed after former Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, who owned the Red Sox from 1933 to 1976. On game days, Yawkey Way as well as the adjacent streets are packed with street vendors such as El Tiante, Summer Time Grille, Fenway's World Fare and Fenway Fish Shack. Artie's Famous Sausage is another well known street vendor that offers the best Italian sausages you'll ever try. You'll often find a stilt walker called "Big League Brian" roaming the area on game day and posing for photos. The Hot Tamales Brass Band is frequently performing live their set up until the beginning of the game. The official Boston Red Sox team store is located on Yawkey Way. The area is easily accessible by taking the Green Line to Kenmore and is only open to fans that have a ticket to the game.
Yawkey Way from the corner of Van Ness and Yawkey.
Cask n Flagon
62 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-536-4840
Cask n Flagon is by far the most popular establishment in the Fenway neighborhood. It was recently rated by ESPN as the number 2 sports bar in America. The Boston sports memorabilia that decorates it's walls are museum worthy. The menu has a wide variety of food including burgers, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and appetizers. If you're checking out the Red Sox at Fenway Park in April or October when it's still a little cold outside, be sure to try their New England Clam Chowder!
Boston Beer Works
112 Canal Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-896-2337
Boston Beer Works has a number of locations around the Boston area and has the most upscale menu of the Fenway sports bars offering scallops, salmon and ahi tuna. They offer billiards available on the second level and the largest beer selection of the area bars. Expect a long wait both before and after games.
Bleacher Bar
82A Landsdowne Street
Boston, MA 02215
617-262-2424
Bleacher Bar is one of the most unique sports bar experiences you'll ever find. The bar is located underneath the Fenway Park bleachers and offers a field level view of the ballpark. The establishment is new and fans are free to sit and watch the game from their tables throughout the duration of the game. The actual bar has a "Cheers" vibe, which coincidentally is also located in Boston in Beacon Hill. If you've ever walked behind Fenway Park on Landsdowne Street, you've likely seen the recognizable sign to Bleacher Bar which points downward. Make sure you visit the Bleacher Bar while a Red Sox home game is going on to get the full experience!
Fenway Park from the corner of Van Ness Street and Yawkey Way.
Street level view inside Yawkey Way.
2. Ballpark Village - St. Louis Cardinals.
Ballpark Village is a brand new development that opened at the beginning of the 2014 MLB season. The $650M development sits on the former site of the old Busch Stadium and has been integrated into new Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Ballpark Village offers a neighborhood of bars, shopping, condos and restaurants. Since it's opening, the city of St. Louis has done an excellent job of making it a focal point of downtown entertainment year around and not just for St. Louis Cardinals home games. The main components of Ballpark Village include Midwest Live, Cardinals Nation, the Budweiser Brew House, PBR St. Louis and the St. Louis Cardinals Museum and Hall of Fame. To top it all off, the beautiful St. Louis arch is just a few short blocks away.
Midwest Live
314-241-5588
Midwest Live is the focal point of Ballpark Village with it's 20,000 square feet of party and entertainment space. The venue features a 1200 square foot HDTV and a retractable roof that opens during the summer months. Fans will be able to create a reservation for themselves and friends at the link above. The menu consists of the typical pub fare at very affordable prices.
Cardinals Nation
314-345-9880
Cardinals Nation is another large segment of Ballpark Village with four levels and 34,000 square feet of space. The area features the St. Louis Cardinals Museum and Hall of Fame, the Cardinals authentic retail store, a restaurant and bar and a rooftop deck similar to what Wrigley Field and Wrigleyville has. The rooftop deck offers beautiful views of the game and the interior of Busch Stadium.
Clark Street is the main artery that runs through Ballpark Village.
Beautiful view of Busch Stadium from the Cardinals Nation patio.
El Birdos Cantina
El Birdos Cantina offers chips, tacos and margaritas to go for fans that may not have time to sit down and eat due to the large crowds that frequent Ballpark Village. The stand is located inside Midwest Live.
Drunken Fish
314-899-0500
Drunken Fish is an upscale Japanese cuisine and sushi restaurant at Ballpark Village. The restaurant features one of the best patios in the entire neighborhood. It was recently voted as the best happy hour in St. Louis. While sushi may not be the ideal food of choice for baseball fans on game day, Drunken Fish doesn't have trouble attracting large crowds of St. Louis Cardinals fans.
Howl at the Moon
314-736-4695
Howl at the Moon is a dueling piano bar at Ballpark Village and is the number one spot for live music in the neighborhood. It is the number one location for craft cocktails and party drinks and boasts a decent sized beer list.
Budweiser Brew House
314-241-5575
Budweiser Brew House is a 26,000 square foot venue with three levels of attractions such as a rooftop deck, a beer garden, live music stage, retail, dining and bars. The Brew House is adjacent to Cardinals Nation.
PBR St. Louis
314-241-5570
PBR St. Louis is the ultimate country bar with a mechanical bull, an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection ,and live country music. PBR is centered more around the post game crowd and St. Louis nightlife. It's private balconies and lush lounge seating make for an excellent night out on the town.
1. Wrigleyville - Chicago Cubs.
Wrigleyville is one of the most popular and well known neighborhoods in Chicago and is home to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. Also known as Central Lakeview, the area boasts the memorable rooftops that allow baseball fans to watch Cubs games outside of Wrigley Field. Clark, Sheffield, Waveland and Addison streets are the main arteries in the neighborhood. Stylish brownstones, tree lined streets and a plethora of bars and restaurants could more descriptively paint the picture of the neighborhood. If you've ever been to Guaranteed Rate Field across town, home of the Chicago White Sox, you know that Wrigleyville couldn't be a more different setting than Chicago's south side.
The roster of noteworthy Wrigleyville bars includes the Cubby Bear, Murphy's Bleachers, Casey Moran's, Old Crow Smokehouse, The Irish Oak, John Barleycorn, Guthrie's Tavern, Gingerman Tavern, The Full Schilling and Sluggers. We were disappointed to learn that Harry Caray's Tavern had closed. Chicago Cubs fans can visit the other location at Navy Pier. Hopefully another Harry Caray establishment will open up in Wrigleyville in the coming years.
And if you need to purchase Chicago Cubs merchandise before heading into the ballpark, don't worry. There are plenty of sporting good stores in Wrigleyville that carry merchandise for all of Chicago's sports teams; Wrigleyville Sports on West Addison being the best option.
A panoramic of Clark Street, one of the main strips in Wrigleyville.
Casey Moran's
3660 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60613
773-755-4444
Casey Moran's is one of the core Wrigleyville staples with it's six bars, more than 30 flat screen TVs, a rooftop garden and retractable roof. Their menu has a good selection of burgers, sliders and sandwiches. Don't forget to stop into their merchandise store and pick up a Casey Moran's t shirt when you visit.
The Cubby Bear
1059 W Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60613
773-327-1662
The Cubby Bear is the most popular sports bar in Wrigleyville with it's proximity to Wrigley Field, multiple levels and 30,000 square feet of space, countless flat screen TVs, large menu and live music. If you prefer small crowds and a quiet environment, stay away from this place. The bar was founded in 1953 and was formerly named the Cubs Pub and Cubs Grill. Sports Illustrated has rated The Cubby Bear as the 7th best sports bar in the United States. They also host and cater their share of private parties. Make sure you try the garlic fries when you visit!
Murphy's Bleachers
3655 N Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
773-281-5356
Murphy's Bleachers is tucked away behind the Wrigley Field outfield and is adjacent to the Wrigleyville Rooftops. I've never seen a bar with a better collection of sports memorabilia and artifacts. The bar originated back in the 1930's as "Ernie's Bleachers" right after the end of prohibition. Owner Jim Murphy purchased the bar in 1980. Murphy's Bleachers has a large selection of Irish whiskey, Chicago brewed beers, pizza and sandwiches. The bar also owns a rooftop in Wrigleyville that is available for rent on an individual game basis.
The main bar at Murphy's Bleachers.
Sluggers
3540 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
Sluggers is a hodgepodge of everything great that can be found in Wrigleyville. It's a dueling piano bar that also hosts other live music events. It has an outdoor patio, massive HDTVs and a beer list of more than 40 beers. On their second floor, they have an arcade with batting cages, air hockey, pop-a-shot basketball, etc. ESPN has rated the bar the number one Cubs bar in Chicago and the number three sports bar in the United States.
Mullen's on Clark
3527 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
773-325-2319
Mullen's on Clark is a more laid back and smaller space than some of the other more popular Cubs establishments in Wrigleyville. The interior is beautiful and is virtually all wood. The menu is the typical pub fare - it's known for it's award winning buffalo chicken wings. The beer selection is excellent and they also have billiards tables.
Old Crow Smokehouse
3506 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
773-537-4452
Old Crow Smokehouse has a very sleek interior with not much of a sports bar atmosphere. They definitely bring a Nashville/Country Music vibe to Wrigleyville and are an excellent place to visit before or after a Cubs game. The menu is primarily southern comfort food with baby back ribs, fried okra, beer can chicken, smoked catfish, pigskin nachos, etc. Old Crow definitely has the most eclectic and creative menu of all of the Wrigleyville bars and restaurants.
Major League Baseball Neighborhoods - Honorable Mention
The Gaslamp Quarter - San Diego Padres
The Gateway District - Cleveland Indians
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