The NCAA March Madness® Basketball Tournament - one of the most thrilling times of the year that is filled with Cinderella Stories, big shots, and loads of excitement. Sports fans everywhere have this tournament circled on their calendar, and will do just about anything to not miss a second of the action. Nothing is better than catching the games out with some friends, while enjoying some delicious food and drinks. We're here to tell you some of the best places to watch the games, and how you can enjoy the Big Dance right here in St. Charles, Illinois.
Photos Courtesy of Alley 64
Lined with televisions behind the bar, and a spacious indoor dining area, Alley 64 is one of the top spots in town to catch all of the gameday action. With frequent drink specials, and delicious dishes including their fan-favorite Nachos that you can get with chicken, beef, or steak, or the classic Chicago Style Hot Dog, watching a game here is a "swish" from half-court every time.
Photos Courtesy of Crazy Fox Bar & Grille
Downtown St. Charles staple, Crazy Fox Bar & Grille needs to be on your list of places to go during this March Madness® Tournament. With awesome handhelds like their Fried Pork Sandwich or their popular Bacon Cheddar Burger, you can't go wrong with any of their food on gameday. This is also an ideal spot if you are vegan, as they have an entire menu of great options you can choose from.
Photo Courtesy of Duke's Northwoods
Brand-new to the heart of downtown St. Charles is Duke's Northwoods. This Wisconsin-style supper club not only offers mouth-watering Wisconsin staples such as beer-battered cheese curds and Lake Superior Whitefish, but also has plenty of televisions mounted on their interior log-cabin walls. Be sure to grab a pint of Speckled-Calf Farmhouse Ale brewed by Crystal Lake Brewery specifically for Duke's Northwoods!
Photos Courtesy of Brigette Burgman Photography and Flagship on the Fox
Situated across from the beautiful Fox River, Flagship on the Fox is sure to be your new home during this March Madness® Tournament. While you indulge in some of their incredible food options, such as their seven different grilled cheeses to choose from, you'll be surrounded by their 32 televisions showing all the exhilarating fast-breaks. A night enjoying basketball here is always a "slam-dunk".
Photos Courtesy of Riverside Pizza & Pub
When it comes to pizza and sports, we can't think of a more fitting combination. Riverside Pizza & Pub can offer you just this, as they have been throughout the Fox Valley since 2014. Swing by and grab a pie (with 5 different crusts to choose from), and a giant pretzel that's bigger than your head, and you'll be all set to root for your picks. They also offer daily specials Sunday-Thursday, where you can find some awesome deals including half-off pizzas on Monday's or half-off wings on Thursdays.
Rookies All-American Pub & Grill
Photos Courtesy of Rookies All-American Pub & Grill
Since 1996, Rookies All-American Pub & Grill has been a favorite spot to many sports enthusiasts. Their recently renovated interior is filled with state-of-the-art television sets, making it hard to miss a second of the games. On top of this being a prime spot to watch sports, they have specials everyday that you can enjoy, and famous wings with 16 different sauces and rubs to choose from.
Photos Courtesy of Spotted Fox Ale House
30+ televisions and 30+ craft beers on tap? It's no wonder why Spotted Fox Ale House is a go-to spot to catch all the Madness. When it comes to food, they have some dishes that would be the star of any lineup, like their Loaded Chicken Nachos, or their Spotted Fox Burger that has bacon, a fried egg, crispy fried onion strings, and cheddar cheese, all on top of a pretzel bun.
Photos Courtesy of Tap House Grill
Catch the tip-off from one of the best spots in town: Tap House Grill . They have an extensive menu of food and drinks that will leave any sports fan more satisfied than when their favorite player hits a three from beyond the arc. Make sure to take advantage of their food and drink specials taking place throughout the tournament (see above), and don't leave without trying one of their variety of tacos, Chicken, Crispy Shrimp, Fried Avocado, or Blackened Mahi-Mahi. These make for a perfect game-day treat, as you can cheer on your team with a taco in one hand, and a cold beverage in the other.
Photos Courtesy of The Evergreen Pub & Grill
Don't miss out on any of the big shots, and watch the tournament from the historic Evergreen Pub & Grill. This year, try a dish from their Smokehouse BBQ menu, like their slow-cooked ribs or their smoked brisket tacos. They also offer plenty of shareables like their mac & cheese bites, or their pretzel bread. If you find that you're itching to catch those mid-day games in the earlier rounds, try out their new, special lunch menu, available Monday through Friday from 11am-2pm.
Photos Courtesy of Throwback Sports Bar
Throwback Sports Bar gets an automatic bid on this list, with over 15 televisions, 20 rotating beers, delicious handcrafted burgers, and legendary jumbo wings. Make sure to check out their daily specials, as they offer some fantastic food and drink deals you just can't miss out on. With all this that Throwback Sports Bar offers, we can't think of a more fitting place to watch that last-second buzzer-beater.
Sales & Specials
Along with all these terrific places to catch March Madness®, there are plenty of other sales & specials taking place throughout town in honor of the tournament, and more as the games go on. To view the specials, please click here.
Every week throughout St. Charles, there is tons of live music that takes place at theatres, restaurants, bars, and other local establishments. Visit our Weekly Live Music Schedule, so you can be sure you don't miss that performance you've been wanting to see.