Chicago Marathon 2026: Spectator Bars, Carb-Loading & Post-Race Brunch
Marathon Sunday is the best bar crawl in Chicago that nobody calls a bar crawl. Fifty thousand runners loop from Grant Park through Lincoln Park, Lakeview, the West Loop, Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville, and the neighborhoods come out with signs, speakers and bloody marys. Here is where to plant yourself mile by mile, where to carb-load the night before, and where to celebrate near the finish — with the live deals at each spot.
Race weekend, the short version
Race day
Sun Oct 11, first waves early morning
Starts and finishes in Grant Park
About 50,000 runners loop through 29 neighborhoods — north to Lakeview, west through the West Loop and Little Italy, south through Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville, then up Michigan Ave to the finish.
The expo (bib pick-up)
Thu Oct 8 – Sat Oct 10
McCormick Place
Every runner passes through the health & fitness expo to collect their bib, which makes the South Loop and Chinatown unusually good people-watching (and lunch-crowd) territory all weekend.
Getting around
All day Sunday
Along the whole course
Streets on and around the course close from early morning into mid-afternoon. Take the CTA: the Brown, Red and Pink lines each cross the course, so you can leapfrog your runner between two or three cheer spots.
Where to watch: bars along the course, mile by mile
Ordered the way the runners see it. Every spot below has a live brunch, bloody mary or mimosa deal on the books — tap through for exact prices, days and hours.
River North
Miles 1–2 & 12- Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba!Brunch: Bottomless Sangria Brunch: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM - 2:45 PM, for $30 per person when paired with any brunch tapa.
- Fado Irish PubBrunch: Boozy Brunch Weekend: Weekends (Sat & Sun) 9am-3pm with $5 Mimosas ($20 for a carafe) and $9 Tito's Bloody Marys
- River North BistroBrunch: Mimosa Brunch: Monday-Friday from 7-11am and Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm, offering $22 for 1.5 hours of unlimited mimosas with the purchase of an entree.
- Electric ShuffleBrunch: Weekend Brunch: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM-3 PM, an all-inclusive package for $50 per person including a bottle of bubbly, 90 minutes of shuffle, live DJs, and brunch classics.
- StoryvilleBrunch: Bottomless Mimosa Brunch: $25 bottomless mimosas with entree package every Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm.
- Mercadito ChicagoBrunch: Weekend Brunch (Saturday & Sunday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM) with $20 Breakfast Burrito, $18 Select Tacos, and $17 Mexico Empanada
Old Town
Miles 3 & 11- Orso'S RestaurantBrunch: WEEKEND BRUNCH (Sat & Sun 11am-3pm): $20 bottomless mimosa's
- Happy CamperBrunch: Bottomless Mimosas: Available Friday & Saturday until 1:30 PM and Sunday until 12 PM (2 hours per person) for $35.
- Woodie'S FlatBrunch: Saturday & Sunday Bottomless Drink Deal: $35 for bottomless Mimosas, Bud Light, or Bloody Marys from open until 3 PM
- Rabbit HoleHappy Hour: Happy Hour Menu (Tuesday - Friday, 4pm-7pm): $3 Bud Light cans, $5 Green Tea Shots, $5 Well Drinks, $7 Bloody Mary, $7 Vodka Redbull, $8 Moscow Mule, $9 Old Fashioned, $9 Manhattan
Lincoln Park
Miles 4–7- R.J. GruntsBrunch: Weekend Brunch Special (All-You-Can-Eat): $15.95 on Saturday and Sunday until 2:00 PM
- GaslightBrunch: **Saturdays & Sundays (Bubbles & Brunch 10am – 1pm):** $25 Mimosa Kit (includes a bottle of sparkling and choice of juices), $8 Aperol Spritz
- R J GruntsBrunch: Weekend Brunch Special (All-You-Can-Eat): $15.95 on Saturday and Sunday until 2:00 PM
- Parlay Lincoln ParkBrunch: Saturday Brunch (11 AM - 3 PM): $7 Espresso Martini, $7 Bloody Mary, $5 Mimosa, $7 Shots (Vegas Bomb, Spa Day, Buttery Nipple, Electric Lemonade, Malort)
- Broken BarrelBrunch: Saturday + Sunday Specials (10am-3pm): BRUNCH MENU, $6 Lite Stadium Cups, $6 Goose Island, $8 Guinness Pints, $8 Green Tea Shots, $25 BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS (WITH FOOD PURCHASE), $9 LOADED BLOODY MARYS.
- Willie Lill'SBrunch: Brunch & Bubbly Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM–3 PM, featuring $25 Bottomless Mimosas & Bloody Marys.
Lakeview
Miles 7–9- Duffy's Tavern and GrilleBrunch: Saturday & Sunday: Duffy's Brunch Package - 11am-3pm - *$45 per person - Includes: Buffet, Mimosas, Bloody Marys & Domestic Draft Beers (Not available during Michigan Wolverine Game Days)
- El Mariachi RestaurantBrunch: Bottomless Mimosa Brunch: $19.99 every Friday 11am-3pm, and Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm with a purchase of an entrée
- The River Of ChicagoBrunch: Saturday Brunch 11am-3pm: $39.95 Bottomless Drinks + Brunch Entree + Cereal Buffet
- El Mariachi Tequila BarBrunch: Bottomless Mimosa Brunch Fri 11 AM-3 PM, Sat & Sun 10 AM-3 PM for $19.99 with entrée purchase (2 hours)
- Bar CocinaBrunch: Bottomless Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 11 AM-3 PM ($60 includes 2 hours of bottomless brunch drinks, 1 entree/taco of your choice, breakfast buffet, live DJ)
- Vaughan'S PubBrunch: Saturday/Sunday: $16 Champagne & Mimosa Package with Brunch Menu available until 3 PM
The Loop
Miles 12–13- Venteux BrasserieBrunch: Bottomless Brunch: Daily, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM, with $29 bottomless mimosas or rosé (1.5-hour time limit, 21+ to purchase)
- State and Lake Chicago TavernBrunch: Golden Era Brunch Sat-Sun 11am-2pm: DJ, throwback brunch faves, bottomless mimosas ($40), Mimosa Tower ($120), Spritz & Spin Pitcher ($55), Mocktail Pitchers ($35)
- Grant Park BistroBrunch: Mimosa Brunch: Monday - Friday: 7 - 11 am, Saturday & Sunday: 10 am - 3 pm, $22 for 1.5 hours of unlimited mimosas with entree purchase.
- Land & Lake KitchenBrunch: Mimosa Brunch: Monday-Friday 7-11am and Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm, $22/person for 1.5 hours of unlimited mimosas with the purchase of an entree.
- Flight ClubBrunch: Brunch: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM - 3 PM, with bottomless packages including Flatbreads ($26), Mimosas ($36), or Flatbreads & Mimosas ($46).
- Grant Park Bistro / Petite VanilleBrunch: Mimosa Brunch: Monday - Friday 7-11 am, Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 3 pm ($22 for 1.5 hours of unlimited mimosas with entree purchase).
West Loop
Miles 13–17- NobuBrunch: Weekend Brunch Buffet: Saturdays and Sundays 10:30am - 3:00pm for $80 per person.
- The BanditBrunch: Bottomless Brunch Cocktails (Mimosa, Bloody Mary): Saturday & Sunday gamedays, 2-hour time limit, $34.99.
- Third Rail TavernDaily Special: Saturday (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM): $3.50 Bud Light Pints, $7 Absolute Bloody Mary's, $6 Tito's Vodka Cocktails
- BanditBrunch: Gameday Specials: Seltzer & Beer Buckets ($29.99), Margarita Towers ($59.99), Bottomless Brunch Cocktails (Mimosa, Bloody Mary for $34.99 on Saturday & Sunday gamedays with a 2-hour limit)
Pilsen
Mile 19 · 18th St- SkylarkBrunch: Brunch on Sundays (11 am - 3 pm) includes: Jessé's Chilaquiles ($13), French Toast & Bacon ($12), Breakfast Burrito ($14), Brunch Bacon Burger ($14), Loaded Tots ($12), Mimosa ($7), Aperol Spritz ($9)
- PochosHappy Hour: Happy Hour Wed-Fri 1-3pm: $5 Modelos, $8 Classic Mimosas or Micheladas, $8 Pochos Loaded Fries, $12 Fried Churro French Toast, $9 Cuban Sandwich (add fries $2)
- Connie's PizzaHappy Hour: Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 11am-4pm with $5 20oz Drafts, $6 Mimosas/Glass of Wine, $7 Sangrias, $8 Titos Strawberry Lemonade and Tito's Blueberry Lemonade
Carb-loading: pasta the night before
Saturday night Italian near the downtown hotels books out first — reserve early in the week. These neighborhoods have the deepest pasta benches, with live deals at each spot.
River North
7 spots- Pizzeria PortofinoAprès-Ski Brunch
- QuartinoHappy Hour Wednesdays & Thursdays 4-6 PM, Sundays 3-6 PM: $20 Beer Buckets (5 beers: Peroni or Menabrea), 1/2 Off Bottles of Wine (in the bar only), 1/2 Off All Pizze (in the bar only)
- RPM ItalianHappy Hour: Weekdays 4 PM – 6 PM at the bar. Select cocktails and wines by the glass are $8. Cicchetti (small plates) are $8 each, including Pizzette's, Prime Beef Meatballs, Tuna Bruschetta, Provolon
- EatalyApertivo Hour/Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3-6 PM: fried polenta, spicy sausages, grilled bruschetta for $8, prosciutto and parmesan for $10, Aperol Spritz, Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz, and cold martinis fo
- il PorcellinoHappy Hour
West Loop
3 spots- Bar SienaHappy Hour: Monday - Friday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, featuring $8 Cicchetti (Octopus Bites, Garlic Parmesan Bread, Fried Mozzarella, Truffle Potato Skins, Roasted Meatballs), specialty cocktails, classic coc
- CarbonExtended happy hour at VELVET at Carbon from 5-11 PM with $9 cocktails, $7 wine, $1 oysters, and half-off pasta.
- Canal Street Eatery & MarketItaliano Weekends (Fri & Sat): Unlimited pizza, pasta, and salad for $25 per person (kids under 12 eat free with a paying adult).
North Center
4 spots- Il MilaneseThursday Special Menu
- Pete'S PizzaSaturday Specials: Chicken Parmigiana Over Penne Pasta ($10.20)
- The Pasta BowlMonday: $5 Lagunitas IPA
- Angelo'S Wine BarThursdays (4:00 PM - 11:59 PM): BOGO Pastas and Salads
Oak Lawn
4 spots- Roma Cafe Chicago RidgeWednesday: Kids Eat Free! (12 and under, 11am-9pm), Daily Drink Special - Margarita (11am-9pm), Lunch Menu ($11 items with soft drink, 11am-4pm), 1/2 Price Bottles of Wine (11am-9pm), Half-price pasta
- Rosati's PizzaMonday Specials: 14" Pizza with One Topping Special ($14.40), Buy One Pasta & Get Another One Free Special ($15.99), Four Cheese Blend Ravioli Pasta Special ($12.00)
- Jenny's Steak and BanquetsMonday August 3rd: Super specials | Pasta Plate ($10.00), Pot Roast ($20.00)
- Clancy's Pizza PubWednesday: Two Pasta Dinners for $25
Rosemont
4 spots- Chili's Grill & BarParty Platters
- Chili's Bar & BitesParty Platters
- Chili's Grill & BarParty Platters
- Giordano'sLunch Combo
Downers Grove
3 spots- Gatto's Italian Restaurant & BarMonday: $8 Select pastas, $4 draft beer, $7 Titos Mixed Drinks (Bar Only), Happy hour appetizers (4pm-9pm at the bar only).
- Gatto's Restaurant & BarMonday Specials
- Berto's Deli & Pasta ShoppeMonday: Spaghetti & Meatballs ($11.99, includes bread, butter, cheese)
Post-race: brunch & recovery near the finish
All walkable (slowly, in a foil blanket) from Grant Park, or one short ride away.
River North
9 spots- Ambar ChicagoBrunch: Unlimited Brunch: Saturday-Sunday 10am-3:30pm for $37.00 (unlimited small plates), upgrade to unlimited mimosas for $14.99
- Joy DistrictBrunch: Brunch So Hard: Every Saturday, 12-3 PM, $35 bottomless mimosas with the purchase of an entree
- Bub City - River NorthBrunch: Hangover Happy Hour Brunch: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM - 1 PM, featuring $6 Espresso Martinis and $6 Bloody Marys.
- Tree House ChicagoBrunch: Sunday Wristband Specials: $40 Bottomless Mimosas, $50 Wristband (12 PM-2 PM) for Well Cocktails, Domestic Beers, White Claw
- India HouseHappy Hour: Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM (Cocktails: Peach Bellini $9, Mimosa $9, Bloody Mary $9; Wine: House Red $9, House White $9, Sparkling Wine $9; Beer: Draft Beer $6).
The Loop
6 spots- Land And Lake KitchenBrunch: Mimosa Brunch: Monday-Friday 7-11am and Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm, $22/person for 1.5 hours of unlimited mimosas with the purchase of an entree.
- About Last KnifeBrunch: Afternoon Tea (Sat & Sun 11am-3pm): Tea for 2 $65, Bubbles (mimosa or prosecco by the glass) +$17, Bottomless Brunch Drinks (90 minutes)
- Flight Club ChicagoBrunch: Bottomless Brunch: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM - 3 PM (last seating 1:30 PM) with packages for Bottomless Flatbreads ($26), Bottomless Mimosas ($36), or both ($46)
- Emerald Loop Bar & GrillHappy Hour: Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3-7pm with daily drink specials, including $6 Mimosas and $6 Bloody Marys
- The Franklin TapBrunch: Weekend: All-Day Happy Hour & Brunch with $9 Spritzes, $7 mimosas, $5 Bloody Marys
Gold Coast
3 spots- BistronomicBrunch: Weekend Brunch (10:00 AM - 2:30 PM): Brunch Menu, $16.95 Bottomless Mimosa (1 1/2 Hour Limit)
- Hopsmith TavernDaily Special: Saturday: $35 Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and Bud Light Drafts 'til 3PM
- Brass TackBrunch: Limitless Libations $40 per person (everlasting rosé, mimosa, or bellini) during Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm
Streeterville
1 spots- Debevic'S RestaurantBrunch: $20 Bottomless Mimosas every Friday & Saturday (and daily from 8 AM to 2 PM)
In town for the marathon?
Stay near the Grant Park start or along the course. Race weekend rooms go early — free cancellation on most.
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Keep planning
Chicago Marathon FAQ
When is the Chicago Marathon in 2026?
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon runs Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting and finishing in Grant Park. Runners pick up bibs at the McCormick Place expo Thursday through Saturday, so the whole weekend has a race-week feel downtown.
Where are the best places to watch the Chicago Marathon?
The course crosses 29 neighborhoods, so pick a bar-friendly stretch: Lincoln Park and Lakeview catch runners around miles 4 through 9, Old Town sees them twice, the West Loop covers the middle miles, and Pilsen's 18th Street around mile 19 and Chinatown at mile 21 are two of the loudest, most fun cheer zones on the course.
Where should I carb-load the night before the marathon?
Most runners stay downtown, so Italian spots in River North, the Loop, the West Loop and Streeterville book out fastest for Saturday night. Reserve early in the week, eat on the early side, and check the live pasta and Italian deals in this guide for who is running specials.
Where can I eat or drink near the marathon finish line?
The finish is in Grant Park, so the South Loop, the Loop, Streeterville and River North are all walkable for a post-race meal. Brunch service runs all day Sunday at most spots, and this guide tracks live brunch, bloody mary and mimosa deals near the finish with exact prices and hours.
How do I get around Chicago on marathon Sunday?
Skip driving. Streets on and near the course close from early morning to mid-afternoon, and the CTA is the reliable way to hop between cheer spots — the Brown, Red and Pink lines all cross the course at different points. Build in extra time; trains run crowded from the first wave on.
Do bars along the marathon course open early on race day?
Many course-side spots open early with coffee and brunch service for spectators, and the bloody marys and mimosas are flowing by mid-morning in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Pilsen and the West Loop. Deals on this page list each venue's exact days and hours, so you can check who is pouring before the leaders come through.
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