RECESS: WHERE CHICAGO COMES OUT TO PLAY ON GAME DAY

In a neighborhood built on reinvention, Recess feels like permission to cut loose. Opened in 2020 by Atomic Hospitality, this playful sports bar planted its flag in Fulton Market with Chicago’s largest outdoor patio and never looked back. Equal parts sports cathedral and adult playground, Recess turns every game day into a communal spectacle.

Winter doesn’t slow it down. Life-size games, table games, and wall-to-wall TVs make it one of the city’s most reliable cold-weather hangouts, with enough screens to catch every rivalry, upset, and buzzer-beater without missing a moment. Whether it’s NFL Sundays, college football Saturdays, March Madness, or a midweek soccer match, Recess keeps the action loud and visible indoors and out.

The menu leans into the joy of sharing. Housemade pizza, tailgate classics, and crowd-ready appetizers anchor the food lineup, while the drinks arrive in celebratory formats: large-format punches, craft cocktails, shot skis, beer buckets, and enough communal pours to turn strangers into temporary teammates.

Recess isn’t just a place to watch the game. It’s where wins feel bigger, losses feel lighter, and Chicago sports culture gets a little playful. Check the sports calendar, grab your crew, and take your seat in the city’s most spirited playground. 🏈⚽🏀

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