Recess
Recess is Fulton Market’s high-energy destination for soccer, concerts, and big events, with central TVs visible from every angle and a huge outdoor screen setup that turns matches into communal celebrations. Regulars love the lively bar-to-rave atmosphere, mozzarella sticks, solid food, and value-priced beer buckets, but expect intense crowds, capacity limits, long entry lines, occasional screen outages, and little shade for daytime outdoor games.
What 1,571 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“I’ve been attending watch parties at Recess for the World Cup and it’s been a wonderful experience. The food is delicious and staff are amazing. I plan to return after the World Cup for more exciting sports games to watch.”
“Great place for screening games and just vibes!! Was there for Morocco vs Ned match”
“This is absolutely the spot to go to watch games and concerts! I love the central TVs which you can see from all sides, but if you want to be indoors there’s TVs visible from all angles.”
“I have seen this place become anything a person wants to. A sport’s bar, lounge, club, rave, and a place to watch the world cup! All around great spot.”
“Went for a World Cup game. Got in a few hours early to avoid the lines. The space was huge and the outdoor screen set up was perfect. Food was also really good. Would recommend coming here to watch a game and hang out”
“Fun place to watch soccer. Was super busy service was good. All tables booked in advance but food available in the other room. I can't speak to the menu food, but the pizza slice I got from fast order was OK. They were out of my fist choice.”
“Great place for games! definitely need to make a reservation if you want a table. You can only eat off their regular menu if you have a table. I tried to make a reservation two weeks before for a World Cup game and none available so make it well ahead of time for the best experience I do wish they had more seating for walk ins though!! There’s a bunch of tables available for walk ins but no chairs/stools. Highly recommend double smash burger”
“Fun lively crowd! Definitely recommend if you’re coming to people watch and mingle. Service, food, and drinks could be better.”
“We came to Recess to watch a game and had a mixed experience. The staff deserves credit. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the setup for daytime games needs improvement. We had a reserved table for a 2:00 p.m. match in mid-July, but there was no shade at all. Sitting in the direct sun for hours was extremely uncomfortable. During the ad breaks, we tried standing in a shaded area to cool off, but security told us we couldn’t stay there. The biggest disappointment came near the end of the match when the Wi-Fi cut out about 10 minutes before the final whistle. Since the game was being streamed, the screens went black, and we completely missed the ending. That’s the last thing you expect when you’ve come specifically to watch a sporting event. One tip for future visitors: bring your physical ID. They check IDs at the entrance, even if you already have a reservation. Overall, great table service, but the lack of shade and the Wi-Fi failure took away from what should have been a fun game-day experience.”
“Best place in Chicago to watch soccer ⚽️ Specially during the World Cup 2026, the atmosphere was electric on every game. Located conveniently with paid street parking”
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