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Chicago's Best Bets For Billiards

Are you the master of your cue? Do you enter "dead stroke" zone the minute you sidle up to the billiards table? Or are you the type who sinks your cue ball and knocks the 8-ball off the table, but are desperately seeking to improve your skills? Whether your friends nickname you "Minnesota Fats Jr." or not, you'll have a blast at any of these five top spots to play pool.

City Pool Hall

640 W. Hubbard St.
(312) 491-9690
http://citypoolhall.com

Located in the Warehouse District just southeast of the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Halsted Street and Grand Avenue, this billiard room lives up to its name. They have three 8-foot pool tables and six 9-foot tables arranged in the former machine shop space, and not a single support post obstructs your shot. There is also a long bar, an arcade, and a full-service restaurant.

Pressure Billiards
Photo: Pressure Billiards

Pressure Billiards

6318 N. Clark St.
(773) 743-7665
http://www.pressurebilliards.com

Head north to the Edgewater neighborhood for this pool room, which features 13 professional 9-foot Brunswick tables. In their own words, it's "designed to provide an intimidation-free environment for professional and recreational players alike." You can also enjoy your favorite sporting events on eight LCD TV screens mounted in the room.

Pressure Billiards
Photo: Pressure Billiards

G-Cue

157 N. Morgan St.
(312) 850-1370
http://www.g-cuechicago.com

Look for this modern pool hall on the Near West Side. It features 24 regulation tables and two official billiard tables, and a 6,000 square-foot party room. Cues and accessories are available for purchase, and you can even order private lessons. A full bar selection and a full-service kitchen are also available.

Lincoln Station
The pool room at Lincoln Station on North Lincoln Avenue. (Lincoln Station)

Lincoln Station

2432 N. Lincoln Ave.
(773) 472-8100
http://www.lincolnstation.com/

This bar just steps from the DePaul campus has two regulation pool tables. That may not be as many as the big pool halls, but for people looking to chalk up their cue sticks, it's a big selling point. One critic on Yelp calls Lincoln Station's choice to use one of its two storefronts almost entirely for pool tables "admirable and to be honest, astounding." Look also for darts, Golden Tee, and two huge HDTV screens.

Chicago Billiard Cafe
Photo: Chicago Billiard Cafe

Chicago Billiard Café

5935 W. Irving Park Rd.
(773) 545-5012
http://www.chicagobilliardcafe.com

Take a westward journey to the Portage Park neighborhood for a pool hall that attracts "serious players, recreational amateurs, and just friends hanging out." They have 16 professional-grade, 9-foot pool tables and an antique 12-foot snooker table. They have a full menu at Chicago Billiard Café, but they do not serve alcoholic beverages.

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