Where to Eat Before the Chicago Sky Game: Batter & Berries South Loop Is a Perfect Match
Where to Eat Before the Chicago Sky Game: Batter & Berries South Loop Is a Perfect Match
Two South Loop Icons, One Perfect Game Day
The Chicago Sky are one of the most exciting teams in the WNBA — a 2021 championship squad with deep roots in Chicago and a passionate fanbase that's only been growing. And their home, Wintrust Arena at 200 E Cermak Road, is one of the best intimate sports venues in the country: a 10,387-seat arena where you can hear the coaches call plays from the sidelines and feel every possession.
But before you take your seat at Wintrust, there's one stop you need to make. Just steps away on S State Street, Batter & Berries South Loop is the ideal pregame destination — a Black-owned Chicago brunch institution that shares the same South Loop energy, the same community pride, and the same commitment to giving you something truly unforgettable.
Two South Loop institutions. One perfect game day.
The Chicago Sky: Chicago's WNBA Champions
Founded in 2005, the Chicago Sky are one of the most celebrated franchises in the WNBA. They captured their first championship in 2021 with a star-studded roster featuring Finals MVP Kahleah Copper and seven-time All-Star Candace Parker — a title run that electrified the entire city. In 2026, the Sky are hosting the WNBA All-Star Weekend, with Wintrust Arena serving as the site for the 3-point contest and skills challenge, further cementing Chicago's status as the center of women's basketball.
Wintrust Arena opened in 2017 and has been the Sky's home ever since. Located at 200 E Cermak Road in McCormick Square on Chicago's Near South Side, the arena is connected via skybridges to McCormick Place, the Marriott Marquis, and the Hyatt Regency — making the entire area a hub of energy on game nights. With 22 state-of-the-art suites and sightlines so close you can hear the coaches during timeouts, there's truly no bad seat in the house.
The Must-Visit Pregame Stop: Batter & Berries South Loop
Before the opening tip, you need a meal worth remembering — and Batter & Berries on S State Street delivers exactly that. Since 2012, this legendary Black-owned restaurant — founded by Dr. Tanya and Craig Richardson — has been redefining Chicago breakfast and brunch with bold flavors, fresh natural ingredients, and a spirit of community that runs through everything they do.
The South Loop location places you just a short walk from Wintrust Arena, making it the most natural pregame ritual imaginable. Sit down, take your time, and arrive at the game fueled and ready.
Location & Hours
- Address: 2318 S State St, Chicago, IL
- Mon, Fri–Sun: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Tue–Thu: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Website: batterandberries.com
- BYOB: Yes — bring something bubbly to celebrate
Why It's the Perfect Sky Gameday Spot
Batter & Berries and the Chicago Sky have more in common than just a zip code. Both are Black-owned Chicago institutions. Both have built loyal followings by showing up for their community, delivering excellence, and proving that women's sports and Black-owned businesses belong at the center of Chicago's culture. Walking from brunch at Batter & Berries to a Sky game at Wintrust isn't just convenient — it's intentional. It's a full South Loop experience worth celebrating.
"The idea was simple: offer the freshest food possible with flavors that people would come from all over the world to experience, and want to come back for more." — Founders Dr. Tanya & Craig Richardson
What to Order: Build Your Pregame Plate
The French Toast Flight
The dish that put Batter & Berries on the map. A sampler of strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and caramel French toasts — each with its own fresh-battered base and house-made sauce. The lemon tastes like lemon cake. The caramel is rich and indulgent. Order it before tipoff and you'll be talking about it at halftime.
Cluck & Gaufre (Chicken & Waffles)
Award-winning chicken paired with cinnamon-sugar waffles. This is the kind of dish that makes you slow down and appreciate every bite. Bold, satisfying, and the perfect fuel for an evening of championship basketball.
Ribeye Omelette
7oz Linz Heritage Angus Ribeye, grilled onions, mushrooms, and a cabernet sauce alongside cheese-crusted hash browns. A serious meal for a serious sports fan.
Brisket Hash
12-hour coffee and ancho chili braised brisket, caramelized onion, cheddar hash browns, and a fried egg. Deep, smoky flavor built for a big night out in the South Loop.
Specialty Pancakes
Fresh blueberry, lemon zest with candied walnuts, caramel with Dulce de Leche — all house-made with natural ingredients. Not your average pancake stack.
BYOB Bottomless Brunch
Batter & Berries is BYOB — bring the bubbly and toast to the Sky before the game even starts. There is no better pregame ritual in Chicago.
Pro Tip: Sky games often tip off in the evening, making Batter & Berries an ideal late-morning or early-afternoon pregame stop. Arrive at 10–11 AM, enjoy a leisurely brunch, and stroll over to Wintrust in time for warmups. Use the waitlist on their website to skip the wait on busy game days.
Getting to Wintrust Arena from Batter & Berries
From 2318 S State St, Wintrust Arena at 200 E Cermak Road is less than a 10-minute walk east through the South Loop. Head east on Cermak and you'll arrive at McCormick Square with time to spare. You can also take the CTA Red Line one stop from Cermak-Chinatown, or Green/Orange Line to Cermak-McCormick Place. It's one of the easiest arena walks in the city — through a neighborhood that's alive with energy on Sky game days.
A Sky Game Night to Remember
Wintrust Arena is an experience unlike any other in Chicago sports. The intimacy of the 10,387-seat venue means every fan is close to the action, every cheer reverberates through the arena, and every play feels personal. The Chicago Sky have built something special here — a franchise that has won a championship, developed beloved players, and created a community around women's basketball that is passionate, proud, and growing fast.
And in 2026, with WNBA All-Star Weekend coming to Chicago and the Sky hosting some of the league's biggest events, there has never been a better time to be a Sky fan. Come for the championship pedigree. Stay for the culture. And start every game night at Batter & Berries.
The Bottom Line: Brunch First, Then Basketball
The South Loop is one of Chicago's most exciting neighborhoods — and on a Chicago Sky game day, it is absolutely electric. Batter & Berries at 2318 S State Street and Wintrust Arena at 200 E Cermak Road are the two anchors of a perfect game day experience, practically walking distance from each other and aligned in everything they represent: community, excellence, and the best of Chicago.
Start with the French Toast Flight. Finish with a Sky win. That's a South Loop game day done right.
Go Sky. #NeverOutdoneChi 🏀