The Hawks enter the playoffs as the #1 seed in the Western Conference, seeking to grab their fourth Stanley Cup this decade. A sea of Hawks schwag and playoff beards will fill Chicago’s bars, but the choice of where to hunker down for a few hours is not easy. So, here are six cool city spots. What's better than watching playoff hockey than with a ton of Hawks fans at a bar?

Joe’s on Weed Street | 940 W. Weed Street
The 20,000 square feet space includes more than 120 plasma and high-def projection screens. The beer menu isn’t huge, but it will satisfy craft beer and macro beer fans alike. Alongside the beer, Joe’s serves pizza, tacos, wings, and sandwiches (also salads, but who eats salad while watching hockey?). Chances are high that when the game ends, there will be live music or other fun transpiring in another section of Joe’s—a great post-game party, indeed.

Jake Melnick's | 41 E. Superior
The Today Show deemed Jake’s wings as the nation’s best. In fact, all the food at Jake’s is superb, and it pairs perfectly with an endless selection of craft beer. This official Blackhawks bar offers abundant TVs and plenty of elbow room, making game-viewing easy. Moreover, fans can enjoy a slew of spirits, beer cocktails, and homemade keg cocktails, which Jake’s explains, “We batch them, we keg them, we pour them.”

The Pony Inn | 1638 W. Belmont
Shortly after winning the last championship, several Blackhawk players visited The Pony with the Cup-in-hand, and then sprayed champagne on the crowd. If it’s good enough for the Blackhawks, this official Blackhawks bar should be good enough for the fans. No kidding, the Pony takes Blackhawks fandom seriously. Expect specials during the games, which are broadcast on overhead plasma TVs and individual flat-screen TVs located at the tables.

Haymarket Pub and Brewery | 737 W. Randolph
Haymarket owns enough award-winning medals to make Fort Knox jealous, and it's an awesome place to watch the Hawks. TVs are scattered throughout the pub with the sound turned way up. Even beer geeks may not realize the quality of food here; it's the total package at Haymarket. Additionally, the brewpub often arranges shuttles to the games (check social media or call ahead to find out which games).

The Barrel | 2015 S. Damen
Large venues offer plenty of amenities, but doesn't a dive bar seem like the perfect place to watch toothless athletes? The Barrel, which is a dive in spirit only, is akin to the ultimate man cave. Two large TVs adorn two distinct rooms, easily visible. Meanwhile, few bars exude passion for Chicago-area crafts like The Barrel, which is why the Chicago flag greets patrons at the door. But, there's also macro beer, terrific cocktails, and spirits. The Barrel is an unassuming, be-yourself, hang-out and chill bar that’s perfect for hockey watching—and one would be hard-pressed to find a friendlier crew.

Gamekeepers | 345 W. Armitage
Sometimes, it’s not about the beer, food, or even the TVs. Sometimes it’s about a bar's identity. The name says it all; this is a place to watch the game. Still, Gamekeepers doesn't shy away from providing a few perks, such as Allagash, Half Acre, or a bucket of domestics. Food ranges from wings and burgers to tilapia fish tacos and delicious chicken noodle soup. With a name like Gamekeepers, one can be assured the place has plenty of TVs. What makes this place stand out, however, is how the Hawks games take center stage—this is the place to become immersed in hockey.