This may just be the best time of year for hanging out at a sports bar in NYC. The weather is cold, most of us have left our New Year’s resolutions in the dust, and the Super Bowl is looming!
Here are 10 of our favorite sports bars in NYC for catching the weekend game, no matter what sport it may be:
1. Blondies, Upper West Side
Where: 212 W 79th St.
There are a few main criteria you think of when evaluating a sports bar, and one of them is surely its version of the classic food pairing for game-watching: buffalo wings. Blondie’s on the Upper West Side has long been rated as a top spot for the best wings in NYC. It’s also the go-to spot for college alumni clubs including Penn State and Michigan State. We recommend reserving a table for game day!
2. The Irish American, FiDi
Where: 17 John St.
With homey, down-to-Earth vibes, an Irish pub is often the perfect spot to catch a game. Enjoy a pint of Guinness and maybe some shepherd’s pie while you kick back at this cozy local watering hole in the Financial District. They have tons of seating and even a game room with pool, ping pong and foosball if you need to a take a break from the game with your own game.
3. The Big Whiskey, Williamsburg
Where: 524 Grand St. #3503, Brooklyn
The Big Whiskey sports bar was started by three brothers in 2016 with the goal of providing “well poured drinks, tasty food, good music, a comfortable setting and great service.” You’re treated like a star no matter what you order, and with a menu full of options like loaded tater tots and lemon garlic wings, we’re guessing that will be a lot!
4. Break Bar & Billiards, Astoria
Where: 32-04 Broadway, Astoria, Queens
Watch sports, and play them too! At the 7,000-square-foot Break in Astoria, Queens, you can watch the game on one of 16 HD TVs and/or play the likes of pool, ping pong, giant Jenga, Skee-Ball, foosball, board games and more. You can even play pool for free during happy hour (before 8pm).
5. Harlem Tavern, Harlem
Where: 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd
You can get a full dinner here as the extensive menu includes entrees like braised short ribs and steak frites alongside hefty burgers, sandwiches and flatbread options. During daily happy hour from 4-7pm the sports bar offers $5 select beer and well drinks and $6 sangria, and there is also ample outdoor seating. You can also book a table in advance of the Super Bowl.
6. Tonic, Midtown
Where: 727 7th Ave
This Times Square favorite is in a convenient location for whoever you’re meeting up with. With two floors, you’re likely always find a seat, and with over 30 beers on tap, you’ll always find your favorite brew to drink.
7. The Seneca, Ridgewood
Where: 582 Seneca Ave, Ridgewood, Queens
This new-on-the-scene Queens pick comes from the sons of Lon Ballinger, who opened Webster Hall. Right on Seneca Ave, they offer rotating local and imported beer on tap, wine and kombucha and homemade elevated bar bites like blistered shishito peppers, spicy fried chicken nuggets and burgers with special sauce. They play football on Sundays and will be having a Super Bowl party on Feb. 2.
8. Brooklyn Cider House, Bushwick
Where: 1100 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn
The new Brooklyn Cider House is New York City’s first cidery, bar and restaurant under one roof. With lots of yummy bar food options, it’s the perfect place to hang on Sundays if you prefer cider with your game over beer! And for this year’s Super Bowl, from 5pm to midnight there will be loads of specials including $1 wings will come in Korean, spicy or regular, and pitchers of hard cider for $29 (or flights of three tastings for $11).
9. Industry Kitchen, South Street Seaport
Where: 70 South St. at Maiden Lane
Industry Kitchen is right next to the East River and boasts unobstructed views of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges and Brooklyn Skyline. It’s a step above a typical sports bar, but they’re known for their brick oven pizzas and have three large TVs for screenings. For the Super Bowl, they’re even serving a fully-loaded “Touchdown Pizza” special with every favorite game snack on one pizza. Yes, that means there is sauce, cheese, guacamole, chips, pigs in a blanket, and boneless buffalo chicken wings and blue cheese dressing all in one pie!
10. J. Bespoke, NoMad
Where: 127 East 27th St.
Hidden behind an unmarked brass door in the Devoción Cascara + Coffee shop in NoMad, J. Bespoke is an effort by two brother owners to take sports bars to a whole new elevated level. When taking a first glance at the space, with only 50 seats and an art-deco inspired mural, you definitely wouldn’t think of it as a spot for sports fans to be cheering on their favorite teams. But the 4K LED flat-screen TVs and immersive audio system are where the games come to life. Read more about it here.
featured image source: Instagram / @breakastoria