Where to Watch the Game in NYC

New York is one of the most vibrant locations in the world. The city features a thriving culture of food, drink, and entertainment. However, sports fans may find themselves looking where to get a drink to  cheer for the home team and enjoy the local happy hour.

Luckily, New York has many amazing sports beers that allow visitors to enjoy a fantastic local experience while watching the game.

This article provides a glimpse at the best sports bars in NYC, establishing their strengths and letting you know how they’ll scratch your competitive, athletic itches.

Kelly’s Sports Bar

12 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 388-1464
Visit Website

Time Out New York named Kelly’s Sports Bar the number one hockey bar in New York City, but the pub isn’t limited to the NHL. Kelly’s shows UFC, MMA fights, and basketball games.

Kelly’s sits in the East Village, near several subway lines. The authentic Irish pub has a modest beer menu. Table 87 provides hungry sports enthusiasts with four choices of pizza.

The beer menu is respectable, featuring 14 draft and 15 bottled beers.

Stout NYC

Multiple Locations
Phone: (212) 629-6191
Visit Website

Stout NYC strives to create a welcoming environment for locals and commuters. The bar has four locations throughout the city, including Penn Station, the Financial District, Grand Central Station, and Bryant Park.

Stout’s founders strategically located its various pubs at major public transportation hubs throughout the city. This allows the establishment to draw in local residents and tired workers hoping for a quick beer on their way home.

Stout has a respectable beer list, filtering in seasonal drafts throughout the year.

Standings

43 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 420-0671
Visit Website

Standings is a small but mighty sports bar located in New York City’s East Village. The pub defies traditional expectations by airing games with the volume, shunning music altogether.

Standings provides fans with plenty of televisions to watch whichever sport they want. The bar is small and intimate, with an excellent draft beer selection.

Opened in 2005, Standings has a loyal fanbase, and its small space but one of the best places to go out.

Keg & Lantern Brewing Company

97 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Phone: (718) 389-5050
Visit Website

Keg & Lantern Brewing Company filters the best aspects of Brooklyn’s hipster community into a unique and charming local watering hole.

The brewery opened in 2009 and focuses on sour ales and IPAs. The menu provides fun, modern twists on classic libations, from beers to cocktails.

Keg & Lantern’s kitchen whips up unique versions of beloved pub fare, including a wide variety of wings.

The Junction

329 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 682-7700
Visit Website

The Junction, which opened in 2010, immediately established itself as a Midtown favorite. The sports bar is strategically located to draw commuters and locals alike, so anticipate a lively crowd.

The beloved watering hole offers indoor and outdoor seating, allowing guests to enjoy the vibrant New York neighborhood during the warmer months.

The Junction has a reasonable draft list and an impressive cocktail menu featuring seasonal specials. The bar runs a generous happy hour, lasting from 11 am to 7 pm, making it one of the top fun places to go out.

Multiple Locations
Phone: (646) 448-4671
Visit Website

Sports bars and Irish pubs dominate the tavern scene. Triona’s combines these two celebrated institutions into one roomy, welcoming establishment.

Triona’s has two locations, one on 3rd Avenue and the other on Sullivan Street. The bars show nothing but sports on their 19 High Definition televisions, ensuring sports fans see whatever game speaks to their souls.

Triona’s drink menu is generous, prominently featuring Irish whiskies. Daily happy hours last from 2 to 7 pm.

The Three Monkeys

236 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 586-2080
Visit Website

The Three Monkeys provides everything a sports fan could ask for. The bar serves great food and drinks while showing sports on more than ten televisions and large screens.

The Three Monkeys has every sports package, so visitors can watch whatever game matters to them. However, the bar doesn’t siphon all its budgets into athletics stations.

The Three Monkeys keeps an impressive 36 beers on tap. The pub menu provides plenty of food options to soak up the alcohol and provide you with the extra caloric boost to cheer on your favorite team.

Break Bar

458 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 933-0929
Visit Website

Break Bar puts a unique twist on the New York sports bar experience. The pub allows visitors to vent any excess energy or pent-up frustration on unsuspecting glassware.

After finishing any drink, guests are encouraged to enter the throwing range to smash their glasses. Break Bar has great daily happy hour deals.

The pub isn’t just a gimmick; Break Bar’s menu is broad, with a respectable draft list and plenty of cocktail options. The tavern offers small plates for a quick caloric burst.

Twist and Smash’d Sports

34-02 Steinway St, Queens, NY 11101
Phone: (718) 806-1542
Visit Website

Twist and Smash’d Sports bar specializes in the perfect sports food: wings. The menu offers a wide array of rubs and a full selection of sauces.

The establishment is roomy, with plenty of space to cheer on your favorite team. Visitors hoping to show off their athletic prowess instead of simply observing can play bocce ball or skee ball.

Twist and Smash’d has a full beer and liquor menu, certain to please every palate.

The Soccer Republic at McHale’s

251 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 957-5138
Visit Website

The Soccer Republic at McHale’s states its priorities right in the name. The Irish pub welcomes fans of the sport to enjoy the game on either of its two floors.

Founded in 2017 by an Irishman, The Soccer Republic airs games from every global league, ensuring all soccer fans feel welcome and excited.

The establishment’s menu is impressive, populated by great food and an impressive selection of hot, alcoholic drinks, including a signature Irish coffee.

East End Bar & Grill

1672 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212) 348-3783
Visit Website

East End Bar & Grill is the quintessence of a sports bar. The pub airs every sports fan could hope to enjoy. East End labels each television, so guests know precisely what they’ll be watching.

The popular spot has a vast menu and draws large crowds, so prepare to be packed in. Visitors celebrating birthdays drink free.

Smithfield Hall NYC

138 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 929-9677
Visit Website

Located in Center City, Smithfield Hall has enough televisions to ensure you can see every game airing on your walk from the bar to the restroom.

The establishment houses two bars, 27 tables, and 26 televisions. Smithfield Hall seats visitors who prefer the outdoors at heated tables with their own eight televisions.

Smithfield shows eight kinds of sports, including some more obscure options, like rugby. While the food menu focuses on American fare, the drink options are vast and encompassing.

Blue Haven

Multiple Locations
Phone: (212) 505-3400
Visit Website

Blue Haven combines the best elements of gastro pubs and sports bars into a cool, contemporary setting. The bars’ two locations feature multiple high-definition televisions, dart boards, and plenty of delicious food and draft beers.

Blue Haven offers daily specials between 11 am and 6 pm. The bar has locations in Greenwich Village and Murray Hill.

Blondies Sports

212 W 79th St, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 362-3311
Visit Website

Like all the best New York spots, Blondies Sports has little web presence. The mysterious bar has won many positive Yelp reviews thanks to its many televisions, great service, and superior deals.

Blondies Sports serves great versions of standard pub fare. The drink menu is broad and offers an alcoholic option for every taste.

Harlem Tavern

2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Phone: (212) 866-4500
Visit Website

Harlem Tavern sits close to Central Park. The establishment houses a bar, restaurant, and beer garden. The tavern offers outdoor dining for visitors hoping to enjoy the scenery and people-watch.

The section has heaters and screens to protect visitors from the weather. The Harlem Tavern offers a generous happy hour from 4 to 7 pm.

The pub’s menu is vast, including a vast range of draft beers to enjoy while you watch the game.

Bronx Alehouse

216 W 238th St, The Bronx, NY 10463
Phone: (718) 601-0204
Visit Website

Established in 2009, the Bronx Alehouse distinguishes itself from the crowded bar scene by being the Bronx’s only craft beer establishment.

The establishment rotates 16 draft lines throughout the year. Bronx Alehouse is a cozy, casual, and welcoming environment.

The food menu offers quality versions of pub favorites, including an impressive array of wings.

Tap Haus 33

14 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 889-9889
Visit Website

Tap Haus 33 is a dream come true for introverts who still want to enjoy the occasional night on the town. The bar, established in 2019, features 40 beers on tap.

Tap Haus 33 allows patrons to serve themselves via a tap-and-pour system. Simply load up a card and choose your new favorite beer.

Tap Haus 33 offers happy hour deals from 3 to 7 pm daily.

Sláinte Bar and Lounge

304 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 253-7030
Visit Website

Slainte embodies Irish pub warmness. The welcoming bar invites guests to watch their favorite teams while sipping an adult beverage.

The bar is a Bowery neighborhood staple, beloved by locals. Slainte hosts weekly trivia nights every Wednesday between 7 and 10 pm.

The bar has a broad beer and cocktail menu, including some Irish favorites.

TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar

86 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Phone: (646) 956-3146
Visit Website

TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar is one of the only positive results of COVID-19. The founders created the establishment during the pandemic to provide a safe gathering space for people starved of social interactions.

TailGate provides each table with a 65-inch television, a hand sanitizing station, and the ability to place contactless orders.

While the bar’s menu isn’t vast, it provides an adequate beer, cocktail, and food list.

Banter Bar

132 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (347) 457-6621
Visit Website

Banter Bar draws New York’s soccer fans to one central location. The establishment airs games from all of the major leagues.

CNN named Banter Bar one of the Best 10 Sports Bars in America in 2016. The friendly pub is the premiere place to watch the World Cup.

The bar has 24 taps, offering visitors plenty of beer options.

The Whiskey on Grand

524 Grand St #3503, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (347) 725-4386
Visit Website

The Whiskey on Grand is a bustling location to enjoy a sports game. The bar is homey and warm, welcoming returning visitors and first-time guests.

The Brooklyn institution provides NFL specials for football fans. The Whiskey offers a generous happy hour on Mondays through Thursdays, from opening until 8 pm.

The Stumble Inn

1454 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 650-0561
Visit Website

The Stumble Inn is pedigreed. The founders previously created Jack’s Dilemma, Down the Hatch, Off the Wagon, and the Gin Mill.

The Stumble Inn features plenty of screens to enjoy a game on. The bar houses 19 flat-screen televisions and three projector-screen televisions.

Mercury Bar West

659 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 262-7755
Visit Website

Mercury Bar West, located in Hell’s Kitchen, provides a warm and welcoming spot to watch a variety of sports. The pub features five plasma and four large-screen televisions.

Mercury Bar West has a wide draft beer menu and an impressive cocktail list. The establishment offers hungry diners plenty of delicious bar food options.

Dalton’s Bar & Grill

611 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 245-5511
Visit Website

Dalton’s Bar & Grill sits strategically between Hudson Yards, Port Authority, Times Square, and Midtown. The Hell’s Kitchen bar houses 35 high-definition 60-inch flat-screen televisions.

While Dalton’s focuses primarily on football, the pub also shows UFC and boxing. The bar features 27 beers on tap, rotating eight of the ales weekly.

Off the Wagon

109 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 533-4487
Visit Website

Off the Wagon has endeared itself to its Greenwich Village community since its opening in 1998. The bar draws sports fans with 17 televisions and a 100-inch screen.

Off the Wagon has a generous beer list, including 14 draft and 15 bottled brews. The pub provides a reasonable bar food menu. Off the Wagon offers a superior happy hour daily between 12 am and 7 pm.

Final Thoughts

New York City has a wealth of sports bars, certain to delight every visitor. The 25 establishments on this list provide plenty of places to get drinks, food, and televisions to satisfy guests’ thirst while letting them cheer for the home team.

Planning a trip to the Big Apple? Let us know which NYC sports bars you can’t wait to visit.

Best Sports Bars in NYC

1. Kelly’s Sports Bar
2. Stout NYC
3. Standings
4. Keg & Lantern Brewing Company
5. The Junction
6. Triona’s
7. The Three Monkeys
8. Break Bar
9. Twist and Smash’d Sports
10. The Soccer Republic at McHale’s
11. East End Bar & Grill
12. Smithfield Hall NYC
13. Blue Haven
14. Blondies Sports
15. Harlem Tavern
16. Bronx Alehouse
17. Tap Haus 33
18. Sláinte Bar and Lounge
19. TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar
20. Banter Bar
21. The Whiskey on Grand
22. The Stumble Inn
23. Mercury Bar West
24. Dalton’s Bar & Grill
25. Off the Wagon

Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.