The 15 Best Sports Bars in NYC for Watching the Big Game

This craft brewery originally born in Greenpoint opened their Red Hook location in 2020 and shows all major sports to pair along with their signature fermented sour ales and hazy IPAs. At Keg & Lantern, daily specials throughout the week include a nachos and pitcher combo for $29 on Sundays, and the food menu ranges from Buttermilk Fried Chicken Fingers and wings to Tempura Buffalo Cauliflower, Steak au Poivre, and Shepherd's Pie.

Blondies is a popular sports bar and solid dive with lots of TVs, bar menu standards, and reasonably priced drinks. The spot is especially known for their wings and personable staff who’ll make even UWS interlopers feel welcome, while making regulars feel like they’re cheering on the game from a crowded stadium.

This sports lounge in Flatiron has over 20 TVs on premises and takes the work out of ordering your drinks on game day with their special Bounce Super Bowl package of a Mega Mula or Paloma served out of a 196 oz giant copper mug. Choose from food options like Mac & Cheese Bars, Truffle Mushroom Flatbread, Hanger Steak, and desserts like Churros. In the evenings, the venue also hosts special events and parties that could have you dancing until 4 in the morning.

The original Chelsea location of this gay sports bar opened in 2010, and while their Washington Heights and Hell’s Kitchen spots have now closed, a new Hell’s Kitchen Boxers is set to open this spring. Here, all of the bartenders are shirtless and wear a uniform of, you guessed it, boxers. Come for the sports, and stay for the pool tables, brick oven pizza, plasma TVs, sports leagues, weeknight 2-for-1 happy hour specials from 4 pm-9 pm, and more as #AmericasGaySportsBar.

If you’re tired of hearing about how the Bronx Alehouse is the borough’s best sports bar, maybe it’s time for you to open your own place. Or, you can save yourself the trouble and embarrassment, and slide on over for craft beer, a large menu of pub food, and games like darts, Skeeball, and Jenga to play in between the sports games you’re cheering on. Happy hour runs from 2 pm-6 pm on weekdays.

When Croxley moved from its Avenue B home of nearly 15 years in summer of 2017, it was a blow for the East Village, but their loss is Williamsburg’s gain. This large, TV-lined venue has over 100 varieties of beer between its bottles, taps, and cans, near-nightly food specials, and ample space to accommodate groups.

DaddyO’s is on the South Shore of Staten Island and offers southern barbecue and an abundant amount of TVs. The expansive food menu includes steaks, Mexican dishes, burgers, and plenty of barbecue offerings like St. Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork, Hickory Smoked Brisket, and Cherry Smoked Pastrami along with all of your favorite sides.

Between The Salty Dog, The Windy City Ale House, and The Kettle Black, Bay Ridge has carved out quite a niche as a sports bar destination. Along with a sister location in Staten Island, The Kettle Black’s Brooklyn spot offers specials throughout the week, like buy-one-get-one-half-off burger specials on Tuesdays and $.69 deals on their signature wings for the boneless variety on Mondays and the regular kind on Wild Wing Wednesdays. Nab a spot near the big windows up front to feel a little less guilty about spending a beautiful day watching TV inside.

Open since 2005, Standings remains the gold standard of NYC sports bars. As a celebration of all things sports, the soundtrack here doesn’t include music, but instead, is composed of athletes and their cheering fans only. All manner of memorabilia is welcome here, and expect Minnesota wrestling pennants hanging next to Jets jerseys. Rotating beers on tap, eight TVs, and a bring-your-own-food policy combine to reward fans who are able to fit into its cramped quarters.

Josie Woods is a true college bar located right by NYU. The bar’s walls are lined with TVs, the beers are reasonably priced, and the kitchen turns out more fried foods than you can shake a mozzarella stick at. Dart boards and pool tables keep the competitive momentum going during time-outs.

Whether football, baseball, soccer, or rugby, Kent Ale House near the Williamsburg waterfront shows it all on their 11 indoor TVs and sole outdoor TV. Happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 3 pm-7 pm with food, drink, and pitcher specials, and the backroom offers table tennis and a fireplace. With a focus on local NY brands, the beer menu includes 24 craft selections and over 30 bottled options, and food items include Fried Pickle Chips, Chili Nachos, Short Rib Grilled Cheese, and the signature Kent Club sandwich with applewood bacon on thick sourdough.

Located across the street from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and under the elevated 4 Train, this sports bar has been a haven to hardcore Yankee fans both during baseball season and off season since 1979. At Stan’s, watch games from one of their 12 TVs while immersed in Yankees memorabilia.

Now that outdoor dining is here to stay, it was only a matter of time before NYC had its very own outdoor sports bar. Opened during the pandemic and located in an open lot on Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, each table at TailGate is spaced out eight feet apart, can accommodate up to ten guests, and has its own 65” TV. Mondays and Thursdays are football nights, Fridays include drag night with a DJ afterwards, and for the Super Bowl this year, reserve tickets to their TailGate Big Game Watch Party for a heated cabana where food and drinks are ordered via QR codes. Along with special winter cocktails like the Bear Claw (spiced rum, hot apple cider, cinnamon syrup), drinks include beer, wine, shots, large format cocktails serving eight, and beer buckets.

Opened by a father-and-daughter team, Twist and Smash’d Sports has over 50 screens to watch the game and is known for their signature Twisted Nachos, an item inspired by a dish the duo tried on a trip to Ecuador, made with twisted potatoes. There are two full-size indoor bocce courts onsite for anyone looking to play, and menu offerings include The Original Smash’d burger, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and sides like Mexican Corn or Pineapple Fried Rice.