Cheer on Your Favorite Teams at the Best Sports Bars in NYC
When watching from home doesn’t cut it, these sports bars offer buckets of beer, plenty of TVs, and dozens of fans.
NYC is as much a sports town as it is anything else. After all, we have the most major league sports teams in the country—that’s nine in total, in case you were wondering. And we’re also a city of transplants, meaning fandom is fractured beyond even the Yankees vs Mets rivalry in our own city. And while there are plenty of stellar new bars and sultry nightclubs around the city to grab a cocktail or two, there’s really nothing like catching the game at a through-and-through sports bar. We’re talking plenty of TVs, buckets of beer, and throngs of cheering fans.
From shiny new outdoor spots to longtime stalwarts that have witnessed the entire spectrum of human emotion, these NYC sports bars are the place to be.
Sports bars in Manhattan
NoHo
Rocco’s is the sceney hotspot to go “watch” sports and flirt with cuties by the bar. With sleek purple and brown booths, vintage memorabilia on the walls, a fake jumbotron, and a basketball shooting game in the corner, there’s plenty of opportunities to snap a cute picture or two. Sport-inspired drinks like the large-format Waterboy (vodka, cherry, blue blast, electrolytes) and Nascar Beertails (lager, aperol, lemon) might leave you with a raging hangover, but they sure taste good going down.
NoHo
Bleecker Street Bar is for sports fans looking for a lively environment, subway-inspired decor, and plenty of room to dance. As many may know, Bleecker Street Bar first gathered a cult-like following at its original location with 30 years on the corner of Bleecker and Crosby. The new and improved locale on Broadway now sports booths perfect for large groups of spectators, a large wraparound bar, and a couple of pool tables.
Upper West Side
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 wings and a personable staff who’ll make even UWS interlopers feel welcome, while making regulars feel like they’re cheering on the game from a crowded home stadium.
Multiple locations
Boxers is New York City’s resident gay sports bar. A favorite of all, whether you’re into sports or not, the spot has two Manhattan outposts in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. The bartenders here only wear tiny pairs of boxers as they serve up stiff drinks and dashing good looks. We’re particularly big fans of the Hell’s Kitchen locale, which features three floors of mingling space, a huge projector, and rooftop seating.
Greenwich Village
A favorite of locals and NYU students is Josie Woods. Within the subterranean space, guests will find walls lined with TVs, the beers are reasonably priced, and the kitchen turns out more fried food than you can shake a mozzarella stick at. Dart boards and pool tables keep the competitive momentum going during time-outs.
Upper West Side
Touting itself as “Manhattan’s Mets Bar since 2002,” Lion’s Head offers big enough screens throughout the bar along with cocktails, beer, and eight varieties of wings ranging from barbecue and cajun to the fear-inducing Ass Burner. The end of the week is designated as NFL Sundays and includes satellite coverage of games, raffles, giveaways, and both indoor and outdoor seating.
East Village
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.
Sports bars in Brooklyn
Williamsburg
Fear not, our favorite outdoor sports bar is almost back. BK Backyard Bar will debut its new locale (just around the corner on Banker Street) on September 28. Previously called TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar, this spot features loads of TVs, picnic tables, games, and DJs playing fun music. The Backyard Buckets (six cans) and Backyard Coolers (24 cans) are ideal for groups of beer drinkers, but even the anti-brew folks can order up a seasonal frozen drink or cocktails like the Backyard Twist (Twisted Tea, peach vodka).
Williamsburg
Whether football, baseball, soccer, or rugby, Kent Ale House near the Williamsburg waterfront doesn’t play favorites. Plop down in front of one of the 11 indoor TVs or opt for some fresh air watching the outdoor TV. Additional draws of this spot include its backroom, which features table tennis and a fireplace. With a focus on local NY brands, the beer menu includes 24 craft selections and over 30 bottled options.
Sports bars in The Bronx
Concourse
Located across the street from Yankee Stadium and under the shadow of the elevated 4 Train, Stan’s Sports Bar has been a haven for hardcore Yankee fans since 1979. Only open during home games and with walls covered in Yankees memorabilia, there’s no better place to pregame or, in the case you didn’t snag tickets, watch the full game. It’s almost always packed, so showing up early is always a smart move.