Sports bars can be found almost everywhere in New York. In Manhattan alone, I have counted more than a hundred of them, all of them a little alike. Often, these are simply English or Irish pubs in which a few TVs are installed. They serve an almost identical menu, very greasy, which consists of a selection of fried snacks, burgers, salads and savory pies.
In an attempt to stand out, many of these bars specialize and try to appeal to fans of a particular sport or team. For supporters, it’s a fun way to meet people, and the opportunity to proudly wear their team’s jersey.
A few examples among many others: Blondie’s, on the Upper West Side, is mostly frequented by fans of college teams from the Great Lakes region (Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State). Kelly’s Bar in East Village claims to be the ice hockey and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) bar. Irish American Pub, on the other hand, has a room dedicated to Liverpool FC supporters.
Traditionally, Sunday is game day in the United States. There’s always one in the afternoon, whether it’s football (NFL), basketball (NBA), hockey (NHL) or baseball (MLB). The college sports meetings, organized by the NCAA, are also very popular. This is particularly the case of the March Madness, the tournament which designates the best university team in the country in basketball.
As a French speaker, it is likely that all of this seems far away to you. I wrote this article thinking of you and I therefore mainly mentioned places that broadcast football (or soccer), rugby, and international competitions (Olympic Games, European Cup, World Cup).
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.
Near Times Square/Midtown:
Legends/Football Factory
This large, three-story bar across from the Empire State Building is popular with sports fans, both New Yorkers and tourists. The main reason for this, besides the very strategic location, is that it has a room specially dedicated to football (called Football Factory).
It is therefore perfect for coming to see World Cup, Euro or Champions League matches. The national championships are also broadcast, whether the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, or the French Ligue 1. In all, you can watch around 100 matches per week. The atmosphere is often heated because this bar is the meeting place for around thirty supporters’ clubs, including those of PSG and Lyon.
If you like other sports, don’t worry, you have two other floors with NFL, NBA, baseball, boxing, tennis, golf, as well as car and motorcycle competitions such as Formula 1 , Moto GB and Nascar.
Smithfield Hall
Smithfield Hall is a sports bar where mainly football (soccer) is shown. You can consult their program in advance on their website by clicking here. For the French, this is where OM supporters meet. The bar also welcomes FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich fans.
The place is quite classy, clean, and comfortable. Good atmosphere on game nights. The menu is not very large and you will find the usual burgers/salads. Twenty beers are available for prices ranging from $7 to $11 a pint.
McHale’s Sports Bar
This Irish bar 5 minutes from Times Square is ideal for those who just want to drink a beer and eat a burger, while watching their favorite team play. The staff is friendly, the food very correct, the atmosphere relaxed, and the prices are reasonable.
Some club fans have their habits there, in particular the supporters of Borussia Dortmund and those of AS Roma.
The bar is open 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Normally, therefore, you should be able to see even the matches that take place in the afternoon in Europe.
Standings
Opened in 2005, Standings is one of New York’s most popular sports bars. It can only accommodate about 80 people so it gets crowded quickly. So expect to elbow your neighbors during important matches. That said, I can reassure you, the atmosphere remains very friendly, even family-friendly, and you can easily meet new people.
The bar, decorated with hundreds of collectibles, serves 12 types of craft beer, all American ($7-$9 a pint), as well as wine and cider. No hard liquor, no food. Luckily, you can order food from nearby restaurants. Note that on Fridays, there are free pizzas from 8 p.m.
there are 8 HD screens showing mostly American sports, including college competitions. Another feature is that there is no music at Standings, which makes it easier to hear the sound from the televisions.
bounce
Bounce is a bar near the Flatiron Building that has over 20 TVs all dedicated to sports. It’s pretty upscale, clean and modern, with a more sophisticated menu than you might find in other sports bars.
A DJ mixes commercial music on weekends, including Sunday afternoons. It looks more like a nightclub than a bar. People dance, have fun, and sport becomes secondary. At the entrance there is often a line, and the bouncers can be difficult.
Good to know:
If you want a table, you will probably be asked to spend a minimum amount (approximately $500). It’s expensive, so go there on weekdays during their happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., beers are only $5.
Pig N’ Whistle 36th Street
This Midtown bar, located a few minutes walk from Penn Station, is the only one in New York dedicated to rugby. You can see all the matches of the 6 Nations Tournament, the World Cup, the international tours of the big teams, and even the Sevens. The clientele being mainly Anglo-Saxon, the Top 14 is unfortunately rarely on the program.
Prices are slightly above average, especially since an automatic tip of 18% is added to your bill. Try to come before 7 p.m. to take advantage of happy hour (5$ draft beer).
The Keg Room
The Keg Room is a large Irish pub in Midtown, near the tourist district of Times Square, with a full menu (salads, steaks, burgers, pizzas, pastas, etc). The kind of place where New Yorkers come after work to enjoy happy hours.
Lots of TVs in the bar, most showing sports including rugby, soccer and all US leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB). There is also a giant screen.
Good plan:
40 types of draft beer and 4 types of cider, for prices ranging from $6 to $11 a pint.
In East Village:
The Winslow
In the East Village, this English-style bar broadcasts, among other things, all the matches of the Six Nations Tournament. They also have various evening entertainment, like live music on Sundays and a Q&A game on Mondays.
Their bartenders serve over 40 types of gin and many cocktails (around $13). Menu without surprises (burgers, salads, fish & chips, sandwiches, etc.). Reasonable prices.
The Grafton
A simple but well run bar in the East Village with a pleasant terrace at the back. Each table has its own TV, which is handy for watching games. You can see football (soccer) and rugby in particular. A little more expensive than average.
hairy lemon
A small Irish pub in East Village with very large TVs and around twenty draft beers. Normal prices for the neighborhood ($7-$8 a beer, $16 a burger).
Good atmosphere with entertainment several times a week: Trivia evenings, pool tournaments, etc.
Besides American sports, they also broadcast rugby (including Australian rugby), MMA (UFC), as well as football.
In Greenwich Village:
The Red Lion
A great pub in Greenwich Village near NYU, full of students and young people, with sports on the screens and live music from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. (2 or 3 bands per evening). The bands mainly do covers of well-known songs. The more we advance in the evening, the more the dance floor fills up.
$8 draft beers. On the menu, typical bar food: burgers, sandwiches, fish & chips (about $18).
In Brooklyn:
Croxley Ale House
Croxley Ale House is a sports bar chain with 4 locations in New York State. I only visited the one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which opened in 2017.
It’s clean, spacious, and modern. The style is industrial, with red bricks, exposed pipes, and polished concrete floors. Not necessarily very original but it corresponds well to the aesthetic canons of the neighborhood.
There are dozens of television screens lined up one after the other and a good hundred seats. The tables in the middle of the room are to be shared with other customers, which facilitates meetings.
The menu includes lots of fatty and savory dishes, including the unmissable buffalo wings (fried chicken wings). There are also more than 100 beer references, most of which cost between $7 and $10 a pint.
Good to know:
Every day there’s a special promo like “$5 beer on Monday” or “$3 tacos” on Tuesday.
Kent Ale House
A well-located pub in Williamsburg with a nice view of Manhattan. The owner of the premises, Patrick Burke is a football (soccer) and rugby fan. He therefore broadcasts in his bar all the competitions or interesting matches, in particular the Tournament of the Six Nations. You can also see less popular sports such as swimming, horse riding, or even road cycling (Tour de France, Giro).
Another plus: A wide selection of draft beers, most of which are craft brands that are made in New York State. A pint will set you back $7-$8, and even $6 for the beer of the day during happy hour from 3-7 p.m.
Tailgate Outdoor Sports Bar
This outdoor bar, which looks like a beer garden, was opened during the COVID-19 crisis in Williamsburg. The main objective was to be able to watch sports while respecting the rules of social distancing.
The tables are therefore separated by 250 cm from each other, and they each have a television. It’s very practical since you can ask the servers to put you a particular match.
If you have a small end, a “Yankee Doodle Dandy” food truck can make you sandwiches.
Roebling Sports Club
With its giant screen, this sports bar in the Williamsburg district is perfect for watching major events, whether it’s the Superbowl, the NBA Finals, or the soccer world cup.
The menu includes mostly fried foods, but you will still find some vegetarian options that are not too bad for your health (kale salad, avocado toast).