The Best Sports Bars in New York City

We go to New York sports bars because we refuse to watch the game in silence. You want to be elbow to elbow with strangers, standing on a sticky floor, screaming at a television screen alongside people who care exactly as much as you do. The best rooms for a live broadcast understand this energy. They leave the sound on, they open before breakfast for European soccer, and they pour cold pitchers until the final whistle. From dedicated club headquarters in Manhattan to neighborhood football pubs in Brooklyn, these are the top spots to catch every match.

Standings

East Village · 43 E 7th St · $ Map

If you want to watch the game without a club running the room, this is your bar. It is a tiny, serious sports room in the East Village with 10 barstools, no music, and league standings scrawled on chalkboards behind the bar. It draws millennials and older regulars who want good draft beer and zero distractions. The volume is low enough to talk, but everyone is there to watch.

Go for: free pizza on Friday nights. Know before you go: it is standing room only during playoffs, so show up early.

Blondies Sports

Upper West Side · 212 W 79th St · $$ WebsiteMap

This female-owned fixture in the Upper West Side has been operating for over 35 years and remains the neighborhood standard for watching football. It is an old-school American sports bar with massive platters of nachos, Wisconsin cheese curds, and some of the most respected buffalo wings in Manhattan. They always leave the sound on for the broadcasts.

Go for: the legendary buffalo wings on a Sunday afternoon. Know before you go: they actually take reservations for tables, which is rare on a game day.

Banter

Williamsburg · 132 Havemeyer St · $$ WebsiteMap

This European-style public house in the Williamsburg neighborhood is arguably the best soccer bar in Brooklyn. They pull down massive projector screens for Premier League, Champions League, and MLS matches. The crowd is an intense mix of expats and locals who know exactly what they are watching. They open as early as 7 a.m. for morning kickoffs.

Go for: international soccer tournaments and early morning weekend games. Know before you go: breakfast is served during early matches.

Smithfield Hall

Chelsea · 138 W 25th St · $$ WebsiteMap

When a major soccer match is on, this Chelsea institution is the loudest room in Manhattan. It has 26 screens, heated outdoor seating, and dedicated sections for different supporters clubs. It is huge, but it still fills to absolute capacity during European tournament finals. The kitchen serves reliable pub food straight through to last call.

Go for: the unmatched energy of a full European soccer matchday. Know before you go: if a major team is playing, you need to arrive an hour before kickoff to get a seat.

Football Factory at Legends

Midtown · 6 W 33rd St · $$ WebsiteMap

Located in the shadow of the Empire State Building, this multi-level Midtown venue screens over 100 live matches a week. It hosts dozens of official soccer supporters clubs, making it a festival of international jerseys on any given Saturday. When European leagues are playing, doors often open at 7 a.m. for breakfast and pints.

Go for: complete global soccer coverage and early morning drafts. Know before you go: the main floor gets rowdy, so head upstairs if you want a slightly quieter view.

Clara's

Bushwick · 53 Wilson Ave · $ WebsiteMap

Named after the owner's daughter, this staple in the Bushwick neighborhood functions as both a casual hangout and a serious destination for game days. It looks like a standard neighborhood dive, but the kitchen serves wings that are brined for 24 hours and tossed in flavors like Nashville Hot or jerk seasoning. The central pool table is surrounded by 14 screens and a projector.

Go for: the wings and a relaxed, unpretentious crowd. Know before you go: you can order the classic buffalo wings in five different levels of heat.

Roebling Sporting Club

Williamsburg · 225 N 8th St · $$ WebsiteMap

If Banter is entirely dedicated to soccer, this spot covers everything else. It has 14 HD screens, a massive projector, and a trendy but casual crowd. It is a major hub for college basketball and football, hosting watch parties for March Madness and alumni chapters. The kitchen serves excellent bar food, and they offer solid drink specials during major broadcasts.

Go for: college sports and Sunday football. Know before you go: it sits just one block from the Bedford Avenue L train stop, so it fills up fast.

Triona's on Sullivan

Greenwich Village · 237 Sullivan St · $ WebsiteMap

An unpretentious neighborhood bar that understands how to run a proper sports room. It sits near Washington Square Park and avoids the usual downtown traps, offering a pool table, solid service, and plenty of screens. It is a major destination for Chicago and Michigan sports fans, but you will find crowds here for nearly every major sport.

Go for: a casual, comfortable afternoon of football with cheap drinks. Know before you go: the draft beer happy hour is one of the most reliable in the Village.

The Red Lion

Greenwich Village · 151 Bleecker St · $$ WebsiteMap

By night, this Bleecker Street fixture is famous for live music, but during the day, it is a serious English soccer pub. They have plenty of screens and serve as a downtown home for football fans in New York. They open early on match days and the atmosphere is entirely dedicated to the pitch.

Go for: a traditional British soccer pub experience. Know before you go: live bands take the stage in the evening, shifting the atmosphere entirely.

Harlem Tavern

Harlem · 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd · $$ WebsiteMap

Located on a prominent corner near Morningside Park, this massive bar and restaurant is famous for its outdoor beer garden. It is family-friendly during the day, making it a great place to catch an afternoon game over truffle burgers and macaroni and cheese. They have screens everywhere and a wide-ranging craft beer list.

Go for: watching sports outdoors when the weather is nice. Know before you go: the weekday happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with $6 drafts.

Bronx Alehouse

Kingsbridge · 216 W 238th St · $$ WebsiteMap

If you want craft beer and fried food you can share, this Kingsbridge pub delivers. It is a standout venue with a massive tap list alongside smoked wings and pub burgers. It draws a heavy local crowd for Sunday football and runs a solid daytime business.

Go for: the craft beer selection and huge food baskets. Know before you go: the kitchen stays open late, serving food past midnight on weekends.

Keg & Lantern Brewing

Red Hook · 158 Beard St · $$ WebsiteMap

This brewery started in Greenpoint but opened its massive location in 2020. You can see the large foeder tanks as soon as you walk in. The walls are covered in nautical themes and plenty of screens. They pour their own highly carbonated house beers, which rank highly in our New York breweries and beer bars guide.

Go for: watching the game in a working craft brewery. Know before you go: try the Golden Ale, which won a gold medal at the New York State Craft Beer Competition.

Wogies Bar & Grill

West Village · 39 Greenwich Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

This is the city's undisputed home for Philadelphia sports fans, but it welcomes anyone looking for a cold beer and an exceptional sandwich. They are famous for their authentic Philly cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. It is a cozy brick room that focuses on great food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Go for: the authentic Philly cheesesteak and the waffle fries. Know before you go: they offer excellent outdoor seating during the warmer months.

Boxers NYC Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen · 735 9th Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Billed as America's premier gay sports bar, Boxers mixes the traditional elements of a sports pub with a club atmosphere. The Hell's Kitchen location has flat screens for every game, pool tables, and a spacious layout. It serves as a meeting place for many of the city's LGBTQ sports leagues.

Go for: the welcoming crowd and the two-for-one drink specials. Know before you go: it gets clubby at night, with DJs spinning regularly.

Kent Ale House

Williamsburg · 51 Kent Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

This relaxed ale house goes big on Premier League mornings, drawing a dedicated crowd for early matches. They have over 20 screens and NFL Sunday Ticket, making it just as reliable for American football. It sits near the waterfront, offering an excellent craft beer list and a full menu of pub classics.

Go for: Premier League soccer and rugby matches. Know before you go: get there early to claim a spot for major Sunday football games.

Fulton Ale House

Crown Heights · 1446 Fulton St · $ WebsiteMap

A low-key neighborhood destination with serious spirit. Fulton Ale House pairs its screens with NFL Sunday Ticket, craft beer, whiskey, and a cozy pub setting. It is famously a Buffalo Bills bar, drawing a passionate crowd of fans in blue and red every Sunday.

Go for: the intense, loyal energy of a Buffalo Bills game day. Know before you go: it fills up fast on Sundays, so arrive before the early kickoffs.

11th Street Bar

East Village · 510 E 11th St · $ WebsiteMap

If you support Liverpool, this is your spiritual home in Manhattan. It is a classic tavern that transforms into a sea of red jerseys on match days. The atmosphere is electric, filled with chants and dedicated fans who live and die by the club's results.

Go for: the unrivaled Liverpool supporters atmosphere. Know before you go: you will be standing shoulder to shoulder, so leave the heavy bags at home.

Jack Doyle's

Midtown · 240 W 35th St · $$ Map

This classic Irish pub serves as the Manhattan headquarters for Arsenal supporters. It is a massive space near Penn Station that pours an excellent pint of Guinness and serves a full menu of Irish and American food. The crowd is loud, knowledgeable, and entirely focused on the screens.

Go for: a pint of Guinness and a proper Arsenal match. Know before you go: the sheer size of the bar makes it a great option for larger groups.

The Commissioner

Park Slope · 247 5th Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

A Brooklyn local favorite with ten screens inside and two outdoors for big matches. The owners keep the atmosphere friendly and focused, hosting neighborhood events during the summer. It gets packed for big football and basketball games, drawing a dedicated Park Slope crowd that treats the place like a second living room.

Go for: a true neighborhood sports bar atmosphere without the fratty energy. Know before you go: they screen all the major tennis tournaments with the sound on.

Stout NYC

Midtown · 133 W 33rd St · $$ WebsiteMap

Located right near Madison Square Garden, this massive Irish pub and sports bar is built for extreme volume. It spans multiple floors, holds hundreds of people, and serves as the official pre-game spot for numerous college alumni groups and Knicks fans. It is loud, efficient, and capable of handling a massive crowd.

Go for: pre-gaming before an event at MSG. Know before you go: they can accommodate large groups, but you still need to book a table for major playoff games.

The Shout NY take

Use this list the next time you need a screen, a cold draft, and a crowd that cares as much as you do. Call ahead for the major playoffs, show up early for the Sunday kickoffs, and never underestimate the value of a bar that actually leaves the sound on.