Best Bars To Watch The US Open In The Bay Area

Will Roger Federer earn his elusive 18th Grand Slam title, will he be thwarted by Djokovic or Nadal or will a new U.S. Open champion emerge from Flushing Meadows? While you focus on the line calls, why not do it with a cold one at hand. Here's introducing the newest, most handsome Union Square addition to the brew pub scene. Master brewer Chris Wike, San Francisco Brewers Guild, is making three of his own beers in-house. "Our World Cup screenings were a big success," says management. "If the fans are into it, we're happy to be showing it." Four TVs and a projection screen can handle it beautifully, they say. Come anytime, the hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. There's comfort food, craft beer and cocktails all day with happy hour between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

If you're rooting for a player whose serve has just been broken, you can always order some comfort food, say a burger and fries for lunch or a roast chicken from the wood-fired oven at dinner. Or, if the tennis goes into a hairy fifth set tie-breaker, sustain yourself with a San Marzano Bloody Devil garnished with house pickled vegetables and a deviled egg. The lovely bar area has a glowing onyx-hued, horseshoe-shaped bar lit from underneath with LED lights enhanced by two large flat-screen televisions which will be tuned in to the U.S. Open for a couple of weeks. It's not Swiss, but feels perfect for Federer fans. Fog City is open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch.

There are sports bars with televisions, and then there are sports bars with 20 giant screens, each ranging from 50 inches to 70 inches. So, with about 100 feet of plasma, you're all set for game, set and match at the U.S. Open. "It was fun last year and it'll be fun this year. We'll be tuned in," says management. The opening time of 11 a.m. should see some of the earlier action from New York City. What else shouts 'fun' here? There are plenty of sports memorabilia, beer towers, fire pits on the patio and a mechanical bull. Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. Late hours attract a cover charge that includes the first drink. However, by this time, they've long since rolled out covers over the courts for the night.

Steins loves beer...and Steins loves sports. It is even open at 8:30 a.m. for all of those 9 a.m. attention-grabbing World Cup Game kickoffs. With a normal opening hour of 11 a.m., just in time for brunch, this is another spot where tennis fans might catch some early court action at the USTA Center. Steins large Beer Hall has plenty of LED flat-screen televisions, where if spectators can peel their eyes from the line long enough, they'll enjoy Chef Colby M. Reade's modern American comfort food. An impressive 31 taps of curated beer selections and a seat in the sunny garden round out your perfect day, even though someone's got to lose the match.

It's always fun to watch Grand Slam tennis at a tennis club. However, if you don't have a membership, why not just go to a public clubhouse that feels like a private club? The Grill at the Course at Wente Vineyards has great views of the 18th hole surrounded by lovely vineyards. Casual dining, free Wi-Fi, a terrace, a bar and two televisions makes it a great choice for subdued watching of US Open action. Open hours from dawn to dusk means you can see all of the earliest matches in New York and even squeeze in a round of golf between watching your favorites' topspins, returns and aces.

"East, Drink, Sport" reads the tagline for this sports bar, a perennial Marin favorite. Open from noon to 2 a.m. seven days a week, folks can wash down sports bar classics like wings, sliders and nachos with a choice of 20 rotating beers on tap. The eight televisions have been upgraded, every seat has a view and there's an 80-inch big screen for big events. "We're excited for the U.S. Open," says manager, Stella. "We had the U.S. Open on live TV last year and we're going to have it on this year."