50 Best Sports Bars In America Gallery

There's nothing quite like the electricity and fever of watching a big game in the stadium, surrounded by thousands of rabid fans. But the sports bar comes mighty close, and some might say reaches its own level of bliss as a gathering place that offers a unique version of the live sporting experience. The sports bar has come to hold a special place in a spectator's heart — it's where you can collectively experience the triumphs, the heartaches, and the last-minute surprises of any game.

What's made the American sports bar what it is today goes far past the TV (though it certainly helps to be watching the game on a 10-foot projector screen). Today's best sports bars reimagine what the collective sports-watching experience can be. We went deep into the outfield to compile our list of the best sports bars in America: We reached out to our wide network of contributors and combed through scores of local "best-of lists" and fan reviews to find the country's favorites.

Those bars that made our list offer food, drinks, entertainment, and an atmosphere as electric as (or sometimes more electric than) the sporting events themselves. But no matter the amenities, what makes these 50 sports bars truly great comes down to the heart of the operation: the fans.

Bar 508 is serious about beer. They offer over 20 selections with a focus on craft brews. To go along with that, they've created a menu that bridges the gap between fan fare and food-lover faves: Think Buffalo chicken wontons and Summit Beer-battered chicken tenders. Fans love that there is an area for them to get their victory dance on after watching their team win on one of dozens of flat-screen TVs tuned into sports all day long. Don't miss the $3 tallboys for all Twins' home games.

The prerequisite sports bar food — wings — take center stage at Big Wang's, where they are regularly on special for a couple of coins each. There are 12 different sauces in which to toss those wings, including Cajun Buffalo, Ghost Pepper, and Hawaiian Habanero. The happy hour menu is available all day Wednesdays, and you can buy tacos for a buck on Tuesdays. They have "more HD TVs than anyone else in LA" and two locations across the Los Angeles area, so you're covered anytime a sports-and-wing craving hits.

D.C. area residents flock to DuPont Circle to descend on Buffalo Billiards on game day. The beer is cheap and plentiful, and there are TVs in every line of vision. You can stay active here, too, with shuffleboard and pool tables, Skee-Ball machines, foosball tables, and Hoop Fever Pop-a-Shots.

Upon entering this Kansas City bar, you're immediately greeted with over 100 years of sports greatness: 1,000 football helmets, Super Bowl rings, autographed Hall of Fame baseballs, and more. As its name implies, this is not just a bar, it's a sports mecca. Chappell's owner has searched high and low for his collection of sports memorabilia, and it's all on display, from vintage helmets to an autographed pair of Muhammad Ali's gloves. Northwest Missouri State even conducted sports memorabilia classes at Chappell's. Guests tour the space in between stuffing themselves with house favorites like the Chappell Burger and Smokehouse Chicken Grill.

Named after owner and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman and NHL Hall of Fame inductee Chris Chelios, Cheli's is an indoor/outdoor sports bar with over 30 HDTVs. It's just a slap shot away from Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, so you can feel like you're in on the live action. Expect spillover after the game, so the party just keeps going (especially if there's a win involved). Fans love the magnitude of beer selections and the rooftop patio with bleacher seats (from which it's possible to watch ball games for free).

Seafood-loving sports fans can have it all at Cooter Brown's. Picked as the best sports bar in NOLA year after year by locals, it's a fan favorite because of the deluxe oyster bar and hometown specialties like alligator sausage po'boys — not to mention the hundreds of beer offerings (84 on tap), tons of flat-screen TVs, plus a deluxe sports package that ensures every game being played will be showed.

The Draft, as locals call it, gives the classic sports bar a modern twist, using fresh ingredients to prepare all menu items in-house, like the Arizona spring rolls and asada tacos. They even employ DigitalPour, a live beer list on a 10-foot digital menu screen, to allow patrons to keep track of how much is left of their favorite keg.

With more than 90 TVs, Ferg's is the game day headquarters for Tampa Bay Rays fans: They normally see over 17,000 patrons for MLB's opening day and over 30,000 for the World Series. Ferg's party bus is a fully-equipped RV for parties on the go, and the bar has 11 different areas to host events (their backyard has a capacity of up to 3,000!). Whether patrons are celebrating the Rays, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, or a local softball team, Ferg's has a spot for everyone: The entire space encompasses almost two city blocks.

Forty-four HDTVs, 20 Texas craft beers, all the major DirecTV sports packages and athlete-named dishes — yep, the checklist for best sports bar fits for Frankie's. The bar has consistently been named the best by both Dallas and national media outlets, and is hailed as a 'Best of Dallas Sports Bar' by the Dallas Observer.

Countless TVs, 16-ounce specialty drinks, a hefty beer selection and self-proclaimed Big-Ass Burgers keep Heroes Sports Bar & Grille filled to the gills whenever a game is on.

Jackson's 30,000-plus square feet of space is packed with 70 HD flat-screen TVs. The newly remodeled rooftop bar is one of Denver's largest and overlooks Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club. Sports fans nosh on 12 types of wings while downing craft beers at one of five indoor and outdoor bar areas. If you're outside, you've got a view of Coors Field right across the street.

This is the ultimate sports mecca, conveniently located right behind legendary Fenway Park. The three-story space houses a bowling alley, pool hall, and club, so you can come to watch and play. The second floor is rec-room heaven: 24 pool tables, dartboards, ping-pong, and more. Dozens of TVs are tuned in to whichever game spirited fans are most serious about watching.

Opened in 1979 by LA Rams' Dennis Harrah and business partner John Morris and now boasting two locations, Legends claims to be the "first to use satellite technology to broadcast live sporting events from around the world." They have a massive collection of sports memorabilia, which includes Mohammed Ali's boxing gloves, over 100 baseballs signed by legends such as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, and Bobby Rahal's 2001 Indy car (which happens to be hanging from the ceiling). Relax with an ice-cold draft beer while you check it all out.

Their motto — "Every game, every day" — holds true at this Last Frontier sports mecca, and so does the Tailgater: a Bloody Mary garnished with jalapeño, celery, olives, pickle, cheese wedge, and a topped with a... cheeseburger.

Nemo's may not have the bells and whistles of other bars on the list, but it has tradition, classic bar food, and sports memorabilia on its side. The bar, built more than 50 years ago, was next to the original Tigers Stadium, but now serves as a hub for all Detroit sports fans. Nemo's offers shuttles to Detroit Red Wings and Tigers games as well as concerts, so it's a major meet-up spot for before-, during-, and post-game shenanigans.

It's called the premier sports bar of San Francisco for a reason — it's located just across the street from the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park — but it's the cocktails and draft beer on offer that get us excited. Say hello to the Tavern Casket (made with Jameson Caskmates, Gosling's ginger beer, lemon, and crème de cassis), the Pete's Margarita, plus Firestone Double Barrel Ale and Golden Road Wolfpup Session IPA. It's spacious, it's rowdy, it's filled with TVs — what more could you ask for?

It's all about football at Pooley's: They show every game, supplemented with a killer happy hour ($2 rail drinks and $2.50 Spotted Cow or Capital Seasonal pints and free popcorn and peanuts). You can even catch a ride on the Pooley Express to all University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger home football games.

A large fleet of TVs — over 90, with some even set up in the bathrooms — guarantees that you won't miss one second of sports action. Check in on their mobile app to get info on events and discounts and special deals on food and beer options. This is a media-friendly bar, so don't be surprised if a TV or radio show has set up shop and is broadcasting live from Ricky's.

Side Street Inn has two locations, which consistently win awards from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Honolulu Magazine, including Best Bar and Best Sports Bar. Rub shoulders with sports pros and local chefs while chowing down on unpretentious comfort food, and watch big-screen TVs with a pint (or six) of their signature Side Street Inn Rogue Ale.

Society is a true college and NFL football destination: They support teams all over the country, and are an official alumni bar of Ole Miss, West Virginia, the Arkansas Razorbacks, the University of Houston Cougars, and the University of Iowa Cyclones. They can play sound for as many as seven games at the same time, have multiple rooms as well as private booth seating, and after every touchdown, they play the school fight song.

It's safe to say Green Bay loves sports. Stadium View is just a field goal kick away from Lambeau Field, so the green and yellow is in full force here. There is a special Packer Game Day Menu and behemoth beer offerings like 92-ounce fishbowls or 108-ounce towers. It's not uncommon for a tent (with a full bar and TVs) to be set up in the parking lot on Packer game days to handle the overflow. If you've got tickets to the game and plan on stopping here for some tailgate action beforehand, you might not leave.

Even if you aren't a sports fanatic, it's worth heading to State if only for the food — a white truffle burger, pretzel fondue, and sweet kale salad aren't your typical sports bar offerings. And making State that much more impressive? The bar's 124 HD plasma TVs to keep fans watching all night. If that's not enough, State also has a giant draft beer selection: 100 total. We'll take it.

Forty-six HDTVs, equipped with surround sound, on two levels are a huge draw at The Tavern, one of Austin's oldest sports bars. The white wings are a must try, and if you're an Austin Gooner (a dedicated supporter of England's Arsenal Football Club), the place opens early on game days so that fans can get a head start on merrymaking.

Walk-On's is the passion project of two Louisiana State University alumni, Jack Warner and Brandon Landry, which may explain why the Louisiana chain is such a favorite among locals. It was ranked the No. 1 Sports Bar in America by ESPN, and All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees joined as a partner in 2015. Walk-On's continues to draw in sports-hungry fans with traditional Southern bites like Louisiana catfish, crawfish, and jumbo Gulf shrimp. Try one of their signature drinks, the Bench Warmer, made from Jameson, Bacardi Gold, Chambord, and topped with Red Bull. You'll be so amped, you might not even notice your team is losing. Maybe.

Yard House claims to have the world's largest selection of draft beer, and we don't doubt them: They offer over 125 beers on tap at the bar. Even after the game has ended, stay for late-night happy hour, which includes half-off appetizers and pizza, and $4 off half-yards (literally, half a yard of beer). If that's got you thirsty, check out our ranking of the world's 50 best beers.

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