Football Fever: Where to Watch Your Team

Washington bars are swimming in burgundy and gold since the Skins kicked off their season in a home opener against the Miami Dolphins. But if you’re rooting for an out-of-town team, you’re not sunk: The area has hangouts for at least a few of the NFL’s most loved teams.

By Marissa Conrad

Photo courtesy of Luke Brewer

[Editor's Note: To see our most recent list of bars to watch your favorite NFL team, click here.]

Washington bars will be swimming in burgundy and gold when the Skins kick off their season in a home opener against the Miami Dolphins. But if you’re rooting for an out-of-town team, you’re not sunk: The area has hangouts for at least a few of the NFL’s most loved teams. Read on for where to catch your team.

Buffalo Bills: McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-223-2338; mcfaddensdc.com.
As the official home of the Bills Backers of Washington, DC (wdcbbb.com), McFadden’s does it right: On game day, the Foggy Bottom pub brings in Labatt ($11 for a five-beer bucket), blares a soundtrack of Bills fight songs, and encourages the 300-fan crowd—not that they need encouragement—to carry out every stadium ritual there is. Bills Backers also get 15 percent off food during games.
Closest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom.

Chicago Bears: Union Pub, 201 Massachusetts Ave. NE; 202-546-7200; unionpubdc.com.
Bears fans—a lot of Bears fans—burst into this Capitol Hill spot bearing a makeshift shrine to their beloved Mike Ditka: a helmet, a framed photo of the former coach, and sometimes a candle, which they light at the bar. The Chicago game airs on 11 TVs with full surround sound, and the pub offers drink specials on Bud and Bud Light.
Closest Metro stop: Union Station.

Cincinnati Bengals: Bottom Line, 1716 I St., NW; 202-298-8488; thebottomlinedc.com.
If “Welcome to the Jungle” means anything to you, then welcome to the Bottom Line, the sports bar for local Cincinnati fans. Snag a spot among the 200-plus Bengals fans who show up for games each week—don’t worry, they’ll make room for you—and enjoy the fun on at least six TVs around the bar.
Closest Metro stops: Farragut North, Farragut West.

Dallas Cowboys: Mezza Luna Restaurant & Lounge, 1140 19th St., NW; 202-429-8889; mezzalunadc.com.
This friendly bar—which serves a delicious NFL Sunday brunch—isn’t exclusively pro-Dallas, but it is Washington’s best bet for finding Cowboys comrades. Make sure to say hi to the manager, rumored to be somewhat of a Dallas fan himself. If you get there early and ask that the game be shown on the bar’s 100-inch projection screen, he may even say yes.
Closest Metro stops: Farragut North, Farragut West.

Green Bay Packers: Hawk ’n’ Dove Restaurant, 329 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-543-3300; hawkanddoveonline.com.
Packer backers come together every game day at this Capitol Hill bar, where at least five TVs will be playing the Green Bay game. Try the special: bratwurst and sauerkraut with a side of German potato salad. It’s no Brat Stop, but it’s close.
Closest Metro stops: Eastern Market, Capitol South.

Kansas City Chiefs: Grevey’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, 8130 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church; 703-560-8530.
No promises, but Kansas City followers may find a few fellow fans at this 70-television, mostly-Redskins-and-Bills bar. If you get there early enough, you can snag a booth with its own flat-screen TV.
Closest Metro stop: Dunn Loring.

Minnesota Vikings: Willy K’s, 7200 Hanover Dr., Greenbelt; 301-220-4441.
This bar—inside a Holiday Inn—has its share of burgundy and gold, but a small number of Minnesota groupies come most weekends to watch their team play. Depending on the week’s game schedule, Vikings fans may not get sound on their TV (Redskins trump all), but finding even a small slice of the Midwest in Maryland may be worth it.
Closest Metro stop: Greenbelt.

New England Patriots: Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, 713 King St., Alexandria; 703-548-1717; murphyspub.com/old_town.html.
Advertised as “the best Pats bar on the planet,” Murphy’s in Old Town doesn’t disappoint. Patriots fans will find 100-plus fast friends decked out in Tom Brady jerseys, watching the game on a giant projection screen and several smaller TVs scattered around the pub. The place even has a Pats fan club named after it—visit murphysfans.com for information.
Closest Metro stop: King Street.

New York Giants/New York Jets: 51st State Tavern, 2512 L St., NW; 202-625-2444; 51ststatetavern.com.
This tavern is New York all the way: Besides airing every Jets and Giants game, at least one of the ten TVs is tuned to the Bills—great for fans who aren’t already married to McFadden’s. The size of the crowd varies, but there’s always a solid base for each team.
Closest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom.

Oakland Raiders: Location varies.
DC’s official Oakland fan base—the DC Metro Raiders Booster Club—used to meet at the Greenbelt Marriott, but the group is on a quest this season: to try a different bar every week until it finds the perfect one to make its new home territory. Check out the schedule (and join the club) at dcmraiders.com.

Philadelphia Eagles: Rhino Bar & Pumphouse, 3295 M St., NW; 202-333-3150; rhinobardc.com.
Both levels of this Georgetown spot—DC’s official Eagles bar—overflow with noisy Philadelphia fans when game time rolls around. In between cheers (“E-A-G-L-E-S! Eagles!”), everyone chows down on 25-cent wings—the bar has sold more than 837,000 since 2000’s opening Monday Night Football game.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Pour House, 319 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-546-0779; pourhouse-dc.com.
This black-and-gold bar means business: Head there on game day and you’ll find every TV (including a ten-foot projection screen) airing the Steelers game, every space taken by a Steelers fan, and every touchdown followed by deafening Steelers cheers. The walls brim with team memorabilia—mostly from the glory days in the 1970s—and fans can buy $2.50 bottles of Rolling Rock.
Closest Metro stops: Eastern Market, Capitol South.

Didn’t find your team? If your fellow fans don’t have a Washington hangout, Buffalo Billiards (1330 19th St., NW; 331-7665; buffalobilliards.com/dc) and ESPN Zone (555 12th St., NW; 202-783-3776; espnzone.com/washingtondc) are safe bets to find your game—they air them all.

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Posted by: order tegretol, Feb 06, 2012 02:22:41 AM

Southside 815 in Alexandria is a good place to watch a Bears game. Good food too!

Posted by: BearsChunkyLover54, Sep 28, 2011 03:38:47 PM

The Hawk and Dove closed, as a big time packers fan it was a sad loss, but we replaced it with Tonic in Foggy Bottom which is a newer packers bar with great specials.

Posted by: Beth, Sep 09, 2011 12:04:15 PM

The Hawk and Dove closed, as a big time packers fan it was a sad loss, but we replaced it with Tonic in Foggy Bottom which is a newer packers bar with great specials.

Posted by: Beth, Sep 09, 2011 12:04:01 PM

Introducing the NFC EAST BAR:

19TH BAR AND LOUNGE

DALLAS COWBOYS
NEW YORK GIANTS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Food specials. Drink specials. Most fans from nfc east team win prizes.

Posted by: 19th bar, Aug 19, 2011 01:09:48 AM

http://www.meetup.com/VADOLPHINS/

House of Wing(Herndon VA)..Official Bar for NOVA/D.C. area Dolfans!

Posted by: Joe Salinas, Oct 03, 2010 08:33:42 AM

The best Vikings bar in the DC area is, without a doubt, Mackey’s in Crystal City. That is where the Northern Virginia Vikings Fan Club is every Sunday, viewing the Vikings game on two huge projection screens and about 15 or so flat screens as well. We get the sound feed and the staff is the best around in regards to catering to our food and drink needs, even going so far as to wearing Vikings gear on football Sundays. We usually have 100 to as many as 250 diehard Vikings fans there for the game and the place is rocking when the game is on. I’d like to welcome anyone who wants to have as close to a real game experience as possible to come on out and join us.

Posted by: Cajunvike, Sep 22, 2010 03:33:33 PM

does ANYWHERE here host a lot of Colts fans!? Haven’t found many Colts fans here....would love to find someplace!!

Posted by: harrison, Sep 19, 2009 02:42:07 PM

Does anyone know of any bars in the Buffalo New York area that show Pittsburgh Steeler games?

Thanks!

Posted by: Jack Allen, Oct 11, 2007 09:16:48 AM

The roofdeck at Cleveland Park Bar & Grill always has a bunch of Bronocs fans there every week. The bartender, Jon, is a huge fan and pours shots when the Broncos score. The more the merrier. Go Broncos.

Posted by: Steph, Oct 06, 2007 08:44:30 AM

Anyone know of a Niner hangout?

Posted by: Kate, Oct 02, 2007 06:37:19 AM

Any recommendations for Denver Broncos fans?

Posted by: Bri, Sep 28, 2007 01:45:36 PM

Cleveland Park Bar & Grill is a sweet spot to watch any sort of game...they have a ton of tvs on the main floor and the rooftop, and it’s a nice atmosphere to hunker down in for the big game!

Posted by: anon., Sep 26, 2007 12:00:03 PM

Yeah, where do all the Gator fans go??

Posted by: Taryn, Sep 20, 2007 01:04:49 PM

Ramparts in Alexandria is a great place for game day - they generally have about 5 games on at any time, and have a hoosiers following.

Posted by: Jack, Sep 20, 2007 11:50:45 AM

Another great bar for watching any football game is Top Shelf, on Indiana and 7th, NW, right across from the Archives/Navy Memorial metro stop. They will put on pretty much any college game you want, and have a huge projector screen on the newly renovated first floor. It will soon be renamed to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern I believe. Great place and good food too. $10 blue moon pitchers on Saturday for football, not sure about Sunday specials.

Posted by: Allison, Sep 17, 2007 07:40:32 AM

What about the Chargers?

Posted by: Cat, Sep 15, 2007 01:53:49 PM

the cowboys are AMERICA’S team, and I happen to know that they have a huge backing in the DC area (and everywhere for that matter....they’re like the red sox or yankees of football....), so please explain to me how the cowboys "BAR" to go to is by the most pretentious, effeminate place on this entire list??? that is absolute crap. I’m a GIRL, and i wouldn’t go there to watch my ’boys play if you PAID me. it’s FOOTBALL for christs sake!!

Posted by: Linda, Sep 13, 2007 07:43:25 PM

Glory Days Grill in Fairfax is a great place to watch all games and I know that the owner is from Miami, so lots of focus on all Miami and Florida teams.

Posted by: Lonnie Lazear, Sep 13, 2007 02:15:47 PM

Glory Days Grill in Fairfax is a great place to watch all games and I know that the owner is from Miami, so lots of focus on all Miami and Florida teams.

Posted by: Lonnie Lazear, Sep 13, 2007 02:14:47 PM

any word on for colts fans?

Posted by: nicole, Sep 13, 2007 10:21:17 AM

Wheres a good bar to watch some college football teams? Are there any bars in DC where Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators fans go?

Posted by: Anon Ymous, Sep 13, 2007 09:54:34 AM

Lucky Bar is the headquarters for Cleveland Browns fans. I think the local fan club even operates out of there.

Posted by: Jonathan Negrelli, Sep 13, 2007 08:55:52 AM

You named all of the these other teams, where is the Redskins bar.......

Posted by: Shelly, Sep 13, 2007 08:07:02 AM

You forgot the Browns Backers. In spite of the Browns’ futility, they meet at Neighbors Restaurant in Vienna.

Posted by: Jon Shecket, Sep 12, 2007 03:44:18 PM