The best in Washington, DC things to do, entertainment, nightlife, culture, arts, fashion and more.
|
Football Fever: Where to Watch Your Team
By
Marissa Conrad
,
Jesseka Kadylak
Published Thursday, September 18, 2008
Many Washingtonians aren’t actually from the area, which means not everyone cheers for the Redskins. If the NFL Sunday Ticket isn't in your budget, check out these bars where you can watch and root for your team. We’ve got a bar for everyone from the Bengals to the Broncos to the Cowboys (yuck!). Read on for our list—and make sure to leave your football-bar suggestions in the comments at the bottom of the post!
Baltimore Ravens: Champion Billiards Sports Café Frederick may not be the most convenient location if you live in or near DC, but having the chance to watch a game on one of Champion’s eight 42-inch flat-screen TVs or six 110-inch projection screens is worth the trip.
Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New York Giants: 51st State Tavern, McFadden’s, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern 51st State’s claim to fame is that it’s “DC’s only NY sports team bar.” The bar opens at 12:30 PM during football season, so head over and watch the game on nine TVs, including a 60-inch plasma screen. If you only support the Bills and don’t want to be surrounded by all the other New York team fanatics, try McFadden’s or Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon. McFadden’s is a solid destination for Bills fans.
Carolina Panthers: 18th Amendment Panthers fans have been gathering at the 18th Amendment for years. Enjoy food and drink specials at the bar and show your Panther pride.
Chicago Bears: Third Edition, Madhatter, Union Pub, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern Between these three places, Bears fans have nothing to fret about when it comes to watching the game. If the game is during the week, Madhatter offers $2.75 beer and specials on appetizers.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bottom Line Enjoy game-day specials and watching the Bengals on 11 screens. More than 200 fans gather, but there’s always room for more.
Cleveland Browns: Lucky Bar It doesn’t beat watching the game from the Dawg Pound, but order a Big Ass Burger, and pick a spot in front of any of the 22 screens to cheer the Browns. For more info, check out the Washington chapter of the fan club.
Dallas Cowboys: My Brother’s Place, Mezza Luna Cafe If you don’t mind hanging out with a college crowd, head to My Brother’s Place to watch the Cowboys on nine TVs. Miller Lite bottles are $1.95 during every game. As for Mezza Luna, 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 greet the manager, rumored to be somewhat of a Dallas fan himself.
Denver Broncos: Cleveland Park Bar & Grill, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern Broncos fans are far away from home in Washington but not far away from other displaced fans at Cleveland Park Bar & Grill. Head to the roof deck and feel at home, but arrive early because it gets packed. Additionally, a Denver Broncos Meetup group watches the game at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern. Get the details here.
Detroit Lions: Tonic at Quigley’s Pharmacy, Capitol Lounge Detroit fans can enjoy $2.59 Bud Light drafts while watching the Lions at Tonic at Quigley’s. Stay out after 10 PM to celebrate the win and partake in half-price burgers. This year, a fan group is also watching the games every week at Capitol Lounge.
Green Bay Packers: Stetson’s, Hawk ’n’ Dove If you don’t mind sharing the bar with other teams’ fans, Stetson’s shows the Packers on some of its nine TVs. Game-day specials include 25-cent wings, $3.50 Miller Lite drafts and bottles, and pitchers for $10.50. Another option is Nellie’s Sports Bar. Packers backers also come together every game day at the Hawk ’n’ Dove, 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.
Kansas City Chiefs: Grevey’s You might have to buy a Bills or Skins fan a beer to get him (or her) to give up a booth with a TV, but Grevey’s Restaurant & Sports Bar will be your best bet for a Chiefs game.
Miami Dolphins: Glory Days Grill Just ask a bartender at Glory Days to put the big game on for you. The place doesn’t offer any specials, but if the game is on between 4 and 7, fans can enjoy happy hour. There’s also a DC Miami Dolphins Meetup group that organizes bar outings to watch the games.
Minnesota Vikings: Tortoise & Hare If you have a large group of Vikings fans, call ahead and the Tortoise & Hare Bar and Grille will arrange special seating. If you’re going solo, no worries—the bar has many TVs so you can watch from any seat.
New England Patriots: Kelly’s Irish Times, Murphy’s Pub With Tom Brady sitting out the rest of the season, the Patriots need every fan’s support. Kelly’s is the weekly hub for New Englanders and the official bar for the Pats Fan Club. Members even receive specials on game day. Murphy’s in Alexandria was the home of the now-defunct Murphy’s Patriots Fan Club, but people still gather at the bar on game days.
New Orleans Saints: Penn Quarter Sports Tavern Two floors full of televisions and projection screens give Saints fans room to spread out and watch the game.
Oakland Raiders: The Ugly Mug Raiders fans have more options than some other fans in the area. Members of the DC Metro Raiders Booster Club gather here weekly, while some fans fancy Sign of the Whale in Falls Church or Stetson’s on U Street.
Philadelphia Eagles: Rhino Bar & Pumphouse “E-A-G-L-E-S” chants fill the Rhino Bar on game day. It recently added 20 new LCD flat screens so you can view the game from practically anywhere. Fans enjoy $8 domestic pitchers and 25-cent wings every Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pour House Home of DC Steeler Nation, Pour House is the local watering hole for the black-and-gold faithfuls. Fans fill three floors, but most of the action takes place on the main level. Everyone is rowdy but polite—unless you’re sporting another team’s jersey. Stick around after a win for some extra entertainment provided by Steeler Nation members.
San Diego Chargers: Hard Times Cafe (Clarendon), Bailey’s Pub & Grille (Ballston) Hard Times Cafe offers game-day specials for Bolts fans. Grab a booth, try some chili, and enjoy the game. Bailey’s has a fan group that meets weekly for games. Seattle Seahawks Fans faced with a lack of options for Seahawk bars are planning a Meetup at ESPN Zone to watch the game. If you want to get in on the fun with fellow Seahawks supporters, sign up here. Our apologies to any other teams that don’t have a bar to call home on game days, but luckily, many area bars show all of the games. Upon arrival, ask a bartender where to see your team, and enjoy being surrounded by football fans, even if they don’t cheer for the same team.
Velocity Five Velocity Five shows all games on 50 large hi-def TVs.
ESPN Zone MVP Club members can reserve seating in advance.
Crystal City Sports Pub Watch your team from any of the three floors, but check out the third-floor club level, which houses one ten-foot and two eight-foot projection screens, 28 42-inch LCDs, and six 37-inch LCD televisions.
If you know of any bars that show games for the following teams, please pass along the information in the comments:
Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars San Francisco 49ers St. Louis Rams Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Related: Happy Food Hours The Best Bloody Marys in Washington Ten Great Golf Holes in Washington
More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events
|
Comments
The best place to watch a bears game is definitely Union Pub. They put the game on all the TVs and play bear down at touchdowns and at the start of the game.
Posted by: lch, Sep 22, 2009 09:28:55 AM
Let’s START a place for Colts fans! e-mail eisarie03 at gmail
Posted by: Lisa, Sep 14, 2009 02:06:18 PM
Some1 lemme know where I can watch the Durty Birds play!
Posted by: Matt, Sep 13, 2009 08:41:42 AM
They has to be some Atlanta Falcons fans in this area! Where do Falconholics watch the games?
Posted by: Mimi, Sep 10, 2009 08:29:31 AM
Grand Central in Adams Morgan is owned and operated by Bills fans. Great brunch too. Nice alternative to McFadden’s for Bills fans in the city.
Posted by: marc, Feb 24, 2009 01:46:56 PM
There are some Colts fans in VA (Ballston). Go to Carpool on Fairfax Dr. Hopefully the Colts will make the playoffs, so stop by when the post season kicks-off.
Posted by: KL, Dec 17, 2008 12:57:18 PM
There’s a group of Titans fans who gather at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern - second floor - to watch the games.
Posted by: Rachel , Nov 13, 2008 09:42:55 AM
The DC Metro Raiders Booster club also meets at The Orignal Streakhouse, in Woodbridge Va.
Posted by: rodney, Oct 02, 2008 07:40:51 AM
Bucs fans have been getting together at Ventnor in Adams Morgan...
Posted by: BucFan1, Sep 23, 2008 04:50:44 PM
No one knows of a Niners Bar?
Maybe I will hit up tonic to watch them play detroit this weekend.
Buffalo Billards is a decent place to watch the game.
There were sections that had different games on with the volume turned up. I think they had every game on (at least in the afternoon) with volume.
Posted by: Steve, Sep 20, 2008 07:03:43 PM
The Browns games are shown in the top bar of the Hawk n’ Dove too.
Posted by: CapHill, Sep 19, 2008 03:43:20 PM
You can’t leave out the best Steeler bar in our area the "Outta the Way Cafe" in Derwood?
Posted by: Kevin, Sep 19, 2008 08:12:15 AM
Nellie’s Sports Bar for Packer games??? If you are going to list a gay bar for a location, don’t just throw one random statement about it in the middle of the listing. Each of the other places has a detailed description. This smells a bit unscrupulous to me, which I hope wasn’t the intent.
Posted by: ladigiT, Sep 19, 2008 07:35:51 AM
Seriously! The Colts fans are lacking in this town. I always end up with the Bengals or Bears fans. It would be nice to sit in a sea of blue and white!
Posted by: IndyFan, Sep 18, 2008 02:05:37 PM
Where are my COLTS FANS??? GO BLUE!!!
Posted by: TwoChak, Sep 18, 2008 01:07:24 PM
Rhino is THE best place to watch the birds! EAGLES!!!
Posted by: jdg815, Sep 18, 2008 11:22:52 AM
Oh no, I did not know Washingtonian drank the Cowboy bashing kool aid too!
Posted by: txgirl, Sep 18, 2008 10:29:36 AM
Cleveland Park Bar and Grill is a great place. There are fans of all teams there but it has also been known to have a good contingency of Jacksonville fans
Posted by: Hirsh, Sep 18, 2008 09:15:35 AM
thank you so much for this information! I have been looking for a place to watch my Bengals.
WHO DEY!
Posted by: elyse, Sep 18, 2008 07:36:54 AM
|
Post a comment
Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Because of the prevalence of spam, we ask that you fill out the code in the image below to help us eliminate spam comments. By posting here, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older. Washingtonian.com reserves the right to remove or edit content once posted.
|
|
Who needs a stinkin’ significant other anyway? Here’s a list of parties where all the single ladies (and gentlemen) can party this Valentine’s Day weekend—and where you might even find your next soulmate.
more
|