If the love of sport is truly global, then the very concept of a sports bar – giant screens, screaming fans, and stroke-inducing bar food – is very much an Anglo-Saxon experience, born in USA and raised in countries like Australia and New Zealand. Over the last couple of decades, however, this captivating concept has spread throughout the world, aiming to attract a share of the travelling sports fan.
What the bars listed below all have in common is good viewing options, a solid food menu, and an atmosphere that celebrates watching sport as a shared, communal experience – because in the end, atmosphere is everything. These establishments welcome everyone, where a love of sport is paramount; jumping around like a frenzied lunatic is absolutely the right thing to do when the moment calls for it.
Crown Sports Bar, Perth
Attempting to name Australia’s best sports bar is somewhat of a fool’s errand, but Perth’s Crown Sports Bar – part of the enormous Crown Perth Hotel & Casino complex – makes a compelling case. The massive central viewing room is surrounded on three sides by gigantic screens. Moreover, if by chance you’re not that into whatever the main event is, the hanging screens by the bar display action from other sports. There’s also a private screening area known as ‘The Box’ for a luxury viewing experience.
The Bleacher Bar, Boston
In a city packed with great sports bars, the Bleacher Bar in Boston stands out as it’s directly underneath the centerfield seats at Fenway Park, featuring a huge window directly onto the outfield. A solid beer menu and the best food in the neighborhood are complemented by the thrill of bagging a seat by the window to enjoy snippets of the game (although there’s a time limit, allowing you only a couple of innings).
Café Kick, London
This Clerkenwell bar is small, yet it’s one of the best spots in London to watch football. It boasts a strong Mediterranean-samba vibe, featuring Portuguese beers and superb caipirinhas to accompany the delightful tapas on the menu. Authentic paraphernalia on the walls and a brilliant atmosphere emerge come match time; moreover, it’s a prime location for table football enthusiasts. There’s another larger branch along Shoreditch High Street that also serves as a good place to catch the footie.
LxF, Buenos Aires
If you can’t make it to a live game at the Monumental or the Bombonera, watching one on the screens at LxF serves as a good consolation. The name shortens to ‘locos el futbol’ – mad for football – and this friendly bar in the affluent Recoleta neighborhood is an excellent venue to observe locals expressing their passions for their favorite soccer teams. Moreover, Buenos Aires’ American community frequents here for US sports, particularly the Super Bowl.
Sluggers, Chicago
Close to Wrigley Field, the century-old home of the Chicago Cubs, Sluggers boasts over 30 huge screens and is perfect if you want to witness how sports-mad Chicago fans passionately support their beloved teams in all major sports. Additionally, it features its own sporting pursuits including batting cages, a golf simulator, Skee-Ball, air hockey, and hoops. Classic bar grub fills the menu, offering tasty wraps, wings, and a fine selection of burgers – and there’s even dueling pianos for entertainment.
The Sportsman, Bangkok
The daily TV schedule at Bangkok’s Sportsman, a spacious bar on Soi 13 just off Sukhumvit, reflects its international appeal. Formula 1, tennis, Australian horse racing, European rugby, UFC fights, college football from the US, and, of course, soccer from major leagues worldwide are all featured on 26 TVs and 8 HD projectors. The menu leans towards Thai dishes, providing a refreshing change from other Western-oriented bars.
Satellite Sports Café, Amsterdam
Boasting two floors, a large outdoor terrace, and bleacher-like stairs, Satellite Sports Café in Amsterdam ensures that no matter your location, you can catch sports on one of the screens covering virtually every inch of this busy bar in Leidesplein. Although it may not be the prettiest bar, the atmosphere is terrific, accompanied by food served in generous portions – the stack of pancakes topped with whipped cream is almost sinful.
The Sporting Globe, Melbourne
Sport-centric Melbourne offers a plethora of bars to catch sports, but the Sporting Globe makes our list for its combination of 30 large screens, booths with personal TVs, and a rooftop deck. With friendly, relaxed service and a commendable menu, the half-price wings, ribs, and pints on Mondays represent an absolute steal. Although there are multiple locations throughout the city, our favorite remains the Richmond branch.
