Each year, avid NFL fans organize their stats, draft their fantasy players, and set aside their Sundays to watch their favorite teams battle it out for a spot in the annual Super Bowl. This year, the two teams vying for the coveted Lombardi Trophy are the Denver Broncos (15-3) and the Seattle Seahawks (15-3). Putting it lightly, Super Bowl XLVIII is sure to be exciting, as the top offense in the league (the Broncos) will be facing off against the top defense (the Seahawks). Where will you be watching the legendary action happen?
While not all superfans will be able to see their teams in action at the MetLife Stadium, we’ve rounded up the best bars in top U.S. cities for Bronco and Seahawk fans to watch the epic battle. Kickoff is at 6:30pm on Sunday, February 2.
Boston:
While the Patriots didn’t quite make it to the Super Bowl this year, NFL fanatics will still be out in full force. Boston Beer Garden in South Boston is expected to be packed to the door with football enthusiasts cheering for both teams. It’s a local favorite and a prime spot to watch the game. There is a huge bar in the center with more large-screen TVs than you can count. Given the Bronco’s triumph over the Boston-based Patriots, we’re betting that most locals will be rooting for the Seahawks.
But, if you find yourself outnumbered, then check out McGreevy’s. The bar is owned by Ken Casey of the American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys and is decked out with tons of Boston sports memorabilia. The bartenders can be hit or miss, but for the most part they are all friendly, fast, attentive, and knowledgeable.
Chicago:
It doesn’t look like Chicago will be escaping the cold any time soon. If you’re starting to get cabin fever from “polar vortices” hibernation, then head over to Newport Bar & Grill in Lakeview and join fellow die-hard Seahawks fans. One Yelp reviewer suggests meeting the owner who will “take great care of you. He even brought around free shots after … touchdowns.” Also, make sure to try their cheeseburger, which “forever raised the bar on what a classic char-burger can taste like.”
Rooting for the Broncos? Check out Riverview Tavern on West Roscoe, where an abundance of televisions allows a view from any vantage point, a back room features a pool table, there is great food, and the “beers on tap are always fresh,” according to a local Yelp-er.
Dallas:
Dallas’ local MeetUp group for Broncos fans will be headed to Sharky’s Bar & Grill in North Dallas come Super Bowl Sunday for the bars “13th Annual BIG Super Bowl BASH.” It’s a great place to “chill with friends, kick-back have some drinks, watch a game on their big screens, play some pool and eat some great food” according to one online reviewer. Sharky’s has a U.S. patent on their signature drink and offers up $1 Jello shots (those wearing their teams’ jersey get a free shot upon their first touchdown).
Seahawks fans will want to check out McFadden’s Salon in North Side where a halftime wing-eating contest will take place and $15 domestic buckets will be plenty. One Google reviewer summed up the establishment as a place with “good music, good drinks, and great service. McFadden’s is a lot of fun and a great place to get together with some friends.”
Denver:
So, you’re a Seahawks fan in Denver surrounded by thousands of loyal Broncos? We are pretty sure 99% of the bars in Denver will be overflowing with Broncos fans. But, Chinook Bar & Grill is going to be any Seattle native’s home away from home come Sunday. One Yelp reviewer, who stumbled upon the bar in Southeast Denver while looking for a place to watch the Seahawks said the back room was “full of devoted Seahawks fans so enthusiastic” where “everyone was friendly” and Jell-O shots came out for every touchdown. No one likes to be the odd man out, so join your fellow blue bloods at Chinooks.
Los Angeles:
Los Angeles has the largest Seahawks MeetUp group in the nation, and members have called The Backstage Bar and Grill in Culver City home since the group formed in 2007. With 847 die-hard members, Backstage should be every Seahawk fan’s place to be on Super Bowl Sunday. Reviewers on Yelp are huge fans of the hot wings—many think they might be the best in L.A.—and garlic fries.
The same goes for the Broncos—their L.A. MeetUp group is the second largest in the country for fans. The mass of Denver supporters descend on Brennan’s Pub in Venice to watch Broncos games, and they want you to join them! It’s a relaxed and friendly neighborhood establishment with a great outdoor space and some rather unique attractions like “turtle races.”
New York City:
Keats on 45th Street and 2nd Avenue has proven that die hard Broncos fans and karaoke enthusiasts might actually be a great match—the Broncos fan club meets here for every game. The great drink prices and friendly service are sure to keep you hanging around long after the game is finished. But, if you’re looking for a different type of atmosphere, Mustang Sally’s in Chelsea has played host to Broncos fans week after week making it one of the most popular destinations for its New York City fan base. This establishment boasts lots of televisions, which have views from the many booths available for dining, and a great assortment of craft beers.
Carlow East is undoubtedly the official New York City bar of the Seahawks and has been the go-to destination for serious ‘Hawk fans for years. One Goggle reviewer, a Seattle transplant and avid Seahawks fan, said, “the place is packed wall-to-wall with Seahawks fans that get very rowdy (in a good way). And free “Hawkakaze” shots after a touchdown.” If you’re a Seattle fan, this is the place to be on Sunday.
San Francisco:
49ers fans might still be a little upset over their loss to the Seahawks on January 19, so you will probably find them rooting for the Broncos at Nickies in Hays Valley/Lower Haight along with the city’s Denver transplants. A recent review on Yelp by a local Broncos fan who has been a patron for over two years said: “I love the crew of people this place dawns in and it is one of the best sports bars in the area. If you are a Broncos fan this place is a must.”
For those of you who enjoyed the Seahawk victory, make St. Stephens Green in Mountain View your go-to destination. Along with a great selection of beers on tap and the always-friendly Irish staff, their Sunday NFL Ticket with bottomless mimosa’s and bloody Mary’s is what keeps sports fans flooding in on game days.
Seattle:
If you’re looking for a Broncos bar in a city full of Seahawks, El Borracho Del Norte seems to be one of the only places that serves a crowd of Broncos fans game in and game out. The Mexican eatery has had to transform into standing room only for playoff games, meaning the Super Bowl crowd will be as wild as ever. Make sure to try their popular vegan friend ice cream.
Washington, D.C.:
Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is expecting a huge turnout to watch the Broncos face the Seahawks. And, things could get really heated. The popular sports bar plays home base for BOTH teams’ D.C. fan clubs so things will definitely stay interesting. Hopefully a little prize winning action will keep things relatively peaceful, as the bar will also be handing out raffle tickets for each entrance—either a Broncos or a Seahawks ticket of your choosing—with multiple prizes being dished out at halftime.
If you’d rather stay close to your tribe, you will find fellow Seahawks at Hamilton’s Bar and Grill, where there are beer pong tables and dart boards as well as great drink specials and food options. The bartenders and wait staff are constantly up-beat and super friendly, but keep a look out for bartenders Scott and Brian who were coined “a dynamic duo, like Batman and Robin” by one reviewer, to keep you entertained during halftime.
Head over to meet your fellow Broncos fans at Cleveland Park Bar & Grill. Sure, it has plentiful TVs, a great selection of beer, and a good-looking crowd, but it also has a sprawling covered rooftop with heat lamps that make for a great place to watch the game on a sunny day. One patron stated, “I have never disappointed on any level. The rooftop bar is delightful, they serve great drinks, the food is unusually good for a bar, and the atmosphere is just so relaxed and fun.” This is guaranteed to be a great spot to watch the 48th Super Bowl on Sunday.
