A place where you can come with friends, or by yourself, settle in comfortably, get good food and drinks, and have a good view of the big game from any seat. Here are some choices to consider. Some sports bars in Austin are more like restaurants that have large screen TVs and serve beer and drinks.
Bar food including fish and chips, and wings. Friendly staff. Authentic Irish decor.
Two-story place with bar food, lots of games (foosball, shuffleboard, billiards, air hockey) and a view of downtown from the upstairs floor.
Popular hangout for 20- and 30-somethings. More of a neighborhood bar feel, but they do have lots of TVs for sporting events. Wide beer selection and burgers, happy hour, pet-friendly patio seating.
Close to the University of Texas. Giant multi-screen TV and patio. Menu includes more than the usual bar food e.g. ahi tuna tacos, salads, crawfish. Parking lot is small, so plan on parking on the street or walking there.
Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant, 214 W 4th St., (512) 322-9168 map websiteWide beer selection, ambiance, and waitstaff. Wide range of food, including fish and chips, corned beef, sandwiches, and Guiness ice cream. Can get really loud during major sports events.
Lavaca Street Bar, 405 Lavaca St., (512) 469-0106 map websiteExtensive selection of bar food. Pulled pork tacos, nachos, wings. Loud crowd on sports nights. Games including ping-pong, shuffleboard.
Little Woodrow's, 520 W 6th St., (512) 469-0106 map websiteA place to hang out and people-watch on 6th Street. Extensive beer selection and happy hour specials. Doesn't serve food, but there are often food trailers on the premises.
Maggie Mae's, 323 E. 6th St., (512) 478-8541 map websiteLarge bar with friendly staff, inexpensive drinks, and often live music. Rooftop patio with cooling fans and large TV screen.
Posse East, 2900 Duval St., (512) 477-2111 map websiteNear the University of Texas. Cozy sports bar with college atmosphere. Inexpensive beer, burgers, and a selection of books and board games to check out.
Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd., (512) 474-1958 map websiteClose to the University of Texas. Wide selection of beers, especially German beers. Also bar food, barbecue, and German food.
Shiner's Saloon, 422 Congress Ave. Ste. D, (512) 448-4600 map websiteMore of a favorite local bar with sports on TV. Inexpensive beer, bar food (pizza, nachos).
The Local Pub and Patio, 2610 Guadalupe St., (512) 448-4600 map websiteLarge screen TVs, comfortable couches, dog-friendly patio. Doesn't serve food, but restaurants are nearby.
The Tavern, 922 W. 12th St., (512) 320-8377 map websiteHistorical building with a balcony overlooking downtown. Bar food (burgers, nachos, wings)
Trifecta On 3rd, 360 Nueces St. Ste. 30, (512) 320-9909 map websiteSmaller place with pizza, bar food, and extensive drink selections.
Wingzup, 1000 E. 41st St. Ste. 210, (512) 323-2587 map websiteExcellent wings, with many choices of sauces (smoked chipotle raspberry?). Lots of TVs, with a good view from most any seat.
Like a burger bar, with lots of TVs. Extensive menu including a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, and wings.
Billy's on Burnet, 2105 Hancock Dr., (512) 407-9305 map websiteExcellent beer selection with reasonable prices, indoor and outdoor seating, bar food (burgers, wings, fries).
Cover 2, 13701 N. Hwy 183, (512) 506-9935 map websiteTraditional sports bar setting with a wide selection of food (mac and cheese, chipotle ranch fried pickles).
Cover 3, 2700 W. Anderson Ln. Ste. 202, (512) 374-1121 map websiteSimilar but more upscale than Cover 2, with fancier decor, a wider food selection, such as seafood, lettuce wraps, and beef tenderloin.
Mister Tramps Sports Pub and Café, 8565 Research Blvd., (512) 837-3500 map websiteAlthough a sports bar, they have items beyond the usual bar food, such as crawfish bisque and goat cheese omelettes. Multiple TV screens with Dish Network for out-of-market games.
Pluckers Wing Bar, 9070 Research Blvd. Ste. 201-C, (512) 533-9464 map websiteWide selection of wings with homemade sauces. Also fried pickles and lots of other bar foods. Plenty of TVs but can get crowded during sports events or on trivia night.
Riata Bar and Grill, 12221 Riata Trace Pkwy. Ste. 100, (512) 336-3838 map websiteBurgers, salads, and sandwiches. View of the TV from anywhere. Regular crowd of locals.
The Park At The Domain, 11601 Domain Dr. Ste. 200, (512) 478-7275 map websiteIn the Domain shopping center. Popular for brunch. Egg rolls, bacon-wrapped shrimp, fish tacos, sandwiches. Also breakfast and lunch entrees. Lots of TVs.
The Range Golf Club & Sports Bar, 10910 Domain Dr. Bldg. W, Ste. 120, (512) 381-2582 map websiteFriendly staff. Golf simulators in a private area of the bar. Exotic food choices for a sports bar e.g. pork sliders, quail, fried oysters, duck.
Neighborhood bar atmosphere with wide range of customers. Decent selection of bar food. TVs above the bar.
Black Sheep Lodge, 2108 S Lamar Blvd., (512) 707-2744 map websiteComfortable place to sit and watch TV sports, or play billiards or shuffleboard. Inexpensive beer, standard bar food.
Buffalo Wild Wings, 901 Little Texas Ln. Bldg. D, (512) 912-1147 map websiteDrink, lunch, and wing specials. Bar food, selection of wings, lots of TVs. Trivia and poker games.
Doc's Motorworks, 1123 S Congress Ave., (512) 448-9181 map websiteVariety of bar food (fried pickles, chicken avocado, nachos, burgers). Patio good for people watching on Congress Ave.
Marker 10, 208 Barton Springs Rd., (512) 477-1234 map websiteA classy hotel bar with extensive menu, a wide drinks selection, and a patio that overlooks the lake.
Pluckers Wing Bar, 3909 S. Lamar Blvd., (512) 443-9464 map websiteWide selection of wings and other bar food. Menu is highly customizable and you can pick and choose. Lots of TVs.
The Upper Decks, 301 Barton Springs Rd., (512) 291-2686 map websiteUpscale sports bar with a downstairs patio and upstairs deck. Bar food. Lots of TVs with a decent view from most any seat.
Upscale restaurant/bar environment with a variety of burgers, pizza, salads, wings, and some entrees. Kid-friendly atmosphere that can get quite loud and rowdy. Patio seating available.
Shooters Billiards & Sports Bar, 11416 Ranch Rd. 620 N., (512) 401-2060 map websiteLarge place with lots of billiards, shuffleboard, poker, TV trivia, and other games. Happy hour and drink specials. Lots of TVs.
Stompin Grounds, 9112 Anderson Mill Rd., (512) 394-6999 mapProjection screen TV, skeeball, darts, billiards, and dog-friendly patio. Bar food.
Burgers and sandwiches. Lots of TVs with sports on. Arcade games and billiards.
Zingers Bar & Grill, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave TX, (512) 524-2434 map websiteStandard sports bar atmosphere (high tables, beer on tap, many large TVs). Bar food with other entrees available e.g. butternut squash soup, chicken quesadillas. Dog-friendly patio. Close to shopping mall.
Neighborhood bar atmosphere with several large screen TVs and a patio. Sandwiches, wraps, sno-cones.
Fara Cafe, 3600 Presidential Blvd., (512) 530-2233 map websiteAt Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Reasonably priced beer for an airport location. Good place to meet up waiting for a flight.
Just south of the lake and east of I-35. Large place, with a good-sized crowd on game days. Many TVs, wide selection of beer and bar food.
The Warehouse Saloon & Billards, 509 E. Ben White Blvd., (512) 443-8799 map websiteA large neighborhood bar that has a big following on sports days, especially football. Big screens to watch sports, arcade games, billiards tables.