Photo by LaTur.
Whether you’re a die-hard sports junkie or just a casual observer, nothing beats catching the big game at your favorite neighborhood haunt. Maybe you’re the kind who likes to watch Caps games in a place with a quiet, casual vibe, or maybe you want to throw on your trusted RGIII jersey and head on down to a packed place with other Washington jersey-clad die-hards. Sure, we all know it’s not easy being a sports fan in D.C., but these are the best sports bar, according to DCist writers, to catch games and, as history shows, drink your sorrows away after.
The Pug: The Pug is everything you could ever want from a sports bar: Friendly bartenders, multiple TV’s, dedicated clientele, and perhaps most importantly, cheap drinks. The small H Street NE dive is pretty much plastered wall-to-wall in various sports memorabilia, and the bar’s dedication to showing Caps and D.C. United games makes it a unique spot for sports nuts of every ilk to gather. Never too crowded, but never empty either, The Pug is the kind of neighborhood bar that feels like you’re at an old friend’s place to catch the game. — Matt Cohen
The Pug is located at 1234 H Street NE.
Kangaroo Boxing Club: Right outside of Kangaroo Boxing Club’s door there’s a big University of Michigan flag, so right off the bat you know what college games will be played at this Columbia Heights bar and barbecue haven. On Sundays during football season, the bar is usually packed as fans gather to watch Washington (usually) lose, but it’s cool because the bar’s quirky cocktail menu and savory bar bites make it worth it. — Matt Cohen
Kangaroo Boxing Club is located at 3410 11th Street NW
Ventnor Sports Café: Ventnor Sports Café has been a neighborhood fixture in Adams Morgan since owner Scott Auslander left the now closed Shula’s Steak House and set off on his own in 2005. You can fill up on freshly popped popcorn in brown paper bags or take advantage of 50-cent wings on Monday and half-priced burgers on Tuesdays. Scott’s a Philly guy, so Phillies and Flyers fans are particularly welcome, and UNC Tar Heel alums have also found a warm home on this 18th St. spot. — Josh Novikoff
Ventnor Sports Café is located at 2411 18th Street NW
Buffalo Billiards: The granddaddy of the local sports bar scene, the subterranean Dupont Circle bar seems to go on forever. On any given Sunday, there’s pretty much a big screen, perhaps even with sound, for supporters of any NFL team on. But on big game days, tarps protect the many billiards tables, as rounds of beer and plates of burgers get served atop them hungry fans munch away while watching the game. — Josh Novikoff
Buffalo Billiards is located at 1330 19th Street NW.
Penn Quarter Sports Tavern: Penn Quarter Sports Tavern has made a name for themselves by aggressively courting college alumni groups. A rotating selection of flags, some from schools you barely realized had a sports program, fly above the front patio. Inside you may find many—sometimes a few too many—competing groups vying for space to watch the game. During off seasons, you may find an alumni flip cup league going on. A previous manager was so eager to create good will among patrons that he made Matzah pizza for my group when an important game fell during the Jewish holiday of Passover. — Josh Novikoff
Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is located at 639 Indiana Avenue NW.
Laughing Man Tavern: For the past several years, U.S. soccer fans have settled into Laughing Man Tavern in Metro Center. The bar welcomes the American Outlaws supporters group with copious amounts of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans when the USMNT are in action. The upstairs bar was a great place for downtown office workers to tuck into to catch the end of World Cup in 2010. Next year, with the tournament being held in Brazil, fixtures will play during primetime hours in Washington, when Metro Center is a little less populated. Still, you can probably expect Laughing Man to be packed. — Josh Novikoff
Laughing Man Tavern is located at 1306 G Street NW.
Lou’s City Bar: Lou’s City Bar sits right at the entrance to the Columbia Heights Metro station. Most of the televisions are inside, but there are a few outside to watch while enjoying the weather. There’s even an outdoor bar so you really never have to set foot in the place, if you don’t want to. — Josh Novikoff
Lou’s City Bar is located at 1400 Irving Street NW.
Nellie’s Sports Bar: It’s already made our best gay bars list due to its size, its roof deck, its beer specials and its reputation as a fun gathering location. However, it’s also a sports bar as their trivia hosts will be sure to tell you, should there be any complaints about sports-related trivia questions. This means that there are several TVs in multiple rooms showing various games, making it one of the best spots on U Street to reliably catch a match. Get there early for any playoff games, though, it can get packed. — Valerie Paschall
Nellie’s Sports Bar is located at 900 U Street NW.
Lucky Bar: DCist readers who don’t religiously read Pablo Maurer’s D.C. United updates might not realize that the World Cup will be coming up in less than a year. Those who are well aware of this fact, thank-you-very-much, have probably spent some time at Lucky Bar. Yes, it shows College Basketball and NFL games as well, but Lucky Bar’s main focus is soccer, which makes it a great location for those who would rather watch World Cup qualifiers, MLS matches, and Premier League games with other hooligans. Also, the next time the World Cup is halfway across the world (it’s in Brazil next year), it’s a good guarantee that they’ll be ready for the crowds stumbling in before work at 8:00 a.m. to watch the matches. — Valerie Paschall
Lucky Bar is located at 1221 Connecticut Avenue NW.
RFD: Okay, so I’m biased because they host local comedy in the back room on Thursday nights. But also Regional Food and Drink lives up to its name and has one of the widest variety—and best quality—of rotating drafts in the area. Beer week was a little too tasty there and the staff is always on point, remaining friendly and professional even as those of us cheering for the losing team start to drown our sorrows. — Valerie Paschall
RFD is located at 810 7th Street NW.
