If you want to watch the Olympic Games with a group of fellow fans, there are plenty of options around town.

Jae C. Hong / AP Images

The 2021 2020 Olympics finally kick off in Tokyo this weekend and run through August 8. There’s a little less fanfare to the games than usual this year: They’ve already been delayed a full year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and they’ll be held without fans in the stands. For those of us at home, these local bars and restaurants will keep the TVs glued to the action. (Need some ideas for who to root for? Washingtonian has a list of all the local athletes competing at the games.)

Barkhaus
529 East Howell Avenue, Alexandria

On Saturday, August 7, this dog-friendly bar and restaurant will host “The Dog Games,” an Olympics-inspired competition. Events, including a costume contest, will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with food and drink specials, dog medals and other prizes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics.

Church Hall
1070 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Down in Georgetown, the spacious and TV-packed Church Hall has lots of seating for groups small or large. Bar specials will run until 8 p.m. nightly and include $10 frozen drinks, $8 steins of Narragansett beer, and $6 sweet potato tots.

Commissary
1443 P St. NW

This Logan Circle neighborhood restaurant is opening at 7 a.m. on Friday with its TVs (including a big screen) tuned live to the opening ceremony. The kitchen will serve an all-American breakfast platter ($15) headlined by red, white, and blue mini French toasts filled with sweet ricotta and raspberry and topped with blackberries. Commissary will open at 8 a.m. for the remainder of the games and have a full breakfast menu along with its standard bottomless brunch, lunch, and dinner options.

Dirty Habit
555 8th St. NW

Grab a spot in the sleek Kimpton Hotel Monaco restaurant for happy hour pricing on beer and wine ($8) along with discounted cocktails ($10) and appetizers from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The games will be shown on the outdoor courtyard TVs as well as inside the bar.

Fairmont Georgetown
2401 M St. NW

Executive Chef Jordi Gallardo has created an Olympics-themed bento box for guests looking for a taste of Japan. The $29 meal includes a salmon sushi roll, mango salad, chicken lemongrass dumplings, white rice, and spring rolls. There are drink specials as well, like the $14 Suntory whiskey old fashioned and a $16 bubbly mix of lychee liqueur and Thienot Brut Champagne. Games will be shown on large-screen TVs in the lobby and the lounge.

Gatsby
1201 Half St. SE

An alternative to crowded sports bars, Gatsby will tune its eight bottom floor screens to Olympic coverage. The menu focuses on reimagined American diner food and cocktails, perfect for cheering on the home team. It’s also featuring a refreshing Japanese-inspired whiskey highball, made with Jim Beam bourbon.

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap
401 E Braddock Rd, Alexandria

Lena’s in Del Ray is getting in the Olympic spirit with bronze, silver and gold menu deals. To start, guests can pair any 10-inch pizza with a draft beer or glass of house wine for $25. The middle option adds a choice of white bean or spinach and artichoke dip ($37), and the gold package finishes off with the pick of any dessert ($47). The deals are available Mondays through Thursdays from July 23 to August 8.

3333 Georgia Ave. NW
Unwind at this beer garden with $5 pints of Sapporo and $2 off its beer garden platter: a helping of two brats topped with sauerkraut, onion, and mustard alongside a warm soft pretzel with spicy Dijon mustard and cheese sauce for dipping. The bar has also curated bronze, silver and gold combos, with the top pick featuring a pint of Sapporo and a shot of sake.

Settle Down Easy Brewing
2822 Fairfax Dr., Falls Church

This small brewery will screen the opening ceremonies Friday beginning at 6 p.m. and continue having watch events throughout the games, complete with games and prizes for guests. The rotating tap list includes a range of ales and lagers, including its flagship dry-hopped Kolsch.

Shaw’s Tavern
520 Florida Ave. NW

Want to watch the opening ceremonies, but not interested in waking up that early? Enjoy the opening ceremonies when they’re rebroadcast on NBC in prime time and with the sound on at this local hangout. Weekday happy hour runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., ideal timing for some pre-Olympics beverages.

This post has been updated with more Olympics watch events and specials.

Filed Under: 2020 Olympics, events, things to do,