It's time to grab a beer and get your butt down to the local sports bar for some sports action. Whatever your favorite team, there are way too many choices for eager fans in this area. So here's a list of eleven of our top picks to catch a game (and drink cheap whilst doing so).
Score at these local bars
Whatever your game is, you'll find it at one these sports fan favorites
By Jason Adams
MetromixSeptember 17, 2008
Mister Days
3100 Clarendon Blvd. - Arlington703-527-1600
Love the Redskins? Then you'll love Mister Day's, conveniently located beside the Clarendon Metro. For every home game, the "sports rock cafe" offers a full-day package that includes brunch, a luxury bus that takes fans from the bar to the stadium party-style, and dinner and drinks when they get back. But if staying in and watching the game is more your scene, Mister Days still offer nearly a hundred TVs and great specials during game time. (And once in a while, Redskins cheerleaders may even show up.)
Rhino Bar
3295 M St. N.W. - Washington202-333-3150
With countless big screen TVs and plenty of great specials and fun events, Rhino is one of the area's best known and regarded sports bars. And while they don't take sides, they do have some favorites, holding special events for all games featuring the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Eagles, Ohio State, Penn State, Syracuse and Georgetown -- with special deals to go along with each. Best of all is the $8 pitchers of Bud Light and 25 cent wings during all Red Sox and Eagles games.
Buffalo Billiards
1310 19th St. N.W. - Washington202-331-7665
If you're in Dupont Circle and jonesing for a sports fix, there's no better place to go than Buffalo Billiards. While the bar has plenty of games customers can play themselves (everything from billiards to shuffleboard), they also offer some of the best sports viewing facilities in the area. Football, basketball, baseball, boxing, UFC and other MMA -- if it's being televised somewhere in the northern hemisphere, chances are Buffalo Billiards is showing it. And with different food and drink specials for each sporting event, you're sure to never get bored.
Crystal City Sports Pub
529 23rd St. S. - Arlington703-521-8215
With three floors of sports viewing heaven, it's hard to imagine a better place to watch whatever game you want than Crystal City Sports Pub. The first floor has two large outdoor decks, pool tables, darts, video games and of course a bar. Second level is more of a "cozy" bar that seats over 100, including a balcony that overlooks the city, while the top floor is the "club" setting, perfect for parties. In total, that's over a hundred TVs, 20 game tables and activities and more drink specials then you can shake a beer at.
Black Finn Restaurant and Saloon
4901 Fairmont Ave. -
Bethesda
301-951-5684
Marylanders have their own great sports bar with BlackFinn Restaurant and Saloon. With a state of the art sound system and flat panel TVs in every booth, fans won't miss a single play when it comes to the Redskins, Nationals, Orioles, Wizards, Capitals or D.C. United. For football season this fall, the saloon has brought out special Game Day food and drink menus; enjoy $3 Miller Lite drafts, $6 Miller Lite pitchers and $18 Miller Lite towers. And if that wasn't enough, enter one of their contests or fantasy football leagues and win everything from Black Finn gift certificates to a trip to the Super Bowl.
ESPN Zone
555 12th St. N.W. - Washington202-783-3776
Yes, it's a big overdone corporate chain, but still....if it's sports you want, ESPN is probably the place to go. The Zone has the expected features: a full menu of American faves, a well stocked bar and of course huge TVs on every wall showing all the pro and college sports you can handle (in glorious HD!). But add to that video games, fun contests, appearances by local and national sports stars, and a high tech athletic atmosphere and you have the makings of the ultimate sports bar.
The Greene Turtle
14150 Baltimore Ave. - Laurel301-317-6650
From the Terps banners to the framed Colts jerseys, the Greene Turtle is a Maryland sports bar institution and Saturday and Sunday is Game Day at their location in Laurel. Watch your favorite college team while enjoying $1.99 Bud, Miller and Coors or $2.99 16 oz pints of Stella and Bass. And if you're still frothing at the mouth for more pigskin during the work week, they've also got specials running for Monday night football and Wednesday with their free Miller Lite Fantasy Football Challenge. Even if you don't go home with cash or prizes, cheap beer all night is still a win our book!
Ventnor Sports Cafe
2411 18th St. N.W. -
Washington
202-234-3070
The only real sports bar you'll find in Adams Morgan, Ventnor has two floors of screens that promise to show all MLB, NCAA, NFL, and NHL games. (To make sure you get as much sports in as possible, they even open before noon all weekend.) This fall, come out for Monday Night Football and enjoy 35 cent wings and $3 Miller Draft all night.
Rhodeside Grill
1836 Wilson Blvd. - Arlington703-243-0145
No place takes football seriously like they do in Texas, and we know you local longhorns are itching for some college football action. There's no better place than Rhodeside Grill in Arlington, with weekly UT get togethers for games, 35 cent wings on Sunday and lots and lots of Shiner Bock. Get there early, cuz by kickoff it's usually standing room only.
The Sideline
880 Capital Centre Blvd. - Largo301.336.0056
Sure, you can watch the Redskins at any ol' sports bar, but only at Sideline can you eat and drink with a Redskin. Owned by former linebacker Lavar Arrington, the sports-themed restaurant obviously shows every Skins game, with plenty of menu specials and giveaways to keep things exciting. But don't glue your eyes to the TV too much; you might miss a chance to see Arrington himself at the bar.
Tommy Joe's
4714 Montgomery Lane - Bethesda301-654-3801
If you're a Patriots fan and you've forgiven Tom Brady for last year's Super Bowl, you'll love this Bethesda beach bar -- the official bar for New England (and the Michigan Wolverines). Watch all the games on their 25 screens with food and drink specials to go with it. Plus, on Monday nights they raffle off an authentic NFL jersey of each team playing that night. The winning team/jersey also gets a $50 promo check!
Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike -
Arlington
703-486-2345
Yes, it may seem silly to have a movie theater on a sports bars round up, but The Arlington Drafthouse loves showing Virginia Tech games on the big screen. And who doesn't want to watch a football game in a full theater size venue while waitresses bring you alcohol? That just might be better than the real thing.
...or you could always stay home and watch the game. But that's no fun.
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What other people are saying...
BlueMartini from Georgetown - September 27, 2008 at 12:22 AM
These are all good because i'm tired of wrapping up in my blanket and watching the Redskins alone
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