36 bars to watch March Madness games in NYC

With the abundance of sports bars and pubs scattered across New York City, it can be hard to sort through to find the best ones to watch your favorite team. With the NCAA March Madness tournament approaching, 6sqft put together a list of some of our favorite sports bars in the city to watch the games, prepare a bracket, and enjoy some good food and drinks.

BROOKLYN

99 Rogers Avenue, Crown Heights
Featuring traditional American food and a drink menu with 24 beers on tap and a full liquor bar, 99 Rogers is a great, laid-back destination to watch March Madness. The Crown Heights bar offers happy hour specials every day from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and trivia events hosted every Thursday at 8 p.m.

660 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights
Finn’s Corner is a sports bar with a rock-n-roll vibe, featuring 11 flat-screen TVs and all of the most popular sports packages. They also have other options for entertainment, including darts, billiards, and a wide variety of board games. They offer happy hour specials Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Other specials include classic beer and shot combos.

53 Wilson Avenue, Bushwick
Clara’s is Bushwick’s sports hub, offering Brooklynites a welcoming atmosphere to watch their favorite teams compete. Whether it’s basketball, football, or the UFC, you can be sure that Clara’s will broadcast it on the TVs or in the back of the bar on a huge HD projector. Clara’s also offers a variety of specials, including $1 off all wines and select draft beers during happy hour.

113 Franklin Street, Greenpoint
The Gotham Burger Social Club at Greenpoint’s Three Brewing is the ideal game-day destination, with two floors of viewing space and numerous screens. The venue offers the perfect backdrop for March Madness, complemented by a “slam-dunk” menu featuring their signature Gotham Smash burgers, beer-battered onion rings, frickles, tots, and more. Plus, enjoy an extensive selection of craft beers, including lagers and hop-forward ales.

MANHATTAN

352 Seventh Avenue, Midtown
Located just a few steps from Madison Square Garden, Mustang Harry’s will turn their 7,500 square foot space equipped with dozens of big-screen TVs, a surround sound system, and two premium bars into a haven for March Madness. There will be daily specials in addition to an extensive menu of cocktails and fine spirits. Guests can also purchase game-day food favorites like chicken wings, nachos, and sliders.

138 West 25th Street, Midtown
Also near MSG, Smithfield Hall offers New Yorkers one of the best spaces to enjoy all sorts of sports every day of the year. Smithfield Hall has two bars with plenty of seating, as well as 26 TVs so you won’t miss a second of the tournament.

120 West 44th Street, Midtown
Found in the heart of Times Square, this Irish gastropub offers a selection of Irish whiskeys, single malts, top-shelf liquors, cocktails, and fine wines. The Long Room also boasts an extensive beer menu. Perfect for March Madness parties, guests can rent out their own private viewing area to watch the games. You can book reservations here.

133 West 33rd Street, Midtown
Since 2005, Stout NYC has been a place for all New Yorkers to come and enjoy sports and good drinks. Their main goal is to foster a welcoming space for guests to connect, the true purpose of a pub. They have four separate locations in Manhattan, each of which will be screening March Madness and providing a space for New Yorkers to relax and enjoy the games.

Basement Bar, 17 John Street, FiDi
While this sports bar may be dedicated to all things Liverpool, Carragher’s will still broadcast the March Madness tournament. Carragher’s offers a large selection of draught beers and whiskeys and has a delicious brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. They also offer private rentable spaces perfect for events and social gatherings, and nightlife entertainment options like live music, karaoke, and DJs. You can book a table here.

81 Pearl Street, FiDi
A staple of Stone Street in the Financial District, Beckett’s Bar & Grill is opening up its two-floor space for New Yorkers to enjoy March Madness. The casual, neighborhood-favorite spot will show the big games on multiple TVs and screens across both floors. You can reserve a table here.

17 John Street, FiDi
Another Financial District favorite, The Irish American Pub has an extensive menu of beers, cocktails, wine, and liquor. The bar also has a great food menu with classic bar and basketball-watching fare like burgers, sandwiches, and chicken wings. You can make a reservation here.

1 Fulton Street, The Seaport
Lawn Club, also known as NYC’s “leisure headquarters” is inviting basketball fans to rent a private gaming lawn and play games like shuffleboard, cornhole, and can jam while watching March Madness. Guests can rent a lawn for up to 11 guests starting at $100 an hour, which includes a dedicated “lawncierge,” a flatscreen TV, access to a wide variety of lawn games, and an expansive menu of game-day bites.

151 Bleecker Street, Noho
The Red Lion is a lively bar near Washington Square Park. The watering hole has great happy hour specials from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can come, relax, and have a couple of drinks while watching sports or dancing to the bar’s live music.

55 West 21st Street, Chelsea
Chelsea’s Bounce Sporting Club is a high-end sports bar with a menu offering creative twists on classic drinks and unique interpretations of pub food staples. The venue has 30 HD TVs and a 4,000-square-foot lounge area. Book a table here.

93 Bowery, Chinatown
With over 50 TVs and 30 draft beers and bottles from local and national breweries, The Bowery Beer Garden is one of the best spots to watch March Madness. Located in Chinatown, the bar offers a number of happy hour, daily, and weekend food and drink specials.

961 Second Avenue, Midtown East
Looking for a high-end sports bar experience? Try Cornerstone Tavern. Located at 961 2nd Avenue in Midtown East, their two-floor space is equipped with 20 HD TVs and a large food and drink menu. The bar also hosts trivia and karaoke nights, with private spaces that can be rented.

14 East 33rd Street, Midtown
Tap Haus 33 offers guests the unique opportunity to serve their own drinks by using a reloadable card. Guests can choose from over 40 beers on tap and don’t have to partake in the chaos that is getting the bartender’s attention on a crowded night. They are also well equipped to broadcast sports with a number of television screens playing different games throughout the bar.

28 Avenue B, East Village
The Hairy Lemon is an Irish Pub with an emphasis on sports. The pub streams every sport you could ask for, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and of course, college basketball and the March Madness tournament. They also offer a great selection of draft & bottled beer, cider, wine & spirits, and a menu of food all made in-house and served with a “big helping of Irish hospitality.”

149 2nd Avenue, East Village
One of the East Village’s newest spots, Downtown Social is welcoming New Yorkers to enjoy the tournament. With 27 flat-screen TVs, you won’t miss a single shot. Downtown Social also has live cover bands every weekend, a vast menu of food and drinks, and rentable private event space in the back.

16 1st Avenue, East Village
Located in the East Village, the Grayson is a prime destination for parties and large events in Manhattan. The bar is hoping to bring the same energy for March Madness, where it will be broadcasting the tournament on more than 45 HD TVs.

43 East 7th Street, East Village
If you’re really looking to focus on the games, Standings is the destination for you. The New York Mets bar makes sure not to distract sports fans with blaring music, instead, the only noise you will hear is the roar of the crowd and announcers in the games. Come and enjoy March Madness at Standings and pick from a large selection of draft beers and classic bar bites. The East Village establishment takes its beer menu very seriously and constantly rotates the selection of brews on tap.

27 West 35th Street, Midtown West
Located next to Madison Square Garden, the Playwright Irish Pub has over 25 rotating draught beers and more by the bottle. With dozens of high-definition TVs, fans of every sport and team can expect to find a game to watch.

246 West 38th Street, Midtown West
District Tap House offers sports lovers an expansive selection of domestic and international craft beers, a unique small plate menu including pizza, wings, quesadillas, and tacos, and 20 TV screens to enjoy March Madness. The Garment District bar also has happy hour specials Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

356 West 44th Street, Midtown West
This rustic American-themed tavern is a fantastic location for enjoying March Madness. The space has a comfortable, welcoming ambiance and multiple floors with TVs and projectors to enjoy the tournament. The Brazen Tavern offers happy hour specials Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

126 Chambers Street, Tribeca
This long-standing Tribeca establishment prides itself on its high-quality curated food and drink menus. Mudville offers happy hour specials on weekdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., including deals on wine, beers, cocktails, and all bites and snacks. You can make a reservation here.

215 West 40th Street, Midtown
This Times Square pub may have a Pittsburgh Steelers theme, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t well equipped to host for March Madness. With 30 TVs, you can keep up with March Madness play-by-play. Happy hour specials run every day until 7 p.m., with daily specials on tacos, salads, and sandwiches.

832 8th Avenue, Midtown
While The Three Monkeys isn’t offering any March Madness-specific deals, the Theatre District bar is still a great spot to enjoy the games. With 36 beers on draft and a menu filled with bar food classics, there are options for all visitors. There are also over 10 high-definition televisions and one giant screen, all broadcasting the biggest games for sports lovers to enjoy. Reservations can be made here.

230 Vesey Street, Battery Park City
Brookfield Place has a lot going on for March Madness, including deals on food from different vendors in the Hudson Eats food hall and Pop-A-Shot in the Winter Garden, an interactive basketball game. Enjoy food from vendors like Le District Bistro, Dos Toros, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, and more.

106 East 57th Street, Nomad, and 72 Madison Avenue, Midtown
One of Manhattan’s top steakhouses is celebrating college basketball with a special “Meat Madness” at both locations. Offering the ultimate viewing experience, guests can enjoy hand-held bites from a dedicated bar menu, ensuring they don’t miss a moment of the action while sipping on delicious cocktails.

39 West 14th Street, Union Square
Amy Ruth’s new Union Square location brings the flavors of Harlem to lower Manhattan, offering a variety of delicious options for game day. Signature dishes like “The Reggie Harris,” “The Ibn El Rasul,” and “The Ludacris” feature succulent wings, ribs, and more. Sides such as homemade baked mac & cheese, crispy fries, and collard greens are the perfect accompaniments. The restaurant also offers catering options for those looking to bring gameday to their home.

518 West 30th Street, Hudson Yards
Indulge in chef specials at Hudson Yards’ O’Toole’s Way this March Madness, featuring corned beef sliders, Celtic knots, Irish spice bag, slow-braised corned beef, and traditional Irish coffees. All NCAA tournament games will be broadcast live on the big screen, with a live DJ. The pub is also hosting a bracket challenge for those interested in participating.

1 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown
Located within the PENN 1 commuter hotspot, Avenida is offering a refreshing selection of cocktails, beers, and a mouthwatering variety of dishes to enjoy during March Madness. Happy hour specials are available daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., including $12 sangria, $12 margaritas, $32 buckets of beer, and more. You can make a reservation here.

West 33rd Street and 8th Avenue, Midtown
Midtown’s The Rutherford is inviting guests to cheer on their favorite college teams while enjoying tasty bar bites and refreshing drinks. The space will feature flat-screen TVs with sound, creating the perfect atmosphere to catch all the action. Guests can also take in the games from the rooftop, which offers ample seating, screens, and fresh air. The Rutherford is also offering game-time food specials, featuring items like buffalo chicken bites, fries, steak bites, steak sandwiches, and more. 

QUEENS

33-15 Ditmar Boulevard, Astoria
One of Astoria’s newest craft beer bars, Rivercrest offers a locally sourced menu and 18 rotating tap lines designated for unique craft beers. Guests can also reserve a private viewing space to enjoy the games with more intimacy. Reservations can be booked here.

32-04 Broadway, Astoria
There is no shortage of entertainment options at Astoria’s Break. The 7,000 square foot space features billiards, ping pong, darts, vintage arcade games, foosball, and 16 large HD TVs, and two giant projectors for tournament viewing. The bar has the perfect atmosphere to enjoy March Madness, as well as a 55-foot-long bar offering a rotating selection of 18 beers on top, dozens more by the bottle, and a large variety of cocktail options.

STATEN ISLAND

2178 Forest Avenue, Graniteville
Enjoy March Madness at Joe Broadway’s, Staten Island’s only two-level sports and billiards bar. The pub has an extensive selection of domestic and imported beers, and a food menu featuring a variety of bar bites. Joe’s wings, which have been voted the best on Staten Island, come in a vast selection of flavors, ranging from classics like buffalo and BBQ to creative flavors like spiced honey, sriracha teriyaki, and more.

Editor’s note: The original version of this article was published on March 11, 2022, and has since been updated.