best sports bar near me

These sports bars in Orlando have great food, killer drinks, and lots of TVs to catch all the game action!

You don’t often hear great food and sports bars mentioned in the same sentence. There are plenty of fun sports bars around town. But the question is where can you watch your favorite sporting event in Orlando when you love food just as much as (or more than) the game itself?

I set out to find the best sports bars in Orlando to watch the Big Game – or any game. Whether it be football, basketball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, take your pick – these are restaurants where you don’t have to sacrifice food for the sake of fun.

Many of these restaurants are not your traditional sports bars. They offer the whole package: great food choices, in some cases very creative menus using local ingredients, killer drinks and beer selections, lots of TVs for a good view of the game, and a fun atmosphere, often including games and live music. Some are also located in a major entertainment complex so you have options if you want to do something else before or after the game.

Whether you call Orlando home or are just visiting The City Beautiful, listed in alphabetical order, here are the best restaurants to watch the game in Orlando.

Ace Cafe Orlando

Combine your love of cars, rock & roll and sports at Ace Cafe, the most famous motor-diner on the planet. Since 1938, Ace Cafe London has been a mecca for those passionate about cars, bikes and rock ’n roll culture. Ace Cafe Orlando is their first North American venue located in Downtown Orlando. Catch the games on Ace’s giant TV screen and more than 20 TVs located on property.

Menu features American diner fare with a twist including Po’ Boy sandwiches, Chicken Tender Platter, Chicken & Waffles, Classic Burger Sliders, Chicken Taco Salad, and more. For dessert don’t miss the Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie and Peanut Butter Pie. Look for special menu package for The BIG Game.

American Social

Located on famous “Restaurant Row” Sand Lake Road, American Social or “AmSo” offers a posh yet casual spot to catch the game. High energy sports bar vibe and music fill the air on most nights so you can expect higher decibel levels here. That’s all tempered by finely crafted cocktails like a smokey old fashioned or garden margarita. Craft beers, happy hour and late night menus available. Start off with goat cheese croquettes with chili guava glaze or Buffalo Chicken Fries and then order based on your hunger level from family size plates and shareables. If you feel like unwinding, take a seat in the outdoor patio.

Celebration Town Tavern

Family-owned restaurant in the picturesque Town of Celebration, offers the best traditional New England fare in a sports-themed, comfortable setting. This is truly the neighborhood tavern. The Lobster Roll and New England clam chowder are the best outside of Boston. The Fish ‘wich, made from Boston scrod flown in from Massachusetts, was absolutely satisfying. Plus “the 99 bottles of beer on the wall” club offers plenty of choices for beer lovers. Get your card and make your way down the list. 721 Front St. Celebration FL.

Duffy’s Sports Grill

Every inch of wall space is covered by over 100 TVs and lots of sports memorabilia at this popular Florida regional chain, with Orlando locations at Millenia and Lake Mary. The bar menu is taken to the next level with fresh-made to order guacamole served with chips, mozzarella sticks cut from one block of mozzarella cheese and battered to order for the ultimate freshness, and killer coconut-crusted Dolphin (Mahi) fingers. You don’t have to wait for the day after to have the Hangover Burger topped with farm-fresh sunny side up egg, and the Churrasco steak with chimichurri, black beans and rice rivals the best from Miami. For those conscious of the diet, the menu offers 15 dishes with fewer than 580 calories. The Ahi Tuna was fantastic. Drinks do not disappoint either. Their Bloody Mary is the most inventive I’ve ever seen, served with a burger slider as a garnish! A decent craft beer selection and cocktails menu to choose from, and best of all, 2-for-1 Happy Hour is all day, every day! Become an MVP card-holder for specials and freebies. 4158 Conroy Road, The Mall at Millenia and 951 Market Promenade Ave, Lake Mary FL.

Kings Orlando

A bowling venue on a sports bar list? Bowling may be the draw but with plenty of TV’s around this expansive retro play-land, cool drinks and fun menu selections, this is the perfect spot if you’re looking for more than just the Big Game. You got billiards, foosball, shuffle board, bocce ball, ping-pong and 22 lanes of bowling to keep you entertained if the game turns out to be a bust. Try the Buffalo Wontons, huge chicken wings, various pizzas with their homemade dough, and pair it with a shareable Kings Big Balls retro cocktail like the Tropical Tango or Raspberry Lime Rickey. It is sure to contribute to a fun night out! 8255 South International Drive, suite 120, Orlando FL.

Main Event Entertainment

This expansive venue located in Pointe Orlando is a gaming paradise but sports fans will be able to catch the game on 61 big-screen TVs. American fare and handcrafted cocktails to enjoy include a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads and pizza. The Skillet Mac n Cheese and the Main Event Burger does not disappoint. For those with a sweet tooth, get the Big Fun Super Sundae. Between breaks, enjoy bowling, a high-ropes adventure course, billiards and an epic free-roam, virtual-reality game, and plenty of arcade games. 9101 International Drive, Orlando.

Marlow’s Tavern

This neighborhood tavern-style restaurant has a comfortable ambience, friendly service and a menu to satisfy your inner foodie even on Super Bowl Sunday. Multiple flat screen TVs playing the game, with sound on all of them (I think that’s a must for the Big Game, don’t you?). They told me they will have sound on all their TVs which they normally don’t do. I guess this is how to best encourage conversation and still satisfy our need for 24/7 media in restaurants.

You must try their Black and Blue Burger and the Ahi Tuna Poke Appetizer if you’re not in the mood for the usual bar fare. Their Truffle Parmesan Fries are awesome. Speaking of fries, if you love Asparagus and you love anything fried then they have you covered with the popular Asparagus Fries served with a Citrus Aioli sauce (this is another great sauce you will want more of, so save your server the trip and ask for extra!); they also serve fried okra if you’re in the mood for a Southern touch. The bar offers a good variety of reasonably priced wines, craft beers and interesting cocktails like the Blueberry Buck 3.0 with Hangar One Blueberry, Fresh Lime and Ginger Beer. They have multiple locations including Pointe Orlando, Lee Vista and Winter Park.

NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal CityWalk

You can see the giant screens from a mile away! (I’m exaggerating but not by much!) If you’re in the Universal Orlando Resort area, NBC Sports Grill & Brew is your stop for a sports fueled evening. With nearly 100 HDTVs, a selection of more than 100 bottled and draft beers and ciders, and a tempting menu of upscale pub fare, you got all you need for sports, food and fun. Start with the Black & Blue housemade Kettle Chips topped with blue cheese, white queso and crumbled bacon. Dig into the Grand Slam burger with two half-pound beef patties loaded with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, onion rings, and BBQ ranch. The menu features all the favorites you expect and a few surprises. Before or after the game, take a stroll around Universal CityWalk for more fun bites (Voodoo Doughnuts is right next door!)

Nona Tap Room

The love of beer is the main draw with several beer infused dishes like Fried Mozzarella, Chicken Tenders and Fish & Chips all dipped in their signature Magic Hat #9 beer batter, or the Tap Room Burger of half pound beef marinated in Guinness beer. Try it topped with Pulled Pork, citrus chipotle BBQ sauce and crispy onion straws or “Loaded” with crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions. Of course they offer an ever-changing, great beer selection with 50 beers on draft and 50 beers from around the world for a perfect pairing. You can even join the Beer Club and get your name on the wall. 9145 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando FL. 407-440-4594

Park Pizza Lake Nona

Located in Lake Nona Town Center, Park Pizza & Brewing Company is your go to laid back community gathering place. Perfect for the whole family to catch the game while devouring their hand tossed wood-fired pizzas and sipping on craft brews from the inhouse brewery. If the game is not a interesting as you hoped, catch live music on Friday’s and Saturday’s on the outdoor patio. Wondering what to order? Start with the giant soft baked pretzel with Jalapeño-Hefeweizen Cheese and Oak Fired Wings with your choice of Buffalo, Reverse Buffalo, Cajun, Sesame Ginger sauces. The Pepperoni Picante Pizza with San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Grande Mozzarella, Pepperoni, Banana Peppers, Chili Flakes, and Parmesan is the best spicy pizza I’ve ever had. Finish off with a Skillet Cookie Gelato.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Disney Springs®

If you want to catch the game while in the foodie mecca of Disney Springs, a stop at Splitsville Luxury Lanes is in order. Here not only can you catch the game on more than 70 flat screen TVs, you can also bowl on one of 30 luxury lanes, take your chance on the billiards tables, chill and listen to live music and of course fill up on a fun menu. The 50,000 SF space with indoor and outdoor bars is a great place to watch football or any major sporting event. Before and after the game, take stroll around Disney Springs mega dining and entertainment complex.

Teak Neighborhood Grill

There is no better place for burgers and sports in the Metro West Orlando area than Teak. You can’t go wrong with 42 amazing burgers on the menu (including the Underground secret menu), 70 craft beers, 30 HDTVs and 142” Projection screen to catch the game action. Popular burgers include the Drunken Monk with Angry Orchard jam made in-house – all their sauces are homemade, the Idaho Burger is the tallest burger you will ever see, with a stack of Teak chips, and the Cronie Burger, made with a cinnamon sugar donut croissant hybrid, maple-pepper bacon, smoked Gouda and fried egg. Read the full review. 6400 Times Square Avenue, Orlando FL. 407-313-5111.

Topgolf Orlando

Golf fans, this is your spot! You’ll find HDTVs throughout the full-service restaurant and bar areas, as well as the 102 climate controlled playing bays, similar to a bowling alley. You can perfect your golf swing while watching the game. Toptracer technology, tracks the flight path of each golf ball hit and displays its path in video so you can see an instant replay of your golf shots on a HDTV screen. As far as food goes, if you have a hearty appetite order the Mega burger, a 40oz spectacle loaded with caramelized onions, chipotle aioli, and melted American cheese. Share jumbo pretzel board, backyard wings, flatbreads, sliders and more. The rooftop terrace is another great feature of this three level, 65,000-square-foot venue. Universal Blvd, Orlando.

Tin Roof Orlando

Although it’s a Live Music Joint, Tin Roof Orlando features a wall lined with TVs to watch the game from any seat in the house. This newcomer to the Orlando area is quickly making its mark with an inventive take on Americana Southern food and laid back casual atmosphere. The Kentuckyaki wings are finger lickin’ good with a house made bourbon and soy, garlic and ginger sauce, fall off the bone BBQ Ribs, creamy O-Eye Mac & Cheese and Shrimp & Grits all make the cut. Great drinks and beer specials and pre-game live music make this a place to call home during every game. Here’s the full review. 8371 International Dr, suite 100, Orlando FL.

Yard House at ICON Park

The stylish bar and grill in ICON Park on International Drive boasts an extensive menu of over 100 made from scratch global inspired American dishes paired with the largest draft beer selection in town with 130 taps. Before or after the game, be sure to take a spin on The Orlando Eye observation wheel.

Any sporting event is a great opportunity to get together with friends and have fun, don’t you think? Pick one of these Sports Bars in Orlando and get the team together for a fun night out where you don’t have to give up on great food and drinks for the sake of the game. GO Play!

Cheers!

Go Epicurista