8 Essential Sports Bars in Philadelphia
✅ Big screens ✅ Cold beers ✅ and great wings. These are all essentials in a great sports bar, and Philadelphia is teeming with comfy spots where you can catch the game, enjoy a few drinks with friends and grab some delicious food. We have created a list of some of the very best sports bars in Philadelphia to check out when you want the drinks cold, the food hot, and your favorite team on the big screen.
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City Tap House Kitchen & Craft
100 N18th St Logan Square Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 587-9040
This classic sports bar is located just steps from Logan Square, but that historical location doesn’t mean it is a stuffy sports bar. This modern sports mecca is full of gleaming wood, polished brass and glass shelves, top-shelf bottles and plenty of big screens for the big game. But the food and drinks here are top-notch since City Tap takes its “craft” name very seriously. In addition to tasty burgers and nachos, City Tap also offers brick-oven pizzas like the G.O.A.T., poke bowls and mussels with roasted garlic butter and Belgian ale broth.
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Good Dog Bar
224 S 15th St Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 985-9600
This sports bar is different from most for quite a few reasons, but the best one by far is the theme. Good Dog Bar is lined with adorable pictures of, you guessed it, man’s best friend. The wood-heavy interior of this sports bar in Philadelphia is made to come, sit and stay with friends at the long bar and cozy booths against the wall. The back area sports a pool table and a few video games to enjoy while downing a local Yards Philly Pale Ale and a short rib grilled cheese or a lamb meatball sandwich.
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Cleavers
108 S 18th St Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-3828
Locals rave over the Philly Cheesesteak offerings here at Cleavers, but the unassuming downstairs here might make you think you just walked into a take-out joint. But place your order for the Block, the Cleaver or the Effin’ Hot Cheesesteak, then choose a drink before heading upstairs. This sports bar may be small but the plentiful seating, sports memorabilia and big screen make this a great spot to hang out. Hit the sleek bar area for a different atmosphere at Cleavers, one of our picks for a comfortable, modern take on a sports bar in Philadelphia.
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Founding Fathers Sports Bar & Grill
1612 South St Philadelphia, PA 19146
(267) 519-0253
This serious sports bar is open late afternoon through late-night making it a great place to spend an evening with friends. Sit inside or even outside if the weather is nice and the huge front windows are opened. Locals love the jumbo wings, short rib mac & cheese and the cheesesteak spring rolls at this sports bar. Founding Fathers Sports Bar & Grill offers snacks and drinks at a discount during Happy Hour and it’s a great way to try something new like the pesto flat bread, too.
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Spin
211 S 15th St Philadelphia, PA 19102
(267) 463-4850
One of the more unique sports bars in Philadelphia, Spin is really for playing games just as much as watching them. Reserve a ping pong table (get the Red Room if you can) and settle in for a fun game experience at Spin where you can also snag some great eats and listen to the DJ spinning tunes after dark. Spin serves up delicious food here like the short rib nachos, mushroom and oyster pizza and chicken tinga tacos along with a full bar.
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Giovani’s Bar & Grill
1533 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 988-1201
Giovani’s is well known for its spectacular pizza and Mediterranean menu items. But locals also love the sleek, modern feel of this sports bar situated in the heart of Philly’s Center City. Order a slice of Giovani’s pizza or a falafel platter to share, but since the sicilians can take a while, snag a drink while you wait. With plenty of TV’s and tons of fresh, hot menu items, this is another great place to catch a game and hang with friends.
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McGillin’s Olde Ale House
1310 Drury St Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5562
As the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia, McGillin’s was originally called the Bell in Hand Tavern. Guests here today love the history that this Irish pub provides but modern updates like televisions don’t detract from the charm and coziness of this place. Snag a seat by the fireplace or just marvel at the memorabilia everywhere from its centuries of operation as a town meeting place. Nosh on a corned beef on rye or even a Shepard’s Pie here or just order up a fresh microbrew at the bar.
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Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse
1823 Sansom St Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 665-9500
This double-decker sports bar in the Rittenhouse area is an outpost of Cavanaugh’s River Deck, but this hotspot is also known for its famous Cav’s sauce, perfect for dunking Cavanaugh’s cheesesteak spring rolls or even the mac & cheese. As a sports bar, The Cav, as locals say, has 20 flat screens to watch sports on and also offers up darts and the like for those who want to play anytime and even has a dart league for serious throwers. Guests here rave about their wings being some of the best in the city, too, adding to the long list of reasons to visit The Cav when in Philly.
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