Sports bars in NYC

With its brick walls, low ceilings and always-illuminated Christmas lights, this West Village subterranean landmark has the look and feel of a cozy basement. Plus, on football Saturdays, Wisconsin Badgers fans invade. Fight songs play. Brat recipes, discussed.

A large yet genial tavern, the Pourhouse caters to the discerning sports fan—but is comfy enough for a non-sports freak to chill out, too. It's also pretty much a safe bet that it'll be filled with college-y dudes, but sometimes that's what you're after.

The classic English-style pub in the heart of Williamsburg has a beautiful and old-fashioned wooden bar, plus some nice, semi-private booths in the back. Couldn't find a lovelier place for a pint and the game.

There's trivia and bingo nights all year round, but come fall, Professor Thom's is all about college football. It makes no apologies for being a Michigan bar, but even Notre Dame fans will feel at home—it's hard to beat those TVs in each booth. (NB: It's also a die-hard Boston bar.)

Downtown's got dozens of TVs on the walls and hundreds (seriously, more than 800) beers behind the bar. Plus a pretty impressive food menu. It all makes for a higher-end sport-watching experience, provided you don't drink more than two barleywines, or you'll forget it ever happened.

If you're walking through Williamsburg and suddenly forget the game is on... Mulholland's is a salty, lovable and completely solid choice.

South Slope's friendly neighborhood sports pub also serves a mean brick-oven pizza. Pizza + game = yes.

The Gramercy-adjacent sports bar seems nondescript from the outside (especially the pitiful patio area), but the bar's strengths are simple: It's never unbelievably packed on game nights, they (claim) to show every NFL game on multiple big screens, and beer/drink prices are cheap and plentiful ($1 mug nights? $3 drinks on game days? Hello!). Add in some non-offensive pub grub, and hey...it's a sports bar with no pretensions.

While not a bar per se, this East Village Cajun joint offers numerous game day specials (college and pro) and something few other sports bars can offer: Great food. They open one hour before the games on Saturdays and Sundays, with a full menu and football specials on brisket and pork, and a handful of new draught beers. LSU, OU, Saints and Cowboys fans: This is a very safe space for you.