NYC's 6 Best Bars & Restaurants To Watch The World Cup
It's do or die for Team U.S.A. as they take on Belgium this afternoon! Don't have a ticket to Brazil? Lucky for you, New York City bars and restaurants will be filled with fellow fans with World Cup spirit. And if you're looking for an excuse to get out of work, check out coach Klinsmann's permission slip! By Sarah M. Shaker.
Paradiso, one of our favorite coffee shops in the East Village, known for their Italian specialties like homemade tiramisu and fresh pastas, hosts ongoing viewing parties for the World Cup for coffee-loving neighbors each year. Venice-born owner Alessandra Veronese has already begun testing out specialty recipes for games, including Empanadas, to the delight of her partner Jose, who cheers for his roots in Argentina. Stop by Paradiso for any of the games and enjoy the camaraderie of neighbors cheering, eating and celebrating for their favorite teams on the flat screen brought in to the cafe just for the games.
Don't want to miss a minute of the action? Hudson Common will be showing all the games, all the time. Leading up to kickoff, they will be recreating the tailgate experience with outdoor pre-games in Tequila Park. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather, plenty of food and drink, and games like Foosball and Cornhole. For kickoff, the party will move inside to Hudson Common, where all the games will be on all nine Flat Screens and three 100-inch HD projectors. There will be specials on Caipirinha pitchers and table-side ice coolers of Peroni. Taco samplers will be available for $16, including Chipotle Lime Chicken, Pineapple Chili-Glazed Steak Taco, Crispy 48-hour Pork Carnitas and Elote Corn.
New Yorkers rooting for Japan and Korea will have plenty to enjoy at Mira Sushi & Izakaya, offering a number of specials throughout the tournament. Every game will air live at the bar when the restaurant is open Monday through Saturday. Chef Brian Tsao, whose cuisine is heavily influenced by Japan and his Korean/Chinese heritage, will be serving specials showcasing his signature take on Asian street foods including Kurobuta Hot Dogs, Kobe Beef Sliders and Chicken Karaage. Drink specials include $3 Kirin Drafts and a Passion Caipirinha for $10. During games featuring Korea and Japan, when the team scores guests can celebrate with $3 Sake Bombs and $1 Hot Sake Shots.
The Standard Biergarten will be hosting World Cup live viewings, opening daily at 11:30 a.m. to accommodate avid gamegoers. Feel like a VIP with exclusive reservations in The Main Biergarten area and the semi-private Stammtisch tables where guests will have their own 80-inch TV to watch the games. For snacks and drinks to enjoy during the festivities, The Biergarten will be serving up Frozen Caipirinhas and a Brazilian "Foodball" Sandwich as an ode to this year's host country. Packages will be offered by table minimums and per personal pricing, depending on your needs for viewings, beer and grub, so call now to make the right reservation for your soccer-loving crew.
Ribalta, a Neapolitan pizza restaurant owned by Naples born-and-bred Rosario Procino (founder of Keste) and pizzaiolo Pasquale Cozzolino has built a reputation as a place where lively Italian soccer fans can come together to drink, eat and cheer on their favorite teams. For the World Cup, Ribalta celebrates the international spirit of the event, Italian style. The restaurant will show all World Cup games to keep up the excitement in the neighborhood. For the opening game on June 12, as well as for all Italy games, Ribalta will be hosting a party with a Brazilian DJ and Carnival dancers and offer a special World Cup menu that features Italian interpretations of internationally inspired dishes, including a Guacamole pizza in honor of Mexico and Yuca Fritas to represent Brazil.
Executive Chef and Brazilian native Marco A. Moreira will open a World Cup Pop-Up at Botequim with everything World Cup fans are looking for, from upscale Brazilian cuisine to strong cocktails. Moreira will prepare Suckling Pig a Pururuca as well as Picanha Steak, a cut unique to Brazil. Snacks will include "Grilled Shrimp on the Beach," named after beach vendors' freshly-grilled shrimp plentiful to Brazilian beachgoers, as well as Grilled Brazilian Sausage and Onions. Sip Açaí and Guarana-based Caipirinhas, and during day games, enjoy a Passionfruit Bellini or a Brazilian-style Bloody Mary. There are four televisions, and when games are not airing, Botequim will play Brazilian music videos to keep up the lively atmosphere.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.