Philly's 5 Best Sports Bars
Whether you are trying to catch your favorite game or you just want to enjoy some good food and beers, Philly has several great sports bars you can enjoy. There are small hole-in-the-wall places, Irish pubs, fabulous gay bars and just about everything in between to fit your needs.
Chickie's & Pete's
1526 Packer Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 218-0500
www.chickiesandpetes.com
A long-time Philly favorite is Chickie's & Pete's. Here you can enjoy your favorite sporting events and grab delicious crab fries. Chickie's & Pete's is famous for its crabs and its 14-foot television. This location has three bars within its massive 24,000 square feet. Chickie's & Petes has won several Best Bar awards from various magazines and media outlets.
Related: Top Bar Food In Philadelphia
Fox & Hound
1501 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 732-8610
www.foxandhound.com
Fox & Hound is all sports, all of the time. It is the bar's primary entertainment, with TVs of different events broadcasting throughout the bar. The food and beer selection reflects this with large portions of higher quality food and specialty beers. You can "make your own burger" by selecting different proteins, toppings and vegetables. There is also a large variety of beer on draft, and on Tuesdays the bar offers $2 pints. Fox & Hound has ranked in the top five on the Philly Hotlist for three years.
McGillin's Old Ale House
1310 Drury St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5562
www.mcgillins.com
McGillin's Old Ale House has been serving thirsty Philadelphians since 1860, which makes this the oldest bar in the city. The place is typically crowded during popular sporting events, so this is where you want to be if you want to be around a lot of people. McGillin's serves delicious food aside from just the typical bar fare. People rave about the shepherd's pie and open-faced roast beef sandwiches. Pitchers are about $14, and the Colonial-style restaurant and bar also has long community tables you can fill with all of your friends.
O'Neal's Pub
611 S. 3rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 574-9495
www.onealspub.com
If you love being around the luck of the Irish, go to O'Neal's Pub. This Irish-themed bar serves up your favorite snacks and has happy hour from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with half-off drink specials. There is an upstairs and downstairs bar, plus outdoor seating in the beer garden patio (where the pub grows its own hops). The food here is above average and the service is excellent. Customers rave about the grilled cheese and pierogies. O'Neal's also has Quizzo on Monday nights and Karaoke with prizes two days a week. O'Neal's has been family run for over 34 years and is South Street's oldest Irish pub.
Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar
200 S. 12th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 964-9675
www.tabuphilly.com
Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar has some of the best bartenders in the city, is very clean and offers an impressive beer list. There are daily specials on various types of typical bar food like loaded potatoes or nachos. For something a little different, try the tater tots loaded with different cheeses or sauces. Tabu also hosts karaoke upstairs on Tuesdays and Thursdays for your friends who may not be interested in sports (or who love both!). It also hosts a drag show on Sundays which has a small cover charge and gives you your first drink free.
Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.