Manhattan's 5 Best College Football Bars
The 2012 college football season set to kick off Thursday night. Fans might not see full-body paint at these NYC sports bars on game day, but you will see a boisterous crowd of alumni. Here are the best spots to watch your favorite schools take on their rivals. By Selena Ricks-Good.
Galway Hooker
7 E. 36th St.
New York, NY
(212) 725-2353
galwayhookernyc.com
This sprawling bi-level Irish bar offers a 12-foot high-definition projection screen, 14 plasma flatscreens and more than 120 kinds of beer to keep sports fans in a tailgating mood. While USC fans have staked out the second-floor balcony, other teams that gather here include Purdue and Indiana. Check out the pool tables in the back if the score is not going your way.
Professor Thom's
219 2nd Ave.
New York, NY
(212) 260-9480
professorthoms.com
More: The 5 Best Cocktail Bars In The East Village
This bi-level East Village bar makes no apologies about being a Michigan Wolverines bar when college football season arrives. Watch the game on the big screen at the 41-foot bar or grab a booth and watch any game you want on individual flatscreens. You'll find more than a dozen beers on tap to quench your thirst.
Van Diemens
383 3rd Ave.
New York, NY
(212) 523-1123
vandiemensnyc.com
Named after the original name for Australia's Tasmania, Van Diemens is a unique sports bar among Murray Hill's row of pubs. Tall tin ceilings, exposed brick, leather bar stools and a long walnut bar provide a cozy atmosphere for catching the game. Two 8-foot flatscreens hang behind the bar while other TVs are scattered throughout. UConn, University of South Carolina and Maryland fans have been known to congregate here.
Brother Jimmy's BBQ
1485 2nd Ave.
New York, NY
(212) 288-0999
brotherjimmys.com
All four Brother Jimmy's locations in NYC have a college football special: $12 Bud and Bud Light pitchers as well as 50-cent wings. The original Brother Jimmy's BBQ location on 2nd Avenue attracts alumni from North Carolina State and Wake Forest.
Village Pourhouse UWS
982-988 Amsterdam Ave.
New York, NY
(212) 979-2337
upperwestnyc.villagepourhouse.com
Game day specials include $5 Bloody Marys and Mimosas, $10 Bud Light pitchers and $20 Bud Light buckets. Ohio State football rules here, but with more than 20 HDTVs, there's something for everyone. Private rooms are usually booked by alumni groups on game days, so call ahead if you plan on bringing a large crew.
Let us know where fans of your team gather for the game day action in the comments below! For the latest on NYC's bar and nightlife scene, follow us on Twitter!
Selena Ricks-Good writes about drinks and produces events as The Dizzy Fizz.
