In the City of Brotherly Love, it seems that Philadelphians love sports just as much as they love their brothers. As hard as it is to go a day without a sporting event in the city, it’s even harder to go a block without finding a sports bar. However, there are certain things that make a sports bar a great sports bar.
Besides the amount of TV’s, seating, drink and food specials, in a city with the greatest fans in the world a sports bar needs to have more than just the obvious criteria. Philadelphia sports fans want to walk into a bar and feel the passion busting through the windows.
They want to know that the stranger standing next to them, who becomes a friend after the first quarter, will hug them just as tight as their mother would when the Eagles score the winning touchdown in the last play of the game. There are plenty of these in the city but here are the best of the best:
It makes sense to start out right at the place where it all takes place. Nestled right next to the entrance of Citizens Bank is McFADDENS. With entrances inside and outside the stadium it doesn’t matter if you have a tickets or not to enjoy the game at the park. McFaddens is home to 33 HDTVs and two giant projectors to catch all the action.
When the Eagles are home enjoy a tailgate in the outdoor patio with a pig roast and when they are away take advantage of the $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts and bottles ALL DAY. For the flyers fans enjoy $2 Coors Lights and $3 Molsen Canadiens before, during , and after the games! Oh and here’s a hint for ticket holders at the Phillies games, beer is cheaper at McFadden’s then in the stadium!
For those of you who cant make it down to South Philly, fear not, the list is just beginning.
If you live in or around Manayunk there is no better place to watch a game than THE BAYOU BAR AND GRILL. Located right in the heart of Main Street in Manayunk, The Bayou is ultimate place for anything sports. Though it may appear small from the outside, this bar is jam packed with TVS, good food, great beer, and whole lot of passion. If your looking to talk sports just ask for the bartender Pitt, he’ll keep you entertained with stats and facts galore.
During NFL Sundays every single game can be seen on at least 2 of the 25 TVS in the bar along with $1.50 domestic drafts, $2 miller lights, and $4 pizzas! If you’re a fan of wings, this is the place to eat. Enjoy award winning $. 20 wings and $1.50 crabs on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as $1.75 Budlights. Going out for a game in the middle of the week? Bayou is the spot with $1 drinks and bottles Wednesdays nights and $2 drinks and bottles on Thursdays. However no matter what day of the week it is, it’s a guarantee that the prices will always be low, the people will always be friendly, and sports will always be the main event.
For those of you in North East Philly PADDY WHACKS PUB is the place for you. Located on Comly Rd & The Blvd, this laid back Irish pub caters to every kind of customer. Who can resist $6 Miller light pitchers, $2 Coors light, $4 Jack and Cokes, and 3$ Twisted Teas all day every NFL Sunday? With a huge bar, giant TVs, a great food and beer selection every day of the week, and it’s own parking lot, this is a great place to go for any kind of sporting event. Not to mention it’s conveniently attached to Steve’s Prince of Steaks for those of you craving one of Philly most prized possessions, a cheesy yummy cheese steak!
Live in Center City? Take your pick of sports bars. THE FIELD HOUSE, located at 1150 Filbert Street, is the ultimate place to catch any game in the city. If you are a Penn State Football fan then look no further. Field House is a partner of the Penn State Football official watch parties every Saturday in Philadelphia. In fact if you are any sports fan this could be your new spot. With 50 Plasmas around the bar, including in every booth, Field House makes it almost too easy to enjoy the game with friends, good beer, and great food.
Another spot in Center City is FADO. This upscale Irish Pub is a great place for sports fans and most importantly Soccer fans. Located at 15th and Locust, this pub, including the staff has very strong ties to soccer, well Football to them. You can catch just about every game in the world here and enjoy it with a delicious selection of draft beers and food.
For our readers just over the bridge who can’t make it into the city, look no further than PJ WHELIHANS located in Cherry Hill right off route 70. This giant bar seats 300 people not including standing room, has a great outdoor patio, and displays 21 Plasmas all HDTV scattered around the bar.
On Sundays try a Miller Lite beer tower for only $10 and enjoy it with their delicious boneless wings. Can’t make it on Sunday? Head out for Monday Night Football and enjoy $3 Heinekens, Heineken lights, Amstel Lights, and Dos Equis. This bar is great for socializing with friends while catching all the best sports moments Philadelphia has to offer.
For our readers farther south I give you, CHARLIE’S BAR located on Shore Road in Somer’s Point. This bar opened in 1944 and is on it’s fourth generation. With a “Cheers” like atmosphere, this bar is the perfect hangout for those at the shore. The staff is as friendly as they come and the food is amazing. With 13 LCD and 3 jumbo screens located around the bar its impossible to miss anything. Looking for a drink special? Charlie’s offers the cheapest drink selection in the area, its basically happy hour all day, 364 days a year. Make sure you come with an empty stomach though, the Wings and Boneless Breast Tenders are extremely hard to resist especially with the variety of sauces, try the scampi!
Finally what kind of list would this be if it didn’t mention CHICKIE’S AND PETE’S. If you are located, well anywhere really, Chickie’s screams sports bar. With locations in South Philly, North East Philly, the stadiums, the airport, Parx Casino, Bordentown, and Egg Harbor its almost impossible to not find one near you.
The South Philly location conveniently located in walking distance to the stadiums is rated one of the best sports bars on the East Coast. This 24,000 sq ft space is a haven for sports fans. It seats 750 people and includes a 70 ft bar with flat screens and big screens In every direction your head can turn. Did I mention the food yet? Besides his crab fries, which have become a staple food in Philadelphia sports, Pete’s mussels both red and white, crab legs, and Lobster Pizza are simply irresistible!
It’s safe to say that whether it’s the World Series, Superbowl, World Cup , Stanley Cup or just a middle of the season game on a Wednesday night there are plenty of places to catch the game and have a great time.
Great info and tits, Jillian…
Woops, I meant tips… Sorry about that..