Football’s back! Some of these spots of bonafide American football honey holes, but others are simply some of the Bay area’s most unique places to set your gaze on the TV inside a comfy local watering hole. 

Anchor Bar Both locations of this Tampa staple are rife with televisions (the outside tube at Anchor’s Davis Islands location is clutch), and the menu of well-executed bar food favorites makes it a low-key place to watch sports elbow-to-elbow with regulars who might as well have their names etched onto the barstools. 514 N Franklin St., Tampa or 304 E David Blvd., Tampa Credit: Photo via Anchor Bar/Instagram
Walter’s Press Box Sports Emporium In South Tampa, kids come of age inside Press Box. It’s where they see their relatives cry over the Bucs, and their really drunk uncle get mad when dad tries to put him in an Uber. And it’s where said kids repeat the cycle upon reaching adulthood. Approaching its 50th year serving the neighborhood, Walter’s has taken a step into the future with more than 40 TVs showing what feels like pretty much every sporting event happening in the U.S. on any given day. 222 S Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Credit: Photo via Walter's Press Box
Miller’s Ale House An ADHD nightmare, the walls at Miller’s are almost literally covered in TVs. With three locations in the Bay area (West Tampa, University, Brandon), Miller’s is a kid-friendly chain where a child can gorge on chicken Zingers while grandpa can feel all fancy eating the pork osso buco. Multiple locations Credit: Screengrab via Google Street
Shuffle If you’re looking for some additional recreation to accommodate game day, Shuffle’s four indoor shuffleboard courts have got the whole family covered. Be sure to check out the fun food menu that offers everything from loaded tots to a surprisingly delicious spaghetti sandwich. The indoor bar at this Tampa Heights staple has TVs on either end, and the impressive backyard expansion is the perfect place to relax in between plays. 2612 N Tampa St., Tampa Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Bar Louie Send your kids into the mall with a wad of cash and plop your ass on a barstool at this longtime International Plaza sports bar where the beer seems to be colder than anywhere on Westshore Boulevard. Bar staples like the wings, fried pickles and tots make it a no-brainer for someone who wants to waste away in front of the boob tube. 2223 N Westshore Blvd. 202 Suite B-202, Tampa Credit: Photo via Bar Louie
Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen We all know it as “America’s oldest brewery” and the favorite beer of middle aged and boomer dads across the nation: Yuengling. The popular brewery opened a massive, state-of-the-art restaurant and beer garden in 2023 and it’s probably your dad’s favorite place to watch his team. It boasts five total bars and 88 different taps of lagers, ales and more. 11109 N. 30th St., Tampa Credit: Photo via Yuengling
Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Come for the game, stay for the brews and tasty bar grub. Located in the heart of Ybor City (right next to a streetcar stop, aka the ultimate designated driver), Tampa Bay Brewing Co. offers a comfortable place to watch the game and have dinner before heading home or continuing the party elsewhere in Ybor. Its second location in Westchase (13937 Monroes Business Park) also offers the same variety of craft beer and casual fare, too. 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City Credit: Photo via Tampa Bay Brewing Co.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Come on, you wanna see the house that’s collecting all your bad bets on the Hard Rock betting app. The casino is the place where time stops and you always have a chance at redemption. The center bar alone has a tower of 12 TVs (and 17 slot machines), so there’s always something to do in between plays. 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa Credit: Photo via Seminole Hard Rock Tampa/Facebook
Beef O’Brady’s Beef’s is without a doubt a Tampa institution, and there’s one in pretty much every corner of Tampa Bay, which is great for anyone with a serious wing addiction. Be sure to stop by on Wednesdays for 99-cent wings, and pick from entry level sauces like garlic parm or their new “smokehouse maple,” to inferno levels of spice like “atomic” or “firecracker.” Multiple locations Credit: Photo via BeefsHomeOffice/Facebook
Hattricks For 27 years, downtown Tampa’s most tried and true sports bar has been a staple for Tampa Bay Lightning fans, but the high ceilings, friendly staff and smorgasbord of TVs and sports memorabilia make it one of Tampa’s greatest places to watch any game. Get the wings, and most definitely opt to have them “Shake & Bake” style (aka put in the oven after getting the sauce out of the fryer). And if you’re there for the Big Game, don’t leave without dapping up the big guy, Larry Heisel, manager at Hattricks and legend of the local hospitality scene. 107 S Franklin St., Tampa Credit: Screengrab via Google Street
The Toasted Monkey While it may seem like an unconventional option for game days given its location and tropical decor, The Toasted Monkey has an expansive outdoor patio with ample seating and several TVs to accommodate any sports fan’s desires. Pair a Rock’s Rita, the signature house cocktail, with your choice of fresh fish dishes or traditional apps while enjoying the complementary views of adjacent Sunset Beach. 678 75th Ave., St Pete Beach Credit: Photo via The Toasted Monkey
Top Golf Don’t be fooled, Top Golf isn’t just a decent place to pound some beers and whack a few balls with the fellas. There’s also an absurd amount of TVs up in here (200-plus to be exact), and they’re all tuned to sports. Plus, there’s wings, burgers, pizzas, tacos, and all the usual sports bar fare for when you’re done duffing ‘em into the ether. Multiple locations Credit: Photo via TopGolf
Riveters Tell your out-of-towner friends that you’re taking them to see the spaceship atop 2001 Odyssey—and then take a hard turn into Riveters next door. The restaurant is a hidden gem on its busy strip of Dale Mabry and pumps out opulent North American bar fare (get the Hellcat wings or poutine fries and BBQ chicken sliders) plus classic sandwiches and burgers, too. 2301 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Credit: Photo via Riveters/Facebook
5 Bucks Drinkery While Pinellas Park’s 5 Bucks Drinkery offers the same stiff drinks as its flagship bar in downtown St. Pete, this large space and accompanying parking lot definitely draws more of a sports bar crowd from the greater P-Park area. But its soon-to-open Seminole location at 7498 Seminole Blvd. boasts an even bigger bar, full lunch and dinner menu, and a whopping 70 flat-screen TVs for all your favorite games. 7402 49th St. N, Pinellas Park Credit: Photo via Josh Connell
Bilmar Station This neighborhood bar in Town N’ Country has food that exceeds pub standards and drinks that are strong enough to rival what you’d make at home. There are several TV’s and bar games to accommodate any game day, as well as beer and wings specials during every football game. They even offer an impressive list of craft drafts that will satisfy anyone who fancies themself as a beer aficionado. 8501 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa Credit: Photo via Jourdan Ducat
Buffalo Wild Wings You know we had to put B-Dubs on here. For a national chain with more than a dozen Bay area locations, it’s still one of the best spots to get saucy fingers and stare at dozens of glaring flat screens. Sure it’s a little sticky, and a little dirty, but this chain is one of the only restaurants that is perfectly designed for both toddlers and grown men alike. A true family-friendly sports bar. Multiple locations Credit: Photo via Buffalo Wild Wings
Dead Bob’s & Dead Bob’s Too With two locations on either side of the Bay, these locally loved restaurants serve up some seriously delicious food and offer rotating daily specials and hefty portions for a great price. Regulars suggest the fried pot roast, but a less adventurous diner will be just as pleased with the juicy burgers. Both locations have plenty of TVs for game day and promise a good time with good folks. 6717 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg or 3681 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa Credit: Photo via Dead Bob's/Facebook
The Dog The Dog is a popular place to watch a game due to the abundance of TVs, including individual sets for most of the suspended wooden tables. There’s also a variety of bar games and traditional pub fare that includes crowd pleasing chicken wings. The outside patio is a great spot to take a breather in between plays and watch a South Tampa sunset. 3311 W Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa Credit: Photo via The Dog Saloon/Facebook
Ferg’s Sports Bar Downtown St. Pete’s Taj Mahal of sports bars enjoys the company of Rays baseball fans 81 nights of the year, but for the other 284 afternoons you can find fans on any of Ferg’s two levels, firmly parked underneath the big ol’ globe (RIP World Liquors) taking in college games, hockey, and yes, American football, too. 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Credit: Photo via Ferg's Sports Bar/Facebook
Friendly Tarpon Tavern Friendly Tarpon Tavern Formerly known as Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern, this quaint “dive bar” on South Gandy has undergone some major renovations in recent months under new ownership. While the bar currently doesn’t serve liquor, it does offer a hefty selection of craft beers, seltzers and even sake-based spirits. For now, patrons can order hot dogs and snacks like boiled peanuts, but the food menu will soon expand to include more game day favorites. 3120 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa Credit: Photo via Friendly Tarpon Tavern/Facebook
Hooters You already know. With more than 20 locations in the Bay area, including the OG at ​​2800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. in Clearwater, this restaurant is a rite of passage for any lowdown football fan. Multiple locations Credit: Photo via Hooters
The Hub Yeah, there’s just two TVs in this iconic downtown Tampa dive bar, but the people are amazing, the drinks are stiff. Hell, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper once brought the Stanley Cup here, and if that doesn’t make it game-day worthy, then I don’t know what does. 719 N Franklin St., Tampa Credit: Photo by Brian Mahar
MacDinton’s This South Tampa Irish pub is a college student’s best friend on Friday nights, and its sprawling compound on Howard Avenue includes baby cave bars, a giant inside bar and stage, plus generous outside patio—all lined with TVs primarily for watching European football (but good for the NFL, too). 405 S Howard Ave., Tampa Credit: Photo via MacDinton's
Mackenzie’s Sports Tavern Locals love the wings at this Westshore staple, with many claiming they’re the best in town. Mackenzie’s also offers the NFL Sunday Ticket, which means patrons don’t have to miss their favorite out of state teams that aren’t being shown on local networks. This all-ages sports bar has been around since 1995 and is still a great place for the whole family to have fun. 4015 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa Credit: Photo via Mackenzie's Sports Tavern/Facebook
North 30th Sports Pub & Grille Located in the former McAlister’s Deli spot, Uptown’s North 30th Sports Pub really is a true, no-frills sports bar. Cold beer, crispy hot wings, pickle chips and over 40 TVs are all on tap. Wings (with 12 different sauces) are the main event, but this spot also has a nice selection of sandwiches, pizzas, wraps and burgers. 1402 N 30th St., Tampa Credit: Photo via North 30th Sports Pub & Grille/Facebook
Peabody’s Restaurant, Bar & Billiards This expansive tavern, located in Tampa Palms, gets packed on game days due to the abundance of TVs and accommodating atmosphere. Peabody’s offers daily food and drink specials as well as discounted pricing during NFL games, which makes it a great place for the whole squad to meet up without breaking the bank. There are also tons of pool tables, dart boards and other bar games to ease the tension between friends rooting for opposing teams. 15333 Amberly Dr., Tampa Credit: Photo via Peabody's Restaurant, Bar & Billiards
O’ Maddy’s Bar & Grille This Gulfport hotspot is a great place to watch the game while enjoying a beautiful day with a spacious outdoor bar and patio seating that overlooks Boca Ciega Bay. Foodies will love the expansive menu that is teeming with fresh catch options like crab cakes and grouper, all accompanied by daily drink specials that will make the pain of a loss or the joy of a win more enjoyable. 5405 Shore Blvd.S, Gulfport Credit: Photo via Cathy Salustri
Popstroke This Tiger Woods-backed, booze-fueled mini-golf course is a great way to bonk around golf balls in a hot parking lot behind a Bonefish Grill and a Carraba’s. When you’re done, stick around for the restaurant and bar, which is actually a surprisingly good spot to watch a game on either one of their many TVs, or their gigantic jumbotron. Plus, all the standard bar grub is on the menu, including beer, wine and cocktails. 25297 Sierra Center Blvd, Lutz Credit: Photo via Popstroke
Tapper Pub One of Tampa’s oldest bars is another in the long list of establishments that made some big changes in recent months, most notably nixing indoor smoking at the start of 2024. The open kitchen behind the bar is still pumping out the delicious sandwiches that have drawn regulars in for years, including a Reuben sandwich that seems too good to be dive bar food. The recently added outdoor seating is a welcome option for fresh air in between plays. 3832 Britton Plaza, Tampa Credit: Photo via Tapper Pub/Facebook
Retreat This Hyde Park haunt, located across from the University of Tampa, is on the heels of celebrating its 85th anniversary and shows no sign of slowing down. Patrons can saddle up to the full liquor bar while cheering on their favorite teams with the locals and seasoned bartenders alike. Izzy’s Taco Truck parks out front several nights a week to serve hungry crowds, but you can also order a hot dog or brat from the bar if you’d like more traditional gameday fare. 123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa Credit: Photo via Retreat Tampa/Facebook
Walk-On’s This New Orleans-inspired spot describes itself as “game-day bar” with a variety of beers and cocktails alongside its casual menu of fried alligator and po’boys. Walk-Ons is also one of the more kid-friendly sports bars on this list. 1140 Gramercy Ln., Tampa Credit: Photo via Walk-On's
Yard House This house is huge. The 16,400-square-foot sports bar in the shadow of Amalie Arena is a concept from Darden Restaurant Group, which also owns Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. The spot has over 80 locations nationwide features over 100 on-tap beers, with a modern industrial interior and outdoor seating area, as well as a menu spanning everything from burgers to poke bowls and vegan options—and yes, you can order a yard of beer to lug around the space rife with TVs surrounding the main bar, the tables around it and outside, too. 450 Channelside Dr., Tampa Credit: Photo via Yard House/Facebook
Yeoman’s This British sports pub in downtown Tampa is a staple for before and after Lightning games and happily accommodates the whole family despite offering an expansive beer and liquor menu. Mac & cheese fans will be delighted with house-made varieties like philly steak and seafood and lobster, but there’s also elevated pub grub and British staples on the menu. The recently added Topgolf Swing Suite offers interactive games like golf, soccer and football played on a large screen, as well as billiards and shuffleboard. 202 N Morgan St., Tampa Credit: Photo via Effie Orfanides
Cinco Soccer American football is cool and all, but East Tampa is home to a veritable mecca to real football. Cinco Soccer has five turf pitches for five-a-side soccer (or “futsal”), and the club house boasts a gigantic, four-TV screen, plus FIFA gaming stations, an outside TV and the cheapest beer west of the casino. Show up on a day when Mayra’s taco stand or any of the other food vendors are open, and you’re talking about a full-day and night of footie on TV. 5305 E Henry Ave., Tampa Credit: Photo via Cinco Soccer/Instagram