If you’re still lamenting Jaxson Dart’s performance as starting quarterback or you missed the Buccaneers’ close win on Sunday, you’ll need an upgraded spot for your next big game. Though you might know NYU’s bar scene for margaritas at Poco NYC or late-night drinks at Smalls Jazz Club, the Greenwich Village area has a surprising variety of spots for all types of sports fans. Now that football season is fully underway, ditch your laptop for one of these five sports bars near campus to turn game day into the best day of the week.
New York Giants and Jets: Standings
43 E. Seventh St.
Don’t let its small size fool you — this unsuspecting East Village sports bar is a hotspot for New York Giants, Jets and Mets fans. Standings strips down gameday to the essentials: big screens, loud speakers and a crowd that’s locked in. With vintage sports memorabilia hanging from the ceiling and covering all the walls, the bar brings a no-frills vibe that makes New York natives feel right at home. There’s no blaring music competing with the commentary, and its limited seating means that you’re always among the crowd that’s there for the same reason: the game.
Cincinnati Bengals: Phebe’s Tavern and Grill
361 Bowery
You’re guaranteed to run into classmates at this notorious NYU student hang, but what most don’t realize is that Phebe’s Tavern and Grill is also the only verified Bengals bar in the city. Its sprawling back room is big enough for large groups to fully enjoy the rowdiness of a Bengals watch party. Enjoy game-day specials like the Cincinnati staple, Skyline chili, as you scream “Who Dey” with the crowd. The Bengals flag flying proudly outside the bar acts as a beacon for all the team’s supporters, and Phebe’s ensures that Bengals fans will never have to be the minority.
Philadelphia Eagles: Wogies Bar & Grill
39 Greenwich Ave.
If you’re an Eagles fan looking for a piece of home in the city, spend game day at this “Philly Born, New York Bread” bar just a few blocks away from Washington Square Park. Wogies Bar & Grill remains unapologetically Philadelphian — depending on your team allegiance, you can feel right at home or deep behind enemy lines. Pair Philly classics like cheesesteaks and hoagies with a lively, spirited fan base that isn’t afraid to cheer — or boo — at full volume, and you’ve got a game-day experience you won’t regret. Enjoy the last of New York City’s warm nights on the bar’s patio, or sit inside to feast your eyes on the bar’s collection of Eagles flags and kelly green jerseys. Wogies also offers weekly trivia and happy hour deals that are worth indulging in outside of football season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wicked Willy’s
149 Bleecker St.
When you step into Wicked Willy’s, you leave the concrete jungle of Manhattan and enter a tropical haven. As a hub for fans of the Buccaneers, Wicked Willy’s prides itself on hosting game-day events and lively watch parties every week. Whether you’re there for a Bucs game or a “Dancing with the Stars” watch party, take advantage of the Caribbean-inspired bar’s wide selection of drinks, like the rum and pineapple based “Football Crush” cocktail, along with its standing room for dancing and a stage for karaoke and live music.
Rocco’s Sports & Recreation
1 W. Third St.
If you’re looking for more neutral ground without a team affiliation, Rocco’s Sports & Recreation leans into the “rec” in its name with a custom jumbotron, vintage sports memorabilia and a pop-a-shot basketball hoop for every type of visitor. Between the friendly staff and its central location on campus, Rocco’s is more than just your average dive bar. You can catch your favorite teams year-round on one of the bar’s many TVs while snacking from your Gameday Dip Board.
Contact Naya Schubel at [email protected].