There’s no better place to watch a game with friends (or soon-to-be friends) than a local sports bar. Whether it’s baseball, football, other football (soccer), hockey, or UFC matches, sports bars always amp up the excitement. That’s why Best of NJ is showcasing a list of The 20 Best Sports Bars in New Jersey. These are the go-to spots for diehard pro sports fans.
The bars on this list offer a fun atmosphere, great food and, in some cases, specific team allegiances. (Making it easy to find fans of the same team.) Of course, the only thing more familiar to sports fans than the high of winning is the bitter taste of defeat. Luckily, these sports bars offer both menu discounts and drink specials during these crucial moments of frustration and sadness; in addition to the cathartic company of kindred compatriots.
Looking specifically for where to find the state’s best chicken wings? Click the following link to find this feature’s companion list of NJ’s Best Wing Spots.
Quick Click Guide: Select an NJ Region below to find The Best Sports Bars nearby.
| North Jersey | Central Jersey | Jersey Shore | South Jersey |
North Jersey
Featured from Essex County:
Michael’s Roscommon House
Where: 531 Joralemon St, Belleville
Details: Game time is Guinness time at Michael’s Roscommon House, along with a host of other Pro Football specials. To kick things off, they serve $1 wings whenever a pro football game is airing. They also serve $8 appetizers, including popular options like mozzarella sticks, loaded potato skins, jalapeno poppers, and nachos. (But we recommend the pierogis, broccoli poppers, and mac N cheese as comfort food whenever the Jets/Giants screw up.) When it comes to refreshments, patrons can save on $4 domestic pints, $15 pitchers, and $6 premium pints. Locals love live sports at Michael’s Roscommon House because they have 40 HDTVs and the NFL Sunday ticket. Besides their specials, they are well known for their half-pound burgers and thin crust pizza. In particular, the Jersey Burger features Taylor Ham, mozzarella, and their special Jersey Sauce. Regular Happy Hour runs Monday to Friday from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Offsite catering is available for anyone hosting game day events at home.
| Visit their Website | Order Online | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 973-759-0060 |
Featured from Bergen County:
Blue 42 Restaurant & Bar
Where: 158 Market St, Elmwood Park
Details: Blue 42’s loyal following and welcoming atmosphere makes them a local landmark. All fans are welcome, but Blue 42 is a Packers bar where fans can catch every game of the season. Their fan favorite wings are the stars of the menu, with 180 different sauces including some crazy concoctions. (Don’t believe us? Click here to check out the full sauce menu.) Fan favorite flavors include Bears Still Suck (Tangy Gold and Garlic Parm); Touchdown Packers (OMFG sauce and honey garlic); and Wisconsin Wings (cheddar cheese). Locals also love the Wisconsin Brats (with sauerkraut & mustard), Chicken Sliders with choice of sauce, and Cheesehead Sampler. The latter features jalapeño poppers, Mac N Cheese bites, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks. As for signature cocktails, we recommend the Packers Punch (Tito’s Vodka, melon, and orange juice), and Bart Starr-Burst Shot. But the Lambeau-Rita and Hackensack Brewing “Go Pack Go Pilsner” are also popular picks.
| Visit Their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 201-773-0970 |
Featured from Passaic County:
The Shannon Rose
Where: 98 Kingsland Rd, Clifton | 1200 NJ-17, Ramsey
Details: The Shannon Rose may be an Irish pub, but they take their sports seriously. In fact, they even have a specific Football menu that curates their most popular appetizers, drinks, and more. Popular picks include beer cheese nachos, loaded tater tots, and wings (which we recommend with their Nashville hot sauce). Some other game day delights are the Guinness BBQ pulled pork sliders, mac n cheese eggrolls, and drunken chicken pizza. Of course, there is no shortage of drink options at The Shannon Rose. The pub has a selection of football specials for beer bottles, drafts, cocktails, and shots. Check out their Touchdown Rum Punch to elevate any end zone celebration or help wash down the taste of defeat. For those hosting football parties at home, their to-go trays each feed 6-8 adults. Frequent patrons can join their Pub Club program to receive exclusive offers and news about upcoming events.
| Visit their Website | Order Online | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 973-284-0200 |
Featured from Essex County:
The Old Canal Inn
Where: 2 E Passaic Ave, Nutley
Details: The Old Canal Inn is one of the oldest bars in the area, dating back to 1934. For generations of locals, it is the go-to spot for both football and soccer matches all season long. The Inn has 22 TVs and 125 beers in total to choose from. Food and drink specials are abundant on game days. Patrons love their quesadillas, wings with 11 available sauces and, new for this year, a Mexican-style menu. (Featuring tacos, empanadas, burritos, and more.) Keep an eye out for their Death Seat Burger, available only on special occasions. It’s a beer-battered, deep-fried burger stuffed with jalapeños, cheddar cheese, and mashed potatoes. Even when there isn’t a game on TV, there are plenty of other activities going on. For instance, they have a shuffleboard room complete with dart boards. From weekly Classic Car Shows and live music to trivia and BINGO night, the Old Canal Inn is always buzzing. They also offer catering services for events, special occasions, or just hosting game night at home.
| Visit their Website | Follow on Instagram | Call 973-284-1272 |
Black Bar Hoboken Bar & Grill
Where: Hoboken
Details: HD screens throughout and a dazzling video wall behind the bar make Black Bear a popular destination for sports. Hockey fans can catch every NY Rangers game of the season, but that’s just the start. Black Bear is a home base for March Madness, NFL Sundays, the NBA, boxing, and more. In total the bar has over 50 HDTVs and projection screens, enough to watch basically everything all at once. Their selection of ice cold beers and jumbo wings in signature sauce cement them as Hoboken’s go-to sports bar.
Ringside Lounge
Where: Jersey City
Details: Boxing fans have a true home at Ringside Lounge. Owner Mario Costa is a legend in town, being a friend and confidante of Mike Tyson. (Who is a frequent visitor of Mario’s NJ businesses, which include Ringside as well as White Mana Diner.) The bar itself is also big on NFL games, and is a hot spot for Giants and Jets fans alike. Their huge selection of drinks and cocktails, along with an appetizer menu featuring all of the classics, ensures sports fans have everything they need to enjoy watching their favorite teams.
Central Jersey
Featured from Mercer County:
Firkin Tavern
Where: 1400 Parkway Ave #1, Ewing Township
Details: Now celebrating over 20 years in business, Firkin Tavern fuses English, Irish, and American cuisine in its gastropub menu. The end result is fan favorite options like the burrata bomb: a fresh burrata ball wrapped in prosciutto and panko, fried and drizzled with hot honey and balsamic glaze. Other popular gametime apps include the Spicy Chicken Sliders, Pork Roll Fries, Crispy Chicken Potstickers, and signature Firkin Buffalo Wings. In addition to the food menu, Firkin has dozens of draft beers, plus over 20 bottles and cans. (In fact, the tavern was Mercer County’s first craft beer bar.) However, what really makes Firkin Tavern stand out as a top NJ sports bar is its Game Room. This 21+ haven for sports fans is equipped with 17 HDTVs and a 100-inch projector. Sports fans can catch their favorite team while also enjoying darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, golden tee, and more. It’s the best way to get away with a group during major live sporting events.
| Visit Their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-771-0100 |
The Brown Stone
Where: Metuchen
Details: It may not look like it from the outside, but The Brown Stone is the area’s premier destination for UFC matches. They carry every UFC match, in addition to the top boxing events throughout the year. Locals love their char-grilled or fried wing options, which come in Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, or Teriyaki sauce. We also recommend the potato skins, pierogies, or Mac & Cheese bites. Their line of screens behind the bar are also a great way to catch NFL games all season long. Patrons score game day specials every Sunday.
The Neighborhood Grill & Pub at Ellery’s
Where: Middlesex
Details: The deals at Ellery’s during football season are “so good they should get a penalty flag,” as they say. Specials run during any Sunday NFL game, including discounts on drinks, pizzas, and fan-favorite apps. Of course, their personable and well-trained bartenders and severs are another reason this spot is popular on game day. In addition to great seats throughout the bar, Ellery’s boasts large screen TVs so that customers can catch any game. They carry the NFL Sunday ticket so patrons can enjoy watching their favorite team even when they’re out-of-market.
Jersey Shore
Featured From Monmouth County:
D’Arcy’s Tavern
Where: 310 Main St, Bradley Beach
Details: Fans of American and European football alike have a home at D’Arcy’s Tavern. But soccer fans in particular have a lot to look forward to; D’Arcy’s is positioning themselves as the go-to destination for watching every match of The FIFA World Cup 2026. (The bar takes soccer seriously, and is no stranger to opening as early as 7:30 am to watch international games.) World Cup fans can hang out inside, or take the party to the next level at D’Arcy’s outdoor tent bar; complete with multiple big screen TVs. D’Arcy’s Tavern is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also serves a rotating menu of daily specials. Their wings are the most popular app, with a number of sauces and dry rubs to choose from. As for drinks, check out D’Arcy’s Premier Lager, a great game day choice at just $3.50 a pint. They also offer a number of party packages for event hosting in their private room upstairs. This includes packages for wings, sliders and sandwiches, hot entrees, and even a brunch option.
| Visit Their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 732-774-9688 |
Asbury Ale House
Where: Asbury Park
Details: With 60 beers on tap and an array of cocktails, there’s no thirst that Asbury Ale House can’t quench. That applies to a thirst for sports, as well. The restaurant boasts a massive 110-inch projector on top of HDTVs throughout to showcase “any and all” sporting events. The popular gastropub menu features chicken tenders (with housemade seasoning), buffalo chicken egg rolls, Pork Roll empanadas, and more. We also recommend the bone-in Ale House wings and boneless Truffle Parm wings with a side of disco fries.
Baseline Social
Where: Oceanport
Details: Baseline Social is part of the massive Fort Monmouth campus. (Which also includes a golf course, golf swing suite simulators, and more.) Their large video wall behind the bar is perfect for live sports while enjoying their huge menu of bar favorites. Appetizer highlights include corn ribs, calamari, loaded cheese fries, and tuna nachos. Of course, their selection of burgers, pizzas, and handhelds — like the Hot Honey Fried Chicken sandwich — are also perfect for game day. Even their AFC (Alcohol Free Cocktails) like the Blitz Spritz are on point!
Beacon 70
Where: Brick Township
Details: Beacon 70 is the ultimate spot for game day at the Jersey Shore. The restaurant has over 70 HDTVs, as well as an 18-foot suspended video wall. Regulars look forward to their yearly NFL season contest and enticing Monday, Thursday, and Sunday specials. Sunday specials include deals on wings, beer buckets & towers, Tito’s Vodka, pizza, and drink & shot discounts during games. Likewise, Mondays offer $.69 cent wings, $12 Beer Buckets, and $5 Bacardi Drinks. Thursdays similarly discount pizza, Miller Lite, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Nip N Tuck
Where: Long Branch
Details: Nip N Tuck describes themselves as a “Proper Neighborhood Watering Hole” and we think they’re right. If nothing else, it’s the quintessential sports bar, with tasty wings, craft beer and cocktails, and live sports always playing. Their menu includes a whole section for Spuds, featuring loaded tots, potato skins, shoestrings fries, and more. Other menu highlights include mini tacos, jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings. For burgers, we recommend the Moose Burger with American cheese, hot peppers, tomato, and onion on a hoagie.
Red Rock Tap + Grill
Where: Red Bank
Details: There are many reasons to visit Red Rock, from the large patio and exciting nightlife to the rooftop dining. But their collection of 19 HDTVs also makes them an ideal hangout for watching live sports with friends. During the warm weather seasons, they host live music nearly every evening. But no matter the season, live sports are always on TV. Signature appetizers include Coconut Shrimp, Teriyaki Steak Bites, and Bacon Cheeseburger Lollipops. Just don’t leave without trying their Cookie Lava Cake, the perfect dessert nightcap.
South Jersey
Featured from Cumberland County:
Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill
Where: 2 Sharp St, Millville
Details: Sidelines Sports Bar is wall-to-wall sports, from the TVs to the decor. In fact, the interior is full of sports jerseys and other memorabilia. They have 23 flat screen TVs, and broadcast just about every pro and college-level sport. Owner Ted Lambert is a Millville native and pillar of the community. He frequently sponsors many local organizations and hosts fundraisers at the bar. (His football jersey is one of those hanging the wall.) Even the menu is built to be enjoyed while watching live sports, featuring apps, handhelds, and their signature wings. Popular apps (i.e. the “Starting Lineup”) include crab quesadillas, buffalo chicken dip, and loaded nachos for two. As for those fan-favorite wings, they come in orders of 10, 20, or 50. Sauce options range from mild and Nashville hot to garlic parm, Asian glaze, and Sweet Chili. For something unique and memorable, we recommend the Seafood Florentine Flatbread (shrimp, imported provolone, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic Parmesan sauce).
| Visit Their Website | Order Online | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 856-825-1667 |
Featured from Gloucester County:
Skeeter’s Pub
Where: 7 Coles Rd, Blackwood
Details: Skeeter’s is really proud of the quality of their menu. In fact, the pub promises patrons will find “The Best Bar Food in South Jersey” when they stop in. Popular apps include pretzel nuggets with beer cheese fondue, cowboy nachos with BBQ pulled pork, and fresh bruschetta. In addition, they serve can’t-miss burgers like the Mushroom Swiss and Doobie Burger with smoked gouda and chipotle BBQ. For sandwich fans, we recommend the double-decker Skeeter’s Pub Club, a classic with turkey on sourdough. Specials include Monday Mini’s, allowing patrons to pair three sliders for $10 (options include Cheeseburger, Chicken Pesto, and Cubano.) Pro Football Game Day deals include discounts on drinks and popular apps like pretzel nuggets and Philly cheesesteak nachos. From $4 Miller Lite bottles to $8 Hot Roast Beef sandwiches, it’s a great way to spend game day. Skeeter’s also hosts draft parties, so leagues can score some great deals for their group before the football season starts.
| Visit Their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 856-227-2314 |
Kaminski’s Sports Bar
Where: Cherry Hill
Details: A local landmark for more than 50 years, Kaminski’s has over 30 TVs to catch live sports. They play everything from NFL and MLB games to UFC fights and boxing matches. Even the health-conscious sports fan can enjoy something from the menu here, as they offer a Gluten-Free menu. Meanwhile, popular starters from the main menu include Buffalo Wontons, stuffed long hots, buffalo shrimp, pretzel bites, and cheesesteak nachos. We also recommend their brick oven pizzas, specifically either the Tuscan or Kaminski’s White pies.
The Village Pub
Where: Sewell | Swedesboro
Details: The Village Pub is a Philly sports bar through and through, and frequently features live music. Locals love their familiar comfort food and wide selection of craft beers, cocktails, and more. Their gastropub menu features unique creations like Philly Cheesesteak Mac, Avocado Fries, and Doritos Papas Loco nachos. But they have plenty of classic apps as well, from Bavarian pretzel bites to spicy Jalapeno Poppers. The beer list differs at each location, so be sure to check their online menu to see what’s on tap.
Whistler’s Inn
Where: Cinnaminson
Details: Philly sports fans have a home at Whistler’s Inn, the neighborhood bar of Cinnaminson for over 20 years. With TVs hanging along every wall and around the bar, it’s the perfect place to watch MLB, NFL, and more. The bar offers gametime specials any time the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, or Flyers are playing. As for the menu, their on-site smokehouse is famous for its wings and BBQ ribs. To make the most of the trip, we recommend the BBQ Sampler. It comes with ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, and five buffalo wings.
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NJ’s Best Sports Bars FAQs
Best of NJ curates a statewide list of The Best Sports Bars in New Jersey. We have bars from every region of the state, including Michael’s Roscommon House in Belleville. The list includes both bars with specific NFL team allegiances as well as options for fans of multiple sports.
Just about all of them! In fact, specials during football season are the mark of a good sports bar. For instance, Blue 42 in Elmwood Park offers game day deals on wings, drinks, and many other popular menu items. We recommend the Wisconsin Wings with cheddar cheese.
Yes, many of NJ’s Best Sports Bars have outdoor seating. Examples include Angry Dad Draught House in Washington, Polo’s in Netcong, and Beacon 70 in Brick Township. The latter has an elevated outdoor deck with mounted TVs, a full bar, and a waterfront view of Metedeconk River.
Some sports bars use a projector for limited time outdoor events. D’Arcy’s Tavern has a big outdoor tent with large-screen TVs. It’s the perfect spot to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, Beacon 70 has an impressive 18-foot suspended video wall.
There are a handful of family-friendly sports bars throughout the state. Some of them have game rooms with things like air hockey that kids can enjoy while adults watch the game. Firkin Tavern is one of the sports bars in NJ that has a game room complete with pool, darts, and air hockey table.
Top Photo: © D’Arcy’s Tavern / Website
