Love them or hate them, the New England Patriots are always in it to win it. Fiercely loyal fans would love nothing more than for the Brady-Belichick dynasty to keep winning Super Bowls.
Ticket holders in Boston can catch the Patriots Football Trains to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, to cheer on the team live and at home. But those of us without field access don't need to miss one second of the action thanks to our handpicked list of the Boston area's best sports bars (i.e. good food, great beer, serious screen space and lively atmosphere) where fans can revel in the excitement of the gridiron game.
Champions
Watching a football game at this circular, sophisticated sports bar is to immerse oneself in the soft blue glow of high-def cocoon (of 36 giant TV screens) and feed off of the hearty sustenance contained in the Champions Sampler Tower (two pounds of wings, cheeseburger sliders, onion rings and loaded fries) with a draft beer in hand. Go big, or go home.
100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 617.927.5304
Parlor Sports
Adjacent to hip hangout Trina's Starlite Lounge and owned by the same team, Parlor attracts a thirtysomething crowd and shows just about every sporting event, including NFL games and college football, too. Craft beer flows from the tap; good bets are Pretty Things, Rapscallion and Jack's Abby.
3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA, 617.576.0231
Phoenix Landing
A rowdy, neighborhood crowd comes to this Irish pub to watch football—Barclays Premier League and the NFL. In fact, Sunday and Monday nights here are something of a tradition in Central Square.
512 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 617.576.6260
Tony C's Sports Bar & Grill
Ninety televisions and a four-sided Jumbotron make not watching the game at this new sports-themed restaurant nearly impossible.Added bonus: Tony's C's food, all made in-house and from scratch—is phenomenal. The signature #25 Burger, smothered in cheddar, pork belly, a fried egg and hoisin sauce, pairs nicely with any of the 40 beers on draft.
699 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA, 617.666.8282
The Fours
This legendary restaurant and bar has been hanging out around the corner from the Boston Garden since the 1970s. Pro jerseys, signed balls and other memorabilia decorate the room. Food is truly excellent—try the buffalo chicken nachos. Beer pours from 10 taps, all local save for Guinness and Bud Light.
166 Canal St., Boston, MA, 617.720.4455
The Greatest Bar
Don't let the fact that this place turns into a three-level nightclub in the evening deter you from catching a game here. If the 14-foot-high, high-def television isn't enough to attract your attention, there are 24 other flatscreens and an incredible sports-themed ceiling mural.
262 Friend St., Boston, MA, 617.367.0544
Clery's Back Bay
Sports history buffs appreciate that Clery's serves as the favored local viewing spot for Washington Redskins fans. Why do you care? Well, the Washington Redskins were formerly the Boston Redskins, from 1933 to 1936, named by their Native American coach, Lone Star Dietz. Two coaches and three years later, the team would move to Washington for locals' lack of interest in football. My, how things have changed!
113 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA, 617.262.9874
Game On!
Although it's attached to historic Fenway Park, this spirited sports bar doesn't solely focus on baseball. It celebrates ping-pong on its downstairs level with tables for playing; upstairs airs all types of games, from football to soccer.
82 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA, 617.351.7001
CBS Scene
Big (three floors). Bold (143 high-def screens). Loud (its location at the doorstep of Gillette Stadium means riotous fans galore). These three words describe everything about Patriot Place's resident sports mecca, which, incidentally, even kinda sorta looks onto the field.
200 Patriot Place, Foxboro, MA, 508.203.2200