Best Bars to Watch the Six Nations

Proximity to Twickenham stadium gives this pub an obvious advantage, but it would make the list regardless. The Rugby and Cricket opens three hours before every Six Nations kickoff, runs two projection screens in the main bar, and a third in the covered garden for the warmer March fixtures. The clientele includes a high proportion of people who have actually played the sport at some level. The match commentary cuts through clearly even at full capacity.

Order: London Pride on cask, steak and kidney pie

The best Irish pub in London for watching Ireland play — which, given the current Irish team's form, makes this a very good place to be. Mulligan's fills within 30 minutes of the Ireland fixture starting, the crowd sings, and the atmosphere during a Grand Slam run is unlike anywhere else in the city. The food is better than you'd expect from a football pub. Reserve a table for Irish matchdays — walk-ins don't happen after 2pm.

Order: Guinness, Irish stew

London's primary Scottish sports pub, packed with kilts and Saltire flags during Scotland fixtures. The Caledonian Arms has a ground-floor bar with four screens and a mezzanine level with an unobstructed view of the main projection screen. Scotland versus England matches here are among the loudest things you'll experience in a London pub. The kitchen serves proper haggis during Six Nations weekends and the whisky selection covers the full range of Scottish regions.

Order: Tennent's lager or a Speyside single malt

One of New York's oldest bars and one of its most reliable Six Nations venues. The Whitehorse opens at 8am for early Saturday kickoffs and operates a ticket system for capacity management — check their social channels the week before any England or Ireland match. The interior is dark, properly pub-like, and the screens are positioned so there's not a bad seat in the house. The kind of place where the match runs on mute for the Super Bowl and full volume for Calcutta Cup.

Order: Bass Ale or Boddingtons on tap

New York's most reliable Irish pub for Six Nations Saturday mornings. Connolly's opens at 7:30am for early European kickoffs, the kitchen runs eggs and bacon from the first whistle, and the Guinness pours are consistently well-kept. The Ireland versus France fixture in 2023 had people queuing outside 45 minutes before kickoff. The crowd is mixed Irish expat and American rugby fans who appreciate the sport on its own terms, not as a novelty.

Order: Guinness, full Irish breakfast

One of Dublin's oldest pubs and a match-day institution. Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street — not to be confused with the London venue of the same name — has served Guinness since 1782 and becomes the city's unofficial rugby headquarters during home Six Nations matches. The screens are new; the atmosphere is ancient. Arrive early or accept you'll be standing. The pints are among the best-poured in the city.

Order: Guinness, no food required

Known locally as The Diggers, this Victorian Edinburgh pub is a genuine football and rugby institution. During Scotland home matches at Murrayfield — a 10-minute walk away — The Athletic Arms fills with the kind of crowd that has been following Scottish rugby through decades of hope and disappointment. The atmosphere during a Scotland win is something to experience. The atmosphere during a Scotland loss is something to survive.

Order: Caledonian 80 Shilling, no frills

Cardiff's best craft beer bar doubles as a genuinely excellent rugby venue. The Cambrian Tap has invested in a serious AV setup, runs multiple screens during the Six Nations, and stocks an exceptional range of Welsh craft beers alongside the standard offerings. During Wales home matches — when Principality Stadium is hosting 74,000 people down the road — the bar fills with fans who don't have tickets but want to be part of the city's atmosphere regardless.

Order: Tiny Rebel craft lager or cask Welsh ale