Editorial
New York keeps the deepest bench of sports bars in America, and the six below are the rooms where match-watchers actually commit. Each one carries its own crowd, its own code, and its own kickoff ritual.
Connolly's runs 45 screens across three floors a block off Times Square at 121 West 45th, and Premier League mornings fill the upstairs room before kickoff. The bar pours 50 beers and stays open until 4am, so a noon match turns into a long afternoon fast. Grab a Guinness, find a high-top near the big wall, and let the supporters' chants do the rest.
Jack Demsey's stacks four floors of TVs near Madison Square Garden and hosts Manhattan's Celtic supporters, so weekend mornings start loud and Irish. The taps keep flowing from 11am to 4am and the back rooms book up for big ties. Come for a Champions League night, stay for the singing, and bring a crew that knows the words.
The Football Factory packs 20 big screens into the Legends basement across from the Empire State Building and shows more than 100 matches a week. Over 30 supporter clubs claim a corner here, so you pick your scarf and find your people. Best on derby days, when the chants turn fierce. Arrive early, because the good seats vanish before the first whistle.
Smithfield Hall dresses the sports bar up with reclaimed wood, vintage photos, and a kitchen sending out short rib tacos and steak frites. The screens carry every code, but global football is the house obsession at 138 West 25th. Go for a Saturday double-header, order the fish and chips, and settle in; weekends run past 1am.
The Shillelagh Tavern has anchored Astoria since 1925 and now flies the flag as an official Liverpool FC bar. Eleven screens cover the Premier League, NFL, and NHL, and the back room becomes a live-music stage after the final whistle. Best on a Liverpool matchday, when the singing starts at kickoff and rarely lets up.
Finnerty's is New York's San Francisco outpost, the room Giants, 49ers, and Warriors fans treat as home turf. After the East Village space closed, the bar reopened in Midtown and still runs its GameBus to East Coast away games. Show up for a late West Coast kickoff, order a round, and watch it turn into a Bay Area block party.
Manhattan splits along loyalty lines. Connolly's, Jack Demsey's, and The Football Factory own the Premier League mornings, while Finnerty's holds the Bay Area crowd and Smithfield Hall covers everything with a better plate of food.
Most of these rooms peak during NFL Sundays and Premier League weekends, so reserve a table for marquee fixtures and arrive before kickoff when a derby is on.
Which New York sports bar is best for soccer? Connolly's Pub in Times Square and Jack Demsey's near Madison Square Garden both draw heavy Premier League crowds, while The Football Factory at Legends hosts more than 30 supporter clubs.
Where do San Francisco fans watch games in NYC? Finnerty's is New York's San Francisco bar for Giants, 49ers, and Warriors fans. After closing in the East Village it reopened in Midtown.
Are New York sports bars open late? Yes. Connolly's Pub runs until 4am most nights and Jack Demsey's stays open to 4am, so late West Coast and weekend kickoffs are easy to catch.
Which NYC sports bar shows the Premier League with the best atmosphere? The Shillelagh Tavern in Astoria is an official Liverpool FC bar where singing starts at kickoff. The Football Factory is the loudest option in Midtown.