Where to watch
March Madness in
St. Louis
Where to watch March Madness in St. Louis
4 Hands established itself as the place to be at its St. Louis city tasting room, thanks to its arcade atmosphere. Now, at its location in Chesterfield’s The District, it can add 'essential game-day viewing destination' as one of its claims to fame. Grab a craft beer, pick up some food from the adjacent Hi-Pointe Drive-In, and saunter out to The Hub, a sprawling outdoor gathering space featuring a massive screen and sound system that will make you feel like you are sitting courtside. 17081 N. Outer 40.
The region’s premier soccer bar is embracing a different kind of ballgame this month. Head to Tower Grove South to catch tournament games on Amsterdam’s assortment of TVs. And if the weather’s nice, enjoy a pint on the patio. 3175 Morgan Ford.
With six bars, a quarter of a million square feet, humongous TVs (including the largest one in the city, measuring 61 by 30 feet), The Armory is a natural choice for watching those brackets whittle down. 3660 Market.
While the “ballpark” in Ballpark Village might emphasize baseball, the venue's also a prime spot for watching basketball. BPV will show every game, along with drink specials, games, and prizes. Go for a $25 bucket of Budweiser, Bud Select, or Bud Light; buy-one-get-one shot specials; and free entry into a million-dollar bracket challenge. 601 Clark.
Located in Midtown, this classic St. Louis sports bar has become a favorite pregame stop for soccer fans who are eager to grab a drink near CITYPARK. At Beffa’s, they like hoops, too. With plenty of TVs to catch all of the action during those dizzying first few days of the tournament, you’ll be among the many who are enjoying the games with brackets in hand. 2700 Olive.
Located just south of Busch Stadium, Billy’s on Broadway is more than a place to gather after the Cardinals game; it’s a wonderful destination in itself thanks to its clean, comfortable atmosphere, numerous televisions, great food and cocktails, and a nice patio complete with big screens that allow you to watch your favorite teams in the open air. 701 S. Broadway.
This South City bar is the embodiment of a sports-inflected watering hole thanks to its 38 televisions, generous game-day specials, and quintessential sports bar atmosphere. The Bomber Rolls, which are basically a cross between a Reuben and an egg roll, are a particularly delicious way to soak up the buckets of beer that you may consume while watching marathon games. And no worries if you get bored with the televisions: The bar has a golf simulator that will let you try your hand at the links. 4621 Beck.
Burgers, pasta, pizza, and lots of TVs indoors and out are the draw at this sprawling multi-level sports bar, which also accommodates parties and meetings. Bespoke cocktails are a specialty, and don’t sleep on the 10-item dessert menu. 1311 Lodora, Wentzville.
Circle 7’s food is so delicious and its atmosphere so polished, you’d be forgiven for thinking of it as strictly a restaurant, rather than the reimagining of the classic American sports bar, which was its founding idea. The first venue in Missouri to offer tabletop taps, guests can pour their own draft beer tableside, a wonderful convenience that keeps the good times flowing. The always-lively bar area also has a good number of larger tables that encourage you to bring the whole gang. See website for locations.
While the name might denote a low-key neighborhood dive, The Corner Pub & Grill is actually an elevated take on the classic American sports bar, brought to life by the team behind The Tavern Kitchen & Bar and Shack. Expect well-executed takes on classics such as wings, burgers, and nachos that lend to more of a restaurant experience than that of a simple bar. Televisions abound; the ones on the beautiful patios are an especially great place to take in the tournament on a nice day. See website for locations.
Although it’s mostly thought of in terms of its impressive arcade, VR games, and interactive entertainment experiences, Dave & Buster’s is also an outstanding place to watch games. The sports viewing areas have innumerable televisions, including a 40-foot wall and immersive sound system that makes you feel as if you are up close and personal with your favorite players. See website for locations.
What do you get when you inject a quintessential, Cajun-inflected Soulard bar with a dose of serious sports fanaticism? Duke’s Sports Bar, of course. This vibrant spot has it all: 30-plus televisions, three bars, and weekend dance parties across two levels and a patio. It’s just the atmosphere you want for tournament season—and there's excellent Cajun food (the Voodoo Soup is the specialty) that you'll crave all year long. 2001 Menard.
Located just down the way from Saint Louis University, the Fieldhouse is Billiken country through and through, but it’s still a great spot to catch the game no matter who you’re rooting for. The bar and grill punches above its weight in terms of sports pub food – the pretzel skins and Grouben, aka grouper reuben are particularly good noshes – making it a nice spot to stop in before a performance in Grand Center. However, the real show is when anyone attempts the Fieldhouse’s hot-as-fire ghost pepper chicken wing challenge, which has taken down more than its fair share of contestants. 510 North Theresa Avenue.
Friendly’s South City STL Sports Bar and Grill
Friendly’s in South City is a great place to catch all of the games. The neighborhood bar has shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, and more pub games for pregame festivities. Watch the game on its myriad screens. And if the weather cooperates, the heated patio is a great (and dog-friendly) option, too. 3503 Roger Place.
If you like to enjoy your games with a glass of cicerone-approved brew rather than basic domestics, Global Brew is the place for you. The bar boasts an impressive selection of 200-plus labels from around the globe and a knowledgeable staff that can guide you through the seemingly daunting list. (The Rock Hill location does not have a kitchen, but guests are welcome to bring in food or have it delivered.) See website for locations.
Huge TVs, drink specials, pizza, and jumbo wings—Helen Fitzgerald’s is about that life! Visit to watch all of the games at the Irish grill and pub, which is a sister spot to Syberg’s. 3650 S. Lindbergh.
If the servers bedecked in referee gear didn’t convince you, Hot Shots’ multiple televisions, darts, billiards, and wings make it clear that it’s a prime game day destination. Great burgers, outstanding nachos, and buffalo shrimp (a nice diversion from the ubiquitous chicken wings) pair with buckets of ice-cold beer for the ultimate sports viewing experience. See website for locations.
With a serious focus on craft beer and food, the Mizzou alum–owned establishment calls itself “a bar that likes sports.” It's going to be showing the games, and it has locations across the state, so you can even stop by if you’re on the road for a game. See website for locations.
Downtown St. Louis’ unofficial neighborhood bar, Jack Patrick’s offers the sort of low-key, classic sports bar vibe that feels like a respite from the high-energy and jam-packed atmosphere of Ballpark Village and the larger bars surrounding Busch Stadium. 1000 Olive.
Owner John Windfeldt grew up in the restaurant business and worked for decades in the industry, always dreaming that one day he would have a place of his own. This Cottleville area bar and grill is the realization of that dream, drawing upon his lifelong knowledge of what makes a great bar: excellent food (anything from Sicilian meatballs to smoked chicken to a Monte Cristo sandwich), ice-cold beer, creative cocktails, and inviting hospitality that makes everyone feel like a regular. 3915 Mid Rivers Mall.
Beyond the myriad TVs and sports memorabilia, there are house-smoked meats, fine sandwiches, and delicious matzo ball and chicken noodle soups. The sleeper item is the Rye Club, with ham, turkey, bacon, cheddar, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing on grilled rye. 9906 Clayton.
A downtown and Sunset Hills fixture, Maggie O’Brien’s combines all you love about a great sports bar—icy buckets of domestics, 75 televisions so you can see the screen from every seat, great noshes—combined with the components of an inviting Irish pub. Maggie’s offers several ways to enjoy corned beef (not just the outstanding reuben) and, if the game gets boring, a great diversion in the form of its Big Mag’s Burger, a behemoth 2-pound burger that gets you a T-shirt and bragging rights if you finish it within 30 minutes. See website for locations.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
It could be the 20-pus big screens, the incredible smoked wings, the proximity to all of the stadiums, or the raucous atmosphere—no matter which way you look at it, The Midwestern is a must-visit sports bar downtown and a place to see and be seen (in your favorite team’s jersey, of course). 900 Spruce.
A classic neighborhood tavern, Mike Duffy’s is the sort of place where you can bring the whole family to watch the game. The pub is known for its freshly ground burgers and blue-ribbon chili—and the Chili Rounder combines the two. Top it with a side of fries, and you have a lunchtime version of a slinger. See website for locations.
A wildly popular hangout for Ellisville and West County residents, Mulligan’s has that “everyone knows your name” sort of feel. Its perpetually packed house features a U-shaped bar with large televisions, ice-cold beer, small but excellent wings, and the most generous wine pour that you’ll find this side of the Mississippi. 11 Clarkson.
Nick’s Pub may be known as the one of the city’s most iconic late-night haunts, but its 101 beers, wonderful pub food, and wall-size TV make it a worthy daytime sports spot as well. As a bonus, its upstairs game room is filled with all kinds of distractions (Skee-Ball, pinball, pool, darts, and more) if things aren’t going so well for your team. 6001 Manchester.
For more than 40 years, OB Clark’s has been a St. Louis sports bar institution, filled with regulars and merrymakers who infuse the place with a lively, welcoming spirit. Although mostly known for hockey, the neighborhood gathering spot is the perfect place to watch all of the games, thanks to its numerous TVs, ice-cold beer and festive atmosphere. 1921 S. Brentwood.
Why not fill out your bracket at a swanky, gambling-themed sports bar on Wash. Ave.? With nearly 40 HD flatscreens, it’s pretty straightforward what the specialty is at Over/Under. The patio has a 150-inch HD projector for game days when the weather cooperates. 911 Washington.
The longtime favorite on the south side of Busch Stadium is a great place to actually watch a game, not simply recover from one. Filled with televisions any way you look, the sprawling, indoor-outdoor venue is a raucous good time, especially on the outdoor terrace. 618 S. 7th.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
The former back bar at the renowned Tony Faust's restaurant is the focal point of two seating areas at The Pitch
The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern
Situated across the street from CITYPARK, at Union Station, the 200-seat sports and soccer bar serves up distinctive sandwiches and bar appetizers, including products from Carnegie Deli. As LHM's Steve O’Loughlin described the atmosphere, it has a “Las Vegas sports bar vibe, with high design and high energy, while at the same time being comfortable and nostalgic.” The prime seats are the reservable nooks along the perimeter, with leather couches, area rugs, and customer-programmable TVs. 2 S. 20th.
This haven for sports fans has an extensive appetizer menu. “Post-Its” come in three varieties: garlic cheese bread bites, bacon chicken ranch, and pepperoni pizza. Of note is the progressive happy hour from 2–6 p.m. Monday through Friday, in which domestic drafts and house liquors get more expensive as the afternoon progresses. See website for locations.
The unofficial watering hole of the Southampton neighborhood, SOHA Bar and Grill places an emphasis on its culinary offerings and considers itself a gastropub as much as a spot to watch the game. Look for elevated American fare, such as incredible fried goat cheese bites, Brussels sprouts, and outstanding, customizable burgers alongside craft cocktails and a comprehensive beer selection. You’d be happy here just for the food and drinks, but SOHA places the game front and center, with so many televisions that you’ll never miss a shot, no matter which way you look. 2605 Hampton.
A destination in its own right inside Ballpark Village, Sports & Social offers a more clubby style respite from the throngs of merrymakers outside its walls. The large bar and restaurant features 20 HD televisions and a media wall for prime game viewing, as well as great Tex-Mex fare. 651 Clark.
Legend has it that NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Smith was the first person to bring Buffalo wings to town in 1974 at the restaurant that he co-owned at the time, Jackie’s Place. The name of the bar and grill may have changed to Sportsman’s Park, but one thing that has remained—even more important than the wings—is the Ladue neighborhood gathering place’s commitment to embracing the spirit of the city’s storied sports scene. As such (and considering the paucity of TVs), Sportsman’s may be more of a historical landmark than a sports bar. 9901 Clayton.
If you can’t fathom watching college ball without eating shark chunks, then Syberg’s is your go-to. It spans a range of locations across the metro area, so there’s likely one close at hand. See website for locations.
Three Kings hits the mark for game viewing with ample televisions and an inviting bar. What sets it apart from the pack, however, is its delicious, gastropub-style fare; everything is scratch made here—a rare treat at a sports bar—and includes such favorites as its award-winning wings, excellent smashburgers, and sleeper hit muffaletta. See website for locations.
PHOTO BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
Westport Social
The popular gathering space in Westport Plaza houses live music, shuffleboard, foosball, giant kickball-pool, hoops, darts, ping-pong, huge TVs, sleek lounges, a full kitchen, and an even fuller bar. It’s an entertainment gathering spot for fun, long lunches. 910 Westport Plaza.