Sports bars in the Capital Region: 10 of the best to watch the game (2024)

When you need camaraderie in cheering on your team, you do what any sensible person would: Log onto Facebook and give a whiny (or elated) play-by-play of your team's endeavors. Shy of that, you head down to your local sports bar and grab a seat at the bar, order a pint and a burger, and hope that your team does well enough to keep your bar tab at a moderate level.

The Capital Region, separated down the middle by the Hudson River, runs the gamut on sports fans. East of the river, you'll find Red Sox and Patriots fans. West, you are in Yankee and Giants territory. (Of course there is a rogue Jets and Bills fan here and there, but we don't really like to admit that.) One thing they all can agree on is the importance of having a good sports bar nearby. Thankfully, the Capital Region's got 'em. Here are some of the favorites.

City Line Bar and Grill

A sports bar with a sophisticated flair is what you'll find at City Line. Enjoy tuna tacos and designer co*cktails while watching your favorite team win on the big screen (there are plenty of TVs to choose from, so each seat in the house is a good one).

Address: 1206 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203

Phone:(518) 504-1200

RecoverySports Grill

A classic of the genre: Recovery Room has everything a sports fan might need to enjoy the big game. Plenty of screen space, bar stools and booths, and a great selection of pub fare and beer to satisfy. Recovery Room has locations throughout Upstate New York, so no matter where you are, you can still catch the Orangemen on the court.

Address: 62 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208

Phone: (518) 396-3800

Maggie's Cafe

Longtime Albany favorite, Maggie's is a sure bet for taking in a game. Standard tavern food is easily found on the menu, with a few elevated items thrown in (try the sweet potato fries with honey butter).

Address: 1186 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203

Phone: (518) 935-2661

Andy's Place

What to expect at Andy's: Moderate bar food. Domestic beer. Overweight and heavily-drinking middle-aged men, with an occasional group of Millennials peppered in now and then because someone's dad recommended the place.

This isn't to say Andy's is bad. It's exactly what you want and expect from an old-school sports bar. And perhaps that's why it's been in the same spot for so long, and is not going away anytime soon.

Address: 605 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208

Phone: (518) 489-2411

Lynn's Uptown Tavern

An 8-and-a-half foot wide mega screen for the best game of the day graces Lynn's Uptown Tavern, along with 20 other screens. Local live music on the weekends is a draw, as is the fact that diners get shoestring potatoes on top of their burgers along with classic fries on the side.

Address: 15 Colvin Ave., Albany, NY 12206

Phone: (518) 453-1566

Wolf's 1-11

Just in case the game goes pear-shaped and you need a distraction, Wolf's 1-11 (that's pronounce one-eleven) has you covered with a parlor room/arcade in a separate area of the building. Or, you can simply eat your feelings and enjoy tempting menu items like a pilgrim grilled sandwich or a salmon BLT.

Address: 111 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205

Phone: (518) 275-0561

Forty One Sports Bar and Grill

The feel of a family restaurant meets the viewing capacities of a sports bar at Forty One, in Troy. Grab a seat at the bar and try the 41 Dog, a hotdog topped with chili, cheese, and fried onion chips.

Address: 41 112th St., Troy, NY 12182

Phone: (518) 235-4141

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill

If not for the authentic vibe of this neighborhood bar, it would be easy to write Rookies off as a basic townie joint. The fact that it doesn't care, frankly, what you think of it, nor is it willing to change its persona to accommodate a hipper crowd (happily serving up $10 buckets of Coors Light bottles) means that this no-fuss establishment allows you to do exactly what you intended: Eat greasy food, drink inferior beer, and watch a little football on a Sunday.

Address:1526 Van Vranken Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308

Phone: (518) 280-4446

Peabody's

Around since 1985, Peabody's is a local haunt for many Saratoga natives. An open floor plan and wall-to-wall TV screens means you'll never miss a piece of action. A selection of craft beers is also available for those of a more refined drinking persuasion.

Address: 39 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Phone: (518) 886-8673

Wolff's Biergarten

On the outset, this German-style beer hall might not seem much like a sports bar, but it is one of the few places in the Capital Region that regularly shows soccer games from around the world. Pair that with a classic assortment of wursts, schnitzel, and European beers, it's a sports bar experience all its own. (Locations in Albany and Schenectady stand now, with a third in Syracuse to come.)

Address: 895 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 427-2461