Image via Complex Original
If any city in America represents everyone, it's the Big Apple. New York City attracts all kinds: college grads with no dollars and a dream, European models who have a working knowledge of three English phrases, and hoards of hopefuls from midwest towns wanting to escape to something bigger. It's this vast variety that makes Gotham such a melting pot of cultures, languages, and religions. But there is a common religion shared by many New Yorkers—football.
People tattoo their team's logo on their arms, face harsh winter winds with beer bellies covered in body paint and take cues from 2Chainz, rioting whether their team wins or loses. But the biggest hallmark of football—its altar, perhaps—is the bar (or anywhere with beer, really.) Strangers can become best friends or bitter enemies over the course of four quarters and all who are present are drunk by halftime. It's a sacred ritual, so NYC startup Fanatic, an Android/iOS app that connects sports fans, found the best bars in NYC for fans of every team in the NFL. Even for you Giants fans, however many of you there are left.
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San Francisco 49ers
Where to watch: Finnerty's
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Address: 221 2nd Ave.
Website: finnertysnyc.com
This bar is all about the Bay. Always crowded, with a friendly staff and covered in TVs—this is the place to be when Kaepernick runs the ball. Drinks aren't moderately priced and you can even order a keg for your table. But the best part? With the crazy amount of TVs in the bar, there isn't a bad seat in the house. Just be sure to get in early enough to grab a good spot on game day, or you'll be stuck outside craning your neck while SF (god-willingly) dominates. But, hey, at least you can order food from outside of the bar!
St. Louis Rams
Where to watch: Foley's
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Address: 18 West 33rd St.
Website: foleysny.com
Sure, this could be any sports bar—until you notice the walls are swathed in sports memorabilia. If the game starts heading downhill, distract yourself by eyeballing the baseball shrines. If it gets really rough for good ole St. Louiey, wash your worries away with their impressive beer selection until you can't rememeber the score. And, if the Rams turn it around, they have a great fish and chips dish to soak it all up with.
Seattle Seahawks
Where to watch: Carlow East
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Address: 1254 Lexington Ave.
Website: facebook.com/carlow.east
Carlow East isn't a place for the fancy. Despite its reputation for being Gossip Girl stomping grounds, the bar doesn't pretend to be glitzy or demand any poshness from its patrons. Instead, it provides a jukebox, a pool table and standing room only on game days. Drinks are strong and affordable, and bartenders are always happy to recommend a new brew. Don't expect to hear any suggestions when the Hawks are playing though; expect to leave the bar with "SEA-FENSE" ringing in your ears.
Carolina Panthers
Where to watch: Brother Jimmy's BBQ
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 181 Lexington Ave.
Website: brotherjimmys.com
The name suggest a Southern vibe, but this bar is more touristy than anything. Thanks to its location, non-New Yorkers flock here for an NYC bar experience, but you'll be fine to rep the Panthers. As annoying as the frat boy contingency that often occupys the place may be, the wings are decent and every bridge-and-tunneler can be your friend when you're tipsy and your team is winning.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Where to watch: Stillwater Bar & Grill
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 78 East 4th St.
Website: facebook.com/stillwaternyc
Stillwater is divey sports bar if ever there ever was one. Beer under 5 bucks, darts on the wall, and pool tables and arcade games in the back. Yes, it's a football fan's wet dream. Non-game nights feature DJ Waitress' iPod just in case you miss dorm parties, and game time keeps it classic with cheap beer and big TVs. We're not mad at it at all.
Detroit Lions
Where To Watch: Mercury Bar
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Address: 493 3rd Ave.
Website: mercurybarnyc.com
No sin is more appalling than a bad chicken wing. Mercury Bar is on a steadfast path Upstairs with their game day grub, which most customers agree is delicious. Drinks are cheap, the vibe is fun, and music videos play on the TVs before and after games. So, Drake and A$AP Rocky doing Miami Vice can drown out the image of Stafford dropping the pass...again.
Minnesota Vikings
Where to watch: Bar None
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 98 3rd Ave.
Website: barnonenyc.com
There is no hour better than happy hour and Bar None is King. Home to the longest running happy hour in the city, from 12-8pm, Monday through Sunday, there is no reason not too smile. And it's big, not NYC big, but actually big enough to spin around and do your touchdown dance. Just pray to the beer gods Ponder gives you a reason too.
Green Bay Packers
Where to watch: Mad Hatter Saloon
Neighborhood: Kips Bay
Address: 360 3rd Ave.
Website: madhatternyc.com
Mad Hatter is home to quality bar food, a stellar selection of draught beers and a even a menu of "tini's". If it's dark and the bartender doesn't seem too judgy, order one right up. Actually drink your cocktail and cheer for the Packers with pride, good sir—with Green Bay's current season record, you've earned it.
Chicago Bears
Where to watch: Overlook
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 225 East 44th St.
Website: overlooknyc.com
Legend has it that a man once used an Aaron Rodgers jersey to wipe everyone's feet as they entered the bar one night, so clearly this is the spot for Bears' fans. Other than the mythical shoe shiner, Overlook has good burgers and a 20-buck beer bucket. They also have a covered outdoor upstairs space, which is clutch for cooling down during halftime.
Dallas Cowboys
Where to watch: Stone Creek Bar
Neighborhood: Kips Bay
Address: 140 East 27th St.
Website: stonecreeknyc.com
"Its a Dallas Cowboys bar, I am from Dallas. End of story. Oh, and the food is good as well"—one customer summed it all up for you. Good, greasy bar food. Decent drink prices. Home to Dallas fans. Skins fans beware.
Washington Redskins
Where to watch: The Australian
Neighborhood: Midtown West
Address: 20 West 38th St.
Website: theaustraliannyc.com
It's a little odd that the team named after Native Americans would find its home down under, but Skins fans are a rare breed. Fans thinking they are few in number outside of the D.C area, we found your home. The Australian has drinks from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and America. The staff is friendly and speak in a pleasant accent, so when you cry over RG3, you can be consoled with an Aussie voice.
Philadelphia Eagles
Where to watch: Wogies Bar & Grill
Neighborhood: West Village
Address: 39 Greenwich Ave.
Website: wogies.com
There are few places in this great city where chefs have enough respect for Philly to make a great, or even good, cheesesteak. Here it is. We got you. Yes, it's pretty much standing room only on game days, but everyone around you is an Eagles fan, and you have a beer in one hand and a cheesesteak in other. Quit complaining.
San Diego Chargers
Where to watch: Dewey's Flatiron
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Address: 210 5th Ave.
Website: deweysflatiron.com
There may or may not be AC here and you may or may not have to drink in front of a cooling fan like a college house party, but who doesn't miss those days? Also your team is from California, so you're used to the heat, right? It's divey here, so the prices and the vibe are low-key. Enjoy the game comfortably thanks to their crazy spacious seating, and enjoy the view thanks to all the plasma you could ever want in a sports bar. It's hard to be unhappy here.
Denver Broncos
Where to watch: Mustang Sally's
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Address: 324 7th Ave.
Website: mustangsallysny.com
We're suspicious of anyone who actually wants to serve alcohol near the tourist black hole that is Penn Station, but this place is as good as it gets. Food isn't anything incredible but it's decently priced and drinks are, too. Recent policy change has small sports games played at their sister bar, so Broncos fear not: you can fully focus on your game without the distraction of the little league world champs on one of the TVs.
Oakland Raiders
Where to watch: The Watering Hole
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Address: 106 East 19th St.
Website: wateringholenyc.com
Karaoke. That's it. That one word takes this bar into the stratosphere of the sports bar of dreams. Imagine singing your victory song immediately after a Falcons or Raiders win. With the Falcons' record, there is a pretty good chance you'll be weeping into your jersey and cradling a mic while you sob out Eminem's "Stan" while questioning your life long allegiance to Atlanta, but still imagine or maybe switch teams.
Kansas City Chiefs
Where to watch: Village Pourhouse
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 64 3rd Ave.
Website: villagepourhouse.com
25. Cent. Wing. Night. Never on game days, but there are game day drinking specials and wings are cheap and big, otherwise. But, seriously Chief fans make this your go-to spot because wings for a quarter. One quarter. Where else?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Where to watch: Legends
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Address: 6 West 33rd St.
Website: legends33.com
We would be mad at the name if it wasn't so fitting for this bar. From the outside, it looks like your typical sports bar, but that all changes when you walk in. The place is huge—in an NYC context, of course. And the drink prices—also in a NYC context —aren't bad. There are multiple places to get drinks, so when you get cut off at one spot for drunken cheering/booing/rachetness, head somewhere else. And on Jaguar game days, fans come through heavy.
Indianapolis Colts
Where to watch: Keats Restaurant
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 842 2nd Ave.
Website: keatsbar.com
Sure, there are bar trivia games played on some nights, but we're only concerned about the Colts fans chanting in the corner. It's your typical Irish pub in terms of good beer, culinary standbys, and a friendly staff, but it declares itself "home of the Colts," so don't be surprised if the staff turns nasty if you rock the wrong jersey.
Houston Texans
Where to watch: Idle Hands
Neighborhood: Alphabet City
Address: 25 Ave. B
Website: idlehandsbar.com
Whiskey on whiskey on whiskey. This bar isn't for the fruitini lovers. They're about beer and whiskey and the game which makes sense considering its favored team: the Texans. They always say everything's bigger in Texas and trust us, the liqour selection is extensive and incredible. They make up for the somewhat basic decor with killer drinks and an ultra-chill atmosphere. And really, with the game on and a beer in your hand, why are you concerned about what's on the walls?
Cleveland Browns
Where to watch: Manny's on Second
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Address: 1770 2nd Ave.
Website: mannysonsecond.com
Let go of all your Upper East side misconceptions. Yes, you'll probably run into a housewife on vacation from her busy day of brunch and watching the housekeeper watch the nanny watch her kids, but Manny's makes up for it. Like Manny's says, it's more than just a sports bar. Not just for Browns fans, but for NFL fans in general. There are 40 TVs, an XBox 360, dart boards, a digital jukebox, pool tables and—most clutch—a station for charging iPhones. The staff at Manny's cares not only about your drinking (word to the 24 beers on tap) and viewing pleasure, but the battery life of your Apple products. Really, what more could a Browns fan want? (Besides a winning season...or, just a win.)
Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
Where to watch: Sidebar
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Address: 118 East 15th St.
Website: sidebarny.com
2 dollar shots. TVs. Game Night Hype OK, yeah, it's a little bit of a bro-fest since it's a bar that caters to three teams, but you're bound to find your people. Throw on your jersey, look for your colors, drown your sorrows or celebrate field goals with beer and feel free to throw a punch at a frat boy—you missed your chance in college; take it now.
Cincinnati Bengals
Where to watch: Phebe's Tavern
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 359 Bowery
Website: phebesnyc.com
Customers complain about the college/recent grad patronage but the orange and black sea that takes over when the Bengals are playing more than makes up for flirty sorority girls (and really, why are you mad about that?) Yes, there is affordable beer, and many TVs, but Phebe's true calling card is its chilli. One of the few places on the East Coast where a Bengals fan can find Cincinnati chilli—this is the place to be.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Where to watch: Public House
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 140 East 41st St.
Website: publichousenyc.com
With Pittsburgh as the house team, you'd expect this bar to look as rough as the city does. But to our surprise, it's got a classic feel, with booths, low seating that resembles a hookah lounge, and everyone's favorite feature, a good, long bar. But best of all? All you can drink Bud Light for 30 bucks. Cheap beer and Terrible Towels to mop it up. Who can be mad?
Buffalo Bills
Where to watch: McFadden's
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 800 2nd Ave.
Website: mcfaddens42.com
The Irish basically patented drinking so this is the bar for drunken screaming matches about stats and whose uniform colors are lamest (we know you care.) And with the Bills' streak there will be a lot of screaming. Customers describe this place as loud and disorganized but we think the chaos adds to the charm. Beer flying, someone yelling to turn up Mike Ditka and just general football fanboying: everything a Bills fan needs to distract from all the losses.
Miami Dolphins
Where to watch: Slattery's Midtown Pub
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 8 East 36th St.
Website: slatterysmidtownpub.com
Bars sometimes get confused into thinking they're clubs. They get a decent soundsytem, a bartender with passable music taste and all of sudden there is a dancefloor and someone's mom is twerking on the wall. Slattery's is not this bar. It is a bar for sports fans with its multiple TV's, nice staff and crazy generous drinks. And the official, and probably only, place for Miami Dolphin fans to turnup since it's home to the Dolphin fan club. #305tomycity
New England Patriots
Where to watch: Professor Thom's
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 219 2nd Ave.
Website: professorthoms.com
Don't judge a book by its cover, or a bar by its facade. The outside of this place looks like the portal into hipster paradise, but fear not, it's actually a sacred spot for Patriots and Vikings fans to scream, chant, and drink. There are TVs everywhere you look, a good selection of beer, and a private screening room that disregards credit scores. But its best feature is the 41-foot bar that's perfect for doing a victory lap across after every touchdown.
New York Giants
Where to watch: Stout NYC
Neighborhood: Midtown West
Address: 133 West 33rd St.
Website: stoutnyc.com
With three floors of Complex-approved beer and plenty of choices on tap, Stout could easily be your new favorite place to chug a pint. It's not cheap, but it's Manhattan, so we vote filling up on beer and passing on the less than stellar food. You'll forget about your grumbling stomach after kickoff when you're just thirsty for a score.
New York Jets
Where to watch: Blondie's
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Address: 212 West 79th St.
Website: blondiessports.com
Last time we were here there was screaming upon entry and we're pretty sure things haven't changed much. People suggest making a reservation on game days, but we're all for standing in the mass of Jets jerseys and spilled beer shouting our four favorite letters.