Kofie's Ongoing Guide to Los Angeles Sports Bars
This article will keep getting updated over time and is open to suggestions
A sports bar is more than just alcohol and televisions. It’s about the community, the feeling of belonging. That “Third Space” that so many people my age are clamoring for. I’ve been living in Los Angeles since 2022, and I’ve been examining the unique Sports Bar scene. I’ve been hanging out in various places, studying the strengths and weaknesses of each bar for no reason other than perfecting the art of the hangout.
With this knowledge and research, I wanted to make a guide on all of the sports bars that I’ve been to. Maybe you’re new to the city and want to watch your favorite NFL team with other fans. Maybe you’ve lived here for a super long time and are just in the mood to look for cool places to add to the rotation.
I am not an expert on this; I am a person who just loves sports bars and wanted to share my thoughts.
So without further ado, let’s get into the guide.
Drugstore Cowboy
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDPumC4skGW/
Address: 4330 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
If you’re a Detroit Lions or Pistons fan, you’re going to have a great time here. This place might not have the traditional decorations of a sports bar, but they go all in for their favorite sports and sports teams.
I’ve been around a lot of fan bases in LA, and I want to just say the Detroit Lions fans are top-tier. I’m not just saying that because I’m a Pistons fan.
I’m also not a Lions fan. I’m a Cincinnati Bengals fan. So I don’t really have any incentive to say that. It was a really electric experience watching this fan base watch one of the best teams in their franchise’s history
For food and drink. I got the Buffalo Wings now. Usually, hot wings at a sports bar aren’t that spicy, but the sauce was spicy enough that I had to actually lock in while eating them.
They had a bunch of unique specialty cocktails. My favorite ones are the Marlboro Man and Rick Dalton’s Big mistake
The Detroit Lions fans got a free shot at halftime during games. In addition to the main bar area, Drugstore Cowboy also has two arcade games and two pool tables in the back. And don’t worry, there are TVs above the pool table so you won’t miss any of the game. If any Detroit Pistons fans want to have watch parties here, feel free to let me know!
More for members below
Tiny’s Hi-Dive
Address: 12012 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
I’m putting this post behind a paywall because if my friends see me posting about it, they’ll be PISSED. For two years, they’ve asked me not to post about it anywhere because apparently, this city has places that suddenly get cool and it becomes “the spot” cough cough Barney’s Beanery
I’ve waited two years to talk about this place, and now that it’s on other big, popular lists, I can finally give an honest assessment of it.
And I gotta say that this place fucking rocks. What I will say is that a lot of the time, you go there, it’s not really a sports bar. Sometimes you’ll go in there, and they’re playing a movie that my filmhead friends know and I don’t (I’m getting better, I promise). But when there are sports to be played, they’re on the TV: college football, the Lakers and the Dodgers, of course.
But the main thing I love about Tiny’s is that this is a Chicago Sports bar. From the food to the decorations, this has Chicago written all over it.
When the Chicago Bears play, this place is packed with Chicago Bears fans and even more than that, if you have gear of an opposing team, you will not be allowed in. I saw a dude try to get in with a Steelers jersey on, and they wouldn’t let him in until he put his jersey back in his car. I still don’t know what to think about this rule, but at the very least, it’s hilarious. I bought a Bears NICK FOLES jersey just to avoid this.
My favorite part of Tiny’s is that the prices are super reasonable. There’s this one game that the bartenders know I play, which is the PBR game. So each PBR has a card suit hidden in it (spades, hearts, diamonds you know the deal) If you guess the suit correctly,, THE BEER IS FREE. There have been times I’ve been to Tiny’s where I’ve gotten multiple guesses correct and have my tab prices sliced. I’m surprised more people don’t do it there.
They also have Malort. There’s a small room to the side that has pop a shot and some other arcade games and my friend who was recently there said that they opened up the outside out back.
On non-sports days, they also have live Rock Band karaoke on Wednesday. I would go there all the time if I lived closer.
This place also has great fries.
Founders Ale House
Address: 8771 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
This is one of my favorite places to go to watch a lot of sports at the same time. If you want to watch the chaos of College football, March Madness, or the NHL/NBA playoffs all at the same time, then their TV situation is top-tier. They’re also very accommodating in putting on a specific game on a TV if they’re not currently playing it.
An interesting thing about Founders is that for a long time, their bar hours on Google were not accurate. There would be times they’d be completely open, but Google didn’t say that they were. I’m not sure if they’ve patched this up yet.
A major plus that makes up for this is the fact that Founders Ale House has an ELITE happy hour menu
I usually get the Bourbon Smash with any of the sliders or the nachos. It’s so damn good.
Another thing I’ve noticed about Founders is that different alumni networks will choose there to watch a game. I’ve seen Virginia Tech and Penn State groups gather here to watch games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other groups pull up there. There are enough TVs for you to be able to watch the game. The one downside to that is that you might not get the audio for your specific game, but that’s a common thing at sports bars that play multiple games anyway.
My last observation is that whenever I go, they sometimes seem to be understaffed. I think that when it does get busy, they’d benefit from one more bartender. The staff does an excellent job and is extremely nice, so it’s not a performance thing but more of a numbers game.
This is my favorite bar to watch multiple things at once.
Palm and The Pine
Address: 1624 N Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
This Hollywood spot is fairly new, and when you walk in, you can tell. It takes a lot of inspiration from what a nice sports tennis club or country club would look like. I love how big the screens are and really rock with the aesthetic of the place. The bar is decked out with all sorts of memorabilia all around the place.
Beyond just sports, this place thrives on its events. I’m sad I didn’t get to go to these, but they had Love Island watch parties that looked wild. They even have a themed menu for these events sometimes. They were so popular in fact that some cast members made appearances there after they were sent out of the villa.
In terms of food, they have a very interesting menu. There are four types of wings (I recommend the K-pop wings). As someone who loves a themed cocktail, they have a good roster of them. I recommend the Birdie and the Tiebreaker.
This is a relatively new bar, all things considered and I’ll keep going to this place more in due time.
The Belmont
Address: 747 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
I’ve been here a handful of times, and what really stands out is the food. It’s a great burger overall, and they have a really strong menu to boot. I prefer the Belmont burger, but their chicken sliders are awesome as well.
It’s not the most extensive TV setup in LA, but it does get the job done. It’s just enough for it to host all the sports that you would want while also feeling like a non-sports bar when nothing is going on. They also have a private event space called Sidecar. I’ve never been there when it’s open, but it looks cool.
Barney’s Beanery (West Hollywood)
Address: 8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
I know. I know everyone knows about this place. I know everyone knows that it’s currently one of the trendy places where all the influencers and whatnot go to, but I will say this.
This is a fun sports-watching experience during the day. Before all the influencers and stuff come here to hang out. A college football Saturday or NFL Sunday is perfect for this because it’s during the day, and there are so many TVs in the area that you can look around and watch whatever game you want. They also have a nice chill patio with a lot of screen space to watch whatever.
One of the things that Barneys has over a lot of sports bars is the food options. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner available whenever, so you can get pancakes at 1 pm and enjoy a game here. They also have a lot of outlets and decent wi-fi, so I’ve found myself working out of Barney’s when I need a change of scenery.
In its current state, I wouldn’t watch a night football game here because of the influencers that flock to this place at night, but this place is so good when it’s not packed.
Joxer Daly’s
Address: 11168 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
This Culver City establishment is one of the best places to drink and watch a soccer match in the city. Sometimes they are open as early as 4 AM for the Premier League matches, and they get a nice crowd. I’ve been here multiple times where it’s been packed for both a very important soccer game or a Washington Commanders game.
I’m going to be honest, I think the food is hit or miss, depending on what you order. The Fish and Chips are good, and I like their wings and fries are solid. When compared to some of the other places on this list that have better consistency, there are just some menu items that don’t hit as much. I think sometimes their menu variety comes back to bite them.
All things being said, I’m not usually there for the food; I’m more there for the hanging out and having a drink with the buddies vibe. This place always has a great atmosphere and a very nice and welcoming staff that makes it a top-tier.
The Naughty Pig
Address: 8264 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
A West Hollywood staple, The Naughty Pig is a fun and versatile sports bar that excels at both hosting big parties and accommodating everyone who sets foot in the establishment. Being one of the few bars on the Sunset Strip, this place has a great TV setup for both indoor AND outdoor watching and dining.
They also have a very unique menu for Los Angeles. Including having chopped cheese on their menu and some pretty good deals on wings and fries.
I’ve seen multiple fanbases have watch parties here. Most notably, fans of the Baltimore Ravens and the University of Maryland!
The Naughty Pig on Instagram: "Gloomy weather is drinking weath…
My favorite part about Naughty Pig is that they have a window where you can order from when you’re outside of the bar, and you don’t have to walk into the bar to order, which is great for convenience purposes.
Scarlet Lady Saloon
Address: 5411 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230
A couple of Saints fans in Los Angeles asked me to find a place, so I did. Welcome to Scarlet Lady Saloon in Culver City. For those of you who know me, you know that I love a good dive bar, and Scarlet Lady Saloon did not disappoint.
The Thursday Night Football game I went to was brutal, but the atmosphere wasn’t. There were Saints and Broncos fans galore since that was the matchup, but there wasn’t any drunken animosity; there was a lot of respect. With that being said, I can confirm that’s how it looks on Falcons week, so don’t take my word for it there.
The one downside is that the Scarlet Lady saloon does not serve food, but it does allow for food to be brought in. Luckily for me, I went around back and saw a lady in a tent that’s called Watt’s Kookin, and I got some red beans and rice with the party wings. Instagram says the lady behind the account is Chef Jenn. I can’t confirm who was working that day, but that’s some of the best food I’ve had in the city.
The Saints Bar also had a DJ playing music during the break, and when the game turned into a blowout, they just turned the broadcast off and started playing absolute bangers. So even if the game is absolute dogwater you can still have a good time.
Beyond the NFL allegiances, the whole bar came together to root for the Dodgers. I know that’s a common occurrence in L.A., but I still feel the need to point that out.
This was one of my favorite places in the city bar none.
33 Taps (Silverlake)
Address: 3725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
There are 4 different 33 taps in Los Angeles and while they have a lot of similarities I have to put them under different paragraphs.
Multiple fanbases flocked to this bar, but today I want to highlight the Left Coast Knicks. You see, Taps has become the go-to source for New York Knicks watch parties.
I went there for multiple stretches during the Knicks’ playoff run last season, and it was an electric environment no matter what. This 33 taps is smaller than the location. downtown, and I think that leads to a different fan experience. Think about going to a concert in a small venue versus a stadium concert. It’s kind of like that.
As usual, Taps has a good food and service, and the closeness of the tables makes it easy to make new sports friends in this environment.
I’ve been looking for more non-Lakers NBA spaces. So if you have any, feel free to let me know.
Sonny Mclean’s
Address: 2615 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
I’ve already been to Sonny McLean’s for Celtics and Patriots’ games. The first thing you notice about Sonny McLean’s is all the Boston sports memorabilia, all over the wall.
If there’s a New England area legend, it’s probably on the wall. There’s an Adam Vinatieri shrine and a picture of Larry Bird. Not to mention posters for numerous movies that take place in the Massachusetts area.
They sport a solid happy hour from around 4 to 7 with a variety of food, ranging from traditional Irish to classic American. It’s pretty normal here to knock down a couple os Sam Adams and watch some Boston Sports in Los Angeles. Sounds odd I know, but when the Celtics were in the NBA Finals, this was the place to be.
In terms of space, there’s a lot of tables, stools, seats and TVs. There’s even an outdoor patio.
If a big Boston sports game is on the calendar, this bar will be packed. I’ve been here when it’s super packed and when it’s just regular traffic. And both times the service was immaculate. I am not a Boston sports fan in the slightest, but I’m a Sonny McLean’s fan.
Backstage Culver City
Address: 10400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
This is a sports place for Seattle Seahawks fans in the Los Angeles area. I think the coolest part about this experience happened at halftime, when someone gave a halftime speech that made me want to run through a brick wall. (It’s in the video above) After the speech, they asked if there were any new Seattle Seahawks fans at the bar, and this segment felt so wholesome and welcome.
People were introducing themselves, saying hello, saying welcome. That sense of making an effort to make a community is really special.
Backstage also gave everyone in the place a free Seahawks shot (Idk what’s in it), which I thought was really awesome.
For food. I had the wings, fries, and the sliders. The sliders tasted like you were at a local cookout, which is one of my favorite ways to cook a burger.
They also have a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. I got something called a Blue Velvet, and I’ll drink it again. I really had a great experience at Backstage. It’s also a karaoke bar that has multiple nights. The karaoke is very popular, though, so you might have to wait a super long time to get to your song.
Busby’s West
Address: 3110 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
This Buffalo Bills’ place in Santa Monica, and overall, it was a really great time.
The first thing you’ll notice about this place is that there are a lot of rooms, a lot of different places to hang out in, and each room has its own little cool vibe.
I mostly hung out in the outdoor area with a lot of Bill’s fans. I’m not a Bills fan, but I had a Buffalo Sabres jersey that was my best disguise. For the food and drink portion, they have Labatt beer, and I also ordered a Pistol cocktail.
They have great lemon pepper wings, buffalo wings, and solid chicken fingers and fries.
I think my favorite part about this place was the fanbase itself. The Los Angeles Bill’s Backers have been doing this for almost 20 years now, and it seems to be a very coordinated fan base.
The Cantiki
Address: 11100 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
As a Cincinnati Bengals fan, I am extremely happy to find a Bengals bar in Los Angeles. This is The Cantiki in North Hollywood, and as you can see here, there’s a lot of TVs. There’s a big screen projected. But the one thing that stands out to me about this bar is definitely the service. They’re always so nice and friendly.
Moving to the menu. There are Cincinnati themed items.
As the name suggests, this is a tiki bar with a lot of colorful cocktails. I suggest the Tiger Punch, which is a rum-based cocktail.
For food, we got the breakfast burrito and really good fries. There was also some Cincy three-way chili that is so good.