This popular Richardson gastropub boasts a killer craft beer list, a pooch-friendly patio, and enough flat screens that you won't miss a minute of action regardless of where you are sitting. Beyond non-stop televised sports, Café Gecko also offers free live music every Wednesday night, weekday happy hours, and half-price appetizers from 11 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday. And that's before you even get to the food, which includes everything from blackened chicken nachos to hand-tossed pizzas, shrimp po'boys and enchiladas. Pro tip: This place fills up on game days, so arrive early to get a seat.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Solid food and booze options, reasonable prices and friendly service make Cafe Gecko a favorite for sports fans.
Ilene's expert tip: Score $1 off wells, drafts and wine during Happy Hour, from 3-7 p.m., Monday-Friday. Café Gecko also offers $12 topless mimosas during brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Going strong since 1952, Stan's is always hopping with daily drink specials, karaoke, trivia contests and everything from shuffleboard to pool to darts. But the place really switches into high gear on game days when you can score free food and happy hour prices on drinks plus catch non-stop sports action on more than 30 big-screen TVs. And did we mention the extensive beer selection, including around 100 types of bottled beer and over 50 different options on tap? Keep an eye out for Meatball Monday, when you can score spaghetti and meatballs for $6.99.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Stan's Blue Note is the best place in town to watch college games.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour is offered Monday-Friday from 4- 7 p.m. and includes $1 off all drafts and bottles, $4 wells and $5 calls. Check the website for other daily specials and events.
Located in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood, this upscale gastropub not only offers a solid menu of food and booze, but it's also an excellent place to watch a game. Expect to find 19 large HD screens broadcasting non-stop sports action both indoors and outback on a massive, dog-friendly patio. Food options include everything from poke tacos to gourmet burgers, artisan pizzas and braised short ribs. Libations run the gambit from wine, beer and craft cocktails to an extensive lineup of scotch and American whiskeys. And if that's not enough to keep you entertained, there's also billiards, Jenga and corn hole.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Chelsea Corner is a great place to watch sports with your pooch.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour is Monday-Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m. and Friday from 11a.m.- 6:30 p.m., and includes $7 select shareables; $7 specialty cocktails; $6 house red, white, and rosé wines; $6 Tito's, Jack Daniels, Tanqueray, Bacardi, and Dulce Vida calls as well as $5 drafts and $3 domestic bottles.
Home to Dallas' largest rooftop terrace, this massive restaurant-bar has it all: killer skyline views; a ground floor patio with back yard games, and more than 15 flat-screen TVs for ultimate game watching. Of course, a stellar roster of food, which includes sharable team eats (think: nacho towers, 5 lb. burgers, buckets of gourmet wings and loaded fries) plus family-style cocktails, wines on tap and over fifty selections of beer, only adds to the appeal. Wait, there's more. They also regularly host viewing events for games; run specials on Jack Daniels when the Dallas Stars are playing at home, and offer happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Happiest Hour is a good place to come watch a game when you're with friends who like to share.
Ilene's expert tip: DJs are in the house Thursday through Saturday nights. There's also a weekend brunch on offer from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
This sports bar/restaurant has your game day action covered with tons of flat screens streaming every possible sports network available. This means you can expect to see everything from football to live boxing and MMA events. But you don't have to be a sports fan to get into the spirit here. Along with a kitchen cranking out Creole-fusion fare (think andouille pizzas and fried shrimp BLTs), the bar offers around 20 beers on tap as well as wine and tasty tipples like mint juleps and metro mules. Bonus perks include drink and food specials every night of the week plus live music on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: 504 Bar & Grill offers some of the best sports watching options in Dallas.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour is offered Monday to Friday (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.). There are also daily specials on food and drinks listed on the website.
Within spitting distance from the south entrance of American Airlines Center, this sprawling, 25,000-square-foot sports bar and restaurant boasts a 540-seat dining area and a 560-seat, open-air/climate-controlled covered patio plus 6 different bars and TVs galore (including a 24 foot-LED wall). Not only is the space massive, but the menu is also, too. The restaurant caters all the Dallas Stars practices, so expect healthy options such as build-your-own bowls alongside burgers, sandwiches, tacos and steak frites. Booze-wise, there's a lengthy list of wine, craft beer, cocktails and frozen libations. Did we mention there's an 800-square-foot retro arcade here as well? Worth noting, this place is always packed when there's a game on.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Hero is great for groups, plus it offers something for every type of palate and budget.
Ilene's expert tip: Hero will validate parking tickets from the lot across from the W Hotel. Guests can also valet at the door for $5 with validation (three hours). Score signature cocktails, frozen drinks, wine and draft beer for $3-$7; and appetizers for $5.50-$8 during Happy Hour, from 3-6 p.m.â" Monday through Friday.
With twenty TVs (including an 80-inch and two 70-inch flat screens), a great craft beer selection, $5 shot specials every day and an indoor-outdoor layout, it's no wonder this Uptown watering hole always draws a crowd on game day. But, that's not the only reason folks come. The Nodding Donkey also scores big points in the food arena, with a chef-driven menu featuring everything from house-smoked chicken wings to brisket enchiladas, slow-roasted pulled pork sandwiches and burgers. And for those who enjoy doing more than just watching the action, there's arcade games, giant Jenga, Golden Tee, darts and Connect Four.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: If you're looking for a rollicking sports bar with stellar food and booze, this is the place.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour is offered Monday through Friday 4-7 p.m., plus there are daily drink and food specials.
Talk about a game-watching oasis. This upscale spot inside the downtown Omni Hotel seems more like a country club lounge than a sports bar, offering more than 70 high-definition TVs (including a 16-foot standalone screen), plush seating areas and private game-watching booths equipped with sound-isolating technology. In addition to a variety of craft brews, wine and football-themed cocktails, the menu features elevated pub fare, like Cajun shrimp tacos and BBQ brisket nachos. Bonus: There's also complimentary billiards, cornhole and Jenga. Double bonus: They offer $20 beer buckets (five beers) on game days.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: The Owner's Box is for sports fans who desire more of a VIP experience.
Ilene's expert tip: Note that after 9 p.m., guests must be over 21 to enter.
Dubbed "The Cheers of Uptown," this sports bar is arguably the king of all Dallas sports bars. Game-day drink specials? Check. Pool tables and pinball? Check. TVs galore? Check. In fact, Christie's has TVs lined up as far as the eyes can see, with over 50 HD TV's and multiple screens located both inside and out on the patio. Plus, they've got killer wings as well as all the essential game-watching grub, ranging from nachos, mozzarella sticks and jalapeno poppers to burgers, sandwiches and chicken fried steak. And who can fault a place that serves ice cream floats spiked with whiskey?
Recommended for Sports Bars because: Christie's is where to go for an endless supply of team spirit.
Ilene's expert tip: Christie's offers $2 street tacos every night from 10 p.m. to midnight as well as nightly specials on food and booze.
Dallas has no shortage of places to catch a game, but there are few as inviting as this bi-level watering hole located in the historic Davis Building downtown. It's got comfortable seating; daily drink specials; loads of TVs (44 HD big-screens) equipped with all the major DirecTV sports packages; and food that goes beyond your usual pub fare. We're talking everything from ahi tuna nachos to artisan pizzas and pesto crusted salmon. They also have an inviting cocktail menu and twenty Texas craft beers on tap. Oh, and there's live music, burlesque shows, trivia nights and a sultry speakeasy tucked away downstairs.
Recommended for Sports Bars because: D Magazine named Frankie's the best sports bar in Dallas.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour is offered from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and all day on Tuesdays. There are also food specials on offer from 5-7 p.m. during the week.