The best sports bars in Miami to catch the big game

With gastropub smack in its name, there’s no surprise here that Batch stayed true to that theme, with chef-y versions of American fare in a trendy space absolutely overflowing with TVs. The Brickell location (there’s also a batch up in Delray) serves cocktails on tap and drink specials nightly, including a ladies-drink-free deal from 10pm to 1am Fridays.

A local favorite for its waterfront views, Shuckers serves fresh seafood and plenty of cold drinks. Over at the bar, you’ll find over 30 TVs playing whatever sport happens to be on at the time. But once you take into account the happy hour from 4 to 7pm daily—12 appetizers, $4 beers, $6 wells and $12 pitchers—and plenty of fried seafood, it’s kind of hard to beat.

Sneakerheads have a place to hang at this Wynwood sports bar. But even those not interested in kicked-up kicks and games on the TVs, the food at Grails is also worthy of the trip, full of elevated versions of bar food classics. If you’re here only for the footwear, don’t miss the signature cocktail served in a Jordan-esque sneaker cup you get to keep when you hit the bottom.

A Brickell favorite, American Social is where you’ll find decent food, drinks and views. The waterfront American Social is basically everything that was not annoying about America’s gastropub trend of yesteryear. On game day (especially for college football), American Social is buzzing. This is also a great place to go if you don’t really care much at all about what’s on the TV. There’s plenty to keep you occupied other than the scoreboard.

While yes, the game will be on all the big screens in every corner of the place, there are also lots of other reasons to hit this always-busy spot, which has several South Florida locations. They typically keep the music on instead of the droll sports announcers, making the place feel more like a party than a serious game-watching affair (a good compromise if you’re bringing along someone who doesn’t keep track of the downs and blocked shots). The food is good too, including a burger that’s half off on Mondays.

You know how Floridians have an undying love for Publix? Flanigan’s is kind of like that for South Floridians. This local chain and its wings, burger and ribs have a special place in all of our hearts. The specials here are awesome. They rotate each day from wings to shrimp to prime rib and more. Plus, there’s just a familiarity about this place that we love. It feels like slipping underneath a warm blanket that smells slightly like a deep fryer.

Oh, Sandbar. This reliable, boozy joint is occasionally overrun with thirsty college kids. Most days, though, it’s got your average sports bar crowd, who are there to enjoy the beer and fish tacos. If the Hurricanes are playing, you’ll certainly be surrounded by fellow drunk people rooting for the same team.

A modern sports bar with two locations in Downtown and Bayside, Black Market is a little sleeker than your average, smoky neighborhood sports den. But that’s certainly not a bad thing. Black Market sports a young, fun crowd and reps Miami teams hard. The bar serves some ambitious cocktails alongside your normal cold beer and there’s plenty of shiny flatscreen TVs. The menu hits all the bar food favorites, like fried pickles and nachos that can be smartly subbed for fries.

Mike’s is an insanely random absolutely-no-frills Irish sports bar on the ninth-floor rooftop of a random Miami apartment building. It’s weird—but in all the right ways. Miami locals with a pension for the odd and dive-y absolutely love Mike’s. In a rapidly developing chunk of Miami, it remains a defiant ode to sticky sports pubs, fried food and easy-to-pronounce beer. Where else in Miami can you find a first-class view with a working-class atmosphere?

Formerly known as Tom’s NFL, this is a true locals’ spot out west, right next to the airport. Don’t come to Tom’s in search of elevated bar bites or spicy/sour craft beers. Here, it’s beer, wings and football. Not only are there regular beer specials, but a Bud will set you back just $4.50, a pretty unheard of price point in the 305.

This Coconut Grove spot is a notorious UM hangout. But locals dig the budget-friendly dive too. Inside, there’s plenty of nautical wood, stuffed fish on the wall and TVs for viewing. This is a bar with a personality that doesn’t particularly care about impressing you—but is more than happy to get you drunk.

A local sports bar with seven outposts in South Florida, Sports Grill is pretty much as advertised: sports and a grill. Why make it complicated? There’s always a bargain at Sports Grill, including five wings and fries for $10 at lunch, $2 tacos on Tuesdays and 25 percent off for county workers on Tuesdays.