rank

name

address

city

phone

notes

 central

4

Posse East  

2900 Duval St

Austin, TX 78705

512-477-2111

Housed in a building that was a gasoline station in the late 1930s, Posse East is a popular UT-area watering hole. There are tables and chairs with weather-beaten umbrellas outdoors and large-screen televisions (showing only sports--ideally Longhorn games), pinball machines and two dartboards inside. A must for slackers and connoisseurs of no-frills dining. The patio offers an unobstructed view of University of Texas life--students, frat brothers and panhandlers are all in view. Prices are low. Breakfast tacos are tasty and filling. Try the breakfast plate for migas or huevos rancheros. As the sun begins to set, the beer starts flowing (many, many labels available and daily specials), and the nachos get munched. Happy hour is from 2pm to 7pm on weekdays. Grab a brew, pull up a chair and enjoy the view. 

5

Shoal Creek Saloon  

909 N Lamar Blvd

Austin, TX 78703

512-477-0600

The most family-oriented sports bar in town, serving various Cajun specialties in an environment that's more like an old-fashioned diner than a frat bar. There are just five television screens in the place, but they're all in plain view and easy to hear. On Sundays in the fall, the local New Orleans Saints club gathers to watch its team. The chow here is substantial and good. In addition to the usual burgers, fries and nachos, Shoal Creek serves smoked duck and sausage gumbo and oyster and catfish po'boys. The Triple Play (fried catfish, fried oysters, fried shrimp) and the Reynaldo burger, with grilled onions and jalapenos, are highly recommended.

9

The Tavern  

922 W 12th St

Austin, TX 78703 

512-474-7496

The Tavern is located in a two-story, green and white half-timbered faux-chalet that dates back to the Prohibition era. Outside is a classic neon sign announcing that the place is "air conditioned," while inside there's a graffiti-marked bar.If you're not happy with your favorite team, or just want to get away from the noise for awhile, the upstairs level has zl tables, video games (including a vintage version of Donkey Kong Jr.) and a pinball machine. They also have a jukebox, featuring the likes of James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Bauhaus and Pearl Jam.  The Tavern is headquarters for virtually every sports fan club in town, so if your team is playing and you can't get tickets, you're bound to find a friend at this bar. Get there early, eat and drink heartily and root for your team.

17

Crown & Anchor Pub

2911 San Jacinto Blvd.

Austin, TX 78705

512-322-9168

Beer drinking is somewhat of a minor religion in Austin, and places such as the Crown & Anchor are its temples. With more than 100 varieties of bottled beer from all over the world and a generous selection of micro and macrobrews on tap, the Crown & Anchor is like a beer drinker’s museum. Housed in the old Beach nightclub in the heart of southern Hyde Park, the Crown sprawls out over its wooden deck, offering scads of picnic-table-style seating. It’s the perfect place for rowdy group gatherings or for just enjoying a few games of pinball and some Alsatian beer 

25

Dirty Martin's Place

2808 Guadalupe St.

Austin, TX 78705

512-477-3173

Some of the University of Texas' most beloved institutions cannot be found on campus or in its orientation brochure. Dirty Martin's Place, a staple for students and Central Austinites since 1926, still serves the same hamburgers, fries and shakes that made it popular in the '20s. Dirty's signature item -- the oddly named "Kum-bak" hamburger -- is a greasy beef patty and a buttered bun with assorted dressings. Other offerings include beer and such diner favorites as chicken-fried steak, pork chops, egg sandwiches, onion rings, salads and grilled chicken sandwiches. This spot's filled with UT memorabilia spanning most of the 20th century, and you can sit in booths or at the counter (if you're looking for an authentic diner experience). Still in its original location, Dirty's is within walking distance of UT, as well as the West Campus and North University neighborhoods. -- Chip Rankin

 downtown

2

Logan's on Sixth  

200 E 6th St

Austin, TX 78701

512-236-0300

Dark wood, brass railings, 10 big-screen TVs (four of them are 61 inches wide) and a well-stocked bar attract frat boys and older, more moneyed businessmen. DJs morph sound effects into dead spots in games to keep the action at a fever pitch. There's never a dull moment, and if you're having a bad time, it's your own fault. Predictably, Logan's serves hearty bar fare, including burgers, buffalo wings and steak wraps. To wash down your food and wet your whistle after a long round of cheering, the bar has all sorts of beer, as well as drink specials at certain times and in connection with special events. 

6

Marriott Sports Bar

701 E. 11th St.

Austin, TX 78701

512-478-1111

Features several big-screen televisions and a satellite hook-up to catch all the big games

7

Copper Tank

504 Trinity St

Austin, TX 78701

512-478-8444

This bar tries to be something for everyone and generally succeeds. At what other sports bar can you lasso a dance partner if you lose interest in a game on the television? Here there's a separate area to dance with your new best friend. And coincidentally, the televisions are stationed in just the right place so you can peek at the tube and catch the latest score while still cutting a rug. The Copper Tank offers four pool tables (two regulation-sized and two of the boxy, quarter-eating types), a foosball table and ample opportunities for people watching. If you like strong beer, order the Big Dog Brown Ale or the Firehouse Stout. If you're afraid of the dark, you might enjoy Copper Lite, River City Raspberry or White Tail Pale Ale. 

13

Buffalo Billiards

201 E. Sixth St.

Austin, TX 78701

512-479-7665

Looking for a little action on Sixth Street? Buffalo Billiards, named the nation's best new pool hall by Billiards Digest, offers a laid-back environment with plenty of pool tables, dartboards and swinging singles, not to mention a ridiculously large billiard slab. Play darts with an interesting lineup of patrons ranging from locals to yokels, or hone your skills at one of many foosball tables (yeah, that's the game with the little wooden soccer players you spin around). Though Buffalo Billiards sports an Atomic Cowboy Lounge theme and tends to attract the "pool crowd," it's also home to the Orbit Lounge, a haven of techno music. -- Barrett Brown 

16

Fado Irish Pub  

214 W 4th St

Austin, TX 78701

512-457-0172

19

Bitter End Brewery

311 Colorado St

Austin, TX 78701

512-478-2337

The Bitter End sports a large dining room with excellent cuisine, a sizable patio and a long bar area with plenty of seating. But the real find is the lounge area off to the left as you enter. A fairly small space, the lounge takes advantage of its cozy dimensions by allocating three separate levels, each with comfortable seating and perfect lighting, for your lounging pleasure. This can be a romantic date locale or a forum for raucous rancor, depending on which level one chooses. The beer selection includes popular favorites as well as a full range of Bitter End microbrews. And if you have a chance to venture into the main dining room, the Bitter End offers one of the finest gourmet menus in town.

20

District Bar and Grill

301 West 6th Street

Austin, TX 78701

512-476-2399

It's hip, it's classy and it's a sports bar. Catch a game on their 100" TV or play a game of your own in their billiards room .Food: Brick-oven pizza, hamburgers, chicken and good all-around bar food at good prices. 

21

BW-3  

218 E. 6th Street

Austin, TX 78701

512-472-7227

BW-3 is one of those rare places that is as enjoyable during the day as at night. Its chicken wings are some of the best in Austin and, combined with an uncrowded interior and the ever-present sports on TV, BW-3 supplies all the ingredients for a pleasant lunch hour. After the sun goes down the pace picks up. Crowds begin to fill this 6th Street bar and the noise level rises to the expected din. Now the 23-ounce beers selling for a mere $3.25 become the popular attraction. Also a crowd-pleaser is the interactive trivia game, NTN, which offers players a chance to test their knowledge against other barflies across the country. 

24

The Forum  

408 Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78701

512-476-2900

 north

1

Legends Sports Bar

8901 Business Park Dr

Austin, TX 78759 

512-343-0888

Plenty of television screens and some pretty good food highlight one of the better sports bars in Austin. Located inside the Holiday Inn.

3

Texas Sports Bar  

9504 North IH-35

Austin, TX 78753

512-837-1671

All seats in the bar face one of the many televisions and a nice sound system lets you actually hear what the announcers have to say. Beer prices may be a hair higher than other similar bars, but the wait staff is ultra-attentive, so the pitcher is never empty too long. 

8

Elmo's

200 Buttercup Creek Bl

Cedar Park, TX

512-257-2342

It's not a flashy place, but a fair number of regulars call it home. Elmo's sports a traditional pub atmosphere that's suited for a more mature crowd -- the average age of patrons here is probably about 35. The customers, mostly male professionals and high-tech employees, show up for an evening full of games and camaraderie; they show up to play shuffleboard, pool and, of course, for a little drinking. Friday nights bring a mix of live bands that play Southern rock, country, jazz and blues -- the same music that gets played on the speakers during the week. Shuffleboard tournaments are held every Tuesday; and if your game is pool, come around on Thursday nights, when patrons spar to be that week's champion -- while others just vie for turns on the karaoke machine. -- Barrett Brown   (Photo: David P. Griffin) 

10

Texas Sports Palace

9504 N I H 35

Austin, TX

512-837-1671

Auggie said "There is also the "Texas Sports Palace" (or something like that) that is the sports bar inside of "Showplace Lanes" bowling alley. They have 10 or 12 screens and show all of the games every week of the NFL season. Fans of the Cowboys are, thankfully, in the VAST minority here! While each Sunday there are approx 100 or so Steelers fans, the Bills fans usually number about 30 - 60. Most, if not all, are ex-patriots of the WNY area. Showplace Lanes is located on the west frontage 

11

Dave & Buster's  

Mopac at Hwy 183

Austin, TX 73301 

512-346-8015

Huge selection of video and arcade games in opulent surroundings

14

Rhino's & Jocks

13450 Research Blvd.

Austin, TX 78750

512-335-5625

Description: About what you'd expect from a modern sports bar. Seating along the bar is fairly limited, but vacancies rotate enough so that you can probably find a spot sooner or later. Food: Pretty good, as sports bars go. The Safari Salad with grilled chicken was quite tasty.

15

Hooters  

2700 S IH 35

Round Rock, TX

512-341-9464

Big breasted women

23

Cool River

Austin, TX

Huge 10' $39,000 screen, opulent, cigars, pool, high class surroundsings and food

 south

12

Warehouse Saloon

509 E. Ben White Blvd

Austin, TX 78704 

512-443-8799

18

Aussies Bar & Grill 

306 Barton Springs Rd

Austin, TX 78704

512-480-0952

Very casual pub with a sports theme.

22

Trophy's Sports Bar

2008 S Congress Ave.

Austin, TX 78704

512-447-0969

The designation "sports bar" couldn’t be more misleading in describing Trophy’s. Though it does have a big-screen TV in the corner, it’s been known to show anything from reruns of 'Hawaii 5- 0' to daytime soaps. What Trophy’s does offer is a relaxed atmosphere with tons of character. This is a place to drink cheap and let your hair down; with a fair-sized stage and a steady stream of bands, it’s a great place to see live music.  Traditionally a hangout for neighborhood folks and a sometime biker bar, Trophy’s recently invited the punk rock community into the fold when it allowed Randall Stockton of the Bates Motel to take over some of the booking duties. It seems like a recipe for success with the rock 'n' roll crashings of the Chumps bleeding into the roar of motorcycle engines warming up for the ride home.