The Best Non-Sports Bars & Restaurants to Watch Sports in Los Angeles

This Alhambra destination from Clay Harding, Chuck Fata, Mike Fata and Brian Sugita is celebrated for their craft beer program, which features 38 rotating taps and themed flights. But people may not know that 38 Degrees is also a great place to watch a game. A row of flat screen TVs hang above the bar, providing sight lines from almost anywhere in the restaurant. Executive chef James Boyle helms a fairly ambitious food program. Sure, he serves burgers but the buns are made in-house and the Angus beef is ground three times. Some entrees rise above the comfort food category, like braised pork cheek and fried egg on soy coconut dirty rice; and roasted duck served with a five-spice Belgian waffle. Since beer gets so much play at 38 Degrees, the beverage even bleeds into the dessert menu, with chocolate mousse spiked with Imperial stout and topped with espresso cream.

Partners Jason Bernstein and James Starr, who found success with The Golden State, a burger-centric Fairfax café, turned to Compton meat maven Kevin Bludso for this Hollywood spin-off. The space houses communal picnic tables and more than 10 flat screen TVs ranging in size from 40 inches to 64 inches, all tuned to sports when games are live. Meat arrives unadorned in quarter-pound increments, on sandwiches or as part of massive trays. Brisket sports a juicy, peppery crust. Pulled pork and cartilage-rich rib tips are also popular, as are sides like burnt orange baked beans folded with brisket chunks, onion-laced bread-and-butter pickles, and mac and cheese crafted with molten mozzarella, cheddar and Béchamel sauce. To drink, Bludso’s has Mint Juleps and PBR on tap.

At Boneyard Bistro, chef-owner Aaron Robins features wood-smoked meats and California influenced entrees. In 2011, he expanded into his brother’s running store, and bar manager Rory Snipes stepped in to make sure the craft beer and bourbon program is always on point. Boneyard now has the most impressive craft beer program in L.A., with 42 rotating draft beers and more than 100 bottles. Snipes organizes craft beers by style and lists tap offerings on wall-mounted menu boards. Chef Robins also offers fun, beer-friendly bar bites like Kobe beef chili-filled donuts, fried mac and cheese, and double-hickory smoked bacon sticks. On Boneyard’s bar side, you’ll find three flat screen TVs placed strategically on the walls, making it easy to watch a game from a table or the bar.

Chef-owner Tony Alcazar is a star in Uptown Whittier thanks to his efforts at The Bottle Room, a brick-walled gastropub that he owns with two firefighters. The establishment features three 52-inch flat screen TVs and carries the DIRECTV premium sports package. Alcazar only cranks up the sound for especially big games like the Super Bowl and the World Series, meaning it’s possible to catch a regular season game with some of his comfort food, and if you’re smart, a craft beer. The Bottle Room has one of the top beer programs in the 562, with a regular schedule of brewmaster dinners and tap takeovers. To eat, The Bottle Room’s burgers are beasts (but balanced) and the flatbreads are fun. It’s also worth considering seasonal fare like seared day boat scallops with butternut squash gnocchi.

Kaveh Karimi built on the success of his family’s Santa Monica Pizza Kitchen by opening this brick-fronted restaurant with exposed rafters and rotating craft beer in freeway-friendly Palms. The Doughroom has two flat screen TVs above the bar and busts out a projector for playoff games and series finals, though they keep the action on mute. Staying true to its name, The Doughroom specializes in pizza and pasta, though they also sprinkle in salads, wings and a Palms Burger to honor the neighborhood. Karimi is a craft beer fiend, so he’s always rotating his taps. The Doughroom also hosts monthly brewery events from top So Cal producers like Beachwood, El Segundo and Pizza Port.

Mike Gin and Don Tahara revived Little Tokyo’s historic Chop Suey building as Far Bar in 2005. The space now houses a unique patio that’s sandwiched between high brick walls and features strings of paper lanterns and light bulbs. Far Bar also features 12 different TV screens, most 60 inches or more, including two projectors that run at night in the lounge and on the patio. In total, they’re simultaneously able to show up to four different channels. For playoff games and for Sunday NFL games, they’ll turn up the sound. Otherwise, guests can enjoy their craft beer and eclectic pan-Asian dishes like wasabi fries and bacon fried rice as background images for conversations with friends.

This Lettuce Entertain You pizza chain is fronted by Chef Jeff Mahin and now spans from Santa Monica to Maryland. In addition to Mahin’s signature pizzas, the menu boasts a selection of small plates, house salads and sandwiches as well as a daily Chef’s Plates menu featuring house-made pastas, crudos, simply prepared proteins and seasonal vegetables. Numerous screens at the Hollywood location are tuned into L.A. sports events, Monday Night Football and all the big games.

Stella Barra serves four different breakfast pizzas during weekend brunch. Each pizza promises “locally milled flour, filtered water, sea salt and fresh yeast” and hosts five scrambled eggs baked in their deck oven. The chewy crust on the chilaquiles pizza hosts Parmesan cream sauce, crispy tortilla strips, sharp Grana Padano, Fresno chiles, scallions and tangy Cholula hot sauce.

Tony Yanow breathed new life into Burbank by delivering a sustainable, eco-friendly upgrade to this neighborhood bar in 2011. Banquettes, high tops and bar seats all provide views of four TV screens, which range from 32 to 51 inches and are always tuned to either ESPN or a game. Craft beer is a key draw at Tony’s Darts Away, with 38 kegs all sourced from California and organized by style. To minimize waste, they carry no bottles. Sausages are especially popular, including several vegan varieties, all available with toppings like griddled peppers and onions, avocado lime puree and/or sharp aged cheddar. Pyntch’s Mad Sweet Potato Fries, tossed with maple-chipotle sauce and crushed almonds, and house-made potato chips with pico de gallo seasoning, are both great-time game snacks.

Ryan Ballinger helms The York, located in Highland Park and regarded as one of L.A.’s leading gastropubs. Along with its industrial design and brick walls, The York features two television screens - the largest spans 70 inches - which allows for two simultaneous games. The sound is off most of the time, unless the majority of customers show interest. Besides Dodgers, Rams and Lakers games, expect to see every World Cup game in 2022. The York consistently has one of the neighborhood’s strongest craft beer programs, including a rotating cask. Don’t get too attached to any particular beer, since they change constantly. You can rely on the steady comfort food, including burgers and steak frites. Ballinger added, “I'd like to promise everyone that they'll go on their first date with their soul mate there, but certain things I cannot promise.”