20 Sports Bars in Dallas To Watch the Olympics

The Olympic ceremonies will splash into Paris this week, dirty river water or not. We're certainly not one to judge the water quality of the riverways, c'est la vie, but we will certainly judge some other things. Like that breaking is a sport but still no baseball. 

Anyhoosie, as you might expect, many Dallas bars are feeling that Olympic spirit. Here are some places to catch all the revelry.

Backyard

505 N. Good Latimer Expressway (Deep Ellum)

Backyard is the wilder, younger sibling of Bottled Blonde. There's a giant outdoor space here with 45 TVs and a lot of games to play. Yes, they have mimosa towers and buckets of beer. Yes, you can bring your dog. If you want to have a table during the games, make a reservation at 469-984-3471.

Bryan Street Tavern

4315 Bryan St. (East Dallas)

This low-key Old East Dallas neighborhood bar offers from-scratch pizzas, better-than-it-should-be bar food and Philly cheesesteaks, plus a great patio. Inside, Bryan Street Tavern has pool, darts and shuffleboard. In addition to TVs throughout the space, there's a large-screen projector to watch all the sports. Oh, and you can bring your dog.

Chelsea Corner

4830 McKinney Ave.

This Knox neighborhood bar has been around since 1974 but has had so much Botox that it looks frankly stunning for being older than Jaws. Chelsea Corner has about two dozen large HD TVs around the space, both inside and out on the 2,500-square-foot, dog-friendly patio. Try the Buffalo Chicken Dip with smoky chicken, Buffalo sauce, queso, cheddar and cream cheese. Yes, seriously all that in one melty bowl. Join the online waitlist before heading over.

Christie’s

2817 Greenville Ave. (Lower Greenville)

Christie’s is perhaps the most essential sports bar in Dallas. We can’t even count the number of TVs here (rumor has it that it's more than 60). Just know, no matter where you sit you can see several TVs at once. Follow Christie’s on Instagram for daily specials. The menu runs from charcuterie boards to Frito Pie and dips galore. A party platter is loaded with favorites for $30.

FANZO Sports Bar

5977 Preston Road (Frisco)

FANZO Sports Bar is a 5,000-square-foot behemoth on all the sports steroids on Preston Road, just north of Lebanon Road. The two-story space has lots of seating and TVs for your crew. There are plenty of fun snacks, meals and more liquid than you know what to do with. Watch for brunch specials.

Ferris Wheelers Backyard

1950 Market Center Blvd.

Even if you're not interested in the games, the barbecue game at this large lovely outdoor space in west-ish Dallas is on point. Get The Texas Trinity Platter for $26 with brisket, two smoked spare ribs, a sausage line and one side. Or the Full Ride, half a pound of all smoked meats with two sides served family style, all of which is enough for up to six people.

Frankie's Downtown

1303 Main St. (Downtown Dallas)

Frankie's is a longtime downtown sports favorite. It can get pretty busy, but it's more fun that way. Service is always quick, and the food is always good. If you're downtown and want to be serious about your sports intake, this is your spot.

Happiest Hour

2616 Olive St. (Victory Park)

Happiest Hour near Victory Park is all in on the Olympics. From July 26 through Aug. 11 you can get $30 beer buckets while watching 40-plus TVs and a 30-foot LED screen. They'll have all the games daily. Chill at the big bar downstairs or up on the rooftop, plus a restaurant and a few lawn areas. Create your own Olympic sport by seeing who can eat a foot-long fried cheese stick the fastest.

Hero by HG

3090 Nowitzki Way (Victory Park)

Hero sits in the shadows of the American Airlines Center. It fancies itself “a modern sports bar and restaurant with a vintage flair” and that’s fine. You can be whoever you want to be, HERO. There's a 24-foot HD screen and TVs throughout the really large restaurant and bar. This space is big, fits a lot of people and can get packed. Make reservations or you can just try your luck. I’m excited for you. You’re gonna have so much fun here.

Katy Trail Ice House

3127 Routh St.

The Katy Trail Ice House provides a cross-section of people-watching, great outdoor space and sports. The food is good. Perched along the Katy Trail jogging trail, this large restaurant and bar will be packed any day the weather is even close to decent. They always have the sports games on the tellies, flowing throughout with sound on. Try a Deep Eddy lemon vodka Blue Moon Lemonade. Damn, that sounds so good right now. There' a full food menu and barbecue Thursday through Sunday until they run out. Amazingly for the large space, service is always quick.

Nodding Donkey

2900 Thomas Ave.

This neighborhood bar with a from-scratch kitchen has about 20 TVs. There's also some patio space that is open when the weather behaves. From brisket queso to stacked nachos, there are all manner oy staples, and some not-so-common items, like Donkey Balls. The Purple Nurple and Donkey Juice are sure to keep you hydrated (don’t even ask what’s in those, as if it matters). On Sundays you can (but shouldn’t) get $5 Jager shots from 1 p.m. to close.

Old Monk

2847 W. Henderson Ave.

The Old Monk is a classic. It's a favorite. It's a beaut, Clark. The dark cozy pub is adorned with old lighting fixtures from a Pennsylvania monastery. There's also a big screen with the sound on, so shhhhhh! JK. You can be loud. This pub keeps a curated selection of craft beers on draught, plus there are 50 selections in cans from England, Ireland Germany and Belgium. The fish and chips never miss and the burgers are superior.

Ozona Grill & Bar

4615 Greenville Ave.

Have you seen Ozona's patio big-screen TV — from an airplane? Because if the flight pattern is right, you likely could. There's a new ginormous screen on the patio of this place, which we already have long loved for the brunch bloody mary bar. There are seasonal coolers and heaters outside to make game days pleasant. Plus the burgers, nachos and chicken fried steak are all spot on.

The Porch

2912 N. Henderson Ave.

The Knox-Henderson staple isn't a sports bar, but they'll have full coverage of Olympic events and will offer some specials from July 26 to August 11. Check it out during happy hour for 50% off all signature cocktails, Monday through Friday, 3–6 p.m. On the weekends, check out some new brunch options that include a biscuit sandwich, pastry board for the table and complimentary bloody mary shots. Make reservations through Resy.

PHD – Pour House Dallas

1300 W. Davis St. 

This low-key sports bar has a large (temp-controlled) patio and 26 TVs great for watching all the sports. Prices at PHD are one of the many appealing features here; there's not a plate on the menu for more than $20. They have nachos, burgers, wings and more, and most of the house cocktails are under $10. Check out the always-updated specials for any other day of the week.

Stan's Blue Note

2908 Greenville Ave.

Certified one of the best places to watch sports in Dallas, Stan's is decked in TVs and big energy. This humble Lower Greenville joint has been open since 1952 and hasn't missed a single sports event in all that time — probably (don't Google it). Get burgers and big platters of appetizers. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m.

Sushi Marquee

3625 The Star Blvd., Frisco

First of all, Sushi Marquee at The Star in Frisco has 30 TVs with a fancy sound system, but have you seen the giant sushi specials? They have platters good for large groups and also some steak. This spot is fun because it's sushi with a side of hip-hop, sports and pop culture all in sneakers. You might want to make reservations ahead of time.

Texas Live!

1650 E. Randoll Mill Road, Arlington

To call Texas Live! a sports bar doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s a sports bar conglomeration with a movie screen and fog machines. The food is what you’d expect at such a place; not from scratch or unforgettable by any means, but it will get the job done on a day when the game is the focus. Plus other eateries surround the command center, like Troy's (yes, that Troy) and Lockhart Barbecue. You can reserve a table in advance, and there’s a charge on some days, but that’s because it’s just such a big deal. Someone gotta pay for the fog machines.

Will Call

2712 Main St. (Deep Ellum)

Will Call is a neighborhood bar in Deep Ellum with a boisterous local crowd and an amazing menu. Go for the sports, go back for the wings and cheesesteaks. Party tip: Get the Kool-Aid and Ketchup, which is french fries soaked in pickle brine with from-scratch ketchup made with Kool-Aid powder. Tastes like summertime and wheelies. Service is fast and on point, and the drink prices won't make you regret life the next day.

Ye Old Scarlet Pumpernickel Tavern

1402 Main St. (Downtown)

The Scarlet Pump is a gritty but classy downtown neighborhood bar and restaurant. This is our favorite down-low spot because of the fantastic kitchen and chill sports bar vibes, with a good craft beer and whisky selection. The menu isn't typical bar food; it's hearty homestyle dishes from a curious selection of countries. For example: there's a chicken schnitzel, a meatloaf plate, Salisbury steak, loco moco and a Monte Cristo. Follow them on Facebook for food specials.