Every sports bar has a story to tell, some through pints and pub grub, others through giant TVs and sound systems to knock socks off. We compiled this list of sports-sided watering holes to help keep fans connected to the action and each other.

4th Street Pizza
150 E Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.286.7500
4thstpizzaco.com
San Jose State students flock to this spot for the tasty pizzas and special deals, but 4th Street also has a beautiful wood bar to sustain one’s balance during Power Hour: $2 drinks from 11pm-12am.

5th Quarter Sports Bar & Grill
1373 Kooser Rd, San Jose 
408.265.7033
the5thquartersportsbar.com
No matter if it’s the Giants, Sharks or Warriors, 5th Quarter goes the extra mile by pulling out the projector for an expansive wall-to-wall screening.

Blue Chip
325 S First St, San Jose 
408.971.2898
thebluechipultra.com
This subterranean sports bar consistently draws the 49ers faithful. While the games might not be going their way this season, the cheesesteaks stay on point.

Britannia Arms
5027 Almaden Expy, San Jose
408.266.0550
brittaniaarms.com
This South Side institution is a go-to for soccer matches on early Saturdays—and a game of darts in between pints—but football Sundays can get just as rowdy.

Britannia Arms
173 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.278.1400
brittaniaarmsdowntown.com
If people are beating each other up for money on television, it’s absolutely going to be on every screen at The Brit. In addition to showing all of the premier fights, this downtown “pub” also serves as the best place to pregame before heading down the street to watch the Sharks play.

Grill Em Pizza & Sports Bar
497 Reynolds Cir, San Jose  
408.320.1179  
grillempizza.com  
A pleasant surprise in the middle of industrial nowhere, Grill Em’s happy hour features the mouthwatering staples—wings, sliders, beer and margaritas—from 2pm-close, Monday thru Friday.

Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life
301 W St. John St, San Jose  
408.295.5414
henryshilife.com
Meat, man. Lots of meat. But don’t forget the beer. Henry’s Hi-Life is a gem tucked away by the Shark Tank, and whether it’s football Sundays or hockey games on a Saturday afternoon, living the Hi-Life means a juicy steak and a beer.

Huntingtons Station
30 E Third St, Morgan Hill
408.779.3376 
huntingtonstationsportspub.com
Morgan Hill might not be known for its sports bars or a rabid fan base, but Huntington has a breezy patio to enjoy the weather, the game and some of the best fish and chips in the South Bay.

IBU Taproom & Bottle Shop
1422 Dempsey Rd, Milpitas  
taphunter.com  
Connected to a Stuft Pizza, IBU has been a smash hit since opening late last year. An extraordinary library of beers offers fans options they didn’t even know they wanted, while the dozens of TVs throughout the bar and restaurant make it easy to catch the game from any angle.

Jack’s Bar & Lounge
167 E San Taylor St, San Jose
408.287.5225
jacksbarsanjose.com
Let’s not put up any pretenses: Jack’s is a great place to get jacked up and watch football games on a Sunday. The staff doesn’t take crap and we love them for it. It’s part of Japantown’s undercover appeal: go hard or go home.

Jakes of Willow Glen
1074 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
408.287.7960
jakesrestaurants.com
Jakes isn’t exactly a sports bar. They do pizza, and they do it well. But a small bar and TVs around the restaurant make this neighborhood eatery a great place to bring the family and enjoy a game.

KnockOut Sports Bar & Grill
919 E Duane Ave, Sunnyvale
408.462.9556
kosportsgrill.com
We love pinball machines, and KnockOut is one of the few to fill this absurd vaccum in the South Bay sports bar scene. The burgers and pizza also hit the spot.

O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub
25 N San Pedro St, San Jose
408.947.8007
oflahertyspub.com
A true Irish pub, O’Flaherty’s has long been a favorite of Sharks fans before and after games—and maybe catch a bagpipe show after the final horn. Pints of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s (pronounce it properly!) flow steady for international soccer matches.

Parktown Pizza Company
350 S Park Victoria Dr, Milpitas
408.263.2131
parktownpizza.com
What do you know about Indian pizza? Don’t answer that—just know we’re nodding our heads yes. Parktown is a sweet spot to catch Sunday football while devouring a fiery menu of Indian-style pizzas—as well as traditional offerings—along with a robust list of suds.

Rookies Sports Lodge
1535 Meridian Ave, San Jose
408.445.2121
rookieslodge.com
A fantastic neighborhood sports bar where regulars have their own personalized mugs and an attractive young staff makes middle-aged galoots melt in their stools. And when it comes to TVs, Rookies doesn’t half-step with a 90-inch high-def TV and three 80-inchers. The sports lodge also has a reservable tailgate room equipped with a private bar.

Rookies Sports Lodge
99 S First St, San Jose
408.292.4300
rookieslodge.com
This sister sports lodge in downtown San Jose sprouted up last year, and it may lay claim to the most pixels per square foot of any bar in the valley. With a total of 30 TVs, Rookies’ wall-to-wall coverage and state-of-the-art sound system ensures you’ll never miss a “Hail Mary.” Not impressed? See the 120-inch screen with a 4K projector.

San Pedro Square Market
87 N San Pedro St, San Jose
Sports are a communal affair, and no venue in San Jose provides more space to link arms with fellow fans and scream bloody murder at blinking lights on the screen. In addition to solid Sunday football turnouts, the market also has played host to events put on by the Earthquakes and 49ers.

Smoke Eaters
29 S Third, San Jose
408.293.9976
smoke-eaters.com
San Jose State Spartans—the students mostly, but also some players—roll deep at this downtown chicken shack and sports bar, where everyone is welcome to suck down some beers and mash on wings and strips.

St Stephen’s Green
223 Castro St, Mountain View
50.964.9151
ststephensgreen.com
With 35 beers on tap and a baker’s dozen of high-def TVs, this Mountain View pub offers a great spot to catch Dubs games in between bites of tasty corned beef.

Stubby’s Sports Bar & Grill
707 First St, Gilroy
408.848.3455
You didn’t think we were going to forget Gilas, did you? Gilroy’s top sports bar, Stubby’s, used to be a spot to throw down peanut shells with authority. Now it’s a bit more refined but fans still go nuts for Sharks, serving $1 shots each time the boys in teal score a goal.

Tony P’s Bar and Grill
956 Park Ave, San Jose
408.947.777
The only bar in the quaint Midtown neighborhood, Tony P’s provides a laid-back spot to catch a game after work and shoot some pool in between shots.

The Garret
1777 Bascom Ave, Campbell
408.559.7930
thegarretrestaurant.com
Some places just feel especially comfortable, and The Garret fits the mold with its delicious pizzas and comfy booths. More than a decade of good games and good eats.

The Old Pro
541 Ramona St, Palo Alto
650.326.1446
oldpropa.com
Who says Stanford can’t party? Reserve a table for the whole crew at “The Pro,” where thoughtful ingredients, local craft beer and 24 big screens converge for college game day (and night).

The Old Wagon Saloon
73 N San Pedro St, San Jose 
408.971.9346
theoldwagonsaloon.com
The Wagon is where people go to get a little rowdy, eat some surprisingly tasty bar bites, slam down liters of beer and play shuffleboard like our ancestors wanted. The redesigned patio is also pretty sweet.

Yard House
300 Santana Row. San Jose
408.241.9273
yardhouse.com  
Santana Row wouldn’t normally be our first recommendation to catch a sporting event, but Yard House’s extensive beer selection and TVs make this an exeption. As a bonus, the significant other can take a hike and go shopping instead of sighing and scrolling Instagram.