The Best Sports Bars in Sydney
Sydney is home to sports excellence and sports fans. Here are our top picks for the best sports bars in Sydney to catch a game.
The Best Sports Bars in Sydney
Sydney is home to sports excellence and sports fans. Here are our top picks for the best sports bars in Sydney to catch a game.
When game day is on the horizon, you'll likely be in the market for one of the best sports bar in Sydney to catch a game — thankfully, there's no shortage of excellent spots that can accommodate all the sports fans in the harbour city.
Sports bars are perfect for simulating the excitement and adrenaline you feel when you're at a game — with the bonus of not having to buy a ticket. So, whether you're looking to catch an international match with your mates or looking for a great spot to pre-game before heading to the stadium, we've got a list of the best sports bars in Sydney. Read on to see if your favourite spot made it to the list and, if not, maybe your new local will be found below.
Recommended reads:
The Best Pubs in Sydney
The Best Bars in Sydney
Sydney's Best Beer Gardens
The Best Sydney Restaurants
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One of the most iconic sports bars in Sydney, Sports Bar at the Star, is perhaps one of the biggest players in the sports bars game. Without a doubt, one of the biggest drawcards of this Pyrmont venue is its commitment to playing ALL sports live, no matter what time of the day they’re on. And no matter what you decide to watch, Sports Bar at The Star boasts six mega screens, over 50 LCD TVs and the behemoth: a 34 square metre LED screen — almost as good as seeing the action in person. Food-wise, the in-house restaurant Fuel offers a full menu of pub classics. This Sydney sports bar is huge, and there’s simply no way to miss the action.
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The Henson is the ultimate rugby league pub — located just metres from Henson Park, the home of the Newtown Jets. This pokies-free Marrickville boozer received a good spit and polish back in 2013, turning it into a beloved neighbourhood pub and boutique bottle shop. The front bar retains a lot of the historic pub’s old-school charm — complete with a billiards table, dart board and teles showing footy of all forms and cricket year-round.
In contrast to this somewhat rougher-around-the-edges space, the back dining room got a bit more of a glow-up — showcasing the original art deco features. If your team is down and you’re looking to escape the game, you can head out to the beer garden and get into one of the six burger options or share a few of the beloved roti tacos.
Image: Alana Dimou
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A Bondi institution for more than two decades, the Beach Road Hotel is one of the only venues the eastern suburbs for free live music, with bands blowing the roof off their bandroom most nights of the week — they get some pretty great acts, and they’re almost always free. On the weekend you’ll find the front bar packed with enthusiastic sports fans watching their game of choice on one of several screens, while outdoors you’ll discover the venue’s enormous, sun-soaked beer garden.
The latter has long been a preferred destination of locals and backpackers looking to enjoy a few bevs in the sunshine — and with more than 20 different beers available by the bottle, plus a recently refurbished cocktail bar, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something decent to drink. If you’re hungry, they’ve got a rock-solid menu and their daily specials include all your typical pub favourites, including tacos, cheeseburgers and, of course, the humble parma.
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York 75 is a classic sports bar in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, perfect for game day with your mates. The walls of this upscale college-style spot are adorned with an eclectic mix of vintage sports memorabilia from sports books to rackets and trophies. Boasting 20 screens (two in 3D) and bookable eight-seater booths — each with personal LED screens, so you won’t miss a minute of the action. The sports bar is all about a tailored ‘sport by request’ experience, so if they’re not playing what you want, ask and they’ll do their best to deliver. York 74, one of the best sports bars in Sydney, is also an excellent spot for catching up with your mates before you head to a game.
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Merivale added this pup-friendly locale to its collection of venues back in 2018, quickly cementing it as one of the best pubs in Sydney. The Vic on the Park is a Marrickville gem that welcomes the easygoing with an appreciation for street murals and creative pub fares. Enjoy the drinks and the dishes as you listen to live music or pick up casual basketball games on their outdoor court.
There are also a couple of viewing options for sporting fanatics here. You can nab a sport in the al fresco area where you’ll find a massive outdoor screen projecting the night’s NRL match onto the wall. Or grab a seat in the front bar which boasts multiple screens perched around the room offering something for everyone.
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Situated on the border of Paddington and Woollahra, you could be forgiven for assuming The Light Brigade was just a stuffy high-end venue for Sydney’s wealthy elite, but you’d be so wrong. The golden-hued art deco building has a historic facade that gives way to a slick and modern space with a range of long communal tables and booth seats for its boisterous, sports-mad clientele. When you’re this close to both the SCG and the SFS, it’s almost inevitable you become a stalwart for sports fans across any number of codes. On the ground floor, you’ll find the giant 103-inch plasma screen for catching all major sports games in full HD, plus there are smaller screens scattered all around the venue.
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Sydney’s famous late-night venue Cheers Bar is the perfect spot for sports of every kind. Along with huge daily discounts on food and drink, Cheers offers an upstairs mezzanine area with loads of pool tables, high tables and lounge seating. Cheers Bar’s identity as a premier sports bar came about in 1997 with the Sydney Olympics on the horizon. That acted as an impetus for Cheers to be what it aims for in its motto: “Where Good Sports Meet”. Never a day goes by without some sports on the schedule from international leagues to local sports matches.
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Public House Petersham wants to be your favourite local. It’s making a great claim, with a sun-drenched beer garden, natty wines, woodfire pizzas and coverage of the major sports games. The venue features two unique street art designs by Sydney artists Phibs and Numskull, booth seating, a community herb garden made from repurposed pallets and a shipping container beer garden. Expect loads of local craft beers on rotation as well as tasty cocktails and all-natural wines.
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Located along the bustling Kings Street Wharf with excellent views out to the harbour, The Sporting Globe x 4 Pines is much more than a sports bar — it’s a sporting destination. The venue has over 50 HD screens from which avid sports fans can watch their game of choice, live from around the globe. And there are even private booths for touchscreen TVs if you aren’t feeling the game planning on the bigger screens. The menu is bursting with tasty classics — with low-gluten and plant-based options provided. As its name suggests, the venue has partnered with Aussie craft beer purveyor 4 Pines. Be sure to toast to your team’s sporting success with the signature TSG x 4 Pines Australian Pale Ale or any of the other flagship 4 Pines offerings. Is beer not your thing? There are plenty of cocktails, spritzes, wines RTDs and non-alcoholic options on the menu, too.It’s an easy addition to this list of the best sports bars in Sydney.
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Churchills Sports Bar, on Anzac Parade, is a popular venue for those who like their sport with a wager on the side. With its giant screens and late-night hours airing everything from international football to UFC, Churchills is the place to be for die-hard sports fans. Racing features every day. But for everything else, Churchills provides a weekly email schedule, so you know exactly when your match will be screening. The establishment expanded in 2023, opening the Churchills Bar and Grill. It’s here you’ll find tantalising burgers, crab linguine, grilled rump steak and baby back pork ribs. Pub classics, like fish and chips and chicken schnitzel, are on the menu, too. And, drink and be merry while hanging out one of the best sports bars in Sydney.
Top Image: The Light Brigade
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