A Guide to California Sports Bars

AhhhâÂ?¦California: blue skies, warm weather, sandy beaches, surfers, and women in bikinis. This is what comes to mind when most people think of California, and rightly so. What many people don’t realize, however, is that California is also the perfect place to be a sports fan. It was not until I moved here that I realized it myself. Growing up in New York and spending most of my life on the east coast, I became accustomed to sporting events ending around midnight. In California, you will find great weather, great sports bars, and the perfect time zone to watch all your games.

When I first arrived in California, I remember waking up one Sunday morning, pouring some cereal, and turning on the television. I think I spilled my cornflakes when I saw an NFL game on TV and it was already midway through the first quarter. I knew I was home. From then on, I began waking up earlier on Sundays, so I could catch the pre-game shows. As long as I was in front of the TV by 9am, I could turn on FOX and catch JB, Terry, Howie, and Jimmy preview the day’s action and get fired up for the games ahead. If I woke up too early, I could simply switch over to ESPN and watch Boomer, Young, Irvin, and Jackson. This was just the beginning. I now was able to sit and watch football from the pre-game show at 9am until the Sunday night game ended around 9pm. Twelve hours of football and I would not miss a single minute of sleep.

From then on, I began to realize all of the other benefits of being a sports fan on the west coast. On the east coast, I would miss the end of playoff baseball games that began at night or else I would pay the price for staying up late. Not any more; now I could watch every World Series in its entirety. West coast basketball games now entered my life. Before, they were like a tropical vacation on a deserted island; an appealing idea, but something not likely to happen. In addition, Saturdays became just like the Sundays I described, except filled with college sports.

So, now that you know why California is a great place to be a sports fan, let me tell you about some great sports bars where you can watch the games. Whether you find yourself in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego, there is a sports bar listed below for you to watch the big game.

Bayside Sports Bar and Grill: The best sports bar in San Francisco is located at 1787 Union Street. You will find great wings and bar food, a pool table, dart boards, 41 TVs, and a lively crowd to watch the games. On Saturdays, during college football season, there is usually a line out the door. http://baysidesportssf.com

McCovey’s Restaurant: A shrine to former Giants great and hall of famer Willie McCovey, this Walnut Creek sports bar and grill is filled with priceless sports memorabilia. The inside of the restaurant is designed to replicate AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. Order the barbecue pork nachos and a Fat Tire draft and enjoy the games. http://www.mccoveys.com

Barney’s Beanery: This sports bar is a Hollywood institution that has been around since 1920. Located at 8447 Santa Monica Boulevard, Barney’s Beanery offers a pool table, arcade games, and an extensive menu that includes American classics and 200 varieties of beer. http://www.qsbilliards.com/barneysbeanery/default.asp

Seau’s The Restaurant: All-Pro Linebacker Junior Seau owns this sports bar and grill, which has consistently won awards for being the best in San Diego. With great food, 60 TVs, and an enormous projection screen TV, Seau’s The Restaurant is the place to be if you can’t make it to the stadium.
http://www.seau.com