Where to Watch Sports OUTSIDE in San Francisco
Last updated: October 2nd, 2020
With the NFL, college football, and NBA finals off-and-running, there are so many games to watch on TV these days! Since we can’t actually play contact sports right now or even go to traditional indoor bars to watch the pros compete in bubbles, we set out to find all outdoor bars and establishments with TVs that are playing the games. There’s no better way to spend NFL Sunday right now than with some cold beers outside (hopefully when it’s not smokey) with your quarantine unit while supporting local watering holes.
We will do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but things may change pretty quickly in this environment. Please email us at info@squadz.com if you find any of these bars have been closed.
Note from The Squadz Team: We do not condone reckless use of facilities that might jeopardize the containment of the COVID-19 virus. Please wear a mask whenever possible and keep your distance from people outside of your group. We simply want this to be a helpful resource for families, roommates, or quarantine units to get outside and watch responsibly.
The Boardroom
North Beach - Powell st & Green St
Located on the corner of Powell and Green St, this North Beach/Chinatown/Nob Hill staple is a no-nonsense classic sports bar with a great local beer selection. Multiple TVs outside for those days with several games going on simultaneously!
Northstar Cafe
North Beach - Powell st & green st
Right across the street, the self proclaimed “Best place to watch the NFL in San Francisco”, Northstar Cafe hosts tables and seating galore in their expansive parklet on Powell and Green St in North Beach. Follow the commotion and lively crowd like you would the real north star to find your way to good drinks and solid bar grub!
The Showdown / La Pantera / The Saloon
North Beach - Grant Avenue
This combined outdoor parklet is designed with booths in mind and a large TV screen that you can see from every table.
Maggie McGarry’s
North BEach - Grant Avenue
Several TVs adorn the exterior of Maggie McGarrys on Grant Ave. There’s standing room along the parklet fence and multiple tables.
Gino & Carlo
north beach - Green St & Jasper Pl
Gino & Carlo offers double trouble big screen TVs on top of one another. No large construction of parklet monstrosity here - simple folding chairs, tables, good drinks and great company suffice. They bring out the heaters for night games, too.
Tupelo
North Beach - Grant avenue
This outdoor parklet is formed by a white picket fence at Tupelo, a classic SF destination known for its live music. On gamedays, a big screen TV faces outward from inside the window for patrons to enjoy!
Belle Cora
North beach - Green street
A ritzier restaurant on Green St across from the more divey North Beach sports bars, Belle Cora has a very large parklet space for larger groups of sports fans. The street sprawl allows for the closest you can get to that feeling of a crowded bar we all miss. Multiple TVs, tables, and a wide selection of cocktails.
Columbus Cafe
north beach - green Street
The iconic exterior of Columbus Cafe is now fitted with a TV for gamedays. Utilize their beautiful outdoor parklet space, complete with an awning for shelter from the elements, to watch the 49ers or Raiders on Sundays!
The Valley Tavern
noe valley - 24th st
Valley Tav’ is a classic gameday destination in Noe Valley on 24th St. In the back of the establishment lies a terraced outdoor patio with screens on each level. An extensive selection of local domestic and international beers makes this the ultimate one-stop-shop for sports fans every Sunday!
Bernal Heights Pizzeria
Noe Valley - church St & Clipper st
A lesser known restaurant in Noe Valley on Church St, Bernal Heights Pizzeria provides an even lesser known back outdoor patio for its frequenters. The space features a bar, tables, and a clutch single bathroom for those who stay for multiple games (and drinks). Don’t forget the amazing pizza pies!
Local Tap
south park - 3rd St & Brannan st
Found in the China Basin near South Park, Local Tap is a great neighborhood sports bar with good prices and even better sports viewing capabilities. Enjoy American bites while watching the NFL on Sundays!
Spark Social
mission bay - 4th Street
Spark Social in Mission Bay boasts large turf field space with plenty of room to social distance and watch the game. Lay out a blanket, picnic with some great grub from the food truck park, listen to a live DJ, and sip on some beer & wine while you root for your team playing on the jumbotron at the edge of the field!
Connecticut Yankee
potrero hill - connecticut st & 17th st
In Potrero Hill lies a neighborhood favorite sports bar, the Connecticut Yankee (especially if you’re from Boston). A staple for decades, the bar provides great food, drinks and patio & parklet seating for gameday! Seating is limited, so you’ll have to contact them here prior to big gamedays.
Double Play Bar & Grill
mission district - 16th St & Bryant st
The Double Play Bar and Grill is located at 16th and Bryant adjacent to Potrero Plaza and Franklin Square. The neighborhood sports bar is known for its baseball fan patrons, but you’ll be able to watch football games outside at their curbside seating equipped with TVs!
Golden Gate Tap Room
Union Square - Powell st & sutter st
Although it’s only a fraction of the usual GG Taps experience (i.e. no pop-a-shot or running out of breath on the staircases), Golden Gate Tap Room right by Union Square has recently opened their parklet seating fitted with TVs for the games. Space is limited, so get there early!
Shanghai Kelly’s
Russian hill - polk st & broadway
A favorite for many, Shanghai Kelly’s on Polk serves fans of all teams. The saloon is open everyday, and though it may seem small in size, it packs a punch! Rowdy sports fans will enjoy this spot at its outside serving area.
Final Final Bar
cow hollow - lombard st & baker st
Final Final is one of the best sports bar destinations in the city, especially around March Madness. These days, they brought some of their TVs outside so you can enjoy all the upcoming sports games, college & pro, from the comfort of their outdoor curbside seating. Head over to the edge of the Presidio and the Marina on Lombard St to check them out - don’t forget to grab one of their signature Jell-o shots!
Jake’s Steaks
Marina district - buchanan st & Magnolia st
Philadelphia fans will rejoice when they hear that Jake’s Steaks in the heart of the Marina is serving up delicious cheesesteaks, beers, and Eagles football every gameday! It’s compact, but they make the best of their space with a big screen TV outside for your entertainment.
The Blue Light
cow hollow - Union Street
The Blue Light is a staple of Union St bars in the Marina. Great food, music & sports. We all miss their karaoke nights, but we can sing the praises of their beautiful parklet and sports-viewing capabilities on gameday! Michigan Wolverines fans, this is your bar.
Monaghan’s Bar
Marina District - Pierce St & Chestnut St
There lies a classic San Francisco pub on Pierce St off Chestnut in the Marina called Monaghan’s. Create your own luck and treat yourself to some Irish whisky and beer in their outdoor parklet while you watch the game on gameday! Nittany Lions will feel extremely welcome here.
Westwood
marina district - lombard st & fillmore st
Giddy up and head on down to Westwood SF on Lombard Street for some finger lickin’ good BBQ and scrumptious cocktails. Multiple TVs adorn the outdoor parklet setup with many tables (and barrels) for seating and viewing purposes. Yee haw!
San Francisco Athletic Club
lower pacific heights - divisadero st & bush st
The SF Athletic Club has outdoor drinking and dining down to a science at this point. Their parking-lot-turned-beer-garden sports many TVs, heaters, sit-down tables and stand up barrels for your pleasure! Join the club and take a drink! Reserve your table here.
Karl’s Beacon
Sunset district - 24th St & Taraval st
With a name playing on Karl The Fog, this neighborhood spot in the Sunset is a great place to watch the game with friends. The numerous fortified booths in the parklet are well constructed and built to handle a few bodies with a few plates...and a few pints on top! They have the TV set up outside and tons of beers to choose from, so you can’t go wrong with Karl’s Beacon Bar!
Kezar Pub
haight-ashbury - stanyan Street
Premier League fans, rejoice! Kezar Pub is the premier spot for football fans (the kicking kind) on Stanyan St across from the historic Kezar Pavilion and Stadium. Liverpool FC fans especially will feel at home. Picnic benches, tables and several TVs mean you’ll never miss a game, even those early morning games streaming from across the pond!
If you check out any of these bars on gameday, tag us @squadz in your Instagram story to be featured on our account!