March Madness 2016 kicks off tomorrow and with it some of the most highly anticipated sports action in the country. With this year’s Big Dance culminating in Houston for the Final Four, it’s time to start thinking about where you’re going to watch. If enjoying the tournament with an enthusiastic crowd is your kind of fun, here are some sports bars and restaurants where you can watch the games in good company.
Beer Market Co. Kitchen and Bar
Beer Market Co.’s Memorial Heights location offers a different brew for every day of the year. In addition to a premium selection of 365 beers, Beer Market Co. serves creative spins on traditional pub grub that will make your mouth water. The mac ‘n’ cheese burger and brew pretzels dipped in cheesy pilsner goodness are among patrons’ favorites here.
Christian’s Tailgate Grill & Bar
An open-air bar with a warehouse feel, the Christian’s Tailgate in Memorial Heights is just one of four well-designed and well-run locations you’ll find in the Bayou City. Come for the awesome energy, a delicious burger or a pint or two of your favorite Houston craft beer. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Little Woodrow’s
If your alma mater or favorite college basketball team secures ample space at a Little Woodrow’s, watch the game from there. With 50 beers on tap, respectable bar food, and crawfish on offer, it’s a great choice for crowds that really get into the game.
Lucky’s Pub
With locations just east of downtown and in The Heights, Lucky’s Pub offers a convenient, high-energy setting for most residents of Houston apartments. The EaDo location boasts enough screens to play almost every major sporting event taking place at any given time. This includes every March Madness game. Some of the screens here are especially large, including the first 21-foot mega screen in a Houston sports bar. The only issue here is seating, which is limited, so arrive well before an important game starts to hold down a table.
Nick’s Place
A Houston institution, Nick’s Place, Italian Sports Bar and Pizzeria has played host to watch parties for more than 20 years. Gorge on authentic, delicious Italian food while watching the NCAA basketball tournament on the more than 40 TVs at Nick’s Place.
Plucker’s Wing Bar
Founded in Austin, Plucker’s Wing Bar has taken Texas by storm. Its second Houston location will open its doors any day now, and its Shepherd Drive operation is a great place to catch a March Madness game if hot wings are your pub grub indulgence of choice.
Revelry on Richmond
On the upscale side of the sports bar spectrum, Revelry on Richmond organizes its 40 craft and local brews by IBU and ABV measurements. It has 27 screens, and is one of a handful of Houston sports bars that will air every single tournament game. It’s also just a few miles from most midtown Houston apartments.
Your Apartment’s Clubhouse
If you’re up for hosting a March Madness watch party but need more room (and a bigger screen) than your apartment living room can provide, check with the leasing office about using the clubhouse, indoor or outdoor movie theater, or another amenity your AMLI community might offer. These spaces can often be reserved by residents, ranging anywhere from free to a small fee.
NRG Stadium
Houston’s NRG Stadium will be the place to watch the Final Four games on April 2 & 4, 2016, so if viewing an NCAA basketball game in person has been on your bucket list, this may be your prime chance! You’ll need nearly as much luck as the players who make it to the Final Four in order to score a seat at these games, but if you’ve got enough money, you can probably find something on the Official NCAA Ticket Exchange.
Thankfully, with Rice University and the University of Houston co-hosting the semifinals and championship game, keeping tabs on the tourney as it plays out should be even more exciting than usual for many Houstonians. So check out one of these popular venues so this year’s March Madness will be one to remember.
Do you have a game watching plan in place? Are you lucky enough to have tickets? Tell us about your experience!
View All Posts by Jason Ernst