Best Bars To Watch The 2014 Winter Olympics In The East Bay
If you're angling for the best place to watch the 2014 Winter Olympics on TV and hunting for a bar that offers plenty of space, good cheer and of course good beer, you're in luck. The East Bay is filled to the gill with the best places to go to root for your athlete, your country and for all who strive for greatness within the great play land of ice and snow.
McGee's Black Skillet Grill
1645 Park St.
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-3470
www.mcgeesbarandgrill.com
The Winter Olympics can be watched within this great neighborhood spot that some may describe as an ‘upscale sports bar.’ Not only is the friendly and welcoming atmosphere here at McGee’s part of the main attraction for so many, but so too are the added features: the 80s jukebox music, shuffleboard, plenty of TVS and a newly updated interior. But what truly makes this bar and grill a standout hit with its customers is the food and its presentation. Juicy ribs, pork confit quesadillas, zucchini corn fritters and fantastic bar service provide good enough reason to bring your crew to this joint. This location also has dedicated parking, which is not all too common in this neck of the city.
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Grand Oaks Restaurant & Sports Lounge
3701 Grand Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 451-5253
www.grandoaksrestaurant.com
Winter Olympics, beer and garlic fries? Yes please! Head to the sports bar up front of this nifty sports lounge, take a seat and you’ll be smitten with the bar’s big screens that fill up the entire wall of the room. There will never be a bad seat in the house with the number of TVs that adorn the walls. Wash your food down with a Lagunitas IPA while the downhill skiing gets set to start. This place is crowded during major sporting events, so pre-plan your arrival well ahead of the Olympic showdown. This is definitely the spot to go where you’ll find good people, food and beer by the pitcher while watching your favorite teams take home the gold.
Englander Sports Pub & Restaurant
101 Parrott St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 357-3571
www.englanderpub.com
Enjoy a great selection of beers on tap while you watch your teams skate, ski and slide into championship history. The TVs at this bar are ample, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to catch your favorite teams as they make their countries proud. The bar has three large screen TVs and 21 high-definition plasma screens and satellites for great game watching. The menu is classified as British food, with fish and chips, Alaskan salmon sliders and chicken tandoori. The place is sprawling, which lessens the chance that you’ll find yourself scrunched elbow to elbow with the other hollering fans.
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Pete's Brass Rail & Car Wash
201 Hartz Ave.
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 820-8281
www.petesbrassrail.com
When a place is always busy, all bets are on that it’s doing something right. For starters, Pete's has a lot of different good beers to choose from. The beer selection is rotated, so there is always something new to try. Good pub food will hit the spot while you figure out who is taking home the bronze, silver and gold. Ask the knowledgeable bartenders about the beers on tap. Visit Pete's for a not-so-fancy bar where prices are fair and the ambience exudes a small-town flair.
Stanford’s Walnut Creek
1300 S. Main St.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 944-0895
www.stanfords.com
Watching the luge while swigging down a lavender Cosmo or licking your lips after Long Island sips while your teams make their greatest score are just some of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities you'll experience at Stanford's. Breeze in and have a seat at Stanford’s of Walnut Creek. If you arrive before the Olympics is televised, take a listen to some of the 80s rock and 90s alternative music that plays. The staff is as great as the drinks it makes. They are courteous and willing to do what it takes to make your Olympic watching night a blast.
Kelly Gullo is a freelance writer in San Francisco, CA. Kellys topics are about music and nightlife. Kelly has also written a variety of articles on health and dieting and topics related to the environment. Kelly has a degree in journalism and public relations from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
