Game Places

Watching the action at a watering hole that’s close to the stadium can rival the pleasure of cheering your team in person. Don’t have a ticket to the big game? Grab a front-row seat at one of these downtown (and near downtown) Detroit bars and enjoy the shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie of fellow fans

(page 1 of 2)

Anchor Bar
450 W. Fort St.
313-964-9127
(10 TVs, food)
The Anchor Bar has evolved from 1959, when Leo Derderian, father of the current owner, Vaughn Derderian, bought the place. Leo created an infamous den for journalists and sports aficionados, a hole in the wall where brawls were once frequent and regulars became legends. The stools are filled day and night. It’s now in a larger location, and daytime patrons include lawyers and media folk. Night brings in a shift of red and white, as Wings’ fans flood the bar. The atmosphere is pleasantly dark, but not dingy; the food fried and delicious. “There’s a reason we’ve been here for 50 years,” Vaughn says. “We love Detroit and we love the people.”

Andrews on the Corner
201 Jos. Campau
313-259-8325
andrewsonthecorner.com
(4 TVs, food)

Angelina Italian Bistro
1565 Broadway
313-962-1355
angelinadetroit.com
(4 big-screen TVs, food)
The word bistro doesn’t exactly conjure up images of a sports bar or even thoughts of a pre-game cocktail. Bistro? Think bottles of pinot, dark-wood finishes, and linen-dressed tables. Right? But why not have both? Angelina Italian Bistro lets you have your game and eat pasta, too. Order a quality meal (try the caramelized onion and Gorgonzola strucolo), savor the comforting ambience and, when the glass of pinot is empty, head to the bistro’s bar, switch to beer, and settle in for whatever athletic action is animating the four flat-screen TVs. This Italian bistro satisfies the appetite for quality food and sports — in short, the best of both worlds.

Beaubien Street Saloon
641 Beaubien
313-961-5766
(3 big-screen TVs, no food)

Cheli’s Chili Bar & Restaurant
47 E. Adams
313-961-1700
chelischilibar.com
(36 flat-screen TVs, food)

Coaches Corner
1465 Centre St.
313-963-4000
detroitcoachescorner.com
(9 big-screen TVs, food)
At this spot in the Harmonie Park neighborhood, patrons can order an appetizer sampler plate that’s anything but an appetizer. It’s giant, and packed with everything from chicken tenders to buffalo wings. But that’s not the only thing that’s packed here. On game nights — especially during playoffs — seats and tables around the bar are jammed with jersey-clad patrons who keep a faithful eye tuned to the numerous flat-screen TVs above the bar. No ticket to The Final Four? Seek comfort at the Corner with a libation and some Double Play Poppers while watching shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Detroit’s most die-hard fans.

Cobo Joe’s Sports Bar
422 W. Congress
313-965-0840
cobojoes.com
(14 TVs, food)

Delux Lounge
350 Monroe
313-962-4200
deluxlounge.com
(4 big-screen TVs, food)

Detroit Beer Co.
1529 Broadway
313-962-1529
detroitbeerco.com
(16 big-screen TVs, food)
Whether ensconced at the main-floor bar, seated at the second one upstairs, or tucked away at a table in the back, patrons here are never far from the tube. They’re also never far away from a plentiful array of finely brewed beer. Overwhelmed by the options? Aren’t sure what’s what? Ask to sample. They’ll deliver shot glasses with requested brews. Just off Broadway, next to Small Plates, and across from the Detroit Opera House, the Detroit Beer Co. is rarely empty. It’s a lively place that can get loud, depending on who’s scoring.

Detroiter Bar
655 Beaubien
313-963-3355
(12 TVs, 1 big-screen TV, food)

The Detroit Pub
1326 Brush
313-963-3500
detpub.com
(17 TVs, food)

Elwood Bar & Grill
300 E. Adams
313-962-2337
elwoodgrill.com
(3 big-screen TVs, food)

Fenders Tavern
The Omni Detroit Hotel
1000 River Place
313-567-1551
 omnihotels.com
(2 big-screen TVs, food)

Flood’s Bar & Grille
731 St. Antoine
313-963-1090
floodsdetroit.com
(10 flat-screen TVs, food)

Foran’s Irish Pub
612 Woodward
313-961-3043
foransirishpub.com
(1 big-screen TV, food)
Foran’s Irish Pub sits smack in the middle of downtown. It’s dark, wood-paneled, and exactly what you’d expect in an Irish pub in Detroit. It’s a shotgun-style bar and a place for drinkers — but not just drinkers. They serve a mean burger and pour a good whiskey. Though they have only one television, it’s a great place to watch the game in the company of some interesting characters.

Like what you've read? Subscribe to Hour Detroit »