Local's Guide to Sports Bars in the Grand Rapids Area

Grand Rapids is home to a number of pro sports teams, including the West Michigan Whitecaps (baseball), Grand Rapids Griffins (hockey), Grand Rapids Gold (basketball) and Grand Rapids Rise (women’s volleyball). Each of them offers fans a thrilling in-person experience. But local sports lovers know there are also tons of great places to catch a game on TV.

We asked our social media followers where they like to get together with family and friends to watch televised sporting events – and the top vote-getters are listed below. There’s not a bad seat in any of them!  

Big E’s Sports Grill

With locations in downtown Grand Rapids and on East Beltline Avenue in the southeast part of town, Big E’s Sports Grill attracts sports fans from all over the city. There are dozens of large-screen TVs at each site, including on the outdoor patios, all tuned to a variety of different sporting events.  

There are endless beers on tap – mostly from Michigan – along with wine and specialty drinks to keep your throat well lubricated as you cheer on your team. The food menu offers something for virtually everyone, with virtually everything made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. 

Get the Big E’s Scorecard to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, discounts and more. 

Bridge Street Bar

Opened in March 2025, Bridge Street Bar has quickly established itself as a sports lover’s haven. It’s decorated with Michigan sports memorabilia, including Detroit Tigers and Red Wings logos, jersey numbers, murals and posters, as well as nods to Detroit-area landmarks. Eight large-screen TVs – including one on the outdoor patio – ensure patrons don’t miss a minute of sports action.

In keeping with the Detroit theme, Bridge Street Bar offers some east-side favorites on the menu, such as a Detroit Dog hot dog topped with chili, mustard and onion. Local favorites include house-made pierogis, a nod to the city’s Polish population, which was historically concentrated around the bar’s Bridge Street location.

Bridge Street Bar is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night cravings, seven days a week. It offers a full complement of beverages, adult and otherwise.

Gimme’s Par & Grill

You can watch sports and play them at Gimme’s Par & Grill, which features golf and multi-sports simulators in addition to lots of TVs tuned to the big games. The cutting-edge simulators immerse players in realistic action, allowing them to perfect their skills while enjoying a dynamic, interactive experience.

With an elevated food menu ranging from shareables and salads to tacos and salmon, a huge beverage selection, and great happy hour food & drink specials, Gimme’s is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. It’s located in downtown Grand Rapids, just a few hundred feet from Rosa Parks Circle and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Monelli's Italian Grill & Sports Bar

Come for the game and stay for the food. Or come for the food and stay for the game. Either way, you’re bound to be satisfied at Monelli ’s in Wyoming.

With six projection TVs and 20 other sets throughout the restaurant and bar, every seat provides a great view of the action. The TVs features stadium-quality sound, so you can always hear what’s happening, too. 

In addition to pizza, strombolis and pasta selections, Monelli’s offers a variety of elevated pub fare, from burgers and salads to steak and salmon. It also has 52 beers on tap. Game on!

Roasted Sports Bar & Grill

Delivering “unique artisan-inspired cooking and craft cocktails with a sassy attitude” to complement its lineup of big-screen TVs, Roasted opened in summer 2024 to popular acclaim. Decorated with memorabilia from Michigan pro and college teams as well as local high school teams, it’s a fun and welcoming spot to watch big games and connect with fellow sports fan.

The expansive food menu includes sandwiches, salads, burgers, hand-tossed pizzas, a mac-and-cheese bar. and entrées including Wagyu top sirloin, roasted ribs, bang bang shrimp and Southern-fried hot chicken. There’s a prime rib special on Saturday nights and kids’ and gluten-free menus, too, adding to the inclusive atmosphere. The drinks menu is just as broad, offering beers, wines, ciders, seltzers, craft cocktails and N/A selections for every palate.

The Score Restaurant & Sports Bar

70+ televisions. 120+ beers on tap. That combo alone could justify The Score ’s lofty ranking on our list, but this northeast Grand Rapids destination has much more to offer.

Football season is huge here, with games streamed from every corner of the country and a live DJ providing entertainment during commercial breaks of Detroit Lions and University of Michigan games. The TVs are tuned into sporting events all year long, but when warmer weather hits, patrons flock to the beach patio – complete with an outdoor bar – for live music, dining, dancing and beach volleyball.

The Score offers scores of luscious libations other than beer, and its food menu is as big as its drink menu. It’s no surprise that The Score often tops local “best sports bar” polls. 

Uccello’s Ristorante

“Where Great Food & Sports Come Together!” is the tagline at Uccello’s, which has six locations in the Grand Rapids area: downtown GR, Grandville, Standale, East Beltline Avenue, Caledonia and Rockford. 

All of them offer a plethora of TVs for watching sports along with delectable Italian and bar food, a wide variety of beers on tap, daily drink specials and a loyalty program that rewards you for your purchases. Gluten-sensitive sports fans will find plenty of food and drink options here, too.

Uccello’s is a family-owned and family-friendly destination that packs ‘em in from lunch ‘til closing (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). 

Peppino’s Pizzeria & Sports Grille

With locations in downtown GR, Allendale, Jenison and Kentwood, Peppino’s caters to sports fans in every corner of the city. Each location is lined with big-screen TVs – 70 of them in the downtown restaurant alone – showing all manner of athletic competitions.  

Renowned for its pizzas and Italian specialties, Peppino’s also offers a wide selection of salads, subs, burgers, sandwiches and shareables, all of which pair perfectly with cheering on your favorite teams. The extensive beverage menu will quench every thirst and there are great happy hour specials throughout the week.  

The Holiday Bar

Situated on the city’s historic West Side, just around the corner from the Bridge Street Entertainment District, The Holiday Bar has been a local favorite since 1905. What started as a humble pub is now a full-fledged entertainment destination, with 15 TVs tuned into sports plus live music 5-6 days a week, karaoke and a lively enclosed patio with a full-service bar.

Enjoy a food menu of elevated pub grub along with killer cocktails and other drinks. Monday-Friday happy hour specials include $6 “bites” and “bevs” as low as $3. The Holiday Bar also serves Saturday and Sunday brunch.

Honorable Mentions

These sports bars didn’t make it to the top tier of our poll, but their fervent fans propelled them to a strong showing:

The B.O.B. Catch the game on the TVs at Bobarino’s Pizza, one of several eateries and entertainment venues in downtown GR’s Big Old Building. Bobarino’s serves craft beer from BOB’s Brewery to go along with its delicious wood-fired pizzas.

Putt Putt’s Bar. “You’re Only A Stranger Once” reads the sign above the entrance at this West Side institution, and you really feel the friendly vibe upon entering. It’s often packed for major games and sporting events, with fans throwing back great drinks and bar food. 

SpeakEZ Lounge. This downtown GR restaurant and bar is the place to watch international soccer games, including all weekly matches from the Barclays Premier League as well as available broadcasts from Italian Serie-A, Spanish La Liga, German Bundisliga and more.

Duke’s Bar. One of the city’s favorite dive bars, Duke’s is a comfortable place to hang out and watch the game after work and on weekends. You can kick back with a cold drink and some good food until the wee hours of the morning at this Medical Mile neighborhood haunt.

Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill and Ada Garage Bar & Grill. Both locations have plenty of TVs to watch the game as you dig into tasty American grub and imbibe craft beer and cocktails. The vibe is laid-back and casual, even when the games get intense.

Joey’s Tavern. Another West Side neighborhood favorite, just around the corner from John Ball Zoo, Joey’s has several TVs playing sports as part of its mission to serve “everyone in search of a good time and a strong drink.” 

Logan’s Alley. This Medical Mile neighborhood pub dishes up new American fare, craft beer and creative cocktails to go along with the sports action on their TV screens.

This list doesn’t cover all the great venues in Grand Rapids where you can catch a game. For more options, click “sports bar” when you search our Nightlife venues. Even if your team doesn’t win, you can still have a fantastic time!