Football Sundays are one of the strongest cultural traditions in America and, in New Jersey, so many people eagerly await Sunday to watch a line-up of big games. The Garden State plays home to two NFL teams, the New York Giants and the New York Jets, who both play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford — not far at all from Jersey City. We recently rounded up the best Hoboken bars to watch football on Sundays — and now, it’s Jersey City’s turn. We’ve compiled a list of the best Jersey City bars to watch football and organized them based on your different preferences. Whether you’re looking to prioritize food (like some delicious wings), the atmosphere, or a bar that can accommodate a crowd, here are the best Jersey City bars to watch football.
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For Burgers + Wings: The Brightside Tavern | 141 Bright Street
Outside of the cozy brick walls and open space, The Brightside Tavern boasts friendly staff and delicious bar classics. It also offers near-constant specials and hearty American fare with a twist, including must-try rice and beans. Owner Tommy once told us that he thinks Brightside does simple food best, like burgers and wings — and we’d have to agree. With a long list of burgers to try, plus classic wings with different sauces, this spot makes for a delicious and fun game-day experience.
For a Traditional Football Sunday Experience: Cherry’s Lounge | 102 Martin Luther King Drive
For a classic football Sunday experience, Cherry’s Lounge is to place to visit, where a longstanding bar offers old-school digs for a traditional bar vibe. Wings, salads, and wraps meet tasty catfish nuggets and shrimp dishes, and a recent makeover saw the space get brighter with a cool back area.
Read More: Hoboken Bars to Watch Football, According to Your Preference
For Some Unusual + Creative Menu Options: Corkscrew Bar | 61 Congress Street
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This Jersey City bar aims to be a home away from home, where a huge variety of unique wing creations become reality. Honey mustard + sweet and spicy are menu regulars but, for limited times (which includes football season overlap), Corkscrew Bar is also offering peanut butter and jelly wings, a one-of-a-kind menu option that’s perfect for celebrating a big Sunday win. It also makes us excited to see what other creative menu ideas the team cooks up next time.
For NYC Vibes Without the Commute: Dorrian’s Red Hand | 555 Washington Boulevard
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This Jersey City Irish pub originated on New York City’s Upper East Side in 1960, bringing a storied city atmosphere over on this side of the Hudson River. It serves up brisket chili and cheesesteak rolls, all while crowds can cheer on their favorite New York team — without having to cross a state line. Dorrian’s also hosts fun comedy shows every Saturday night for those who want to get the football party started a little early.
For Great Cocktails + a Friendly Neighborhood Bar Feel: Ed & Mary’s | 174 Coles Street
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Ed & Mary’s is the spot to visit for some great cocktails in a friendly neighborhood bar atmosphere. For football Sundays, there’s an extensive craft beer menu alongside food like wings, mozzarella sticks, buffalo cauliflower, and house-made beef jerky. The restaurant even serves breakfast until 3PM, so having a nice egg sandwich and a pint of Bloody Marys with a 1PM kickoff can be a happy reality.
For a No-Frills Bar with Good Eats: Healy’s Tavern | 374 Newark Avenue
Photo Credit: Healy’s Tavern
Healy’s provides a true dive bar feel with no frills — except for a super fun jukebox. The no-frills mentality doesn’t apply to the food though, which exceeds expectations — there are so many stellar sandwiches on this menu, and the disco fries are not to be missed. Though in recent years it has transitioned to new owners and is no longer family-owned, it is still a great spot to enjoy a game and some halftime tunes.
For the Best Smoked Meats: Hudson Hall | 364 Marin Boulevard
This Biergarten is the spot for the best of both worlds, as it also runs as a smokehouse — so you can enjoy some of the best smoked meats Jersey City has to offer while watching some good Sunday football. The rustic space offers Eastern European inspiration as well as huge TVs and large tables to accommodate bigger groups.
For Big Portions + Big Appetites: O’Hara’s Bar & Grill | 172 1st Street
It’s a good idea to go to O’Hara’s hungry, as this traditional pub spot is known in the area for its good portions. The menu is chock full of beers, burgers, sandwiches, and more, perfect to tide you over while the football teams on the huge TVs compete for big wins.
For Great Pizza: Paulie’s Brickhouse | 264 Central Avenue
Just as the name suggests, this eatery offers brick oven pizza in a bar atmosphere, and the pies served are among the best in the city. Paulie’s also has a customer loyalty offer, where ten dine-in visits allow guests to redeem a free classic cheese pizza.
For Delicious Portuguese Food + A Lively Atmosphere: Ringside Lounge | 475 Tonnele Avenue
Keep on the sports theme and head to this boxing-inspired bar, where some of Jersey City’s best Portuguese food is on the menu. Mike Tyson made an appearance at Ringside once, which hosts a tight-knit, sports-loving community that’s just as passionate about football as it is boxing — with the lively, party atmosphere as proof.
To Set Up Camp + Stay All Day: White Star Bar | 230 Brunswick Street
With two locations in Jersey City (the second is on Warren Street), White Star Bar offers craft cocktails and one of Jersey City’s best burgers. The menu is complete with a brunch that lasts until 4PM and tons of entrees, sandwiches, and shareables that offer plenty of different options so you can stay all day, from the first 1PM kickoff to the last whistle on Sunday night.
For Family-friendly Football Fun: Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden | 88 Liberty View Drive
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This European-style bar offers self-serve American cuisine and a family-friendly atmosphere every football Sunday. Take even the littlest football fans for a day on the town at Zeppelin Hall, where for-the-table platters and kids’ menus are also available. Parking can be tough, so we recommend taking public transportation or Uber/Lyft — which is always a plus if you’re going to drink.
See More: A Guide to Montclair Bars With TVs
To Go With a Crowd: 902 Brewing | 101 Pacific Avenue
This huge, lofty space offers some unique local brews about as fresh as they can get. Sip on a New England Crusher cleverly called the Brady’s Nightmare and enjoy the beer’s namesake throwing the ball every Sunday. The huge taproom is ideal for big crowds, too, meaning your entire crew and out-of-town guests can take part in the fun.
