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Philadelphia Sports Bars: Where To Watch The NBA Playoffs

The time of year has finally come: NBA Playoff time. For basketball fans, this is when hearts are broken, hopes are high and bets are even higher. However, the only thing better than watching the big game is watching it on a big screen, with a big brew and a big group of friends. Luckily, Philadelphia 76er fans have something to look forward to this year, which is why I compiled a list below of the top ten sports bars one should venture to, to watch the NBA Playoffs. Philadelphia fans, enjoy!

1. For Pete's Sake Location: 900 S. Front Street

Known for its evening drink specials and large variety of food, For Pete's Sake is an excellent place to go for watching the NBA Playoffs.

They offer draft and bottled beer, with drink specials from 5PM-7PM, Monday through Friday. According to www.philadelphia.citysearch.com drink specials include $1 off wine, $3 off Samuel Adams, Yuengling Lager and Yards, and $4 off well drinks, Smithwick's, Guinness, Harp and Allagash White.

The menu includes a wide array of delicious finger foods, from chicken wings, nachos and baby-back ribs, to grilled veggie wraps, meat loaf and chicken quesadillas.

They offer take-out and have outdoor seating for those wanting to enjoy the nice weather.

The restaurant is warmly decorated with a wood interior and gas fireplace, creating an upbeat and welcoming atmosphere for customers and neighborhood regulars.

For those looking to watch the Philadelphia 76ers, For Pete's Sake has less than a handful of TV's; however this bar is perfect for watching your favorite sporting event.

Located in the Penn's Landing area, this restaurant is great for Philly locals looking to avoid the chaos and high prices of touristy bars, while the tavern's location has enough foot traffic to ensure that you won't be alone in cheering on your favorite NBA teams.

For Pete's Sake is also conveniently located right off of I-95 if you're coming from a Philadelphia sporting event.

The pub is opened Monday through Saturday 11:30AM-12AM and Sunday 12PM-10PM.

2. Chickie's and Pete's Location: 4010 Robbins Avenue, 1526 Packer Avenue, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd.

Chickie's and Pete's Caf houses three different locations in the Philadelphia area.

The original location at 4010 Robbins Avenue is where the fame of Chickie's and Pete's began. With two floors of dining service, three bars of excellent drink specials and various televisions on each floor, this place is great for catching all the action of the NBA playoffs.

The restaurant at this location is open Sunday through Thursday 11AM-12AM and Friday and Saturday 11AM-1AM. The bar is open Monday through Saturday 7AM-2AM and Sunday 11AM-2PM.

The location at 1526 Packer Avenue is conveniently in walking distance to the Southern Philadelphia Sports Complex. For this reason, you'll frequently find this place filled to the brim with Philly sports fans.

According to www.chickiesandpetes.com, this caf features 24, 000 square feet of three large bars, several private rooms and tons of 14x10 flat-screen TV's.

This location's restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday 11AM-12AM and Friday and Saturday 11AM-1AM. The bar is opened Monday through Sunday 11AM-2AM.

The last location of Chickie's and Pete's in Northeast Philly's Boulevard Plaza, has the same long hours as the stadium location with an all-season outdoor deck.

Conveniently located on Roosevelt Blvd, this caf features two large bars with a 14 foot big-screen, multiple TV's and a large outdoor bar with two huge plasma TV's.

Chickie's and Pete's is the perfect sports bar for those looking to get a few drinks with friends or for those looking to get a meal pre or post-game. Each location includes a reasonably-priced menu of delicious salads, sandwiches, seafood and "Pete's-A-Petezza, " their signature pizzas. Try their famous crab fries if you're looking for something tasty with your brew.

3. Barrister's Bar & Grille Location: 1823 Sansom Street

Located in Rittenhouse Square, Barrister's Bar and Grille is a great place for tourists, visitors and residents alike.

Besides having a downstairs pool table, karaoke every Wednesday and the option of throwing private parties, Barrister's hosts a happy hour Monday through Friday from 5PM-7PM. Their specials include $1 off all draught beers, $1 off all domestic wine, $1 off all house liquor and half off select appetizers.

Barrister's also has select sports specials, for example they offer $1 hotdogs and $3 Bud Light bottles during all Phillies' games. Monday is "in the business night, " where everything is 15% off from 10PM-2AM.

The two-level bar offers a variety of "amazing American bar food with a late night menu, " according to their website, www.barristersbar.com. They offer daily soup, salad and side specials, along with a wide array of starters like their buffalo wings, corn meal crusted fried calamari and mini cheese burger sliders.

Barrister's sandwiches range from burgers, steak, chicken, pork and clubs, while their entrees include delicious meatloaf, quiche du jour and pan roasted chicken breast.

In addition, the bar offers a selection of 12 draft beers and 19 bottled beers on both floors, along with a large choice of liquor and wine for those looking to spend and those looking to save.

Saturday is college basketball night, while any night at Barrister's is perfect for watching the NBA playoffs. The bar and grille offers DIRECTV and sports packages for all professional Philadelphia sports, while their 7 flat-screen TV's will surely bring together fellow basketball fans.

4. McFadden's Restaurant And Saloon Location: 461 N. 3rd Street

McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon is an Irish bar located between the areas of Old City and Northern Liberties in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This restaurant is a popular hotspot for those looking to party late and those looking to get a good meal. Moreover, McFadden's is a great place for watching your favorite NBA teams compete.

According to the restaurant's website, www.mcfaddensphilly.com, the saloon "is equipped with state of the art technology including digital surround sound, a 110 inch projector screen, a plasma TV and 18 color TV's to watch all sports packages."

McFadden's is also a great place to party and have a good time, often drawing in a college-aged crowd during night hours and frequently hosting many events, such as the upcoming "Cinco De McFadden's Weekend" and "Springfest 2008." They also host weekly events and specials, like "Wednesday Night Live, " which features live music, $2 Coronas and $5 Red Bull and Vodkas from 9PM-11PM.

Despite its nightlife reputation, McFadden's strictly enforces their dress code. While ladies usually have no problem, men may find themselves being rejected by the doorman. Jerseys, hats, boots, sweatshirts, baggy clothing and plain white tees are not allowed.

McFadden's boasts a large menu of classic American pub food, such as their legendary boneless wings, while they also serve entrees like Shepard's Pie, from "back home in Ireland."

Overall, McFadden's is a great sports bar to go to if you are looking to mix and mingle as well as watch your favorite basketball team.

They are open Monday through Saturday 11AM-2AM.

5. Champions: the American Sports Bar Location: 1201 Market Street

Located in the heart of Center City, Champions is a great place to go if visiting the Philadelphia area.

At 1201 Market Street, the bar is not far from tourist attractions and hotspots like City Hall, the Convention Center, the Hard Rock Caf, the Center City Marriot and the Gallery, while conveniently it is located near public transit, including the Market East Train and Subway Station.

If you're looking for a clean, positive and peaceful place to kick back and watch the game, Champions can also provide you with all three.

Surprisingly clean for a sports bar, Champions is lined with TV's of all sizes so customers get a great view of their sporting event no matter where they're sitting. On commercials, customers can browse the various sports cards and collectibles that align the glass-covered bar surface.

Champions also has a great selection of beer, while employees are professional and seem to talk only when spoken to, which is nice when you're trying to concentrate on a game in peace.

For being in a high-tourist area the bar is reasonably priced. Going during happy hour will get you Yuengling drafts for only $2. If you're out to lunch, try their mozzarella fries or buffalo wings, while their dinners, such as the William Penn Fried Chicken Salad, could easily be shared between two people.

Champions is open from Monday through Saturday 11AM-2AM and Sunday 11AM-12AM.

6. Dave & Buster's Location: 325 N. Columbus Blvd., 1995 Franklin Mills Circle

"Eat, Drink, Play" is the motto for this popular sports bar, and indeed the motto fits.

Dave and Buster's holds a fantastic array of foods on the lunch, dinner and late-night menus. Customers get to choose from a long list of appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, salads and soups, chicken and ribs, seafood and pasta, steaks, lunch specials and desserts.

The restaurant also offers the "Eat & Play Combo" for $15.99, which includes your choice of eleven entrees and a $10 game card.

Their drink menu includes margaritas, martinis, cocktails, shooters, classics, beer and wine and "From the Islands" to name a few categories. They even allow you to make up your own drink flavor if you can't find something on the menu, although it's safe to say this menu has something for everyone.

The restaurant is perfect for those looking to be loud and have a good time. The atmosphere is family friendly and is overall a great place to get drinks and watch a sporting event while your kids stay busy in the game rooms.

If you plan on going around dinner-time and want to watch a sporting event, it is recommended you make reservations, as although the billiard and bowling areas are packed with huge TV's for your viewing pleasure, the area tends to get packed at dinner time as well.

Dave and Buster's has two locations in the Philadelphia area.

The location at 325 Columbus Blvd. is open for Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 5PM-7PM. Power Hour is held Monday through Friday, 4:30PM-7PM.

The 1995 Franklin Mills Circle location has the same hours, with the addition of a Late Night Happy Hour on Sunday from 9PM-11PM.

7. New Wave Caf Location: 784 S. 3rd Street

According to the restaurant's website, www.newwavecafe.com, "in a city now known for mixing casual atmosphere with refined cuisine, Ben McNamara [head chef] is a pioneer. When Ben brought his culinary expertise and refined cuisine to a humble Queen Village Bar, the now trendy "gastro-pub" concept was defined."

The New Wave Caf offers a brunch menu with dishes like the Bagel and Lox Platter, Buttermilk Pancakes and Eggs Benedict, along with their famous salads and sandwiches, such as their New Wave Burger, Fried Oyster Po Boy and Grilled Shrimp Salad.

Bar plates are a smart option for those out to eat with friends or co-workers. Plates include Belgian Mussels and Fries, Chicken Wings, Grilled Flatbread Pizza, Hummus and Jumbo Coconut Shrimp.

Although the restaurant can be more on the expensive side, the meals are above par for "bar food, " while they offer several meatless and low-fat dishes for those that are health-conscious.

For sports fans, the bar has darts, a pool table and promises to broadcast local sports teams like the Philadelphia 76ers on at least one of their ten TV's and one of their five flat-screen HDTV's.

Open 7 nights a week, New Wave Caf is a rare breed of sports bar, in that it offers the option of laying low with a drink and some chicken wings, or dining out upscale with top-notch gourmet and a hard drink.

8. Lucy's Hat Shop Location: 247 Market Street

Lucy's Hat Shop is a great sports bar for those living in or around the Old City section of Philadelphia.

Existing for nine years, Lucy's has a reputation for its excellent daily drink and food specials, along with it's spacious and friendly atmosphere. The bar can accommodate up to 400 people according to its website, www.lucys215.com, while outside seating is provided for spring and summer seasons.

Although Lucy's atmosphere is relaxing, they have plenty of pool tables, pinball machines and even a front-room DJ to stir up the nightlife setting.

The restaurant offers $2 Miller Light bottles every Thursday from 9PM-11PM, along with $1 hotdogs, $1 tacos and 25 cent wings everyday until 10PM during all Phillies games.

Their menu is broken down simple and affordable into American and Mexican cuisine. For $5-$9, get Mexican quesadillas, nachos or tacos, while from $3-$7 get corn dogs, mozzarella triangles, chicken fingers, wings or waffle fries.

They have a large array of bottled and canned beers from Rolling Rock and Michelob Ultra to Heineken and Victory Hop Devil. The also have red and white wine for those looking to get a meal.

With large TV's posted on each side of the bar, Lucy's is a great place to go out with friends for a beer and some finger food, while watching your favorite basketball teams this playoff season.

9. O'Neal's Pub Location: 611 S. 3rd Street

O'Neal's Pub is a great Irish bar for any sports fan.

Open 365 days a year, O'Neal's houses programs like DIRECTV, Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network on 15 different Hi-Definition TV's. This ensures that Sixers fans will get to see their team play up close and personal, with a good seat in the house no matter what.

According to their website, www.onealspub.com, the restaurant is currently celebrating their 28-year status of being South Street's longest running family-owned and operated Irish Pub.

O'Neal's has over 19 beers on draught, over 100 bottles available for six-pack take-out and houses rare whiskeys, scotches and cognacs that could only be found in the most Irish of pubs.

They offer catering, private parties, home delivery and even a backyard patio starting May 1st. They even host bus trips to Phillies games, in which $50 will get you a ticket behind first base, beer on the bus and $2.50 Bud and Bud Lights at the game. For $20 enter their dart league raffle to win a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster, a 50" Flat Screen TV or up to $5, 000 cash.

The restaurant's menu includes a variety of starters, salads, sandwiches and burgers, along with pub favorites like O'Neal's House Sirloin, Famous Irish Beef Stew or Beer Battered Fish & Chips.

O'Neal's is open 7 days a week from 11AM-2AM.

10. McGillin's Old Ale House Location: 1310 Drury Street

Established in 1860, McGillin's Old Ale House is the oldest operating tavern in Philadelphia, according to their website, www.mcgillins.com.

McGillin's draft beer list ranges from light beer, wheat beer and lagers, to imports, microbrews and house specialties, such as "McGillin's Real Ale." Bottled beers include Corona, Heineken, Miller Light and Budweiser. Wines range from Merlot and Chardonnay to Pinot Noir and White Zinfandel.

They hold nightly drink specials every night, such as $5 pitchers of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Coors Light and $5 steak, potato and veggie meal, every Saturday. Sunday hosts $6 pitchers of Yuengling, Tuesday has $5 pitchers of Bud Light and Thursday includes three-dollar margaritas and nachos.

McGillin's menu consists of luncheon and dinner platters like Rib Eye Steak, Chicken Parmesan, Coconut Dipped Shrimp or Mussels McGillin. Sandwiches include the Philadelphia Cheesesteak, Grilled Reuben, Tuna Melt or Crab-Cake Sandwich.

They also have various soups, sides, pizzas and a deli menu, with a different food special every day of the week.

As for watching the big game, there are three large TVs aligned across the bar for the viewing pleasure of basketball fans.

Overall, McGillin's is a great place to go to get the full-fledged ale-house experience. Let loose over a pint of delicious draft beer while watching your favorite NBA team win the playoffs