The New York City Traveler

On Sunday, Feb 3rd there will be a battle in Arizona as our New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. If you aren’t counted among the chosen few who are able to attend the game in person (and enjoy the 70 degree temperatures) there are plenty of great bars in New York City to catch all the action.

Midtown

• Times Square’s ESPN Zone (map) is like the Disneyland of sports bars. It boasts over 80 HDTVs, 42,000 square feet of restaurant and bar space, and televisions in the bathrooms– in fact last time I checked they were in each stall. Word has it that employees at ESPN Zone are expecting fans to camp outside in order to get a table for Sunday’s Superbowl. If you are one of those souls that are going to brave the 30 degree overnight temperature, be aware that there is a $20 per person per hour food and beverage minimum. It shouldn’t be hard to meet that minimum considering most entrees are around $18.
• Blackstones Pub and Restaurant (map) is not your typical Midtown East dive-bar– the menu lists martinis, veggie burgers, and bacon wrapped shrimp among other high-brow fare. But the friendly staff makes this a great place to spend a Super Bowl Sunday afternoon.
• Scruffy Duffys (map), located between Hell’s Kitchen and Times Square, is a a low-key sports bar. Bar snacks like nachos and mozzarella sticks carry an average price of $5.50 and sandwiches $7.50. If you get lost trying to find Scruffy’s, just look for the giant “Good Guinness Here” sign.

Uptown

• Ship of Fools (map) is a great neighborhood joint on the Upper East Side. Forty-two TVs, 13 of them being big-screens plus pool tables and dart boards to keep you busy in case football isn’t your thing. Ship of Fools offers consistently good food at good prices (avg. appetizer $7.95) served by a friendly wait staff.
• The Kinsale Tavern (map), an Irish bar, is my personal favorite on the Upper East Side, if only for the fact that they serve Brahma, my fave Brazilian beer. Don’t worry, they have all of the normal standbys included on their 30-beer-long draught list. Just remember that you are on the Upper East Side when you see the Zucchini Rounds on the menu!

Downtown

• The Village Tavern (map) is a great neighborhood bar located in the West Village with one big screen and several small screens. Tons of 80s music like Bon Jovi and Def Leppard are on the jukebox in case Tom Petty isn’t your idea of halftime fun.
• Jeremy’s Ale House (map) is the type of dive-bar that I used to frequent when I was young, broke, and living in Queens. Ridiculously cheap beer (served in a styro cup, no less) and even cheaper food (like 10 cent wings). Come here if you want the quintessential dive-bar experience. It’s located near the loading docks of South Street Seaport… need I say more?

Okay, so now you’ve figured out where to spend the big day but you don’t know anything about football, let alone New York Giants football? Check out tomorrow’s post for a primer on Giant’s football!

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