The ML Guide to Watching the World Cup

liquid-lunch

The World Cup begins this Friday with Mexico vs. South Africa at 10am and Uruguay vs. France at 2:30. If you’re a fútbol fan you might want to take an extended lubricated lunch, just make sure you grab some Altoids before heading back to work because most bars with a TV screen will be broadcasting the games and offering drink specials. I saw this poster at P.J. Carney’s Pub on 7th ave near 57th street. They’re starting drink specials at 10am… yea you read that right. There’s probably way better soccer bars in the Village but hey Midtown needs to represent yo! So the question is, if you plan on watching any of the World Cup games, where are you going in Midtown? Not everyone is going to be able to keep up with the ESPN/Kogi truck (although the ML Twitter Tracker is certainly going to try). To help you out I’ve put together a list of possible pubs for lunch or happy hour World Cup viewing.

Blue Ruin
538 Ninth Ave. (btw. 39+40th),

This Friday Ruin will be ready for you by 10am serving “Bloody Marias,” shots of tequila, mexican food, and “real Mexican dudes.” Hum, well, that’s a first for promotional gimmicks.

Rick’s Cabaret
50 W 33rd St. (btw. 5+Bway)
(212) 372-0850

Rick’s is all about the World Cup and basically any sized cup from A to double D. They will present all games airing after 11am and their lunch specials are surprisingly good especially given the free entertainment. In honor of the World Cup Rick’s has adopted a distinctly international flavor for Friday. Rick’s French to Brazilian beauties promise to add some extra excitement to the sporting celebrations. Proceed at your own risk…

Rattle N Hum Bar & Restaurant
14 East 33rd Street
(212) 481-1586

Rattle and Hum is the sister bar to one of my Brooklyn favorites, Cherry Tree. They’ll open at 11am and pour some of the best cask ales in town. Bar food includes Shepard’s pie, burgers, fish and chips, and wings.

Stout New York
133 West 33rd Street
(212) 629-6191

Stout is showing all world cup games. They have a large handsome bar with a full menu of burgers, seafood, steak and pizza and, naturally, you’d be remiss if you didn’t grab a stout too. On draft are Young’s and Brooklyn Brewery’s chocolate stouts, Mother’s Milk Oatmeal stout, Guinness and many more.

The Australian
20 W 38th St (btw. 5+6th)
212-869-8601

The Australian has been selected by Major League Soccer as their “Official Veiwing Headquarters” for the Soccer World Cup! They will be open for every game live, but definitely hit them up when Australia vs Germany on Sunday at 2:30pm.

Galway Hooker Pub
7 E. 36th St. (bet. Fifth & Madison Ave.)
212) 725-2353

Games are broadcast live and happy hour 3-10pm Fridays and Saturdays with $4 beers, house wine and house liquor.

Lansdowne Road
599 Tenth Ave. (between 43rd & 44th St.)
(212) 239-8020

Burgers and sandwiches start at under $10, plus from 5-7pm drinks are ½ off, not including the daily $4 “daily double beer” special. I do appreciate that their dessert menu only lists a “car bomb” and “Jager bomb.” I have yet to review this pub, what do the commenters think? Is this worth a trip for the Midtown workers?

Slattery’s
Midtown Pub
8 E. 36th St. (bet. Madison & Fifth Ave.)
(212) 683-6444

Slattery’s starts you off with a free shot with your first drink. The lunch special is1/2 sandwich with soup and salad for $9.85. All games will be live with sound, free shot when your team scores, half time raffle for all games to include a bottle of whiskey, jerseys, gift vouchers.. etc.

Mean Fiddler
266 W 47th St (btw. 7+8th)
212-354-2950

Happy Hour is 12-8pm with $3 shots, $4 beers, $5 cocktails. Fiddler has 20 hi-def plasmas with sound and $4 Guinness, 7.95 lunches and breakfasts for the games.


Bull Moose Saloon

354 W 44th St. (btw. 8+9th)
212-956-5625

Open at 11am the Moose has many large screens behind the bar and a pool table to pass the time. Their lunch special runs till 7pm and includes for $5.95 a burger, fries and beer (Bud, Bud Light and Yuengling) or 10 hot wings with a beer (some of the better wings I’ve had lately!). As much as I love Rudy’s, Bull Moose might be a better bet for this corner of town if you want to actually hear the game.

Cornerstone
961 2nd Ave (btw 50+51st St.)
212-888-7403

Though I didn’t care too much for their Cinco de Mayo festivities, they are planning to show all the games on their many screens. Drink specials on caipirinhas for all the Brazil games and free shots of cachaça when Brazil scores! They’ll also have $4 Bud Light drafts for all the World Cup Games.

ESPN Zone
1472 Broadway, at 42nd St.
212-921-3776

Yes I know they are closing soon, and yes, we try to avoid Times Square like the plague, but one thing is for sure: when it comes to sports they will bring the game. The Zone will be opening early to bring you 2010 FIFA World Cup action from South Africa. Join them for their soccer themed breakfast for early games or select from their regular menu for the afternoon games. (Games will be shown in HD)

Jack Demsey’s
36 W. 33rd St.nr. Broadway
212-629-9899

It maybe just your average midtown bar but with over 12 televisions and bison burgers on the menu, I can think of worse places then here to catch the game.

McCormack’s
365 Third Ave.,
at 26th St. 212-683-0911

At McCormacks every country is represented. Come sit under your flag as you shout on your team. They’ll be opening early for all the 7:30am games so wake up and start the game off over a big plate of their Irish breakfast and still make work by 9:30!

Murphy’s Pub & Restaurant
977 Second Ave., nr. 52nd
212-751-5400

The bar opens at 10am just in time to pretend it’s happy hour and down $4 Yuenglings and lunch on a burger or sandwich plus a beer for $10.

Smiths
701 8th Avenue (on 44th)
212-246-3268

During all world cup games they will be serving $5 local pints and happy hour pricing for those wearing a participating team jersey. All games broadcasting in full HD.

Wharf Bar
587 Third Avenue (btw. 38+39th)

The Wharf will be open at 9:30am and offering drink specials, for eats let me suggest the fish tacos, they were a hit last time I went.

Hibernia Irish Bar And Grill
401 West 50th Street
(212) 969-9703

They’re open by 9AM and offering $4 beer specials and food specials.

Know of any other World Cup deals, let us know in the comments.

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