Where to Catch Every Kickoff, Upset and Touchdown Across OC

Football season means one thing in Orange County: picking your bar before your team even picks its starting lineup. We’re not talking about squeezing onto a stool at a random dive and praying the sound works. We’re talking wall-to-wall TVs, patios built for tailgating energy and food menus that actually put in the effort. Whether you bleed Chargers blue, ride for the Rams or just want a reason to day drink on a Sunday, OC’s sports bars have you covered from Newport Beach to Anaheim. Grab your jersey, call your crew and lock down a table early, because these spots fill up fast once kickoff hits. Here’s where to watch every game this season.

 

Longtime Local’s Favorite

Down, set, Mutt. Mutt Lynch’s has been a Newport Beach institution since 1976, when it first opened on the Balboa Peninsula next to the Fun Zone before relocating to its current spot by the Newport Pier after a 1982 fire. This day-drinking destination pours 40 beers on tap and packs in the crowds for every big game. TVs line every wall, so no matter where you sit, you won’t miss a snap. Enjoy classic bar food, like Southwest egg rolls, chicken tenders, Muchos Nachos, jalapeño poppers or the Mutt’s Famous Pterodactyl Wings in flavors ranging from buffalo and garlic Parmesan to blackened Cajun.

Mutt Lynch’s
2300 W Oceanfront
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.675.1556
Su-Th, 8 a.m. – Midnight; F-Sa, 8 a.m. – 2 a.m.

 

Authentic Irish Energy

For a change of pace, The Harp Inn brings authentic Irish pub energy to Costa Mesa, complete with fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and a rotating cast of Guinness, Smithwick’s Harp and Kilkenny on tap. They show NFL games alongside Premier League, Champions League and rugby, so it’s a rare spot where football fans and football fans (the kind from across the Pond) can coexist. The heated, covered patio keeps things going even when the weather doesn’t cooperate, and there is a full schedule of the games being screened on the pub’s website.

The Harp Inn
130 E 17th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949.646.8855
M-Th, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; F, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

 

Golden Games

Golden Road Brewing, one of LA’s craft beer pioneers, is just a short walk from Angel Stadium. The brewhouse gives fans a patio full of lawn games and plenty of shade for day games, as well as a 30-beer lineup. Keep the Mango Cart flowing by heading to the Huntington Harbour location, which leans into its waterfront views with relaxing moments on the patio, perfect for posting up with your dog and a plate of sheet tray nachos. Because the brand makes its own beers, there’s a pour for every kind of fan.

Golden Road Brewing
2210 E Orangewood Ave
Anaheim, CA 92806
714.363.3537

16390 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. 100
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
562.588.3880

Anaheim: M-F, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sa-Su, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Huntington Beach: M-Th, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; F, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

 

Pizza, Beer & Game Day

Both OC locations of Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse Pizza, in Mission Viejo and Garden Grove, lean all the way into its name, opening at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays during NFL season with a breakfast menu that runs until noon. Later in the day, pair a short rib nachos platter with one of their house-brewed IPAs or choose from specialty pizzas like the Oggi’s Special (The Works), the ricotta or the poblano and sausage pizza as you settle in for a full slate of games. Weekday happy hour runs from 2-6 p.m. if you’re planning ahead for Thursday Night Football.

Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse Pizza
24042 Alicia Pkwy
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949.215.8570

12362 Chapman Ave
Garden Grove, CA 92840
714.534.3599

Mission Viejo: Su-Th, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Garden Grove: Daily, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

 

Family-Friendly Brew Pub

Located right on the Balboa Peninsula, Helmsman Ale House turns every Football Sunday into an event. Choose between the Bavarian pretzel with craft beer cheese and dill pickles or settle in with football season specials running open to close on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. TVs cover both the indoor bar and the patio, so you can step outside for air without losing sight of the game. Despite being a brewery, Helmsman doubles as a full-service restaurant so children can tag along, too.

Helmsman Ale House
2920 Newport Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.220.9977
M-Th, Noon – 11 p.m.; F, Noon – 1 a.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

 

Did Someone Say Brewcuterie?

Dana Point doesn’t get enough hype, and Station Craft is Exhibit A for why that needs to change. This Lantern District brewery and kitchen runs a huge LED screen for game-day viewing and serves fried pickles that alone are worth the drive. Swing by for happy hour from 2-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday before the late games kick off and celebrate holidays like National Drink Beer Day at this vibrant spot. Find a full menu offering sourdough grilled cheese, smash burgers and Brewcuterie, a platter featuring bar bites like a Bavarian pretzel, fried pickles and beer cheese alongside charcuterie favorites or stop by the San Clemente location for build-your-own pizza.

Station Craft
34150 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.264.8288

818 S El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA 92672
949.620.6901

Dana Point: Su-Th, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
San Clemente: M-W, 2 – 9 p.m.; Th-Su, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

 

Laid-Back Sports Sessions

Tucked behind a 7-Eleven at Euclid and Katella, Harvey’s Sports Bar is a no-frills spot with a wall-to-wall TV setup covering football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR and more. Pool tables, darts and complimentary popcorn round out the old-school sports bar formula while locals may wander through selling their tamales on any given night. It opens early enough to catch every Sunday slate from kickoff to the last West Coast game, ensuring you won’t miss a second of the NFL action.

Harvey’s Sports Bar
1728 S Euclid St
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.635.0462
Daily, 6 a.m. – 2 a.m.

 

Sit Around the Bar

A U-shaped bar lined with TVs on every side ensures that cheering fans at Harbour Rackhouse get a clear sightline no matter where they land within the restaurant. The American-style menu covers classics such as burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood, plus Mexican-inspired offerings like taco salad and chicken tortilla soup. Expect a full craft beer list with 24 taps as well. Those who stick around once the games have wrapped can use their quarters on a handful of pool tables. 

Harbour Rackhouse
16903 Algonquin St
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
714.377.3893
Daily, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

 

Happy Hour & History

Founded in 1908, Stag Bar + Kitchen claims the title of oldest bar in Orange County, and it wears that history well. The whiskey list runs more than 75 bottles deep, the pizza earned a Top 10 nod from the Orange County Register and the happy hour specials run from open to 6 p.m. on weekdays, the longest of any of the bars on the peninsula. Tasty bites include artisan pizza, meatballs made from scratch, spicy wings and fresh salads for the health-conscious. Bottomless mimosa brunch on weekends also means you can start the day right and stay through the final whistle.

Stag Bar + Kitchen
121 McFadden Pl
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.673.4470
M-F, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Sa-Su, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.

 

Team Tailgates

Stadium Brew Co. in Aliso Viejo built its reputation with 28 large-screen TVs, an expansive outdoor patio and a rotating lineup of in-house brews. It’s family and dog-friendly, ensuring that everyone feels welcome here, and the New American menu goes well beyond your typical bar food. Enjoy chicken risotto, countryside ratatouille, Greek tacos, pepita salmon, spicy pork lettuce wraps, Wagyu beef sliders and other delicious and unique dishes. Sundays during football season bring the kind of crowd that makes the whole place feel like a tailgate.

Stadium Brew Co.
26731 Aliso Creek Rd
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
949.448.9611
Su, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; M-Th, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; F, 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

 

Game-Day Mimosas and Pizza

The original Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill sits on the Balboa Peninsula, steps from the sand and the Catalina Island ferry. It shows every major sporting event, from NFL Sundays to UFC fights. Three huge TVs cover one wall alone, with more scattered throughout the space, plus an open patio with windows that swing wide on a nice day, beckoning diners with fresh air. The Huntington Beach location has more than 25 televisions for an expansive viewing environment. Order the Chicago stuffed pizza and don’t skip the bottomless mimosas if you’re arriving for an early kickoff.

Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill
801 E Balboa Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92661
949.220.9414

210 5th St
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
657.301.2200

Newport: M-Th, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. (open at 9 a.m. Sa-Su during football season)
Huntington Beach: M-Th, Noon – Midnight; F, Noon – 1 a.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – Midnight (open at 9 a.m. Sa-Su during football season)

 

Neighborhood Hot Spot

Five minutes from Disneyland, Lopez & Lefty’s keeps the neighborhood energy going until 2 a.m. daily with wall-to-wall TVs and a weekday special lineup that includes $3 Fireball Mondays and $5 Jameson Wednesdays. Happy hour runs 4-7 p.m. on weekdays with $5 well drinks and discounted apps. Depending on the time of day, delve into the brunch, lunch or dinner menus, spanning everything from chilaquiles and pozole to carne asada fries, sliders and flatbreads. This is the kind of spot where a packed game day turns into a whole night out.

Lopez & Lefty’s
1759 S Claudina Way
Anaheim, CA 92805
714.300.0000
Su, 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.; M-Sa, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

 

Casual Hangouts Welcome

Just on the edge of Fullerton, under two miles from Cal State Fullerton, The Bench Sports Bar & Grill packs 22 HD TVs into a spacious game-day setup. The smoking patio plus one lone pool table round out the casual hangout factor. Sample taquito dip, carnitas tostadas, bacon jam crostini, potato skins, fried shrimp, mac & cheese balls, a pastrami flatbread, wings and more. This is the kind of neighborhood spot that turns into a full day of football without you noticing the time passing.

The Bench Sports Bar & Grill
3159 Yorba Linda Blvd
Fullerton, CA 92831
714.528.9150
Su, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; M, 3-10 p.m.; T-Th, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; F, 11 a.m. – Midnight; Sa, 10 a.m. – Midnight

 

Catch Any and Every Sport

OC Local Taproom in Laguna Niguel shows every sport, not just the NFL, meaning Sunday Ticket, Big Ten and ACC coverage all run simultaneously so no fan gets left out. What could be better? Throw in fare from the in-house kitchen, OC Mexican Cocina, serving taco flights, a stuffed quesadilla plate, guacamole nachos, a quesapizza, tinga chicken taquitos and a buffalo ranch chicken burrito, and you’ve got the perfect afternoon. The patio is also dog-friendly and happy hour runs Monday through Friday alongside a rotating lineup of local craft beers.

OC Local Taproom
30100 Town Center Dr, Ste A
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
949.481.5800
Su-M, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; T-Th, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; F-Sa, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.

 

Your Second Home

Anaheim is more than its Disney identity, and The Hive Sports Bar and Grill proves it with a big-screen projector plus 24 TVs covering every angle of the room. It’s family-owned and built to feel like a second living room, with football season food and drink specials plus a buffalo bleu cheese onion ring tower that regulars swear by. Other dining options include stacked tots, zucchini sticks, chili cheese fries, pot stickers, fish tacos, a lamb gyro and a bacon-wrapped, all-beef street hot dog.

The Hive Sports Bar and Grill
6362 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd
Anaheim, CA 92807
714.363.3601
Su, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; M-Th, 2 – 10 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.

 

An On-the-Sand Situation

Just down the sand from the pier with unobstructed ocean views, The Huntington Beach House mixes beachfront dining with a full bar and a laid-back, dog-friendly patio. The menu covers locally sourced seafood, poke and brunch staples like the French toast with fruit. On game days, find giant screens or LED video walls showing the games in an open-air space. They also often host live musicians or DJs. It’s a solid pick if your crew wants to pair NFL games with a side of sunset.

The Huntington Beach House
21601 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
@thehbhouse 
M-F, 11 a.m. – Sunset; Sa-Su, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

 

Football & Billiards

Off MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach, Classic Q somehow crams more TVs per square foot than seems possible into one bar. Fans become family here fast, especially if you’re repping the Green Bay Packers. Find a unique menu of bites that includes teriyaki bowls, patty melts, flatbread pizzas and tacos. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3–6 p.m., making it a solid pre-game option for Thursday Night Football crowds. Get there early, because seats disappear fast once the games start. Stick around after the game for a round of pool.

Classic Q
4251 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.261.9458
M-T, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; W-F, 11 a.m. – Midnight; Sa, Noon – Midnight; Su, Noon – 10 p.m.

 

Swim, Sip, Dine & Cheer

Having built a reputation as one of OC’s top football watch spots, Villains Brewing Co. offers a lively brewhouse setup, plenty of TVs and craft beer brewed on-site, all in one cozy space. The brewery features both a fast-casual food hall and a full-service sit-down side, plus the rotating Villains Layer patio featuring three to four guest restaurants. It’s a solid stop whether you want a quick bite between quarters or a full sit-down meal on game day. And with a swimming pool on the patio as well, there’s simply no sports bar in OC like it.

Villains Brewing Co.
555 S Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805
714.829.4337
Su-Th, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – Midnight

 

Sports Viewing Heaven

For 30 years, Danny K’s Billiards & Sports Bar has been an Orange County staple, and it might be the single largest sports-viewing setup on this list with 41 TVs and eight 14-foot HD screens, plus pool tables galore. While here, grab classic snacks like wings, beef sliders, fried mozzarella sticks and seasoned fries or burgers, sandwiches, soup, salads and pizzas. It’s mere minutes from Angel Stadium and Honda Center, making it the natural pre-game or post-game stop. But game days aren’t the only time you’ll want to visit this sports bar. Don’t skip Whiskey & Wings on Tuesdays, with $5 Jameson shots and 79-cent wings all day.

Danny K’s Billiards & Sports Bar
1096 N Main St
Orange, CA 92867
714.771.9706
Su, 9:30 a.m. – 1 a.m. (during football season); M-Sa, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. 

 

Touchdown Tastes

Daily’s Sports Grill has served Orange County sports fans since 1993, and while the San Clemente location has since closed, the Rancho Santa Margarita spot keeps the tradition alive with 25 TVs, pool tables, video games, Golden Tee and shuffleboard to keep the kids occupied while you focus on the game. Breakfast runs 9–11 a.m. during NFL season for those who want to start the day early. Order the Touchdown Platter for the table and don’t be shy about yelling at the screen while munching on buffalo wings, potato skins, chicken fingers, cheese curds and jalapeño poppers. An events calendar packed with trivia nights and live music rounds out the lineup.

Daily’s Sports Grill
29881 Aventura
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
949.858.5788
Su, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; M-W, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Th, 11 a.m. – Midnight; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. 

 

Q&A:

What’s the best sports bar in Orange County to watch NFL football?

Orange County has dozens of strong options, but venues like Danny K’s Billiards & Sports Bar in Orange and Golden Road Brewing’s Anaheim and Huntington Beach brewhouses stand out for their high TV count and game-day energy.

Which Orange County sports bars have outdoor patios for watching football?

Several spots on this list offer patio viewing, including Helmsman Ale House and Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill, Stadium Brew Co. in Aliso Viejo and OC Local Taproom in Laguna Niguel.

Are these Orange County sports bars family-friendly?

Many are, including Golden Road Brewing, Daily’s and Stadium Brew Co., which welcome kids during the day. Others, like Stag Bar + Kitchen and Danny K’s, are 21-and-over establishments, so check ahead if you’re bringing the whole crew.

Should I arrive early to get a table at OC sports bars on game day?

Yes. Popular spots like Danny K’s, Stag Bar + Kitchen and Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill fill up fast for marquee matchups, especially during the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl Sunday, so arriving 30-60 minutes before kickoff is the safest bet to snag a table.

Do Orange County sports bars offer food and drink specials on game days?

Yes, most venues on this list run football season specials, from Oggi’s Sunday NFL breakfast menu to Lopez & Lefty’s weekday happy hour deals and Danny K’s Tuesday wing specials.