Super Bowl: the one glorious Monday on the Australian calendar when it’s acceptable to skip work, drink before 10 am and eat nothing but greasy burgers and wings. Acceptable if you’re an NFL fan, that is. The sport’s popularity in Australia has risen dramatically over the last few years, and Sydney hospo venues are accommodating that demand by opening early and throwing dedicated Super Bowl parties.
Super Bowl LV, which sees the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the ultimate battle of old versus new. 43-year-old quarterback and undisputed football GOAT, Tom Brady, faces up against Patrick Mahomes, who at 25 already holds a championship and an MVP trophy. While Mahomes will likely be the face of the NFL for the next decade, Brady (aka Father Time) is looking for one more way to prove he’s the greatest to ever play the sport.
This is one of the most scintillating matchups in recent memory, so make sure you secure a spot at your favourite Sydney pub. Unlike five years ago, you definitely need to book a table for a guaranteed seat.
Put on your favourite jersey, grab a bucket of Budweiser, and go for an extra dip of ranch sauce to cool off your hot wing–these are some of the best spots in Sydney to watch the Super Bowl.
The Glenmore Hotel
The Rocks
What could make Super Bowl Monday better? The jaw-dropping view of Sydney’s Harbour might do it. Ordering in two giant screens, The Glenny is turning its iconic rooftop into Sydney’s best open-air Super Bowl destination. If you’re too late to snap up one of those prized spots, the entire three-storey venue, and its extended Cumberland Street trade-out, is showing the game live and loud. Pouring cold beers from 9am, the pub offers a prime seat, a bucket of Budweiser beers on arrival, with wings and sliders throughout the game, for $50pp. There’s also a breakfast burger and $12 bloody mary’s for the early starters, with $1 buffalo wings all day. Make sure you book here.
The Trinity
Surry Hills
It’s fair to say Crown Street’s The Trinity is one of Sydney’s more underrated sports bars. If you’re after plenty of TV screens and beers taps inside a cosy space to spend Monday morning, this is the bar for you. Helping keep the Super Bowl spirit alive, there are $20 buckets of Budweiser and a couple of $12 all-American snacks for good measure. Yell at that late pass interference call while you munch down on a loaded hotdog covered in bacon bits, caramelised onion and cheese sauce, or get messy with some spicy buffalo wings. Make a booking right here.
The Erko
Erskineville
A tried and true local’s favourite, The Erko is sneakily one of the Inner West’s best spots for American eats. Lucky for us, they also love putting on a big show for the Super Bowl—and the 2021 showdown is no different. For those who know the pub’s Thursday wing night specials, The Erko will be serving up the smoked goods all game day, alongside Budweiser and their usual slate of local craft beer. While walk-ins will be accepted, we highly recommend you book a table via their website to avoid any disappointment—it’ll be a packed house.
The Sporting Globe
Darling Harbour
For years, this giant King Street Wharf venue has been the spiritual home for NFL fans and Super Bowl viewing. With over 50 screens to watch the game, 80 beer taps, and sound playing throughout every corner of the venue, The Sporting Globe is one of Sydney’s premier spots for this year’s big game. Get there at the dangerously early time of 8am for the breakfast menu, or from 10.30am, tuck into wings, burgers, ribs, parmis, etc. Grab a $25 GA ticket for guaranteed entry and a free Bud on arrival or go all out with the premium restaurant package at $90pp for a reserved private table, a brekky burger, 24 share wings and a Bud on arrival. Stick around from 3pm - 7pm for celebrations and live music. Book a table here.
Norths
Cammeray
If you’ve passed through the Lower North Shore institution that is Norths and watched any event in the venue’s upstairs Auditorium, you know it’ll be an incredible spot for Super Bowl LV. In a gigantic room built for mass watching and entertainment, the Auditorium will be home to one of Sydney’s biggest screens showing the game. They’ll be serving up $6 Brooklyn Lagers (it turns out Budweiser isn’t the only American beer available in Australia), $10 breakfast burgers, $6 hot dogs and 50c wings. Don’t miss out and book a spot right here.
Bankstown Sports
Bankstown
If you’re hoping to stuff your face full of outrageously delicious and decadent American food the entire game, this is the bang-for-your-buck pick. One of Western Sydney’s top craft beer spots is also one of Sydney’s prime sports watching venues. Head to Bankstown Sport’s Basement Brewhouse to watch the Super Bowl with in-house brewing tanks laying the backdrop to the experience.
For $44pp ($40 if you’re a member), you’ll be treated to a new course every quarter of the game. Crispy Tabasco buttermilk chicken wings or prawn lollipops to start; house-smoked beef brisket burger or a bratwurst hot dog for the second quarter; cheeseburger spring rolls, BBQ glazed pork ribs and pork belly fries at half time; and mini doughnuts and whoopie pie to finish it all off. If you have any room left, Basement Brewhouse will be pouring its usual mix of in-house brews and Sydney craft beers across 30 taps—with the option for $22 beer towers. You can book a table here.
The Oxford Tavern
Petersham
You just know that Petersham’s home to smoky American BBQ meats is planning big things for this year’s Super Bowl Monday. With doors opening at 9am and the smoker working its magic much earlier than that, you’ll want to secure a spot under a TV at The Oxford Tavern on February 8—bookings are required for entry. The Petersham joint will be serving up some of its famous BBQ plates, alongside American style burgers and nachos. US and Aussie craft beers will be flowing across the many taps available, with PBR tinnies coming straight from the ice, ready to quench your thirst. Make a booking here.
Forrester’s
Surry Hills
If you haven’t already visited the new-look The Forrester’s after its huge $1.5 million renovations last year, you’re missing out on one of the freshest pubs in Sydney. With multiple TV screens playing the Super Bowl, split across the pub’s main bar, Phylli’s restaurant, and upstairs entertaining and dining space—The Forrester’s wants to impress on you its ability to showcase live sports. To help convince you, the Surry Hills pub is putting on $1 wings and serving drinks at happy hour prices all day! And because it’s a Monday, you can order up the legendary $10 steaks for a truly perfect start to the week. Make sure you grab a table by booking here.
Bucket Boys
Marrickville
You may not think of Marrickville’s premier craft beer purveyors for your Super Bowl Monday—but think again. If you want to spice up the big game with one of Sydney’s finest and rarest collections of craft brews, head upstairs at Bucket Boys for a very boozy and delicious game day. The bar will be screening the game live and loud on a giant projector, with snacks flowing throughout the day. You can choose from one of the 10 taps upstairs or get creative by going downstairs to the stacked bottle shop to select your own drink. There’s limited seating, so make sure you book here.
The Sackville
Rozelle
The Rozelle locals might prefer you didn’t know—but with an inviting space, comprehensive wine and beer lists, great food, and a killer drive-through bottleshop, The Sacky is one of the Inner West’s best pubs. It’s also the perfect sports watching venue and one of our favourite picks to watch Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes battle it out this Monday. From 10am, the Rozelle legends will be dishing out $20 buckets of Budweiser, with a free Bud hat with every purchase (in case you’ve already lost the one you took home last year). There’s also $1 wings, chilli dogs and American cheeseburgers all day long. Don’t miss out on getting a table and book one ahead of time here.
Want more sports action in your life? Suss out this epic streaming service and never miss a game.
Image credit: Mike Ehrmann