The 7 Best Sports Bars in San Antonio (According to a Local)

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best sports bars san antonio

One of the coolest parts about living in San Antonio is how this place is such a great sports city.

Nothing tops how the city comes together to watch a Spurs game, and we don’t sleep on the other major sporting events, either!

So if you’re wanting to catch the game and get some great food like a true San Antonio local, here are the best spots in town.

PS – You might also like our guide to the best bars in downtown San Antonio, and why not end the night with a trip to one of the city’s best night clubs?

Map of the Best Sports Bars in San Antonio

Best Place To Watch Football In San Antonio: Mitchell’s Sports Bar

Looking for a sports bar in San Antonio with a full bar? Mitchell’s is the place to be. It’s reminiscent of a good ol’ soccer bar, complete with Manchester United flags hung around the room, but you can also catch the latest NFL games here, too.

They serve way more than your standard sports bar light beers. Grab your favorite cocktail and chow down on Mitchell’s $5 food specials, like the Crinkle Cut Fries or the Onion Rings. They also have pizza, wings, burgers, and chicken sandwiches to keep you full while you watch the game.

Mitchell’s is open every day of the week from 12 pm – 2 am, with happy hour from 12 pm to 7 pm. If you get there early enough, it’s a perfect after-work hangout for sports fans! Mitchell’s has TVs facing every corner of the bar, so no matter where you’re sitting, you have a perfect view of the game. They even set up a TV on the outdoor patio so you don’t miss a thing!

Best Sports Bar For Shuffleboard: Rookies Too Sports Bar And Grill

I am a shuffleboard fanatic. Like, I am crazy-competitive when it comes to shuffleboard. Rookies Too (named after the OG location in Houston) is the perfect spot to watch the game, grab some greasy bar food, and indulge in a few rounds of shuffleboard. They have 4 shuffleboard tables that are complete with digital scoreboards—it’s the nicest place I’ve ever played at!

Aside from the shuffleboard, Rookies Too serves awesome, greasy bar food like fries, mozzarella sticks, and tacos (served on newspaper, no less). They also have a full bar and a series of TVs around the bar. They usually have a handful of different games going on at once, which means you’ll need to watch with subtitles only, so keep that in mind.

Best Sports Bar With Arcade Games: Slackers Sports Bar

Do you want to watch the game, the latest race, or even the Olympics while beating your Pac-Man score? Head to one of the three Slackers bars in San Antonio. I prefer the newer St. Mary’s location, which is two stories, clean, and comes with a TON of seating. If you’re sick of hunting for a chair during the big game, this sports bar is a must.

My favorite thing about Slackers is their games. You can play on their pinball machines, arcade games, and even pool tables while you watch the game. But don’t let the kids’ games fool you. Slackers has a full bar and is 21+ only, so don’t bring the kiddos here. The upside is that there’s never a cover!

  • Address 1: Ste. 136, 126 W Rector Dr, San Antonio, TX
  • Address 2: 12234 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX
  • Address 3: 2809 N. St. Mary’s, San Antonio, TX
  • Website: Slackers Sports Bar

Best Irish Sports Bar: Maddy McMurphy’s Irish Sports Bar

McMurphy’s is the only Irish sports bar in downtown San Antonio, but it’s one of my favorites in the Alamo City. Although McMurphy’s has a full bar, you’ve got to try a pint of Guinness on your first visit—that’s basically the law of any decent Irish pub.

McMurphy’s also has a full menu of greasy, wonderful pub food, from pretzels to pizzas to subs. If you’re brave, order a basket of their weird-but-tasty Irish Nachos.

You can check out NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and even UFC fights at McMurphy’s (check their TV guide before you go to see what’s on). McMurphy’s has one huge TV behind its main bar, as well as additional TVs throughout the bar. It can get crowded here during big games, though: I once couldn’t even get inside the bar because it was so packed. It can also be tough to see or hear the main game over the crowd, so keep that in mind.

Best Live Music Sports Bar: Serna’s Backyard Sports Bar

Want something a little more than a sports bar? Serna’s is a bit out of the way for most San Antonians, but it’s great if you want to avoid downtown crowds and enjoy a humble neighborhood bar. Shoot a little pool, stop by to sing your heart out on karaoke night, or sip on a cocktail while you rock out to live music.

Serna’s might not be as fancy as downtown San Antonio sports bars, but the live music, karaoke, and huge outdoor projector make for a great time.

Most Budget-Friendly San Antonio Sports Bar: Schooners

Schooners is a dark-paneled, nautical-themed sports bar. Complete with a full bar, pool, darts, and an outdoor patio, it’s a more traditional sports bar.

With happy hour specials daily from 12 pm – 8 pm and a free Sunday buffet (yup, it’s totally free), Schooners is one of the more budget-friendly sports bars in San Antonio. They also host one hell of a watch party for football-lovers, especially if you’re a fellow Cowboys fan.

  • Address: 1325 NE Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78209
  • Website: Schooners

Best Sports Bar For Shooting Pool: Otra Vez Sports Bar

Otra Vez is Spanish for “one more time.” While it isn’t as fancy as some of the other downtown sports bars, it’s small, humble, and a great place to let your hair down without the crowds. Otra Vez has a covered outdoor area with fire pits and a stage for live music, too. But most folks swing by Otra Vez for its pool leagues, which meet every Wednesday.

If you want to try your luck in a pool tournament, stop by Otra Vez every Friday and Sunday to compete (it’s $12 to enter).