5 Great Sports Bars to Catch The 2014 World Cup

by | Jun 9, 2014 | Sports, Sports Bites | 0 comments

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Kick off the 2014 World Cup, Downtown style this summer! If you don’t already consider yourself a fan of soccer, the World Cup will capture your inner sport-hyped kid and propel you to its spellbinding stratosphere. If you’re already partial to the spellbinding skills Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, we’re sure you’ll be in perfect company once you step foot in any of these 5 strictly picked out bars for the most viewed sporting event of all time!

Zum Schneider—East Village: Deemed the unofficial German Headquarters for the World Cup, Zum Schneider opened its doors in the summer of 2000. This East Village bar was started by a native of Bavaria who wanted to recreate the German beer garden atmosphere in New York. You’ll be sure to enjoy from a selection of 12 German beers on tap, the traditional Bavarian-German menu, and seasonal specialties. Drop by and cheer on der Mannschaft in their run, as you won’t want to miss out on their clash with Team USA on June 26th.

Grotta Azzurra—Little Italy: For those looking to root for the Italian soccer team look no further than Grotta Azzurra on 177 Mulberry Street. This historic restaurant was founded in 1908 by the Davino family and was designed to capture the beauty of Capri’s Blue Grotto. A regular haunt of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Grotto Azzurra will serve well as home for all Italy fans to cheer on the Azzurri as they face fierce opponents, Uruguay and England.

The Cricketers Arms—Tribeca: Influenced by traditional British Alehouses, taverns, and pubs, The Cricketers Arms in Tribeca will make up as a fine substitute as a home for all Brits in New York. The bar features handcrafted leather booths as well as the best of British recording artists from the past 60 years. Drop by The Cricketers Arms this summer for a true taste of British soccer madness.

Esperanto—East Village: As hosts and top contenders to take the trophy home, the Brazilian soccer team will likely give fans much to cheer about and Esperanto in the East Village will provide them with everything they need to do so. The Brazilian restaurant appears to have been lifted from the streets of Rio de Janeiro and put in NYC to give Brazil natives a true taste of home. After each win by El Seleção, patrons of the restaurant dance along to traditional Brazilian drumbeats in celebration.

El Cid—Chelsea: The recently reopened El Cid in Chelsea is known as the destination for authentic Spanish Tapas in New York City. The bar recreates the festive and energetic atmosphere found in sports bars in Spain. The delicious sangria and laid-back mood makes this the perfect spot to catch a game or two of La Furia Roja.

-Rachael Sprague and Elizabeth Sutherland

Downtown Magazine