Sports Bars in Prague

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It doesn’t get more central than Dubliner, located just off the city’s touristic Old Town Square. The bar can be found tucked away under the arches right behind the Týn church. It’s pretty difficult to be in the Old Town Square and not be approached by one of the pub’s promoters offering discount coupons to anyone who will take them! The Dubliner has an impressive 14 small screens and 2 large plasma screens. The main bar area seats around 130 people, with outside terrace seating for 100. The bar gets busy with stag and hen parties knocking back drinks and soaking up the Irish pub’s charged atmosphere. It can also get extremely loud (as a good sports bar should) with loud conversations (and songs) bouncing off the arched ceilings.

Being in The Dubliner felt like being in the UK, with the predominately UK custom-base enjoying the best of Czech beers (Staropramen 0.5l – 65 CZK, 0.3l – 45 CZK, Strongbow Cider 0.4l – 100 CZK, 02.l – 55 CZK, Guinness, Fosters, and Stella). The bar staff are quick, friendly, and British. They have a pub-style menu offering overpriced food until 22:00. The Dubliner is clearly a tourist trap. The pub’s 65 CZK beer keep the locals at bay. Saying that, they tick all the right boxes in the other departments, Plenty of screens, atmosphere and people. Good for large groups.

This American-style bar offers a wide range of food at reasonable prices. Jáma claims that the bar has become a meeting point for sports enthusiasts due to their plasma TV and projector-equipped ‘games room’. In reality, I was faced with a hot and stuffy small room at the back of the bustling restaurant with one screen of random & obscure sports (fishing on a Saturday afternoon?) Of course, it was possible to change channels, but still wasn’t a very appealing setting. The small games room lacked any kind of atmosphere. I didn’t want to stay.

A spacious bar that has become a favourite with young travelling hipsters and students. The bar is well ventilated, with excellent sound and seating facilities. Belushi’s has a total of 7 well-placed screens located in the three nicely decorated rooms. Accompanying sound is often replaced by the latest pop hits rather than the necessary gaming commentary, but is often played at low levels in the restaurant and (free) wi-fi room. Expect to find fashionable travelers and youngsters enjoying the good food and happy hour drinks promos. Good for groups, especially for groups with mixed levels of sporting interest. Check the regularly updated website to take advantage of their frequent discounts and promos on both drinks & food.

Located on the same street (Ve Smečkách) as the Tipsport Bar (below). The small bar has three screens which show Sky Sports, BBC, and ITV channels. Average pub food is served at tourists prices, which I expected considering its central location. I have heard on the grapevine that a new chef has been appointed, which should raise the standard of food served. Staff seemed baffled when I asked if they had a projector or larger screen, but quickly suggested that they would gladly rent one if there was a special sporting event that I wanted to watch with a large enough group. Paddy’s do boast one of the best match day atmospheres with a good mix of Czechs and expats cheering on their favourite teams. The small bar can get busy on match days resulting in long waits for drinks, but then I guess the upbeat match-day mood should help ease the wait.

This is a sports bar for real sports enthusiasts who have no interest in decor or non-sporting activities. No food, just drinks and plenty of screens. Loud speakers blast out the most popular game, while the curt staff serve over-priced drinks. Don’t expect any banter or smiling, welcoming faces. This place is about money and sports. The bar even has its own betting shop annex, so heavily intoxicated customers can put their money where their mouths are without even leaving the premises! You’re likely to find stag parties taking time out to check the fixtures and shout over the loud sound. The bar itself has the standard kit & cup decor. It’s not the cleanest bar in the world, but as I said, sport is the main focus rather than interior design. Open late Tuesday through Saturday.

A hockey themed restaurant and pub serving a mixed menu (available in English) offering Czech classics, pastas, burgers, fish, and veggie food at very reasonable prices for such a central location. The bar also offers a great lunch menu (11:00 – 15:00) for those wanting to get the lunchtime hockey fix! The underground cavern-like bar feels spacious, with ample seating for large groups. The space is decked out with Plasma TVs & a projector, which plays seemingly non-stop hockey highlights and games. Hockeyka is a great place for hockey fans of all ages. The walls are decorated with all manner of hockey-based memorabilia from around the world. The staff were English-speaking and friendly enough. Unfortunately, Hockeyka is not suitable for wheelchair bound customers. Smoking and non-smoking areas are available. The clientele seemed to be predominately Czech or Russian.

Notable mentions:
There are many other establishments that didn’t make the article, such as the Granddaddy of sports bars in the city: Zlatá Hvězda (http://www.sportbar.cz, Ve Smečkách 12, Prague 1). The expat’s favourite haunt has been closed for some time, leaving a void in the sporting spectator’s heart. Check their website for more info on the bar’s re-opening. True Blue (http://www.truebluerest.cz): this swanky sport friendly restaurant/bar has become the venue of choice for the Prague Panthers. Enjoy watching NFL games with a cocktail in hand!