While the unveiling of plans for a downtown football stadium has brought Los Angeles’ NFL dreams a step closer to reality, the fact of the matter is that this football season, we’re still going to have to outsource when choosing a pro team to cheer for. The good thing is that we have plenty of local sports bars where you can support your team of choice -- as well as get your fill of beer drinking and group camaraderie. These are a few of our favorites:
Henry’s Hat: A sports bar with the intelligence of a gastropub, Henry’s Hat features a Sunday brunch menu that features chilaquiles and croque madame and is served until four. Perhaps more importantly, the bar also offers Sunday specials on bottomless mimosas and sangria and a two for one deal on Bloody Marys. Henry’s Hat boasts no particular team affiliation, and promises to seat guests according to which game they want to watch. Henry’s shows them all on their fifteen televisions. Henry’s Hat, 3413 Cahuenga Boulevard, at Universal Studios Boulevard, (323-512-2500 or henrys-hat.com)
Dillon’s Irish Pub & Grill: A sports bar in the heart of Hollywood, Dillon’s features classic --and tasty-- pub fare served by some of the prettiest waitresses in town. (It doesn’t hurt that they’re all wearing short, plaid skirts). Dillon’s offers more than two dozen draft beers, and pints are always $3. On game day, guests are seated according to which game they want to watch, (Dillon’s has 35 televisions), so fans can bond over touchdowns and chicken wings.Dillon’s, 6263 Hollywood Boulevard, at Vine Street, (323-315-9744 or dillonsirishpub.com)
The Parlor: Although Eagles and Ravens fans tend to flock to this Hollywood sports bar for game day, The Parlor promises that “every team is represented here.” With a comfortably spacious set up and more than fifty televisions, this swanky gastropub easily accommodates fans of all affiliations with a full menu, nearly twenty beers on tap and daily $5 shot specials. The Parlor opens at 9am on Saturdays and 9:30am on Sundays and is keen on both college and NFL games. The Parlor, 7250 Melrose Avenue, at North Alta Vista Boulevard, (323-930-2100 or theparlorca.com)
Grunions Sports Bar & Grill: This locally beloved Manhattan Beach sports bar has been a comfortable spot to watch football for more than thirty years. Grunions’ Sunday happy hour runs from 2:30pm to 6:30pm and features $3 domestic bottles and drafts, $6.50 pitchers of beer and $3.50 well drinks. Grunions has forty televisions, (their aim is to screen every game being played at any given moment), and serves a weekend breakfast starting at 9:30am.Grunions, 1501 North Sepulveda Boulevard, at Manhattan Beach Boulevard, (310-545-9910 or grunionsmb.com)
901 Bar & Grill: One for USC fans, this downtown Trojans bar offers 25 percent off food and drinks to USC students with a valid student ID and has nine 50 inch televisions on which to watch the game with a roaring crowd of fellow SC fans. 901 Bar & Grill: 2902 Figueroa Street, at West 19th Street, (213-745-7900 or 901bar.com)
O’Hara’s: And on the other side of town, this college-y Irish bar is a go to drinking hole for Bruins fans on game day. O’Hara’s, 1000 Gayley Avenue, at Weyburn Avenue, (310-208-1942)