Draft Picks: Where To Watch Football

Football season is back! It’s time to rock our oversized jerseys, grub on the best American bar food, and hang out with a crowd to support our favorite college and NFL teams. The DMV has endless options for where to catch the game, but we’ve narrowed it down to 10 spots on our radar this season. Read on to learn about these spots and their drink specials, high-quality TV setups, team allegiances and more.

10 Tavern
Drink specials: $5 craft pints, $5 cocktails, $4 domestic drafts/bottles, $6 wine
Teams: All DC and Maryland teams
This new, upscale sports bar is entering its first NFL season, and the 10 Tavern team is hoping the flood of Caps fans that took advantage of over 30 TVs during hockey season turns into an excited football crowd this fall. 10 Tavern is all about happy hour, which goes practically all day, from 11:30 a.m. to 7:10 p.m., and includes $5 craft pints and cocktails, and $4 domestic drafts and bottles. The Chinatown spot recently participated in the DC Burger Battle at Hill Country Backyard Barbecue, so it’s no secret that the food is high quality. The bar is still working on updating its food specials menu. “We are a scratch kitchen sports bar, we don’t have your typical bar food,” says general manager Jackie Carlton. 707 G St. NW, DC; www.10tavern.com

BlackFinn Ameripub
Drink specials: $22-$30 draft towers, $18 Guinness Blonde buckets (six bottles), $3.50 Miller Lite drafts, $4 Dos Equis drafts, $4 Blackfinn Amber drafts, $5 Heineken drafts, $5 Sam Adams drafts, $5 Angry Orchard drafts, $6 Bacardi drinks, $7 Belvedere and Red Bull drinks
Teams: University of Tennessee, Northwestern University, Appalachian State, Miami Dolphins
Blackfinn’s set-up is ideal for watching football. “You cannot turn your head and not see a TV,” says Blackfinn’s Kam Khazai. They’re great beer specials pair up nicely with a quality menu too., making it “the perfect combination of cheap beer and quality eats!” The bar itself is one big football fan and its mixed fan-base makes it so that there’s always someone to cheer with. For certain big games, the crowds can get large and rowdy in the best way possible. 1620 I St. NW, DC; www.blackfinnameripub.com

Champps
Drink specials: $5 cocktails, $5 craft beer of the month
Arlington’s biggest bar features 50 TVs altogether, with five big screens that will always be showing a local team’s game. For any and all football fans, Champps makes it easy to watch the game with sound by going to the designated area that has your team’s game on. The stadium-style seating offers over 300 seats, including two outdoor patios and a 43-seat bar. Though the football-themed food and drink specials menu has yet to be finalized, bar manager Sean Auld says Champps is the place to be because of the fun atmosphere and events, including watch parties and karaoke. 1201 S. Joyce St. C-10, Arlington, VA; www.champps.com

City Tap House
Drink specials: 32-oz. stein of Victory Homegrown Lager or Victory Seasonal for $10
Get cozy in DC’s laidback “man (or woman) cave.” Surrounded by cozy rustic décor, City Tap House makes it easy to watch any game that’s on, whether you’re sitting in the dining room or the bar area. Lots of hotel guests and brunchgoers swing through City Tap, so you can expect the food and dining experience to be top-notch. You’ll definitely see a lineup of different jerseys at the bar, making it a perfect place for some friendly competition. “Between the multiple televisions/games and our knowledgeable staff on beer, food and football, we hope to create a fun experience,” says City Tap’s Lisa Cascone. 901 9th St. NW, DC; www.citytap.com

Mason Inn
Drink specials: Change daily
Teams: Ravens, Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Green Bay Packers
Glover Park is home to Mason Inn, the official DC bar of the Baltimore Ravens. This bar is one of a kind, with fans of everything from SEC college football to East Coast NFL teams there to catch the game, including the occasional Redskins fan. Mason Inn shows every SEC game on Saturdays, and will focus on fantasy football this season by setting a few TVs to RedZone. “One thing that sets us apart is our entertainment license,” says owner Corey Lockett. “We can have a live band onstage while you are cheering on your team. For example, for New Orleans-based teams, we can have a brass band during halftime or play through commercials.” Drink specials are always changing, but guests can expect some kind of themed punch or shot available as a special. 2408 Wisconsin Ave. NW; www.masoninndc.com

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
Drink specials: $12 Miller Lite pitchers, $14 Yuengling pitchers, $16 Blue Moon pitchers, bucket specials (six beers for the price of five)
Food specials: Half price food options from 7 p.m. to close
Teams: Broncos, Seahawks
This classic sports bar has the best of both worlds, with an outdoor café including high-top tables, an outdoor patio (covered and heated with three TVs showing games), and a full bar on both the first and second floor. There’s not one bad seat in the house with DIRECTV on 35 TVs. “Football at [Penn Quarter] is a legendary party,” says general manager John Scherr. “Come see for yourself. Our TV setup is second to none.” Don’t miss out on the party atmosphere and game day drink specials at Penn Quarter.639 Indiana Ave. NW, DC; www.pennquartersportstavern.com

Penn Social
Drink specials: $4 Miller Lite and Blue Moon, and $5 rotating local craft draft
Welcome to DC’s “Sunday football melting pot.” Penn Social keeps game day fun with 15 screens, including 11 12-inch HD projectors, one 22-inch HD projector and four HD TVs. The Penn Quarter staple shows every game on its screens, making it a go-to bar for fantasy leagues. Although it’s not team specific, don’t miss a chance to win Redskins tickets throughout the season. “The ambiance at [Penn Social] is casual and fun,” says Penn Social General Manager Sara Norman. “We keep it light. But we’re serious about our gridiron.” 801 E St. NW, DC; www.pennsocialdc.com

The Prospect
Drink specials: $5 Jameson, $5 draft beers
Team: Redskins
This U Street location takes Monday night football very seriously, serving an authentic dish from the home team’s city every week, as well as The Prospect’s award-winning wings. Though the bar is “hail to the Redskins first,” according to general manager Anthony Joines, you can still find Patriots, Steelers and even Cowboys fans catching their team’s game on one of the 45 HD TVs. Joines says this neighborhood spot encourages rivalries, and “it’s a magical thing to see so many different kind of NFL jerseys sitting next to each other.” 1214 U St. NW, DC; theprospectdc.com

Public Bar
Drink specials: $2 off beer, wine and cocktails (Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m.)
Teams: Raiders, Ravens, Redskins
This Dupont Circle bar is home to over 50 TVs – including the largest HD projection screen in DC – and also has the highly sought-after NFL package, making it easy to please sports fans who come to kick back. Though drink and food specials are always changing, there’s guaranteed to be beer specials and wings for game day. Watch a game on any of the three levels, whether it’s on the rooftop, in the lounge or right inside at the bar. Ravens and Redskins fans are always welcome, and friendly rivalries are encouraged, but Public Bar is home to the DC Metro Raiders Booster Club, who takes over the lounge level whenever the Raiders are playing. Bartender Abby Dubose notes that Public Bar is definitely a chill spot. “People are comfortable here, and it’s clear,” she says. “You can scream and jump and go crazy, or you can kick back and relax all at once, and it’s fine and fun.” 1214 18th St. NW, DC; www.publicbar.co

Union Jacks Rio
Drink specials: Pitchers and buckets of beer
Team: Redskins
Gaithersburg’s mega-pub has all the goods when it comes to watching your favorite football team, preferably the Redskins. With over 20 TVs, including four on the patio, Union Jacks Rio is able to play different games so one side of the bar can watch the Ravens while the other can catch the Skins. While this bar has a general population of Redskins fans, it’s still a friendly atmosphere. “Why wouldn’t you come here?” asks general manager Rob Whetzel. “We’ve got the biggest amount of space with the most TVs in this area.” 9811 Washingtonian Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD; www.unionjacksrio.com