March Madness Bars
The best sports bars in Austin to watch March Madness
Whether or not your favorite team is competing, March Madness is a dramatic event that always makes for must-watch television. We may not be able to save your bracket, but we can recommend our top-seeded spots to watch the games around Austin as well as a few sleeper picks so you don't have to miss any of the action.
Little Woodrow's
From Burnet Road to Southpark Meadows, Little Woodrow's is serving cold beverages to sports fans at five locations around town. Consistently boasting every imaginable channel and upwards of 20 TVs, these locations feature the same ideal sports setup as the West Sixth counterpart, but with much better parking (especially during SXSW).
Cain and Abel's
What better way to really embrace the spirit of intercollegiate competition than at this West Campus staple? Arrive early to stake out a table on the busy patio and enjoy a signature Texas Tea in style. Tuesday's dollar domestic beer specials make this a rowdy destination for fans looking to celebrate a big win.
Bar 96
Rainey Street's most reliable wraparound patio doubles as a failsafe game day destination, with no shortage of TVs to be watched or adult beverages to be enjoyed. After the games, the friendly backyard's taco truck and ring toss game will help distract you from your embarrassingly busted bracket. Hindsight may be 20/20, but you really should have seen that first round upset coming.
Midway Field House
Major March Madness keys to success: plenty of parking, competitively priced drinks, awesome appetizers, a massive projector, and flat-screens. Our favorite East Riverside Drive sports bar has all of the above in spades.
Black Sheep Lodge
This neighborhood watering hole may be Austin's designated Kansas Jayhawks bar, but basketball fans won't have any trouble catching the other games too.
Lavaca Street Bar
Lavaca Street Bar's divey vibe is complemented by the dive bar specials, including half-priced wings every Sunday and Monday as well as free bacon Tuesday and a daily happy hour. With so many games to watch, it might not be a bad idea to get comfortable somewhere that will go easy on your wallet. Honestly, you had us at free bacon.
Tap 24
This West Campus newcomer is making a name for itself as a fine game day destination in Central Austin. The space formerly occupied by Cuatro's features a Great Wall of patio flat-screens and is ideal for any basketball fan to enjoy the spring weather. It also doesn't hurt that Tap 24 is so conveniently situated next to Toasties Sub Shop and the mouthwatering smoky aroma of Freedmen's barbecue. With regular spring crawfish boils and an unbeatable location, Tap 24 is a slam dunk.
The Park
The Park does everything right — reasonable drink prices, an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating, and some of the most dependable bar food in town. Both North and South Austin locations have waitstaff servicing every table, so either spot is perfect for fans looking to focus all of their attention on the games.