The U.S., Mexico, Germany, Brazil and Japan World Cup teams won’t be playing their matches in the Bay Area, but they and other squads will be big draws for local audiences. Here’s a sampling of sports bars in the South Bay, Peninsula and East Bay planning screenings of games from June 11 to July 19.
If you’re interested in huge outdoor gatherings, check out our roundup of 7 World Cup watch party venues that offer more than soccer.
Teske’s Germania, San Jose: You can bet the Baumanns, owners of this historic German hall, will add TVs in the dining rooms for Team Germany’s matches. Watch parties will feature eight German beers on tap and menu favorites including the Oktoberfest Sausage Platte, Jagerschnitzel and chef Scott Baumann’s show-stopper, Schweinshaxe, a baked pork shank with potato salad and sauerkraut. Greg Baumann says he’d love to repeat the bash they held in 2014 when Germany played — and won — the title game. Details: 255 N. First St., San Jose; teskes-germania.com/
Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar, Pleasanton: Newly opened this year, Pivot is a large, sleek space at the Four Points by Sheraton that will be showing all of the World Cup matches. The menu of elevated sports bar food — think hand-breaded mozzarella sticks, sauces made from scratch — was created by Sabio on Main chef Francis X. Hogan. Soccer specials include the Morning Match, a breakfast burrito and Michelob Ultra, for $20. For midday and evening matches, fans can get 12 wings and a pitcher of beer for $49. Details: 5121 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton; www.pivotpleasanton.com
Britannia Arms (aka The Brit), downtown San Jose: Pub grub meets American fare at this expansive sports bar with a large interior, a cavernous covered patio, 27 screens and 24 beers on tap. With a name like The Brit, this restaurant always broadcasts lots of soccer — and will show all of the June and July matches. Look for official FIFA sponsors Jameson, Casamigos, Truly, Nutrl to show up on the patio with samples, giveaways and bar games; a photo booth from Jameson is also in the works. Signature dishes here include the Classic Fish & Chips and Bangers & Mash. Details: 173 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose; thebritsj.com
Rickey’s Sports Lounge, San Leandro: A few years ago, entrepreneur Ramonn Smith reopened the legendary former home of the Raider Nation and turned it into Rickey’s Sports Lounge — a bar that now welcomes fans of all teams, all sports. Besides the NBA finals and MLB, right now that means futbol. With its dozens of screens and ample space, parties are welcome. Fish and seafood platters and wings are popular here. Details: 15028 Hesperian Blvd., San Leandro; rickeysca.com
Laughing Monk Brewery, Sunnyvale: The massive Monk venue (formerly Faultline) can accommodate 475 fans indoors and outdoors. Soccer-inspired beer releases will be available throughout the tournament, with the watch parties here focused on USA, Mexico, Brazil, England, Portugal, Germany, Argentina, France and Japan. Ditto for locations in Scotts Valley, Los Altos. Details: 1235 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale; laughingmonk.com
Double D’s, Los Gatos: This longtime South Bay favorite, with 35 screens inside and out on the patio will show most of the midday, afternoon and evening FIFA matches. (A key exception will be Saturday, July 4, when they’ll open early for the 10 a.m. match.) Look for menu and drink specials and other promotions to be noted on the website. Details: 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos; doubleds.com
Stadium Pub, Walnut Creek: The oldest sports bar in town, the Stadium Pub and its 40 screens have been serving up games to fans since 1992. This place has 15 beers on tap and specializes in Vienna Beef hot dogs and sausages on Chicago-style buns and French fries topped with house-made chili. Details: 1420 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Creek; www.thestadiumpubwc.com
Highlands Sports Bar & Grill, San Carlos: Highlands, which boasts 31 screens and 25 beers on tap, plans to show all games, even the ones with 9 or 10 a.m. starts. Peninsula microbrews, wraps, tacos and burgers are big here, including a burger called The “Messi” that tops a half-pounder with with grilled onions and mushrooms, mornay sauce and garlic aioli. No-reservations seating. Details: 644 Laurel St., San Carlos; highlandssportsbar.com
Rookies Sports Lodge, 2 San Jose locations: Both San Jose locations — downtown and Meridian — plan to show all soccer matches on their scores of screens. The chefs are coming up with food specials for each week; check online for the new creations. Also, official FIFA sponsors Stella, Nutrl and Constellation (Modelo, Pacifico, Corona) will be swinging by weekly with samples, promos. Details: 1535 Meridian Ave. and 99 S. First St.; www.rookieslodge.com
Dutch Goose, Menlo Park: From its quirky beer-laden goose logo — designed by Barry Anderson, the same artist who designed the Grateful Dead’s logo in the 1970s — to its long tradition of deviled eggs, the 1966-vintage Dutch Goose serves an eclectic mix of Stanford folks, local residents — and now, World Cup fans. There are 11 TVs scattered across the premises, offering both indoor and outdoor viewing. Details: 3567 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park; dutchgoose.net
Aloha Club, Oakland: There will be plenty of World Cup excitement in Oakland’s Fruitvale District, and where better to soak it in than at this neighborhood dive — motto: “the longest bar and the coldest beer.” There’s a watch party with doors opening at 11 a.m. on June 11 for Mexico/South Africa, with viewing inside or on a giant patio screen. Reserve a free spot by visiting the website. The bar will show other matches throughout the tournament, too. Order a michelada or a mezcal, then pair it with plates from La Grana Fish taco truck or Nena’s Kitchen, serving traditional Cambodian beef-noodle soup. Details: 952 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland; alohacluboakland.com
Mad Oak Bar ‘N’ Yard, Oakland: This spacious sports bar, with two levels and a beer hall-style yard that’s nicely lit up at night, is opening early at noon on June 11 for the World Cup kick-off. Patrons can follow Mexico playing South Africa on several large TVs, quaffing cold cocktails and mugs from the bar’s 40-something taps. On Friday, the United States versus Paraguay will be playing, and then on Saturday it is Brazil vs. Morocco as well as a “roof deck party.” Food includes street tacos, fried chicken and cheese- or vegan burgers. Details: 135 12th St., Oakland; instagram.com/madoakbar
La Boheme, Palo Alto: Zut alors! There sure doesn’t seem to be a lot of gathering spots where local Francophiles can enjoy the game. That changes with this French bistro in Palo Alto, located in kind of a geographic fondue pot of France-themed restaurants: The Rendezvous, Bistro Elan, Zola and more. For the World Cup, La Boheme will be playing all the matches on two large TVs in its indoor/outdoor abode. There is the possibility of menu specials, and then classics like escargot, soupe a l’oignon gratin and plenty of bubbly, cassis-based aperitifs. Details: 415 California Ave., Palo Alto; labohemepaloalto.com
Mezcal, San Jose: This temple to Oaxacan cuisine — and its signature smoky liquor — is going all out for the June 11 opener of Mexico versus South Africa. A DJ will get the crowd warmed up at 11 a.m., and starting at noon it’s a full-on Mexico Watch Party, featuring a Mexico-jersey raffle and specialty cocktails (in addition to menu staples like mezcal margaritas, super chavelas and Oaxacan mules). Writes the bar staff: “Grab your friends, wear your green and help us bring the energy for opening day.” Details: 25 West San Fernando St., San Jose; mezcalsj.com
Casa do Petisco, Berkeley: Located in the charming Elmwood neighborhood, this small-plates Brazilian restaurant has a full schedule of World Cup fun. The eatery will be screening all the matches, at times two a day, but there are three special watch parties: the opener at noon on June 11, United States versus Paraguay June 12 at 6 p.m. and Brazil versus Morocco June 13 at 3 p.m. That last event will have a DJ before the game and food specials of churrasco espetinho. Draft beer is $5 every weekday from noon-5 p.m. If you’re worried about getting a seat, reserve a spot via Instagram. Details: 2642 Ashby Ave., Berkeley; instagram.com/casadopetisco.usa