“Best in Orlando” is obviously subjective. Between pricing, location and amenities, there is a lot of leeway. But, when you are in the theme park capital of the world, you need more than just a few screens and beers to win over football fans. From rooftop lounges to Vegas-style arenas, these are the best large-scale Orlando Sports Bars for this upcoming Football Season (and yes, we mean American Football).
Sports & Social Orlando at LIVE! at the Pointe
Located inside of a 73,000 square foot bar venue, LIVE! at the Pointe, the Sports & Social location has massive screens, plenty of food options and multi-level dining with options for private spaces. This bar has spots for sitting, spots for standing, spots at the bar and spots to play bar games like shuffleboard and darts.
My personal experience
I have visited Sports & Social Orlando a few times. My first comment would be on the food and drink offerings. Elevated bar food seems like such a gimmick phrase now, but Sports & Social Orlando does deliver. I also enjoy the large booths on the back wall. You can still see the oversized LED wall, but you aren’t surrounded by other sports fans if you want a bit of a private space. As seen in the image above, this place can be very popular. Reservations or special event tickets bought in advance are recommended.
The LIVE! at the Pointe Venue has a ton of drinks and nightlife if you want to make an extended evening out of the game. While this bar does welcome all ages, the nearby bar venue space attracts a 21+ crowd, which could be less favorable for those looking for a strictly family outing involving watching a game of football.
Things to know about Sports and Social Orlando:
- Paid parking on-site, parking can be validated with a purchase
- Located on Orlando’s International Drive, expect big crowds and heavier traffic
- Under 21, select bar venues connected to LIVE! at the Pointe do not allow those under 21 years of age. Sports & Social is ok, but others could be restrictive during select hours.
Tom’s Watch Bar Orlando
Located on Orlando’s International Drive, Tom’s Watch Bar has numerous, very large LED screens, indoor and outdoor dining and sweeping views of Orlando’s top attractions. There is multi-level dining, with a majority of the dining on the first floor and some private spaces with golf simulators on the second floor.
My personal experience
This bar has really good views of Orlando’s International Drive for “free.” I suggest parking across the street for the free parking instead of paying for the parking garage underneath the venue. This bar is not small in any way and offers multi-level dining as well as golf simulators on the second floor, if you want to add some golf to your football.
Being on International Drive is a bonus as it is nearby for visiting tourists, but it can be very loud inside due to the venue’s design and the crowd size. This could be a bonus for the energized fan or a bit overwhelming for those seeking a calmer night. If you do need a quieter spot, the outdoor area has a full bar, ample seating and great nighttime views of the area.
Things to know about Tom’s Watch Bar Orlando:
- Paid parking at parking garage with free parking across the street
- Located on Orlando’s International Drive, expect big crowds and heavier traffic
- On the rooftop of parking garage, requires taking elevator to top floor, elevators are clearly marked
Stadium Club Orlando at Caribe Royale Orlando
Located inside of the Caribe Royale Orlando, not too far away from the Walt Disney World Resort, Stadium Club is a somewhat hidden location. But that doesn’t mean it is small or offers less. This multi-level bar (catching a trend here?) has booth seating, bar seating, private areas, multi-sport simulators and an upcoming Fantasy Football deal, more on that farther down.
My personal experience
During my first visit to Stadium Club Orlando I was so confused. This was a Las Vegas style bar with wrap-around screens, multiple levels and very unique food items. And, it was just sitting in the middle of a hotel. This is not a standard hotel bar in anyway. Once again, yes the elevated bar food was very good. The portions of the food items I had were oversized and easily shareable.
This location does offer parking validation with food and/or drink purchases. You will have to search out the location a little bit, but following the hotel signage or asking an employee will get you there fairly easily. For the group, there is upstairs seating with private bays for sports simulators. But sitting downstairs at the main bar may be the most exciting as you are fully surrounded by screens.
Things to know about Stadium Club Orlando:
- Located inside of the Caribe Royale Orlando Resort
- Parking is validated with food and/or drink purchases
Fantasy Football group offering at Stadium Club Orlando
For the Fantasy Football fanatics, there is a unique option at Stadium Club Orlando. You can host a Fantasy Football Draft Party at the bar, complete with food, drinks, a reserved room, liquor discounts and 3 hours of sports simulator play for $400 (up to 12 people).
Stadium Club Orlando states, “Elevate your fantasy football draft with our exclusive Fantasy Football Draft Party Package at Stadium Club, designed for the ultimate sports fan experience. Reserve a private simulator suite for 3 hours of immersive draft action, featuring state-of-the-art equipment…Want to keep it old school? Add a paper Fantasy Football Draft Board with player name stickers for just $25 – perfect for leagues that love the traditional draft day experience!”
NBC Sports Grill & Brew | Olympics option
The NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal Orlando Resort’s CityWalk dominates the CityWalk skyline with its stadium sized LED screen. This location does require paid parking, unless it is after 6 p.m. on select days, so check the Universal Orlando website to confirm. This grill has views of the theme parks, tables with foosball built in and a unique Olympics offering.
My personal experience
During my visits to the NBC Sports Grill & Brew, which to be honest haven’t been super often, I have noted that sports are a big deal, but the Olympics is king. I mentioned this specific sports bar in this article for that reason primarily. Yes, you can go there for a football match, but the paid parking may deter some visitors. There are screens, but they aren’t as massive as the other three options listed above. But, there are exceptions. During the Olympics, as well as during select major games, Universal will setup the NBC Sports Grill & Brew to be something more.
The outdoor LED screen is nothing short of colossal. It illuminates a vast majority of the waterways around CityWalk. On rarer occasions, Universal has setup outdoor seating to watch games on the biggest screen you could find outside of a football stadium. On those specific instances, this bar shines, but other times it may not be the hot spot for fans to casually meet up at. For the food, the video above is correct, the oversized pretzel really is quite good.
Things to know about NBC Sports Grill & Brew:
- Located in Universal CityWalk, which requires parking fees and an extended walk (fees waived during select times)
- Massive outdoor screen used on special occasions to create stadium seating
