Best College Basketball Bars In Los Angeles
As anyone whose ever held any job involving coworkers, attended college or watched a sitcom in the past decades is aware, the collegiate basketball season all leads up to the finals. The tournament championship fever is contagious, so get ready to rock your bracket-magic at these local pubs. Here are Los Angeles' hottest spots to catch all of the college basketball action.
Hours: Mon to Fri - 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sat and Sun - 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
This FSU-alum owned local sports bar caters to its diverse constituency in a big way. The drinks are cheap and have one heck of a kick to them. Its home-cooked eats are out of this world, with the all-leg wings, legendary tater-tots and quesadilla's topping its all-star standouts. With scads of projection screens and HD TV's strategically placed to allow coverage from every seat in the house, Big Wang's appeal is self-evident.
Hours: Mon to Fri - 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sat and Sun - 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood has everything required of a favorite sports bar in a killer location and crowd you actually want around you. A watering hole since 1920, the Beanery has been an LA institution ever since. There is plenty of TVs to catch all the game coverage throughout the bar. In addition you'll find some savory snacks and strong bar brews. Before or after the games, play a game of pool or arcade games like air hockey, foosball and shuffleboard.
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Hours: Mon to Fri - 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sat and Sun - 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
O'Brien's made quite a mark when it opened its doors in 1994, snagging rave reviews from Vanity Fair and Zaggat Guide LA. The snazzy press never made the place pretentious though, as their $7 lunch menu attests. The place to go for all things Bostonian, the "Cheer's" décor and ambiance should come as no surprise, nor should the fact that Irish breakfast is served all day. When college basketball is on in the bar, the crowd is ardently rooting for the Boston teams.
Hours: Mon to Sat - 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sun - 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Champ's has been Burbank's go-to sports bar since it first opened in 1983. With 22 60" high-definition flat-screen TV's there isn't a single bad view to be found. There are pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard as well. The atmosphere is always buoyant and jovial and the service is top-notch. With 18 beers on tap, a full bar and a savory signature burger, there's no need to eat before the game. When it comes time to watch the games, head to the huge back room with its new seven TV panoramic display and fantastic booth seating.
Hours: Daily - 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Grunions has been a landmark in the Southbay for more than 30 years and it's easy to see why. As the ultimate dive sports bar in all of Los Angeles, Grunions has managed to do a bang-up job of welcoming all who enter its doors. It's food is routinely lauded by patrons as the best eats available at any sports pub, with major love expressed for the Philly cheesesteak sandwich especially. TV's are everywhere in the joint, with a few mega-huge HD flat screens smattered about.
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Kristen Lowman is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
