The 10 Best Central Jersey Sports Bars
Avellino’s Pizzeria & Sports Bar
Where: Dunellen
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Is there a better pairing than thin crust pizza and Sunday football? Probably not! The dining room offers a traditional pizzeria experience, while the sports bar side features TVs for catching the game. Pizza is obviously the signature dish at this spot, and for good reason. The menu features gourmet pies like Buffalo Chicken, Baked Ziti, Hawaiian, Meat Lovers, and the classic Chicken, Bacon & Ranch. Not in the mood for pizza? They also serve game day faves such as wings, calamari, jalapeno poppers, and man & cheese bites.
Cryan’s Tavern
Where: Annadale
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Locals love that Cryan’s is open seven days a week. Though an Irish pub at heart, the menu leans more towards classic American pub food. Weekly specials perfect for Game Day include buffalo chicken egg rolls, Jamaican jerk chicken, and s’mores cookies & cream cheesecake. (The last one is an absolute must-try when it’s available.) Cryan’s is also extremely popular for its chicken wings and thin crust pizzas. We recommend The “JR” Spicy Italian pizza (Italian sausage, pepperoni, and hot cherry peppers) and their Jameson Irish Whiskey wings.
Firkin Tavern
Where: Ewing Township
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Firkin Tavern fuses English, Irish, and American cuisine in its gastropub menu. The end result is options like the burrata bomb, Spicy Chicken Sliders, Pork Roll Fries, Crispy Chicken Potstickers, and signature Firkin Buffalo Wings. To drink, Firkin has dozens of draft beers, plus over 20 bottles and cans. But what really makes them stand is their unique Game Room. This 21+ haven for sports fans is equipped with 17 HDTVs and a 100-inch projector, plus entertainment like darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, golden tee, and more.
First N Ten Sports Pub
Where: Trenton
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: First N Ten will be turning 30 in 2027. But in the meantime, this popular sports pub is busy perfecting the art of wing sauces and dry rubs. Even after a few decades, their menu is still introducing limited time wing sauces to keep regulars on their toes. A recent example is the Area 51 (Danger Zone!), a combination of mango habanero and Nashville hot sauce. Meanwhile, the bar is lined with TVs (20 in total) and features a full menu of classic pub fare. We recommend the chicken cheese steak quesadilla and Burger of the Day.
Gabriele’s Bar & Grill
Where: Piscataway
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Gabriele’s is typically closed on Mondays… until football season that is! Once Monday Night Football comes around, Gabriele’s shifts into game mode. They’re so serious about the NFL, they have a dedicated page for Football Specials on their website. That includes Sunday specials on popular items like beef chili, their wings & fries combo, and buffalo chicken egg rolls. The sweetest part? They also offer a discount on their brownie sundae dessert. So even if your team loses, you can drown your sorrows in a sweet treat.
The Neighborhood Grill & Pub at Ellery’s
Where: Middlesex
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: The deals at Ellery’s during football season are “so good they should get a penalty flag,” as they say. Specials run during any Sunday NFL game, including discounts on drinks, pizzas, and fan-favorite apps. Of course, their personable and well-trained bartenders and severs are another reason this spot is popular on game day. In addition to great seats throughout the bar, Ellery’s boasts large screen TVs so that customers can catch any game. They carry the NFL Sunday ticket so patrons don’t ever have to miss watching their favorite team.
Olive Branch
Where: New Brunswick
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Olive Branch is a popular bar for college students. (Making it a busy spot during March Madness and Big 10 matchups.) But they also draw an older crowd once NFL football season kicks off. The entire menu is built for watching TV, with sandwiches, wings, pizzas, and apps. In particular, their signature “Dirty Sandwiches” are served on cheesy garlic bread. We recommend either the Dirty Julius (chicken tenders with Caesar dressing) or the Dirty Buffalo (buffalo tenders with bleu cheese). Try the jalapeno cheese fries!
Sun Tavern
Where: Roselle Park
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: For the more casual sports fan, Sun Tavern is a pizzeria and bar perfect for catching an afternoon match. Their famous thin crust pizza is basically a local celebrity that everyone comes to see. There’s not a bad pie on the menu, but we recommend either the Old World Pizza or the Tavern Special. They have over 18 beers on draft, plus a couple dozen bottled beers alongside non-alcoholic options. (As well as wines by the glass if it’s a fancy Sunday Night Football kind of night.) Don’t leave without a taste of their Peanut Butter Silk Pie.
The Landing
Where: Hillsborough
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: This restaurant and pub is inside a renovated historic farmhouse. While that might not initially sound like the makings of a top notch sports bar, looks can be deceiving. The pub section of The Landing has multiple TVs for live sports, paired with Game Day food and drink specials. Popular pub grub includes apps like Pulled Pork Nachos, 12-inch pizzas, and handhelds like the Alabama Fried Chicken Sandwich and signature Landing Burger. We also recommend a 10-piece order of their chicken wings in Spicy Mango Habanero sauce.
Twenty/20 Taphouse
Where: Somerset
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: For those who require the finest craft brews while watching sports, Twenty/20 Taphouse delivers. They feature over 40 craft beers, many of which are produced locally in New Jersey. (In addition to other popular national brews on tap.) When it comes to Game Day, there’s no better way to start than with some Taphouse Nachos and Mozzarella Stix. They also have a standout burger program, with favorites like the Twenty/20 Double Smash. This comes with American cheese, tomato, onion, iceberg lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing.
Central Jersey’s
Best Sports Bars FAQs
1. Where Can I Find The Best Sports Bar With a Dedicated Game Room?
Firkin Tavern (Ewing Township) features a 21+ Game Room. It is equipped with 17 HDTVs, a massive 100-inch projector, darts, pool tables, shuffleboard, air hockey, and Golden Tee.
2. Which Central Jersey Sports Bars Guarantee NFL Sunday Ticket Access?
The Neighborhood Grill & Pub at Ellery’s (Middlesex) carries the NFL Sunday Ticket to cover out-of-market games. They also run food and drink discounts during every Sunday NFL matchup.
3. What is The Best College Sports Bar in New Brunswick?
Olive Branch is a legendary college bar that peaks in popularity during March Madness and Big 10 matchups. The menu is built for game day, featuring their famous “Dirty Sandwiches” served on cheesy garlic bread.
4. Where Can I Find The Best Craft Beer Selection While Watching The Game?
Twenty/20 Taphouse (Somerset) delivers over 40 craft beers on tap, heavily featuring local New Jersey brews. Pair their Double Smash burger with their massive tap list for the ultimate game day hangout.
5. Which Sports Pub Offers The Most Unique Chicken Wing Sauces?
First N Ten Sports Pub (Trenton) is famous for constantly introducing new, limited-time wing sauces and dry rubs. For example, their fiery Area 51 sauce combines mango habanero and Nashville hot sauce.