Best Sports Beer Gardens & NFL Watch Parties Austin

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Whether you’re hunting for a sprawling outdoor sports beer garden with massive LED screens or a cozy neighborhood NFL watch party in Austin with full audio and icy local craft drafts, Austin has a gameday spot for every football enthusiast.

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Also, check out our articles on the Best Date Night Ideas in Austin, Best Sports Bars in Austin for Longhorn and NFL Football Games, and Best Rainey Street and South Congress Happy Hours.

Where to Catch an NFL Watch Party in Austin: High-Energy Sports Beer Gardens

Bouldin Acres

If you’re looking for an NFL watch party in Austin where the Texans crowd actually comes to watch football, put Bouldin Acres on your list.

This South Lamar favorite has been hosting the official Houston Texans watch party since 2012, so they’ve had plenty of time to perfect game day.

The sound is on, the games are playing across multiple screens, and the patio fills up with fans ready to celebrate every touchdown and collectively boo every bad call.

Then there’s the food. CM Smokehouse brings the Texas BBQ on game days, so you can load up on brisket and other BBQ favorites without missing a play.

Bringing the whole crew? Group packages are available if you plan ahead, although patio seating is first-come, first-served and tends to go quickly. Kids and dogs are welcome, too.

When: Sunday – Wednesday: 11 am – 11 pm | Thursday – Saturday: 11 am – 12 am
Where: 2027 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
How Much: Starts at $10

Armadillo Den

Some bars put the game on a TV. Armadillo Den puts it on a 13-foot LED wall and basically says, “Yeah, this is what you’re watching today.”

There are smaller screens throughout the indoor and outdoor areas, too, so you can keep tabs on other games when your team isn’t playing.

As for the drink situation, you’ll find plenty to choose from, with 18 beers on draft, plus draft cocktails and mocktails, while rotating food trucks keep everyone fed between quarters.

Just get there early on the big days because seating is first-come, first-served and parking around Menchaca can get a little wild. If you like your Austin NFL bars with plenty of fresh air and room to roam, Armadillo Den is a fun one.

When: Monday – Wednesday: 4 pm – 12 am | Thursday: 4 pm – 12:30 am | Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 2 am | Sunday: 12 pm – 12 am
Where: 10106 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748
How Much: Starts at $20

Scholz Garten

Football, giant beers, German food, and a biergarten that’s been around since 1866? Honestly, what’s not to like? Scholz Garten is one of those Austin spots where you can show up for an NFL game and feel like you’ve stumbled into a city tradition at the same time.

Multiple TVs keep the games going, while the covered patio gives you plenty of space to hang out with your crew. On game days, you might find specials on wings, tall boys, and other football-friendly favorites, while the regular menu brings the German goods: brats, schnitzel, soft pretzels with beer cheese, and plenty of German beer.

It’s also close to the Capitol and UT, so it’s a convenient stop if you’re already downtown. Just don’t expect parking to magically appear five minutes before kickoff. Plan ahead, grab a drink, and settle in.

When: Monday – Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm | Sunday: 12 pm – 6 pm
Where: 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
How Much: Starts at $20

Moontower Saloon

If your biggest complaint about watching football at a bar is having approximately three inches of personal space, head over to Moontower Saloon. This sprawling 11-acre South Austin spot gives you plenty of room.

NFL Sunday Ticket plays on the big screen with the sound on, while multiple bars around the property mean you don’t have to trek across the entire place every time you need another drink.

And you’re not just coming here to stare at a screen. Food trucks, Texas BBQ, bar food, volleyball courts, and massive live oaks give you plenty of reasons to stick around between games.

Kids are welcome until 6 p.m. and dogs can hang out with you.

When: Monday: 1 pm – 12 am | Tuesday – Friday: 1 pm – 2 am | Saturday: 11 am – 2 am | Sunday: 12 pm – 2 am
Where: 10212 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748
How Much: Starts at $20

Lustre Pearl East

Image credit: Lustre Pearl East

Want football without spending four quarters squeezed between strangers at a cramped bar? Lustre Pearl East is worth a look.

The East Austin favorite puts NFL games on the big screen in its backyard with the sound on, so you can actually hear the game instead of trying to follow along while someone blasts music over it.

There are additional TVs around the property, too, which means you won’t have to pick just one game to follow.

Grab some wings, loaded fries, or a burger, crack open a local Austin beer, and settle into a spot near the fire pits. Between plays, you can challenge your friends to ping pong or cornhole.

When: Sunday – Thursday: 11 am – 12 am | Friday – Saturday: 11 am – 2 am
Where: 114 Linden St, Austin, TX 78702
How Much: Starts at $10

Top Austin NFL Bars & Neighborhood Fan Hubs

Cover 3

Cover 3 is the kind of sports bar that takes the phrase “good view of the game” seriously. TVs cover pretty much every section, and staff will actually help get you seated with a sightline to the matchup you came to see.

NFL Sunday Ticket keeps the other games rolling, too, while the sound stays on so you can hear what’s happening instead of relying on the bartender’s lip-reading skills.

The food gives you another reason to stay put. The kitchen makes everything from scratch, with award-winning wings and the brick chicken mac and cheese as crowd favorites. And if your idea of football brunch includes a Bloody Mary, well, Cover 3 has you covered there, too.

Bringing a bigger crew? The Anderson Lane location has an upstairs Sky Box with red leather sofas, TVs, shuffleboard, and room for up to 50 people. Reservations are also recommended for popular noon kickoffs, so don’t leave that part to fate.

When: Daily: 11 am – 10 pm
Where: 2700 W Anderson Ln. #202, Austin, TX 78757
How Much: Starts at $20

Haymaker

Image credit: Haymaker

Haymaker will tell you it’s not a sports bar. Sure. And we’re not football fans when my team is losing.

With more than 20 screens, full game sound, NFL Sunday Ticket, and an official Detroit Lions Watch Group, Haymaker is pretty much built for NFL Sundays whether it wants the sports-bar label or not.

And because you’re likely to find fans of all kinds here, you can cheer for your team without accidentally starting a blood feud over the TV.

Then there’s the beer. More than 40 taps give you plenty of options for settling into a long Sunday, while the kitchen brings the comfort food. Don’t skip their poutine, which is filled with crispy fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Their sandwiches are also big enough to keep you full through the fourth quarter.

Haymaker gets busy quickly once kickoff approaches, so arrive 30 to 45 minutes early if you want an actual seat.

When: Daily: 11 am – 12 am
Where: 2310 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
How Much: Starts at $20

Black Sheep Lodge

Black Sheep Lodge might be one of the better places to turn an NFL Sunday into a beer-tasting mission. With 26 taps and more than 125 bottled and canned options, including plenty from Texas breweries, you could probably work your way through a different beer every time your team plays.

And since NFL Sunday Ticket is running across 20 HD TVs, you won’t have to sacrifice the football just because you’re more interested in what’s on tap.

The South Lamar bar has a dark, cozy feel that makes settling in for four quarters pretty easy, with TVs spread throughout the indoor space and covered patio.

When hunger inevitably kicks in, order the Black Buffalo Burger, a half-pound Angus patty topped with buffalo sauce and blue cheese, or go straight for the fried cheese curds. They’re Wisconsin-made, which feels like a pretty reliable endorsement of their cheese credentials.

Just give yourself a little extra time before kickoff. South Lamar can get crowded on Sundays, and parking here isn’t exactly known to be easy.

When: Daily: 11 am – 12 am
Where: 2108 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
How Much: Starts at $20

The Tavern

Image credit: The Tavern Austin

The Tavern has been around since 1933, and these days, it’s a great spot for catching NFL games. You’ll find 46 HDTVs spanning two floors and two full bars, giving you plenty of opportunities to catch the matchup you came for.

And if you’re a Chiefs fan, you’ve definitely found your people. The Tavern is a home base for Kansas City supporters in Austin, so expect a little extra noise when Mahomes and company are on the screen. Other sports fan groups have their own followings here, too.

The upstairs area is particularly worth claiming, but there’s one catch: no reservations on game days. Seating is first-come, first-served, and the bar opens early for major games.

Once you’re settled, order the brisket queso or white wings and get comfortable.

When: Sunday – Thursday: 11 am – 11 pm | Friday – Saturday: 11 am – 12 am
Where: 922 W 12th St, Austin, TX 78703
How Much: Starts at $20

Little Woodrow’s West 6th

Image credit: Little Woodrow’s

If your perfect NFL Sunday involves a giant patio, cold beers, plenty of screens, and a crowd that’s here to have a good time, Little Woodrow’s West 6th checks a lot of boxes.

TVs are scattered throughout the covered outdoor space, so you can usually find a decent view without having to perform a complicated seating maneuver.

The bar is also the official Austin watch-party home for the Seattle Seahawks, so 12s have a built-in community here. But you don’t need to be wearing Seahawks colors to join in. The crowd also pulls in fans of all kinds.

Beer buckets and draft specials help keep the drinks flowing, while the on-site taco truck handles the food without making you abandon your spot to navigate a giant menu.

When: Monday – Friday: 12 pm – 2 am | Saturday – Sunday: 11 am – 2 am
Where: 520 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
How Much: Starts at $20

Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar

If your ideal NFL Sunday includes a little sand between quarters, Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar is an easy pick.

This Barton Springs Road fixture has been around since 1989, with two sand volleyball courts out back that stay busy with coed leagues for most of the year.

Inside, 14 HDTVs carry NFL Sunday Ticket across the bar and dining room, so you can settle in for the game without having to claim a particular seat and hope the TV isn’t blocked by someone’s head.

The Texas Tech alumni chapter holds its official watch parties here, while several NFL fan groups use the bar as a gathering spot, giving Sundays a fun mix of rival jerseys and fan bases.

Grab a burger, wings, or sandwich, pick something from the 15 beers on draft, and you’ve got a pretty solid setup whether you’re there for every play or just here for the game day fun. There’s even an on-site parking lot.

When: Monday: 11 am – 11 pm | Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 12 am | Saturday: 9 am – 12 am | Sunday: 9 am – 11 pm
Where: 306 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
How Much: Starts at $20

Know Before You Go: Austin Football Game Days

While many of these top sports beer gardens and NFL bars are located near downtown, Central, and South Austin, they are easily accessible for fans living across the Greater Metroplex.

Whether you are driving in from suburbs like Round Rock, Cedar Park, Westlake, or Pflugerville, most spots offer dedicated parking lots or easy rideshare drop-off zones within a quick 20-30 minute drive.

If you are planning to watch early 12:00 PM kickoffs at popular outdoor spots like Bouldin Acres or Armadillo Den, aim to arrive by 11:15 AM to claim optimal table seating near the main screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch out-of-market NFL games in Austin?

Most major sports bars listed, such as Cover 3, Haymaker, The Tavern, and Black Sheep Lodge, subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket and have dozens of screens capable of showing every regional or out-of-market game simultaneously.

Are sports beer gardens in Austin kid- and dog-friendly?

Yes! Outdoor sports beer gardens like Bouldin Acres and Moontower Saloon welcome leashed dogs and offer family-friendly outdoor games during daytime kickoffs. Note that venues like Armadillo Den are strictly 21+ at all times.

Do I need to make reservations for Sunday NFL watch parties?

Most Austin sports bars operate on a first-come, first-served basis for gamedays. However, select spots like Cover 3 accept reservations for indoor dining tables, which is highly recommended for large groups.

Looking for more? See the upcoming Weekend Events in Austin.