The entertainment industry may be the soul of Los Angeles, but sports are certainly the city’s lifeblood. Our town is and has been home base for the world’s greatest athletes, teams and stadiums, and it is getting ready to join Paris and London as having hosted the most Olympic Games. In fact, Los Angeles is hardly ever more united than when the Dodgers are fresh off a World Series win or the Lakers have secured another championship (cue the fireworks). In other words, Angelenos like to keep an eye on their sports, and a fresh batch of sports bars across town makes that easy to do. In quintessential Los Angeles fashion, you can expect the food to be great whether at a family-friendly spot in the Valley or clubhouse-inspired spaces in Echo Park and West Hollywood. From the Eastside to Culver City, these spots showcase the next generation of sports bars.
The Holloway
With the start of Dodgers season (and with a true springtime spirit), The Lonely Oyster space underwent a metamorphosis and converted into The Holloway. The cocktail bar warrants the reputation as a go-to destination for watching sports with TVs littered across the clubhouse-inspired interiors. Even better, this welcoming watering hole has a robust menu of dishes ideal for pairing with rounds and rounds of ice-cold beer (on weekends, consider a Bloody Mary). You’ll surely be satisfied by the Holloway burger loaded with a 5.5-ounce Australian Wagyu patty or their version of a Dodger dog piled up with chili, cheddar and onion. Consider adding an order of cool ranch fries to make it through extra innings. For something strong from the bar, the menu of signature cocktails showcases classics like Manhattans and martinis and pretty mixology creations, including a popsicle spritz that stirs up Aperol with Cointreau, lemon and sparkling water. When the game doesn’t have your attention, tap into your own competitive nature by partaking in bingo, trivia, darts or shuffleboard on select days. 1320 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park, thehollowayechopark.com
Game Changer Brewhouse
This Sherman Oaks sports bar fulfills college game day energy needs without skimping on the top-notch hospitality. A family-friendly institution on Ventura Boulevard, Game Changer Brewhouse catches eyes with its brick archway architecture dotted with televisions at every turn. In other words, you won’t ever miss a second of your favorite team while chowing down — whether you prefer standard pub fare like fried pickles, burgers and fries, or curated offerings such as produce-driven salad, lamb chops with babaganoush and flatbreads. Plus, the brewery is in-house — and with that kind of commitment to beer, you know the pints are next-level. The beverage menu also features cocktails, seltzers and a tantalizing root beer float. This summer, consider stopping in for the LAFC and World Cup watch parties, Love Island viewings, weekend brunch and happy hour. 13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, gamechangerbrewhouse.com
Hayama by Watami
This Helms Design District establishment is probably better known as a Japanese izakaya, but with three massive TVs posted behind the bar that regularly tune into baseball, Hayama by Watami makes the case that the sports bar experience can feature sushi. Restaurateur and executive chef Frank “Toshi” Sugiura’s extensive Dodgers bobblehead collection is on display throughout the restaurant (yes, even the ultra-exclusive Yoshi is there) and complemented by wooden elements that evoke a laid-back, homelike feel ideal for long, communal meals over shared plates and rounds of sake while watching the game. It’ll feel like a real treat to elevate your team’s win (or remedy a tough loss) with bites like fried oysters, pork belly-wrapped soft-boiled egg, sesame ponzu carpaccio, flame-grilled Kabayaki eel skewers and, of course, sushi. The menu offers various sets, pairing chef’s choice of sushi with miso soup, a mini salad and a choice of roll. Did we mention Sugiura is the primary Japanese caterer for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home games? Perhaps the team colors were part of the inspiration for the Fuji Mountain cocktail, a shaved ice concoction with sake, lychee liqueur and a blue top layer. 3239 Helms Ave., Culver City, hayamaxwatami.com
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