The 12 Best Sports Bars in Charlotte, NC

If you’re looking for a great place to grab a drink and catch the game in North Carolina’s largest city, you’ll be happy to hear that Charlotte is home to many fantastic sports bars.

You won’t need to go very far to find a welcoming sports bar with friendly faces and plenty on tap. As the home to the Charlotte Bobcats’ Spectrum Center and the Charlotte Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium, Uptown is the main hub for sports bars in the area. On game days for either sport, expect Uptown to be a-rockin’ (no matter who comes a-knockin’). But there are plenty of other neighborhoods in Charlotte where you can find sports bars, including the craft brewery-filled NoDa and the South End, where bars, restaurants, and shops are blossoming left and right.

Here is our list of 12 of the best sports bars in Charlotte, NC, including:

1. Selwyn Avenue Pub
2. Ed’s Tavern
3. Duckworth’s Uptown
4. Hickory Tavern
5. QC Pour House
6. Rí Rá
7. Graham Street Pub & Patio
8. Jocks and Jills
9. The Fairwood 226
10. Big Ben British Pub
11. Midnight Mulligan
12. Dilworth Neighborhood Grill

Let’s get started!

1. Selwyn Avenue Pub

No matter where you start your evening, Myers Park’s Selwyn Avenue Pub seems to be a crowd favorite. It is located just south of the Uptown hustle of bars and clubs but remains a popular spot with locals. If you’re looking for a slightly preppier bar, this is it.

Here, you’ll find everything from college sports to international games on the screens. Don’t miss the signature 50-piece wings and cocktails (their $5 “transfusions” have become a fast and fun activity for those who want a quick pick-me-up).

2. Ed’s Tavern

If it’s a row of screens you’re after, this is the place for you. Ed’s Tavern in Dilworth has everything from buckets of beer bottles to a mimosa tower that will entertain you and your friends for hours. This lively (and pet-friendly!) bar has lots to keep people engaged (if you have the energy to keep pace with the younger crowd). Ed’s Tavern features weekly drink specials along with a menu boasting $3 tacos, jumbo wings with more than a dozen sauce flavors, and loads of late-night snacks available long after other local restaurants have closed.

3. Duckworth’s Uptown

If you can’t decide what type of beer to have, why decide at all? This Uptown bar has more than 150 on tap, and you can try them all. Duckworth’s Uptown’s menu of snacks and food certainly helps those who want to try several of this sports bar’s best brews. And, if you’re having fun, head down one floor to the speakeasy below where craft cocktails aplenty await you.

4. Hickory Tavern

Hickory Tavern is a chain venue, but its numerous Charlotte outposts have been such a local favorite that it has garnered area support to become a hangout for Charlotte residents. You’ll find them all around the city, including Ballantyne, Gastonia, and two in the southern half of town. The range of beers on tap and cocktails bring in nonstop locals, but the food is excellent, too (especially on Wings Wednesday).

5. QC Pour House

At this South End spot, you’ll find the perfect balance to please everyone in your group, from interesting cocktails to an eclectic beer list—and a dozen TV screens playing sports of all kinds. Even when there is not a game playing at QC Pour House, picnic or high-top tables keep the atmosphere lively. On warm days, the windows roll up for fresh air inside, where guests nosh on dishes like fried pickles and Philly steak sandwiches.

6. Rí Rá

This Uptown Irish pub has been around for years and is a go-to for a night out in the heart of the city. Rí Rá draws in patrons with its live music, skyline-facing rooftop patio, and occasional Irish jigs. This pub is actually fashioned by restored Irish pub artifacts, giving it plenty of character, and there is a centuries-old collection of ledgers from the Dublin Corporation on display that you can admire during commercial breaks.

7. Graham Street Pub & Patio

On its namesake street, this bar has amazing skyline views as well as plentiful drinks and craft beer on tap. Not far from Bank of America Stadium, Graham Street Pub & Patio gets especially busy on game days. A lot of the food on offer here is inspired by area food trucks—think skewers, tacos, and even vegetarian options, along with soups, salads, grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot dogs. Graham Street Pub & Patio is also a great place for dancing, with either a DJ or live music many nights of the week.

8. Jocks and Jills

This West Charlotte bar gives those out near the airport and beyond an easier option to support their team (whether it’s a local one or not). Sports memorabilia lines the walls, and the outdoor patio can get busy on warm evenings. Jocks and Jills‘ mac and cheese bites and brisket salad are popular accompaniments to the local craft brews on tap.

9. The Fairwood 226

Growing in popularity, this neighborhood bar is drawing people into the buzzing South End district of Charlotte. If you thought things were busy Uptown, South End is where things are really happening these days. At the Fairwood 226, you’ll find indoor and outdoor seating for watching different games, plus a variety of game-day specials that can be especially lucrative (we’re talking all-you-can-eat-wings here for one table). Come hungry and prepare for a good time!

10. Big Ben British Pub

Part restaurant, part pub, this spot draws regulars aplenty. Come to Big Ben British Pub for the ales and stay for the atmosphere. Scottish meat pies, flatbreads, tikka masala, and fish and chips are all on the menu.

11. Midnight Mulligan

In Wesley Heights, this craft brewery specializes in West Coast beers in a relaxed atmosphere. Patrons can watch baseball, basketball, soccer, and football on the screen, with weekends being the busiest and buzziest here. Beyond beer, Midnight Mulligan serves wine, cocktails, and mocktails, plus a lunch, brunch, and dinner menu.

12. Dilworth Neighborhood Grill

This locally owned spot gets very busy on game days with visitors enjoying the bar and back patio. Happy hours deliver plenty of drink specials, often highlighting beer made in the region. The menu at Dilworth Neighborhood Grill includes the standard sports bar fare, but gluten-free diners will be especially pleased with the number of options at this Dilworth bar.

Sports bars aplenty around Charlotte, NC

No matter what the time of day, there’s always a game to catch around the world. At these sports bars, you can find avid sports fans and cheerleaders eager to support their favorite teams. Even if you’re not a sports nut, these are fun spots to hang out with friends old and new.

If you’re new to town, come to these sports bars in Charlotte to make new friends, and be sure to consider the neighborhood you want to spend time in when choosing a place to live in Charlotte.

Looking for more fun things to do in Charlotte? Check out our guide to nightlife in Charlotte, NC.