Best Athens Bars and Spots to Watch the Dawgs

Away game, no ticket, or just want to watch with a crowd that cares as much as you do? Athens might be the best town in America to watch the Dawgs. From giant outdoor screens to rooftop bars and family-friendly patios, here is where to catch the game. Every spot here was checked against its own site or a recent listing, but game-day hours and specials change, so check each place’s social pages before you go.

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Picks for Game Day at the Bar

• Dawgs hat: An easy way to show your colors.
• Dawgs t-shirt: Wear red for every road game.
• Rain poncho: Patios and beer gardens can turn wet fast.
• Portable phone charger: For the photos, the replays and the ride home.

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Next up: Georgia vs. Florida, Sat Oct 31, 3:30 PM ET on ABC in Atlanta. Then Georgia at Ole Miss, Sat Nov 7, 7:30 PM ET on ABC.

How to Pick Your Spot

Think about who you are watching with. A loud downtown bar is perfect with friends. A beer garden gives a group room to spread out. With kids, go for a family-friendly restaurant with screens. For a night game in November, think about whether you want to be outside when the temperature drops.

Big Screens and Beer Gardens

• Paloma Park (235 W Washington St): a Tex-Mex spot and tequila bar with an outdoor beer garden and an outdoor screen for UGA games. Its event calendar lists watch parties, including Nov 7. Flagpole readers picked it for best tacos and wings in 2026.
• Athentic Brewing Co. (108 Park Ave): a craft brewery just outside downtown with rotating taps, community events and food pop-ups.
• Creature Comforts (271 W Hancock Ave): Athens’ own brewery, with a downtown taproom open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays).
• Akademia Brewing (150 Crane Dr): a full-service brewpub with 20+ house beers and a full food menu.

Beer gardens fill up early for rivalry games. Get there well before kickoff to grab a table with a view of the screen.

Downtown Game-Day Bars

Downtown is where Athens game days get loud. These spots are a short walk from each other, so you can move around if one is packed.

• Georgia Theatre Rooftop (215 N Lumpkin St): a rooftop bar above the historic music venue, open from noon on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Dooley’s Bar & Grill (259 E Broad St): a downtown sports bar that opens at noon on Saturdays.
• Bar South (104 E Washington St): another downtown spot for the game.
• Cutters Pub (120 E Clayton St): a downtown pub that opens at noon on Saturdays.
• Magnolias (312 E Broad St): bills itself as the closest bar to Sanford Stadium, with 3 large projectors, 7 TVs and a pet-friendly patio.
• Walker’s Coffee & Pub (128 College Ave): a coffee shop by day and a bar by night, right across from the Arch, with a covered patio.
• The Globe (199 N Lumpkin St): a longtime downtown pub.

Family-Friendly Spots

Bringing the kids? These places are known for a calmer, welcoming crowd.

• Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (1860 Barnett Shoals Rd): a family sports restaurant with 26 TVs and SEC Network, open daily from 11 AM.
• Fully Loaded Pizza (1298 Prince Ave in Normaltown and 1255 S Milledge Ave): loaded specialty pies with a sports-bar feel on game days.

Sports Bars Outside Downtown

Skip downtown parking and still get a great game-day crowd.

• Buffalo Wild Wings (1956 W Broad St): the chain sports bar on the west side.
• Locos Grill & Pub (1985 S Barnett Shoals Rd and 2020 Timothy Rd): a local grill and pub with two Athens locations.
• The Royal Peasant (1675 S Lumpkin St): a cozy British-style pub in Five Points.

Live Music After the Game

Athens is a music town, so a win can roll right into a show.

• Georgia Theatre (215 N Lumpkin St): the historic downtown music venue. Check its calendar for show times.
• 40 Watt Club: the legendary Athens club, open on show nights only. Shows are generally 18 and over, and under-18s can come with a parent or guardian.
• Hendershot’s (237 Prince Ave): a coffee shop by day that hosts live music, comedy and open mics at night.

See what is on this week on our Events page.

Watching Other Dawgs Sports

Basketball season starts in early November, and many of these spots put SEC Network games on too. Call ahead and ask if they will have the game on. You can also go see the Dawgs in person: check our Guides page for upcoming basketball, volleyball and other home games.

Game-Day Bar Tips

• Arrive early. For rivalry and night games, good seats go fast.
• Check socials. Many bars post game-day hours, specials and whether they take reservations.
• Bring ID. You must be 21 to drink, and downtown bars check.
• Bring a card and some cash. Lines at the bar move faster when you are ready.
• Dress for the weather if you will be outside. Beer gardens get chilly after dark in late fall.
• Plan a safe ride home before kickoff. Use a rideshare or a sober driver. Never drink and drive.

What to Expect on a Big Game Day

On a big game day, popular spots fill up well before kickoff, and the crowd is loud and red and black from start to finish. Expect a wait at the most popular downtown bars. Some places run game-day drink specials, and some skip their usual happy-hour deals on game days. Family-friendly spots are calmer, and breweries and beer gardens give you room to spread out.

Downtown on a road-game Saturday has its own vibe. When the Dawgs are away, Athens fans pack the bars like it is a home game, and a big play can set off cheers you can hear down the block. Glory, Glory rings out after a win and the party keeps going.

Our favorite combo for a road game: an afternoon at a brewery or beer garden with room for the whole crew, then a walk downtown for the second half on a rooftop or in a packed bar. Wherever you land, wear red, cheer loud and be kind to the staff. They are working the busiest day of their week.

Eat Before or After

Want a real meal before the game? See our game-day eats in downtown Athens. Hungry after a late finish? Little Italy and Automatic Pizza are the late-night slice stops.

Own a Bar Hosting a Watch Party?

We are always adding spots. If you run a bar or restaurant in Athens that hosts Dawgs watch parties, get in touch and tell us about it.

More from The Urban Bulldog: the Athens City Guide, our Georgia at Ole Miss away weekend guide, the Athens tailgating guide and the Scoreboard.

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