Cover Story: Atlanta’s best soccer pubs
Wake up early and watch the beautiful game with complete strangers
Location: Little Five Points
Description: Brewhouse has been a popular spot for soccer fans since 1998 — especially Arsenal, though it attracts fans of all teams and sports — and boasts TVs and surround sound. With a largely expat staff, Brewhouse is “well known for people who travel out of state,” according to owner Denise Girard, adding that it is known for its sing-alongs, international bar, and outdoor patio. During the World Cup, Brewhouse will be open for all the games.
Why it’s best: “It has the best atmosphere,” Girard says. “You can ask anybody that’s out there where they’re going to watch the World Cup this year and they’ll say ‘the Brewhouse.’”
Website: www.brewhousecafe.com
Location: East Atlanta
Description: Chef Travis McClellan says the former garage, with its open space and outdoor patio, is busiest when the U.S. Men’s National Team plays. Midway will place TVs outside for the World Cup, offering beer specials and issue “passports” to visitors so they can collect stamps for every game they watch, with the potential to win prizes.
Why it’s best: “Having the big patio and being able to set up stuff outside,” McClellan says.
Website: www.themidwaypub.com
Location: Atlantic Station, Downtown, Sandy Springs, and Vinings
Description: The Downtown spot is “the official home to English Premier League team Liverpool in the Southeast,” according to managing partner Ian Macken. Its Atlantic Station location is Tottenham Hotspur supporters’ HQ.
Why it’s best: “The best compliment I get on the pub is that when people find out its only been around for four-plus years, they thought it was around for 24-plus years,” Macken says.
Website: www.meehansdowntown.com
Location: Midtown
Description: Manager Peter Constant boasts that “every piece” of Rí Rá, which he says is popular with fans of English soccer team Chelsea, comes from Ireland. Three sections with several TVs in each allow them to show several games at once. Rí Rá will serve various drink and food specials during the World Cup, when it’ll also raffle off different team jerseys.
Why it’s best: “The main attraction here ... is the screens, the projectors, and the space,” Constant says.
Website: www.rira.com/atlanta
Location: Buckhead
Description: The Irish pub, which tends to attract Everton fans during the English Premier League season, is a longtime haunt of Atlanta soccer fans. Events Coordinator Laura Cavanagh says the bar, which can hold up to 600 people, will be open for all 64 World Cup games and have match-day menus and drink specials. In addition, people who correctly predict 63 World Cup matches get a chance to win $1 million.
Why it’s best: “We’re well-prepared for the craziness the World Cup will bring,” Cavanagh says.
Website: www.fadoirishpub.com
The Elder Tree
Location: East Atlanta
Description: This Flat Shoals Avenue bar is an official partner of the Atlanta Silverbacks and can hook up fans with discounted tickets to cheer on the team. The Irish pub shows English Premier League games starting at 8 a.m. on weekends. On Sundays it offers a members-only private soccer club that allows special privileges. World Cup fans can watch all the televised games inside the bar and from a special beer garden tent, in addition to competing for giveaways.
Why it’s best: “Our food is by far the best pub food rated against any other soccer pub,” says owner Trinidad Faragoza.
Website: www.eldertreeatl.com