Australia’s most atmospheric sports bars

Match days are all about the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the beauty of the game itself. Sports culture touches every part of Australian life, so next time you’re out and about or heading down under, get your friends together and open up the tab at these essential sports bars.

The Courthouse Hotel, Sydney

With both a cosmopolitan and comfortable air to it, The Courthouse Hotel excels in providing a little bit of everything. Home to a spacious courtyard, ‘The Courty’ makes the most of the Sydney sunshine andprovides a country pub-style atmosphere. Twinkling string lights wrap around the courtyard trees while emerald vines cling onto the trellis’s that help make the bar feel far removed from the world outside. Though arguably prettier than your average sports bar, it’s a go-to spot for sports fans, especially Sydney Swans supporters. The bar comes equipped with four big screens which show all televised sports games, though you’re likely to find the place teeming with Swans fans before, during and after the game. Bring your friends or family, who can always escape to the courtyard if they need a break from the end-to-end action on screen. Sydney Park Hotel is a chic, industrial-style stay nearby.

The Sporting Globe, Melbourne

For the sports fan that loves every sport, The Sporting Globe in the Richmond suburb delivers on its name, screening almost every type of sport out there. With 30 screens to choose from, you can catch anything from Aussie Rules and rugby union, to NBA games and UFC matches. The atmosphere gets frenetic and it’s not just because of the points scored on TV – The Sporting Globe’s menu has a seven day lineup of massively-portioned bar eats. Try half priced wings, ribs and pints all day long on Mondays, while on weekends you’re looking at buckets of bottled beers for a fraction of the usual price. A bar for the dedicated (and the hungry), days and evenings here are best spent with a few friends and a few sharing platters while the game’s on. When the final whistle blows, make your way back to the elegant Abode 316.

Crown Sports Bar, Perth

Dubbed Australia’s best sports bar, this is one for the seasoned bar goer and for those that can’t make it to the game itself. Whether it’s football, basketball, rugby or Aussie Rules, no sport is left behind at Crown Sports Bar. With a cavernous central space, three screens span each of the walls for a completely immersive experience, while smaller screens hang over the bar if you’re after another sport. There’s even a private screening area known as ‘The Box’, which includes 12 comfortable lounge chairs, a premium view of the bar’s high resolution screens and VIP treatment when it comes to food and drink service. An ideal group get-together, plan for the final with some friends and soak up the atmosphere in the lounge, or mingle with fellow fans down in the main bar. Aloft Perth is a 20-minute walk away.

The Breakfast Creek Hotel, Brisbane

Housed in a Renaissance-style heritage building, The Breakfast Creek Hotel or ‘Brekky Creek’ is a local institution. The likes of Mikhail Gorbachev and Russell Crowe have all made a stop at this watering hole, and there have even been alleged ghost sightings such as that of ‘Old Bill’ – a former hotel resident who died from an unfortunate fall from the second storey window. Most days though, the only spirits present are the rousing kind in energetic sports fans and those found in their glasses. Breakfast Creek has five bars including a tropical-themed beer garden where you can try a ‘beer off the wood’, essentially a wooden keg of beer. Watch the football or a UFC match from the garden, or have a wander outside to the nearby racecourses for horse-racing enthusiasts before you reach Brisbane Riverview Hotel.

The Highway, Adelaide

With a sprawling outdoor patio bedecked in festoon lights, The Highway isn’t easily missed, and that’s before you even hear the buzz and roars of jubilant sports fans watching the game. A place for those who like big crowds on big game days, mingle in the sunshine as you watch the football on the venue’s toweringscreens. Especially popular for American Football games, their Super Bowl night is not to be missed. Grab yourself a cocktail for something a little different or your regular beer, though you can rest assured the usual bar grub is available, think buffalo wings, beer battered onion rings and wagyu beef burgers. At the end of the night or afternoon, centrally-located Quest King William South has glorious views over Adelaide.