Brewing Up Some Good Fun In The Valley

A great environment with big screen TVs and cold drinks can really improve your game-watching experience. With a variety of nearby bars and pubs claiming to be "sports bars" it can be hard to sort through the impostors and the real deal.

There are roughly 13 so-called sports bars within three miles of Valley College, but not all sports bars are created equal. The dedicated staff at the Valley Star journeyed to find a truly great sports bar or pub within a few blocks. Four taverns later, a winner was declared.

Though Ireland's 32 is the closest pub to Valley -- only a few blocks away on the corner of Woodman and Burbank -- it is not truly a "sports bar."  It has few TVs and unlike many other local bars and pubs, Ireland's 32 offers no sports-related drink specials or incentives. However, they do offer strong drinks, live music, clean bathrooms, great waitresses, breakfast, and happy-hour appetizers that range from $2 to $7 between 4 and 6 p.m.

Rocco's Tavern, located at Ventura Boulevard and Whitsett Avenue, offers sports enthusiasts 13 TVs to watch a variety of games, 20 beers on tap, and 2-for-1 drink specials every day from 3 to 7 p.m.  This medium-sized tavern, with a crowd that ranges from college students to middle-aged patrons, has a friendly and attentive staff, a live DJ on Saturday nights, and serves food until 1 a.m.  

Rocco's fits the description of a sports bar, but may not fit the bill for sports fanatics. However, with an intimate and playful ambiance and good food served late, this is the go-to place after your favorite sports bar has quit serving the wings you love.

Located at Riverside Drive and Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Pat's Bar and Grill is a tiny establishment bursting with big energy. Customers quickly become regulars amongst the friendly staff who offer fast and friendly service.  Every night there is a different incentive to come to Pat's. Monday offers 50-cent Miller High Life until the first team scores, Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. there is a $10 all-you-can drink domestic beer special and $20 all-you-can-drink premium beer or shots, and every night the "Stimulus Wheel" is rolled at 11 p.m. – whatever it lands on is $3 until closing time. In addition, Kerry's Café next door has a service window directly linked to the bar and serves low-priced sandwiches, salads, and munchies until 11 p.m.

There is live music, dancing and darts, and though Pat's offers unbeatable drink specials, the tiny space and few TVs take away from the sports feel of a sports bar; however, Pat's is a great place to visit in the off-season.

The hands-down winner for the best sports bar near Valley is The Draft. Located at Riverside Drive and Whitsett Avenue, this lively bar has around 10 large flat-screen TVs broadcasting several games all at once, while the large tables have 11-inch monitors at each end so that patrons can get a closer look.  The sports atmosphere is amplified by the themed wallpaper, paintings, pictures, posters and memorabilia. The very essence of this bar and grill is sports.

If that is not incentive enough for sports fans to attend, or bring unwilling spouses along, perhaps the good food, pool tables, darts, dancing, hot waitresses, live DJs, beer pong, and Wii or Rock Band showdowns can be a deal breaker. Sports to the core, The Draft offers specials like NFL $3 Bud Light Sundays and $1 Bud Light when the Lakers play. With great prices and a fabulous atmosphere, there is no better place for sports fans to watch their favorite team than at The Draft.

For more information on each of these establishments please visit their Web sites at:

www.Irelands32Pub.com

www.RoccosTavernLA.com

www.PatsBarandGrill.com

www.TheDraftBarandGrill.com