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A flight of beers at Border X Brewing in Bell, California
Border X Brewing
Wonho Frank Lee

10 Great Places to Catch College Basketball’s March Madness

The best sports tournament in the world has arrived

by Eater Staff Updated
4 comments / new
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Border X Brewing
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Eater Staff Updated
4 comments / new

Even though Southern California teams aren’t favored to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship, that’s no reason to throw in the towel on enjoying the games. It’s still March Madness after all, where top-seeded teams are often removed by scrappy and second-tier players.

These month-long collegiate basketball battles are best observed on a big television screen with food and drink close by. And while Los Angeles has plenty of sports bars, certain spots elevate the overall basketball viewing experience. They range from a barbecue specialist to a Westside British pub with vegan dishes. Here now are 12 great sports bars to watch March Madness.

Removed: Barney’s Burbank, Barrel & Ashes, Boneyard Bistro, Busby’s, Clearman’s Galley, Mr. Furley’s Bar, Rocco’s

Added: Border X Brewing, The Brixton, Butcher’s Dog, Greyhound Glendale, Grunions, Stalking Horse

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The Greyhound Bar & Grill

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Highland Park’s noteworthy sports bar expanded to Glendale in 2019, with the same look and feel as the original. TV screens are plentiful, as are wings sold by the pound with flavors like Hunan barbecue, honey Sriracha, tandoori, and the menacingly named Judgment Day.

933 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204
(747) 240-6825
(747) 240-6825
Inside The Greyhound Glendale with a bar, barstool, and covered windows with blinds and hanging lights.
The Greyhound Glendale
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Hi Tops

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San Francisco export Hi Tops moved to West Hollywood in 2018, where cocktails arrive fast and with a flair for the creative, beers are on tap, and the nachos are quite good.

8933 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 332-6445
(323) 332-6445
Hi Tops SF
Hi Tops
Hi Tops

Also featured in:

Bludso's Bar & Que

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Bludso’s is a must for any sports fans. The casual spot for brisket, sausage links, and drinks is wall-to-wall with televisions, and is not uncommon to find fans of different teams crowded together around the same tables, yelling at the action on the screens.

609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 931-2583
(323) 931-2583
Bludso's Bar & Que
Bludso’s Bar & Que
Elizabeth Daniels

Also featured in:

The Stalking Horse Brewery & Freehouse

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This Westside British pub is an ideal spot to take in any sport, especially for those with varying palates. Start with one of its respectable beer options, then try the lamb apricot pie, roast dinner, or the cottage pie with minced Impossible Burger meat, carrot, onion, green peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy in an iron casserole dish.

10543 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(424) 832-7511
(424) 832-7511

Also featured in:

Butcher's Dog

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In Sawtelle Japantown it’s all about Butcher’s Dog, the Brit-leaning beer and sports bar. While watching the tournament unfold, order its housemade flatbreads, fried chicken sandwich, or the classic fish & chips.

11301 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 444-2929
(310) 444-2929

Also featured in:

The Brixton

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With eight televisions, a bright room, and dishes like mahi mahi lettuce wraps, fried chicken and biscuits, or deviled eggs, The Brixton might be the perfect spot to watch a game. Add on the free parking, and it’s truly a unique spot within the Southland.

2827 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 449-4567
(310) 449-4567

Also featured in:

Border X Brewing

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Over in Bell is Border X Brewing, one of Southern California’s Mexican beer staples. The open room is an ideal spot to watch NCAA teams, so order one of their 16 beers on tap, including its sour Berliner weisse-centric pepino sour, and enjoy.

4400 E Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201
Border X Brewing, Bell, California
Border X Brewing
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Common Space Brewery and Tasting Room

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Common Space is one of the more talked-about breweries in Southern California right now. The casual Hawthorne warehouse space is kitted out with lounge seating, communal tables, and a few well-placed TVs for catching the action. Everyone loves the beer too, of course.

3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(424) 456-4355
(424) 456-4355
Common Space
Common Space

Also featured in:

Grunions Sports Bar & Grill

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Manhattan Beach’s unfussy hangout is purely dedicated to sports, with a ceiling full of paraphernalia, plenty of options on tap, and reasonably priced entrees including the Thai curry chicken sandwich, baseball steak, and corned beef sandwich.

1501 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 545-9910
(310) 545-9910

Beer Belly Long Beach

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Long Beach has really embraced the second location of Beer Belly. The popular comfort food and craft beer corner spot isn’t as rowdy as some other local hangs for watching the games, but the menu and design still make this place a must for locals looking to watch some college basketball.

255 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 436-2337
(562) 436-2337
Beer Belly
Beer Belly

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The Greyhound Bar & Grill

933 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204

Highland Park’s noteworthy sports bar expanded to Glendale in 2019, with the same look and feel as the original. TV screens are plentiful, as are wings sold by the pound with flavors like Hunan barbecue, honey Sriracha, tandoori, and the menacingly named Judgment Day.

933 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204
(747) 240-6825
(747) 240-6825
Inside The Greyhound Glendale with a bar, barstool, and covered windows with blinds and hanging lights.
The Greyhound Glendale
Wonho Frank Lee

Hi Tops

8933 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

San Francisco export Hi Tops moved to West Hollywood in 2018, where cocktails arrive fast and with a flair for the creative, beers are on tap, and the nachos are quite good.

8933 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 332-6445
(323) 332-6445
Hi Tops SF
Hi Tops
Hi Tops

Bludso's Bar & Que

609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Bludso’s is a must for any sports fans. The casual spot for brisket, sausage links, and drinks is wall-to-wall with televisions, and is not uncommon to find fans of different teams crowded together around the same tables, yelling at the action on the screens.

609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 931-2583
(323) 931-2583
Bludso's Bar & Que
Bludso’s Bar & Que
Elizabeth Daniels

The Stalking Horse Brewery & Freehouse

10543 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

This Westside British pub is an ideal spot to take in any sport, especially for those with varying palates. Start with one of its respectable beer options, then try the lamb apricot pie, roast dinner, or the cottage pie with minced Impossible Burger meat, carrot, onion, green peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy in an iron casserole dish.

10543 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(424) 832-7511
(424) 832-7511

Butcher's Dog

11301 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

In Sawtelle Japantown it’s all about Butcher’s Dog, the Brit-leaning beer and sports bar. While watching the tournament unfold, order its housemade flatbreads, fried chicken sandwich, or the classic fish & chips.

11301 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 444-2929
(310) 444-2929

The Brixton

2827 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

With eight televisions, a bright room, and dishes like mahi mahi lettuce wraps, fried chicken and biscuits, or deviled eggs, The Brixton might be the perfect spot to watch a game. Add on the free parking, and it’s truly a unique spot within the Southland.

2827 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 449-4567
(310) 449-4567

Border X Brewing

4400 E Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

Over in Bell is Border X Brewing, one of Southern California’s Mexican beer staples. The open room is an ideal spot to watch NCAA teams, so order one of their 16 beers on tap, including its sour Berliner weisse-centric pepino sour, and enjoy.

4400 E Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201
Border X Brewing, Bell, California
Border X Brewing
Wonho Frank Lee

Common Space Brewery and Tasting Room

3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Common Space is one of the more talked-about breweries in Southern California right now. The casual Hawthorne warehouse space is kitted out with lounge seating, communal tables, and a few well-placed TVs for catching the action. Everyone loves the beer too, of course.

3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250
(424) 456-4355
(424) 456-4355
Common Space
Common Space

Grunions Sports Bar & Grill

1501 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Manhattan Beach’s unfussy hangout is purely dedicated to sports, with a ceiling full of paraphernalia, plenty of options on tap, and reasonably priced entrees including the Thai curry chicken sandwich, baseball steak, and corned beef sandwich.

1501 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 545-9910
(310) 545-9910

Beer Belly Long Beach

255 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802

Long Beach has really embraced the second location of Beer Belly. The popular comfort food and craft beer corner spot isn’t as rowdy as some other local hangs for watching the games, but the menu and design still make this place a must for locals looking to watch some college basketball.

255 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 436-2337
(562) 436-2337
Beer Belly
Beer Belly

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