When the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament hits Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse March 20 and 22, you don’t need tickets to feel like you’re part of the March Madness action. Grab some friends and hit one of these eight downtown bars where great television access and killer food add up to a slam dunk of a watch party.
Winking LizardIn an expansive and historic triangular building just blocks from the stadium, you’ll have a harder time choosing a beer off of the extensive draft list than finding a seat with a view of the bar’s 40 TVs. And if you need a little more peace and quiet when your team comes on, head down East Ninth Street to the Galleria location and order some fiery 911 wings to distract you from those tournament jitters. Gateway, 1301 E. Ninth St., 216-297-4490; Galleria, 811 Huron Road, 216-589-0313, winkinglizard.com
The Clevelander
The cheers you hear inside The Clevelander might be from the arena just a block away or echoes of all the Cleveland sports games that have packed this two-floor sports bar and grill. There’s not a bad seat in the house thanks to a massive projector behind the bar and more than 10 TVs spread throughout. 834 Huron Road, 216-771-3723, clevelanderbar.com
Southern Tier Brewing
We love a no-frills sports bar, but Southern Tier Brewing makes a pretty good case for taking things up a notch. Featuring more than 30 in-house craft brews and beer-inspired food such as loaded fries ($9.00) with IPA cheese sauce, this taproom is a more refined approach to the Madness. You might need to call ahead to secure a spot, but it’s worth the wait. 811 Prospect Ave. E., 440-484-4045, taprooms.stbcbeer.com
Noble Beast
Good things come to those who venture off the beaten path. Located on Lakeside Avenue, this spacious taproom with 14 beers on-tap delivers some of the best beer-infused bar food in Cleveland. If you’re looking to host a private watch party, The Deck can hold 10-40 people. 1470 Lakeside Ave., 216-417-8588, noblebeastbeer.com
Masthead Brewing Company
This Superior Avenue brewery and taproom has all the feels of watching the game in your garage — if your garage served expertly crafted New England IPAs and Neapolitan-style pizza. Communal seating, TVs behind the bar and one in every corner ensures the whole squad can catch the game inside this massive taproom, and if March blesses us with warm weather, the garage doors open up for an indoor-outdoor taste of springtime. 1261 Superior Ave. E., 216-206-6176, mastheadbrewingco.com
Butcher and Brewer
The spread of TVs behind this long, narrow 13,000-square-foot East Fourth Street bar is almost as impressive as its elegant, 100-year-old staircase, artisanal farmhouse menu and open-kitchen-style brewery space that pumps out 15 in-house beers. If the party goes to overtime, take home some high-quality cuts from the adjacent butcher shop. 2043 E. Fourth St., 216-331-0805, butcherandthebrewer.com
Harry Buffalo
Sometimes watching the game calls for a no-frills, energentic and friendly atmosphere. With 20 TVs and just as many beers on tap, this Gateway District bar is perfect for pre-game, post-game or during the game. 2120 E 4th, 216-621-8887, harrybuffalo.com
Legends Bar At Jack Casino
If you’re bracket is already busted and you win some of that money back at Jack Casino, you won’t miss a second of the action thanks to the legendary 189-inch projector. 100 Public Square, 216-297-4777, jackentertainment.com