Here on KQED's News Fix blog we'll be hosting a live chat with perspective, stats, analysis and updates from bars and other establishments where the game is being shown in San Francisco. The chat begins at 3 p.m. After the game we'll have live online coverage of any celebrations or other spontaneous fan gatherings in the Bay Area.
AT A BAR AND ELSEWHERE...
...IN SAN FRANCISCO
You should be able to walk into almost any sports bar in San Francisco (or probably any other American city, town or hamlet, for that matter) and watch the game on television. The Huffington Post suggests checking out The Greens Sports Bar on Polk Street between Vallejo and Green streets in Russian Hill. The Greens is wall-to-wall sports memorabilia and televisions, and it most likely will be packed. HuffPo also recommends checking out bars in the Richmond, where it says "every other house in the neighborhood has a 49ers flag hanging from its window."
The blog's Richmond neighborhood picks include Ireland's 32, a pub on Geary Boulevard between 3rd and 4th. Just look for the large inflatable 49ers player sticking out of a window. Another San Francisco establishment worth checking out on Sunday is Lucky Strike at 200 King St.; Mary Holman, who writes the SF Great Neighborhoods blog on Examiner.com, calls it the "ultimate SF sports bar." The combination bowling alley, bar and restaurant is co-owned by San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson. "Wilson's venue is lined with flat-screen HD televisions, making a perfect spot for a Super Bowl party with 100 of your closest friends," Holman writes. "The menu is impressive, as is the beer list."
If you want to feel like you're really in the game, meanwhile, consider heading to The Independent on Divisadero Street between Grove and Hayes. It will be showing the Super Bowl on a screen that's 12 feet tall and 14 feet wide. You can find more information on Super Bowl viewing events in San Francisco at FuncheapSF.
...IN THE SOUTH BAY
If you're going to root for the 49ers, you might be tempted to go to a bar with 49ers in its name. Alex's 49ers Inn near South Bascom Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose is described as "a laid-back, kick-up-your-feet and throw-down-$2-shots kind of a bar" by CBS Bay Area. Alex's might not be for everyone, however: the San Jose Mercury News notes that the "dimly lit hideaway is not as sporty as the name implies," and CBS adds that it only has three HDTVs.
You might try the Brittania Arms at 173 W. Santa Clara St.; CBS Bay Area says it has "huge screens for watching the big game located in whatever direction you glance." South Bay residents also might want to head to Mountain View to watch the game on the 92-inch television at Stephens Green, located at 223 Castro Street. And consider checking out Double D's, which has been described as Silicon Valley's best sports bar, at 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave. in Los Gatos.
...IN THE EAST BAY
Looking for a unique Super Bowl viewing experience? Relax on a couch and have food and drinks delivered to you at the Vine Cinema and Alehouse at 1722 1st St. in Livermore. The combination bar and movie theater will be showing the game on a 30-foot-wide screen. (Note: the Super Bowl viewing party at The New Parkway in Oakland is sold out, according to the theater's website.)
Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill at 15028 Hesperian Boulevard in San Leandro, meanwhile, promises fans uninterrupted Super Bowl viewing. It has more than 90 televisions, including some in the bathrooms. There are eight large-screen TVs and more than 20 beers on tap at Brennan's, which is among the bars suggested for the Super Bowl by Berkeley Patch. Brennan's is located at 700 University Ave. in Berkeley. Rockridge Patch, meanwhile, puts George and Walt's at 5445 College Ave in Oakland on its list of bars at which to watch the game. The bar is hosting a potluck and is encouraging fans to bring their own appetizers to share with others. If you're looking for more information on Super Bowl events in the East Bay, check out this list by Diablo magazine.
...IN THE NORTH BAY
McNear's Saloon and Dining House at 23 Petaluma Blvd. N. in Petaluma makes a pretty compelling argument to fans looking for somewhere to watch the game. "We JUST arranged for a super, high quality, hi-def, movie theater projector to project The Game on our movie screen!" the bar proclaims on its Facebook page. "This will be BETTER than being at the game because it's 1) way cheaper, 2) way closer, 3) way warmer, and 4) way easier to get to a bathroom! Oh, and let's not forget there's a full bar!"
There also are a few good reasons to visit the Flatiron at 724 B St. in San Rafael: namely, the bar has 25 televisions and 18 beers on tap. Ausiello's 5th Street Grill often comes up in discussions and online posts about sports bars in Santa Rosa; it's praised on Yelp for its good food and friendly atmosphere. Ausiello's is located at 609 5th St. If you're in Napa, consider checking out Downtown Joe's at 902 Main St. The brewery's beer list includes more than 20 of its own ales, stouts and IPAs.
