Guidebook for San Francisco
Drinks & Nightlife
This homely local, off the beaten track, is so small you’re never more than three metres from the bar. You’ll feel like you have walked into someone’s living room. No fancy craft ales here; it’s a proper no-nonsense old-school football pub, and there are always matches on the three or four screens.
The walls are adorned with retro football memorabilia from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. It’s part pub, part football museum. As the name suggests, it’s loyal to West Bromwich Albion, and there are lots of the team’s flags and scarves, some signed by past Baggies players.
10 locals recommend
The Albion
94 Goldsmiths RowThis homely local, off the beaten track, is so small you’re never more than three metres from the bar. You’ll feel like you have walked into someone’s living room. No fancy craft ales here; it’s a proper no-nonsense old-school football pub, and there are always matches on the three or four screens.
The walls are adorned with retro football memorabilia from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. It’s part pub, part football museum. As the name suggests, it’s loyal to West Bromwich Albion, and there are lots of the team’s flags and scarves, some signed by past Baggies players.
This is a fantastic pub just down from Hackney Marshes, a large green space where a lot of Sunday league teams play. On Sundays, you’ll see people in kit enjoying a post-game pint or roast. Football is shown on big screens, and there’s space for dining in the back. In summer, the beer garden out back is a nice spot for a halftime pint.
It imports fresh produce from Cornish farms daily, and its Sunday roasts are great. The chicken with all the trimmings is really delicious. Also try the Five Points pale ale, which is brewed less than a mile away in Hackney Downs.
98 locals recommend
The Adam & Eve
155 Homerton High StThis is a fantastic pub just down from Hackney Marshes, a large green space where a lot of Sunday league teams play. On Sundays, you’ll see people in kit enjoying a post-game pint or roast. Football is shown on big screens, and there’s space for dining in the back. In summer, the beer garden out back is a nice spot for a halftime pint.
It imports fresh produce from Cornish farms daily, and its Sunday roasts are great. The chicken with all the trimmings is really delicious. Also try the Five Points pale ale, which is brewed less than a mile away in Hackney Downs.
There are TV sets throughout this really huge pub and a projector screen for big matches. It’s always busy and attracts quite a young crowd. It has a late licence, so if you fancy continuing the celebrations after a win, but want to stay in a pub rather than a bar or club, it’s a good option.
The enormous beer garden has a barbecue in the summer. On hot days it’s a massive draw and you get a couple of hundred people out there. There is also a crazy golf course in case you fancy indulging your competitive side off the pitch.
51 locals recommend
The Duke of Edinburgh Pub | Brixton
204 Ferndale RoadThere are TV sets throughout this really huge pub and a projector screen for big matches. It’s always busy and attracts quite a young crowd. It has a late licence, so if you fancy continuing the celebrations after a win, but want to stay in a pub rather than a bar or club, it’s a good option.
The enormous beer garden has a barbecue in the summer. On hot days it’s a massive draw and you get a couple of hundred people out there. There is also a crazy golf course in case you fancy indulging your competitive side off the pitch.
Just a short walk from the main drag in Dalston, this is a small but welcoming pub. A big projector screen at the end of the pub is the ideal viewing point for an afternoon or evening kickoff. It has a decent selection of craft beers on tap, and the kitchen serves fantastic burgers and veggie options—get the parmesan and truffle fries.
There are booths all down one side of the pub, which are the best spot to watch the match, but you need to get there early to get a seat. Get there an hour before kickoff to secure a prime spot.
57 locals recommend
The Three Compasses
99 Dalston LnJust a short walk from the main drag in Dalston, this is a small but welcoming pub. A big projector screen at the end of the pub is the ideal viewing point for an afternoon or evening kickoff. It has a decent selection of craft beers on tap, and the kitchen serves fantastic burgers and veggie options—get the parmesan and truffle fries.
There are booths all down one side of the pub, which are the best spot to watch the match, but you need to get there early to get a seat. Get there an hour before kickoff to secure a prime spot.
It ticks all the boxes: a big screen showing football, plenty of seating, great beers on tap, a friendly local atmosphere, and very decent food. The pub really comes alive in the summer, with locals spilling out into the small triangular beer garden at the front of the pub, where two roads meet.
Come for drinks, stay for dinner. The kitchen serves restaurant-quality food, not your usual pub fare. Everything is good, but I’d recommend the cheeseburger at lunch and the slow-braised pork cheek if you are there for an evening kickoff.
133 locals recommend
The Scolt Head
107A Culford RdIt ticks all the boxes: a big screen showing football, plenty of seating, great beers on tap, a friendly local atmosphere, and very decent food. The pub really comes alive in the summer, with locals spilling out into the small triangular beer garden at the front of the pub, where two roads meet.
Come for drinks, stay for dinner. The kitchen serves restaurant-quality food, not your usual pub fare. Everything is good, but I’d recommend the cheeseburger at lunch and the slow-braised pork cheek if you are there for an evening kickoff.
Tucked away on a back street behind Waterloo Station, the Windmill Tavern is a really lively place to watch the football. It’s on the Cut, which is a kind of cultural oasis in the area around it. The pub has front and back rooms which both show games. It also serves good Thai food which is not too expensive.
It’s really close to the Old Vic and Young Vic theatres and you get quite a lot of people coming in for pre- or post-show drinks. This gives the Windmill quite a mixed crowd, with culture vultures as well as sports fans.
87 locals recommend
The Windmill
22 Blenheim GardensTucked away on a back street behind Waterloo Station, the Windmill Tavern is a really lively place to watch the football. It’s on the Cut, which is a kind of cultural oasis in the area around it. The pub has front and back rooms which both show games. It also serves good Thai food which is not too expensive.
It’s really close to the Old Vic and Young Vic theatres and you get quite a lot of people coming in for pre- or post-show drinks. This gives the Windmill quite a mixed crowd, with culture vultures as well as sports fans.
An intimate atmosphere is created here with smaller tables and booths offset from the main area beside the round bar. Football is shown out the back on a large projector, and is sure to be busy with 50 or 60 people on any Premier League or Champions League match day. It also has craft beers and delicious food.
The Duke of Wellington serves excellent roasts. I’d go for the beef, which is Aberdeen Angus. They roast it for nine hours, so it’s a labour of love. To drink, they have Meantime pale ale and Camden pale ale, which are both brewed in London.
37 locals recommend
The Duke Of Wellington
119 Balls Pond RdAn intimate atmosphere is created here with smaller tables and booths offset from the main area beside the round bar. Football is shown out the back on a large projector, and is sure to be busy with 50 or 60 people on any Premier League or Champions League match day. It also has craft beers and delicious food.
The Duke of Wellington serves excellent roasts. I’d go for the beef, which is Aberdeen Angus. They roast it for nine hours, so it’s a labour of love. To drink, they have Meantime pale ale and Camden pale ale, which are both brewed in London.
An off-the-beaten-path neighbourhood pub packed with locals for when you want to escape the hectic noise of Kingsland Road. The Shakespeare has a nice cool relaxed vibe. Try the Litovel lager on tap, and settle down to watch the football on one of the large screens.
No food is served in the pub, unless you want crisps or pork scratchings for dinner. But don’t worry, you don’t need to go hungry. You can order from La Barca, the excellent pizza place next door, and eat it in the pub.
58 locals recommend
The Shakespeare
57 Allen RdAn off-the-beaten-path neighbourhood pub packed with locals for when you want to escape the hectic noise of Kingsland Road. The Shakespeare has a nice cool relaxed vibe. Try the Litovel lager on tap, and settle down to watch the football on one of the large screens.
No food is served in the pub, unless you want crisps or pork scratchings for dinner. But don’t worry, you don’t need to go hungry. You can order from La Barca, the excellent pizza place next door, and eat it in the pub.
As the name suggests, it’s right on the corner of London Fields park. In the summer, the beer garden spills over into the park, where you can often take in a cricket match on the nearby green as well as the football shown on one of its TV screens. The pub itself is large, with plenty of tables and space to watch the game.
On a nice day, if you want to watch the match but don’t want to sit inside, there is a screen that faces out to the beer garden. That way you can have the best of both worlds. The place is popular, so if you want one of the tables, call ahead to book.
162 locals recommend
Pub On The Park
19 Martello StreetAs the name suggests, it’s right on the corner of London Fields park. In the summer, the beer garden spills over into the park, where you can often take in a cricket match on the nearby green as well as the football shown on one of its TV screens. The pub itself is large, with plenty of tables and space to watch the game.
On a nice day, if you want to watch the match but don’t want to sit inside, there is a screen that faces out to the beer garden. That way you can have the best of both worlds. The place is popular, so if you want one of the tables, call ahead to book.
During the day, there’s a more traditional pub atmosphere, and it shows all the football on large screens. By night, it becomes a late-night drinking spot, so it’s easy to stay on to celebrate a big win. Plus, there is a large gig space out the back.
It might be an idea to check the gig listings on its website as well as the football fixture list, as the gig venue in the back of the pub often showcases great bands and DJs.
79 locals recommend
The Shacklewell Arms
71 Shacklewell LnDuring the day, there’s a more traditional pub atmosphere, and it shows all the football on large screens. By night, it becomes a late-night drinking spot, so it’s easy to stay on to celebrate a big win. Plus, there is a large gig space out the back.
It might be an idea to check the gig listings on its website as well as the football fixture list, as the gig venue in the back of the pub often showcases great bands and DJs.