Some self-proclaimed sports bars are effectively neighborhood pubs with a few TVs and a pool table. Not so at Penalties, which has sports in its DNA. A block off Main Street in downtown Vancouver, the spacious Penalties boasts two large 177-inch projector screens and eight other large screens, along with a pool table and a Buck Hunter machine for those nights when the game turns into a blowout. The pizza is better than average for a sports bar, and the friendly bartenders juggle drink orders on busy evenings as efficiently as they do game requests for the different screens.

George’s Corner Tavern is a classic dive bar with a direct line to a screen from any seat in the house. Open every day of the week, this bar is a safe bet for friends to gather to split pitchers of beer while digging into smash burgers and chicken wings. Just be aware that though games can get spirited here, there is a no-cussing policy in the bar.

Sporting the historic sign from Gresham’s iconic Satellite Restaurant, Satellite Tavern is one of Overlook’s favorite bars to grab a mid-game drink. The industrial dining room features several TVs over its hardwood walls and concrete floors, and even the back patio has a few TVs so visitors won’t miss a touchdown or run. The menu leans into the sports theme, with stadium staples like chicken tenders, nachos, burgers, and mini corn dogs.

A groundbreaking women’s sports bar, the Sports Bra is a bar that celebrates women’s athletics, where fans watch the Thorns, WNBA, tennis, college basketball, and dozens of other college and pro sports played by women. The drinks prominently feature women-owned distilleries and breweries, and the food menu is an exponential leap above a typical sports watering hole — think: Vietnamese clay pot ribs, fish sauce wings, and tempeh Reubens.

With nearly 50 TVs, including 11 massive ones and a single screen in every bar booth, someone would have to go out of their way to miss a gaming moment at this decades-old pool house and dive. Despite being something of an Irish bar, the food and drink here are more of the standard sports bar staples, like wings, tacos, burgers; however, Tuesdays offer an all-you-can-eat taco and nacho bar, Sundays involve all-you-can-eat chicken strips, and weekend mornings feature an endless breakfast buffet.

Whether it’s Blazers vs. Lakers, Thorns vs. Wave, or Ducks vs. Huskies, Spirit of 77 — named for the first (and so far, only) year the Trail Blazers won an NBA championship — is one of the liveliest spots in town. With an expansive beer-hall setup filled with tongue-in-cheek retro touches, it comes with large, flat-screen TVs, a projection screen, and Pop-A-Shot basketball. The food menu touts responsibly sourced chicken for its wings and beef for its burgers.

This Southwest Broadway sports bar, with its 20 beers on tap and more than 30 screens, is a popular spot to catch a game downtown. Happy hours involve $10 smash burgers and $14 wings, and on weekend mornings when kickoff starts early, brunches include Texas toast breakfast sandwiches and hearty breakfast burritos. The bar streams all of the NBA games, which folks can view sitting at the bar or camped out in one of the comfy booths.

Inner Southeast’s Century Bar was a one-of-a-kind place to watch a game, with polished wood raised rows of seats that felt somewhere between a stadium and a small Midwestern liberal arts classroom. Century sadly closed for good in 2021, but the space was only dormant for a few months as the team behind Jackie’s prepared to open a “sports bar for people who don’t love the vibe of traditional sports bars,” so to speak. The food menu includes dishes like quesabirria tacos and plant-based tenders, while the cocktail menu could hold its own against celebrated non-sports bars nearby. Something to note: Sometimes Jackie’s can accrue a line, particularly late on weekend evenings.

Australian-themed sports bar Dingo’s serves meat pies and sausage rolls from down under, paired with plenty of televisions for sports watching. Owner Brendan Jones was inspired to open the bar by his own Aussie roots, and a trip back to Australia. In addition to the usual lineup of beer, wine, and cocktails, Dingo’s also serves coffee and tea for daytime games.

When people think of Southeast Portland’s Birdie Time, they often think of the bar’s mini-golf setup. However, the space is also a fun spot to watch all sorts of sports, including college basketball (like Ducks games), Seattle Krakens hockey, and Blazers. The food menu includes burgers, 12-inch pizzas, and wings, and screens are visible from the “green” so mini-golfers can keep an eye on both the ball and their game.

Soccer is ascendant nationwide, but Portland has long been a bastion for the beautiful game. At Gol PDX, fútbol is a passion, from the Thorns and Timbers to Serie A and La Liga. Longtime footie fans are welcoming to neophytes here at the former 442, now under new owners but with the same dedication to association football. The simple food menu is highlighted by an expansive brunch, with bottomless mimosas for the daring. With time zones always a factor for international soccer fans, Gol opens at 7 a.m. on weekends and often even earlier for the World Cup or other major events. Soccer will always take top priority, but it’s not uncommon to see a Blazers game here on occasion.

At the far southern edge of Portland city limits, in Brentwood-Darlington, Rocky’s is an intimate, eclectic sports bar whose loyal clientele mostly live within walking distance. The vibe is unabashedly divey, but the food is a cut above, with solid burgers and a Coney dog that goes toe-to-toe with Portland’s best. Those driving will find limited parking onsite, but easy-to-nab residential street parking nearby.

Easy to miss motoring down Southwest Terwilliger, Tryon Creek Bar and Grill is a food-centric sports bar beloved by neighborhood regulars and students from nearby Lewis & Clark College. With the majority of Lewis & Clark students hailing from outside Oregon, the bar’s many TVs are often tuned to a wide array of games. The menu is as wide-ranging as the teams onscreen, like pulled pork and bacon-topped pizzas, a Cuban sandwich, and a fried egg-topped torta. Drinks include nearly two dozen beers and ciders on tap, six different wines, and a creative cocktail list.