If you don’t have tickets to a March Madness game yet, chances are you’re out of luck. Fear not. We’ve looked all over the country for the bars and restaurants best-suited to catch the college basketball action this month. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Top Bet’s Where to Watch March Madness series.
Top Sports Bar to Watch March Madness in Orlando, Florida
As anyone in the Sunshine State knows, Orlando’s Amway Center will play host to select Round of 64 and Round of 32 games this year. The timing couldn’t be better: the University of Florida Gators are the nation’s top-ranked team this season, and are likely to play their first two games in Orlando.
Tickets to watch the games in the arena itself are getting silly, so we suggest you make your plans now to hunker down in one of the following Orlando sportsbars.
Dr. Phillips World of Beer
Address: 7800 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
Let’s settle this right here and now: not all chains are bad. Some national restaurant-bar chains will compromise service, attention-to-detail, or a knowledge of the local scene to larger corporate interests. Others simply don’t.
The Dr. Phillips World of Beer is a great example of that exact phenomenon. The bar takes car of business, sports-fan wise. The bar is full of quality TVs, boasts a selection of over 500 beers, and a food menu that won’t disappoint. When the full slate of games kick off, WoB is where you’ll want to be.
Orena Sports Bar, Orlando
Address: 6159 Westwood Blvd.
If you’re looking for something with a little more character, Orena Sports Bar is for you. At 8,000 square feet, it more than handles your sports-watching needs, while adding a few extras: pool tables, electronic darts, and not one but two Golden Tees.
Orena not only doesn’t apologize for being a dive bar, it thrives on it. There are eight things on the food menu. Still, you can bet there will be some hardened Gators fans catching every damn game there, and if dives are your jam, so should you.
Gators Dockside: University Park, Orlando
Address: 12448 Lake Underhill Rd.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Not only does Gators Dockside share a certain No. 1 team’s name, but the place is known for a sports watching staple: wings. The restaurant consistently knocks it out of the park with its many sauces and rubs, and you won’t be disappointed with the TV coverage or volume. We recommend the University Park location in particular, but in a pinch Gators Dockside is a solid option at any of its Orlando locations.
Miller’s Ale House, Winter Park Ale House
Address: 1251 Lee Road, Winter Park
Another rock solid option for catching the college basketball action in the Winter Park location of Miller’s Ale House. Featuring a massive beer selection, sub-$3 beers, and TVs everywhere you look, this sports bar doesn’t fool around. As the 64 entrants in the NCAA tournament begin their quest to cut down the nets, you’ll begin yours to cut down MAH’s crazy Thursday special: a 12-ounce prime rib for $12.
Have we missed any of your favorite spots in Orlando? Let us know by getting at us via the Facebook or Twitter links below.
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