Sports bars in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a college sports town first. Stanford's football, basketball and volleyball games set the rhythm of fall and winter weekends. Pro teams fill the rest of the calendar: the 49ers at Levi's Stadium, the Warriors and the 2026 WNBA champion Valkyries in San Francisco and the Sharks in San Jose. Yet the city has only a couple of true sports bars, so it pays to know where to go before the kickoff.

This guide covers Palo Alto first, then nearby towns in order of distance. Every bar named was confirmed through its own website, a verified page in our business directory or a current reservation listing in late October or early November 2026. Hours are as posted and change, especially around big games. All of these places serve alcohol only to guests 21 and over.

Where to watch at a glance

The Pro, 541 Ramona Street

For decades the Old Pro on Ramona Street was where Stanford students and alumni watched games. It closed in 2022. The Pro opened in the same building on January 26, 2026, rebuilt by the owner of Zola and BarZola with former Stanford and NFL quarterback Andrew Luck among the investors. Its reservation page describes it as a gathering place celebrating Stanford athletics, with a Coach's Corner tribute and memorabilia on the walls. Coverage at the opening described a circular central bar between the restaurant and bar sides and 21 TVs.

The Pro posts a TV schedule on its website, which is the easiest way to check whether your game is on before you walk over. Its listed hours are 3 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. A late-night menu runs until 10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Happy hour, called Amateur Hours, runs daily from 3 to 5 p.m. Free trivia is on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and walk-ins are welcome. Reservations go through OpenTable, but weekend bookings stop during football season, so come early on Saturdays in the fall.

The Patio, 412 Emerson Street

The Patio calls itself a restaurant, sports bar, event venue and nightlife spot all at once. It has 21 flat-screen TVs, a big outdoor seating area and what it says is the longest bar in Palo Alto. A sports page on its website lists games. The menu is pub food with Southwestern touches: wings, nachos, chili cheese fries, burgers and tacos. It opens every day at 11 a.m. and takes no reservations, though groups of more than 20 can call its event team. Wednesday trivia runs from 7 to 9 p.m. with a $15 minimum spend per player.

The Rose & Crown and other downtown options

The Rose & Crown at 547 Emerson Street is a beer pub first. It posts event plans on its Instagram account. If you want a specific match, check there or call before you go. It opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends and stays open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Scotty's Bar & Grill across the street at 548 Emerson is a neighborhood bar with the same 1 a.m. weekend close. It is closed Sunday.

Redwood City, about 6 miles north

Ghostwood Kitchen, 911 Main Street

Ghostwood started as a brewpub and now calls itself officially a sports bar. It lists ESPN+, NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings and UFC, plus watch parties for boxing and wrestling, all with no cover charge. It brews its own lagers and IPAs, mixes cocktails and serves smash burgers and chicken sandwiches. An arcade with pool, pinball and Mario Kart keeps kids and restless fans busy. It does not take reservations during college, NFL, NBA or MLB playoff games or UFC events. It is closed Tuesday. Main Street is a short walk from the Redwood City Caltrain station.

Alhambra Irish House, 831 Main Street

A block away, the Alhambra Irish House is a pub and restaurant with a dedicated sports page on its website and Thursday trivia. Its posted hours run from 11:30 a.m. most days and 11 a.m. on Sunday, until 10 p.m. early in the week and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. See our downtown Redwood City guide.

Sunnyvale, about 9 miles south

Fibbar MaGees at 156 South Murphy Avenue has been an Irish pub on Sunnyvale's historic main street since 1994. It lists 16 TV screens showing NFL, rugby, hockey and more, which makes it one of the better bets for sports that American bars often skip. It opens at 3 p.m. on Monday and 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and lists a 2 a.m. close every night. A $10 steak and baked potato is a Thursday special. Murphy Avenue is a few blocks from the Sunnyvale Caltrain station. Our pubs guide covers it in more detail.

Game-day tips

1. Check the schedule. The Pro posts a TV schedule. Elsewhere, call ahead for anything other than a big local game.
2. Arrive an hour early. Stanford football Saturdays, 49ers Sundays and Warriors playoff games fill every screen in town.
3. Plan around the time zone. East Coast NFL games kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific and Premier League matches can start as early as 4:30 a.m. Most bars here open late morning at the earliest.
4. Mind minimums. Some bars set minimum spends or automatic gratuities for groups. The Patio's trivia night has a $15 minimum per player.
5. Watch with kids before evening. The Pro's bar becomes 21 and over late at night, according to coverage at its opening. Ghostwood bills itself as family friendly.

Big Game 2026, the 129th meeting of Stanford and Cal, is on November 21 at Berkeley, so expect a crowd at The Pro. For seeing games live, see our guides to Stanford sports and 49ers games from Palo Alto.

Drinking responsibly and getting home

A long game means a long tab. Order food early, alternate with water and set a limit before kickoff. The Pro, The Patio and the Rose & Crown are all within a 10 minute walk of the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Late evening trains run less often, so look up the last one in our Caltrain guide before overtime starts. Rideshare and Waymo robotaxis serve downtown. Pickups are easiest on side streets. If you drove, hand the keys to someone who stuck to soda.

Frequently asked questions