Get ready! The 2012 Olympics open in London on Friday. Whether you're rooting for the USA Dream Team, the first Saudi Arabian women’s delegation, or a record-breaking run in the men’s 100-meter, you can sit back and watch the drama unfold from any number of D.C.’s top spots.
Check out our Top 10 picks, in no particular order:
1. The Queen Vic
(1206 H St. NE)
The traditional British pub -- run by an American and his ex-pat wife -- will be pouring out $4 Newcastles any day Great Britain snags a gold medal. They're also offering color-coded specials to correspond with the colors of the Olympic rings. (Think we're making this up? Click here.)
The casual environment has plenty of TVs, so you can grab a spot on a couch or belly up to the bar while watching your fave events. Just ignore those conflicted feelings over whether you should be rooting for the USA or Britain.
2. Cleveland Park Bar and Grill
(3421 Connecticut Ave. NW)
This sports bistro offers authentic Italian dishes and classic American favorites, an extensive wine and beer list, and happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays Friday. It’s understandable to not want to be inside while watching competitive swimming, but that's no problem -- their rooftop terrace features six plasma TVs. Inside you'll find 21 TVs so you won’t miss a single moment of your favorite event.
3. Buffalo Billiards
(1330 19th St. NW)
Seating 500 people, Buffalo Billiards is the ideal place for a hardcore sports fan. Opening at noon every day of the Olympics, they'll be offering $3 New Castle and Heineken drafts, free pool from noon to 4 p.m., and a special Olympic lunch menu.
Buffalo Billiards features five projection screens for you to experience the fight of Team USA, three large full-service bars, large patio seating, and three private party rooms. While waiting for your favorite event, you can stay active with 15 pool tables, three dartboards, 10 shuffleboard tables, two skeeball machines, four ping-pong tables, and two foosball tables. Just because you're not an Olympic athlete doesn’t mean you can’t compete like one.
4. Nellie's Sports Bar
(900 U St. NW)
Nellie's Sports Bar may have "sports bar" in the name, but there’s always something else going on there, too, including watch parties and drag bingo. On Friday, July 27, Nellie's is going all out for the Olympics opening ceremony!
Starting at 4 p.m., you can order up $15 buckets of beer, $4 house vodka drinks and score many other deals on drinks and food. Main events will be shown on their stadium-sized viewing screen.
5. The Black Squirrel
(2427 18th St. NW)
Just because you’re not in London doesn’t mean you can’t party like a London bloke! The Black Squirrel is known for its selection of beers made locally, nationally and worldwide. Its new downstairs bar has 32 lines, which brings the bar's grand total to 49 taps. Aside from its extensive selection of beer, the Black Squirrel can hold its own with great food and its location in Adams Morgan.
6. The Pour House
(319 Penn Ave. SE)
The Pour House is a neighborhood-style sports tavern and just a four-block grand slam from Nationals Park. Events will be shown on their 15 HD flatscreens, including two 60" plasmas and a TV wall.
The upper level provides a conversational atmosphere, while on the lower level, a game room features darts, skeeball, shuffleboard and arcade games. Weekly drink specials include $8 buckets of wings with fries, $4 rail drinks and more, plus Saturday and Sunday brunch specials. Full of games, events and sports, it’s hard to beat.
7. Public Bar
(1214 18th St. NW)
Public Bar will serve Sam Adams Seasonal during all Olympics events, as well as $5 cherry bombs featuring Redbull. The spot's three levels offer three different experiences: a neighborhood restaurant, a lounge and a sports bar. This place really has it all for every group and every type of Olympic viewer, from the fans of the games to fans of a delicious night on the town.
8. Rhino Bar
(3295 M St. NW)
Keep it fun and casual for the Summer Olympics. Rhino Bar is a traditional Georgetown saloon with a second-floor warehouse ambiance providing upbeat entertainment. They have a half-price Friday happy hour from 5 to 9 p.m., plus daily deals on drinks and sometimes food.
9. The Greene Turtle
(601 F St. NW)
The Greene Turtle is sure to show the Olympics this summer with a friendly, never too crowded environment. They refer to themselves as a “haven where people who are passionate about supporting a team or playing on one, come together.” Good American food, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, entrées, soups and salads, kids meals, and desserts will easily hold you and your party through the marathon.
10. Your couch!
Host your own Olympic viewing party, big or small. Find an event and watch all the action on NBC at home, on TV or online. All 32 sports, all 302 events and all live! For ideas on what to serve your guests, go here. Find the viewing schedule, plus bios and videos about up-and-coming star athletes online here.
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