The cherry blossoms are blooming, the birds are chirping and the NCAA basketball tournament is about to begin. March Madness runs March 14-April 3, so get those brackets ready and start scoping out prime spots to watch the games. Visit these establishments to score great deals on drinks and bar food while catching the action on giant flat-screen TVs and projector walls.
Assembly
From March 16-18, this spacious (29,000-square-feet, to be exact) Rosslyn food hall will be serving all-day food and drink specials and airing the games on multiple big-screen TVs. Deals include a burger (with bison and veggie options) and fries for $13 and $6 pours/$20 pitchers of Miller Lite or Assembly IPA or lager. // 1700 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
The Board Room
Too nervous to watch without some sort of distraction? Here, you can double your fun by side-eyeing the tournament while also playing a round of Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, or one of the other myriad board games in the brewpub’s sizable stash. Look for specials such as themed chili dogs during the tourney, and on March 16 and 17, pace yourself for a seven-hour happy hour (you read that right) from noon-7 p.m. featuring $5 pints of house beer, $5 wines and $2 off select appetizers. // 925 N. Garfield Street, Arlington (Clarendon)
Carpool
CarPool is back in Ballston once again, after a four-year run in Fair Lakes. Hoops fans will find 25 televisions, more than two dozen beers on draft, an ivy covered patio, billiards tables, darts and many pinball machines—even a pinball league for Tommy fans. The vibe here, per the bar’s website, is “no pretense, no attitude, just good old-fashioned camaraderie.” // 900 N. Glebe Road, Suite 100 (Ballston)
Crystal City Sports Pub
A local institution on Crystal City’s 23rd Street, this spirited pub hosts multiple university alumni associations—Hokies, Huskies, Hawkeyes and Buckeyes, plus many more—so you can cheer on your team with old (and new) college chums. Just don your school’s jersey and find your tribe. With large screen televisions, bars and pool tables on two levels, you can keep an eye on multiple games simultaneously. In addition to the famous Fish Market crab cakes, take advantage of $4 pints or $14 pitchers of Bud Light, Miller Lite and Yuengling, among other drink specials. // 529 23rd St. S., Arlington (National Landing)
Dudley’s Sport and Ale
This Shirlington watering hole’s motto should be “Go big or go home.” (And they never go home.) The behemoth bar has more than 40 televisions and a 20-foot projector split screen, so you’re assured a great view of the action no matter where you’re sitting or standing. There’s also a huge party rooftop (perfect for spring temps and a game of cornhole). Dudley’s offers generous happy hour deals from 3-6 p.m. on weekdays with $10 pitchers, burgers, pizzas, and wings in addition to its weekly lineup of specials, from Taco Tuesdays to Half-Price Burger Thursdays. // 2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington (Shirlington)
First Down Sports Bar
Ghost Pepper vs. Kickin Korean BBQ. Maryland Madness vs. Honey Lime Sriracha. Who will win this year? Now celebrating 14 years in business, this competitive saloon has its own side brackets, with 40 flavors of wings going head to head. It’s one reason Thrillist recently named the restaurant one of the 12 “Absolute Best Sports Bars in D.C.” During the tournament, First Down will have select appetizers and drink specials, and, of course, those famous wings. // 4213 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
Highline RxR
Highline RXR is continuing its Elite 8 Beer Bracket Challenge this year with a new batch of eight regional brews: Väsen Light, Bear Chase Kodiak Kolsch, Hardywood Tropication IPA, DC Brau Joint Resolution New England IPA, Great Lakes Hazy IPA, Devil’s Backbone Vienna Lager, Aslin Esperante and the Calvert I Just Crush-A-Lot. The contenders will compete for a winner-takes-all coveted spot as the bar’s featured beer from April to October. Beginning on March 14, the eight beers ($6 each) will play in a single-elimination tournament, with four moving onto the next round on March 20 and the ultimate winner announced April 4. As for the actual basketball, catch plenty of the action while you’re making your beer selections—the industrial decor at this National Landing hive includes several big-screen TVs, with clear sight lines to view multiple games at once. // 2010 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Irish Madness Fest at Clarendon Ballroom
Looking or a way to party on St. Patrick’s Day without missing the NCAA tourney? Meet the Irish Madness Fest: On March 17 and 18, dive into a bottomless buffet and sip on Guinness and Jameson drink specials while catching a view of the games on a 50-foot projector wall. // Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington (Clarendon). Age 21+.
L.A. Bar and Grill
This 17-year-old Columbia Pike barroom (whose initials are short for “Lower Arlington”) serves drinks with a “lowbrow attitude.” Catch the games on any of nine high-definition flat-screen TVs. Get in on happy hour specials that run from 3-8 p.m. every day, including $2 off beer and rail liquor, as well as appetizers. And stay as late as you like; the bar doesn’t shut down till 2. a.m. // 2530 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
Matchbox
This pizzeria at Mosaic is offering all-day deals whenever there’s a tournament game airing. The highlights include $6 draught beers, $8 wine, $9 cocktails and discounts on select appetizers. (We’re torn between the $6 artichoke and spinach dip and $8 arancini, but hey why not order both?) // 2911 District Ave., Suite 120, Fairfax (Mosaic)
Punch Bowl Social
With a 360-degree bar and large TVs throughout the building, you won’t miss a minute of play time at this playground for the 21+ set. Should you care to partake in some friendly competition of your own, there’s ping-pong, bowling, arcade games and more. Share one of the bar’s namesake punch bowls (designed to serve 3-6), such as the Watermelon Polo Bowl made with Reposado tequila, watermelon-spearmint tea, watermelon shrub, strawberry syrup and fresh lime juice. Snag $4 pints of select beers, and chow down on pub fare like bison chili cheese fries or cilantro wings. // 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1180, Arlington (Ballston)
Quincy Hall
Participate in this Ballston pizzeria’s bracket challenge and snag the chance to score $1,000 in cash. Even if you don’t win, all players get a buy-one-get-one-free code for a 12-inch pizza whenever the games are on. That should come in handy when you’re in the mood for a Fancy Pants (burrata, Romano, basil olive oil, balsamic, roasted tomatoes) or feeling As Mush-Room As Possible (mushroom, mozzarella, truffle oil, garlic cream sauce). And pop by March 16-17 for extended hours, starting at 11 a.m. // 4001 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
Quinn’s on the Corner
This cozy corner bar in Rosslyn is laid-back, dog-friendly (on the patio) and ready for March Madness. Since the early games overlap with St. Patrick’s Day, you might see some green Jell-o shots and other shenanigans, too. Try the tasty taco trays or fish and chips from the all-day menu, or opt for avocado toast and $5 champagne bottles during brunch. // 1776 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Starr Hill Biergarten
Get an unparalleled look at Northern Virginia skylines, as well as a great view of the games at this 11-story-high, 2.5-acre sky park, serving a full lineup of drafts from one of Virginia’s best-loved breweries. Visitors can watch the tourney on a 23-foot HD video wall in the adjacent amphitheater, or on TVs above the bar. Dogs and kids welcome. And head over March 17 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.—DC101 will be on hand for a live St. Patrick’s Day broadcast. // 1805 Capital One Center Drive, Tysons
Taco Bamba
Enjoy happy hour deals whenever there’s a game on at Taco Bamba’s Ballston storefront. The bargains include Margaritas Bamberas (tequila, orange-scented agave, lime juice), micheladas (Clamato, Valentina lime) and The Jeffrey—a crispy meat spring roll, with carne asada, al pastor, chorizo, chihuahua cheese, onions, peppers and a “bit of this, bit of that”—each for just $5. // 4000 Wilson Blvd. Suite C, Arlington (Ballston)