The cherry blossoms are blooming, the birds are chirping and the NCAA basketball tournament is about to begin. 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.
Carpool
The long-running sports bar returned to Ballston in 2022, where 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.” CarPool won’t offer deals devoted to March Madness, but the normal happy hour is in place, and the bar will open up at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22 for the beginning of the tourney. // 900 N. Glebe Road, Suite 100 (Ballston)
Courthaus Social
March Madness coincides with the debut of this Courthouse bar’s new expansion, The Courtroom, now open in the space formerly occupied by Pho Deluxe Arlington. Unveiled on March 14 in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the new spot will function as a private event space, provide overflow for busy Wednesday trivia nights, and serve a destination for weekday breakfast starting March 20. The Courtroom will also be available for exclusive viewing of all the games during the tournament—or you can watch the action from the pub’s large, dog friendly patio and bar. Happy hour specials will be available from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with deals like $2 off draft beer, $6 pulled pork-topped tater tots, $5 nachos, and $7 chicken tenders. // 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
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, and $22 buckets of Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Yuengling. // 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
Now celebrating its 15-year anniversary, this Ballston watering hole offers more than 40 flavors of wings, with a tournament deal of six boneless wings with your choice of sauce and an order of fries (waffle, curly, or standard) for $11. (Vote for your favorite wing flavor in the bar’s Wing Sauce Madness bracket to help to determine this year’s Wing Sauce Madness Champion.) Other March Madness specials include $6.50 pretzel bites, $6 High Noon spiked seltzer cans, and tall stadium cans of Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Light, Michelob Ultra, or Modelo Especial for $9.25. Cocktail specials with Tito’s vodka include the “Cinderella” mule for $9 and a “3-Point” shooter with peach schnapps, sour mix, and a splash of Sprite for $6.50. // 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: DC Brau Joint Resolution, Solace Brewing Suns Out Hops Out, Denizen Bohemian Pilsner, Bear Chase Kodiak Kolsch, Devil’s Backbone Vienna Lager, Bingo Boreal Rays, Headspace Kindered Spirits, and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. The contenders will compete for a winner-takes-all coveted spot as the bar’s featured beer from April to October. Beginning on March 19, the eight beers ($6.50 each) will play in a single-elimination tournament, with four moving onto the next round on March 25 and the ultimate winner announced April 8. You can also create your own Elite-8 Beer Bracket for a chance to win a prize. As for the actual tournament, you can 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)
Inca Social
Rosslyn’s Peruvian eatery is turning its bar into a March Madness destination, where a bucket of five cans of Tecate or Black Widow cider will clock in at $23. Bartenders will whip up four different March Madness cocktails that pair well with bar snacks like Peruvian skewers and chicken wings with Peruvian green sauce. // 1776 Wilson Boulevard #Unit #1 Arlington (Rosslyn)
Quincy Hall
Participate in this Ballston pizzeria’s bracket challenge for 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. Try the Fancy Pants (burrata, Romano, basil olive oil, balsamic, roasted tomatoes) or As Mush-Room As Possible (mushroom, mozzarella, truffle oil, garlic cream sauce). The bar will open up early for the first-round games on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22, during which fans will find pitcher specials and deals on Jell-o + green tea shooters. Those specials will extend into the weekend as well. // 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. Stop in Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. for $15 pitchers, $6 glasses of wine, $7 Tito’s, $7 pickleback shots and a buy-one-get-one deal on appetizers. On Mondays, additional specials include half-price wings from 7 p.m. to close. Tuesday brings $4 margaritas from 7-11 p.m. and $10 taco trays all day long. Thursday means half-price burgers from 7-11 p.m., Friday serves up $5 seltzers and $5 Fireball shots, and on Saturday and Sunday, you can order $5 bottles of bubbly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.// 1776 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Starr Hill Biergarten
Take in the skyline views as well as a great view of the games at this 11-story-high, 2.5-acre sky park, serving a full lineup of draft suds. 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. As a nod to its hometown school, Charlottesville-based Starr Hill will be highlighting its UVA themed beers “Sabre Lager” and “Wahoowa Pale Ale.”// 1805 Capital One Center Drive, Tysons