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It’s March and that spells one thing for sports fans — college hoops. This year, Detroit is hosting a portion of the NCAA tournament on March 16 and March 18 at the Little Caesars Arena, meaning the city is feeling basketball fever more intensely than usual. Below find classic sports taverns tuning into the game on TV and ferrying fans to the stadium alongside a pop-up bar tents, here’s a guide to where to eat, drink, and watch March Madness in the Motor City.
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Where to Drink While Watching March Madness in Detroit
Time to bust some brackets
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Z's Villa
This family friendly restaurant and bar is located inside a century-old house just north of the stadium district in Milwaukee Junction. Z’s is favored by sports fans for its shuttle service and seasonal patio that features a beach volleyball court and horseshoes. On the menu find affordable pub food including Detroit-style square pizzas and Reuben sandwiches alongside lots of burgers. The TVs ensure patrons never miss a moment of the game.
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HopCat
This popular Michigan-based beer bar chain offers ample taps and flat screens and it’s Midtown outpost happens to be conveniently close to Detroit’s stadiums. In terms of food, fans favor the restaurant’s so-called Crack Fries but it’s the broad selection of craft beers that keeps them coming back.
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Cutter’s Bar & Grill
Eastern Market bar and grill Cutter’s makes some of the best (and biggest) burgers around alongside options like steak bites and club sandwiches. In addition to the excellent bar food, this spot boasts several flat screen TVs behind the counter for catching the game.
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Thomas Magee's Sporting House Whiskey Bar
A destination for whiskey and sports, Thomas Magee’s is Eastern Market’s answer to the sports bar genre. Follow all the local teams on the bar’s plentiful TV screens plus soccer, UFC, and beyond.
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Harry's
Cass Corridor holdout Harry’s Bar is a favorite meeting point for sports fans headed to games downtown or at the neighboring Little Caesars Arena. The spot boasts a full bar, TVs tuned to the current match, and a shuttle service to the major Detroit arenas during home games.
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Andrews on the Corner
This 100-year-old watering hole in Detroit’s Rivertown Warehouse District is popular among sports fans of all stripes. During the NCAA March Madness tournament, customers can also catch a shuttle from the bar to the Little Caesars Arena. Andrew’s offers a wide range of pub food from Cajun fish and chips to cheeseburgers.
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Detroiter Bar
True to its name, the Detroiter has served locals for decades. Stop into this Greektown area sports bar for a few beers before the game and grab a shuttle to Comerica, Little Caesars Arena, or Ford Field. This spot offers traditional tavern food ranging from patty melts to coney dogs to gyros, plus lots of TVs for folks without a gameday ticket.
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Nemo's Bar
Talk with any sports vet in the city and chances are they’ll have a heyday story from Nemo’s during the Roar of ‘84. This half-century old, Michigan Avenue sports bar has been through it all. Sit amongst the championship newspapers plastered on the walls while sipping a beer and make sure to order a burger. Don’t forget to bring cash.
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Briggs Detroit
This LGBT-friendly sports bar offers lots of TVs and a full menu with everything from turkey burgers to four-cheese grilled cheeses to tater tots and spicy steak fries. Wash it all down with a pint of craft beer or a cocktail.
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Tommy's Detroit Bar & Grill
Housed in a building with a Prohibition past, this downtown tavern favorite serves up everything from Wigley’s corned beef sandwiches to andouille sausage-topped burgers on pretzel buns. Bonus: take advantage of the shuttle service to all Detroit sporting events.
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Beacon Park Sports Bar Tent
March Madness revelers can huddle inside Beacon Park’s 10,000-square-foot heated tent throughout the NCAA basketball tournament in Detroit. Inside, sports fans can take advantage of the cash bar, skee-ball, and arcade games, while watching college hoops on a big screen. Food trucks will also be onsite.
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McShane's Irish Pub & Whiskey Bar
Corktown Irish pub McShane’s is running shuttles to the March Madness tournaments at the Little Caesars Arena. Sports fans can also expect drink specials at the bar including cocktails starting at $3.50.
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