From showcasing a big college football game to a must-see basketball matchup, the sports bar is an oasis of the community. And in Wyoming, we have no shortage of truly tremendous ones. No matter the season, nothing quite compares to capping off the work week with good friends and good drinks to cheer on the home team. Here are the 9 best sports bars in the state.
There are few things that sports fans love more than a great burger and frosty brew. And you’ll find that in spades at Red Zone. The ambiance is a near-perfect sports bar. The aromas of uber-savory protein waft amidst staff in full-on referee garb patties. The gorgeously-grained bar encases a high-quality selection of spirits, icy draughts, and a line of HD TVs showcasing all sports. The vibe is just right. And having a menu featuring regionally-renowned burgers is icing on the cake: they’re made from excellent quality beef, course ground and eat like a meal. A touchdown indeed.
The best college sports bar around, Humphrey’s is the lovechild of two college friends looking to capitalize on a fondness for beer, pub grub, and televised sport. It’s also a result of years of hard work, of busting one’s hump (hence the camel motif and the “hump hard” slogan). The dimly-lit pub space is tastefully accented with neon and stainless steel, and the eye is drawn to a smattering of collegiate sports memorabilia, the 30-beer tap system and large TV screens watching over the bar. The selection of cocktails and bottled brew is equally impressive, and bolsters a solid bar menu. Sandwiches and entrees here are tasty, but approachable; creative, but tongue-in-cheek: self-deprecating descriptions often start with “plain ol’,” and “Moo-y Groovy” is a novel take on poutine. Cold beer, great food and sports through-and-through: hump day never sounded so fun.
If the multiple statewide locations aren’t easy enough to find, the sign is impossible to miss. The mascot is a lounging glutton, happy and full and having fun. And that’s Sanford’s in a nutshell: a charming hodge-podge. It’s a sports bar meets garage-themed gastro-pub. It’s Western and it’s Cajun. It’s accented with neon and metal, but exudes an approachable, down-home ambiance. In short, it’s got great food and drink, with hints of a bygone friendliness and straightforwardness. Below four large televisions, the bar is crammed (in a good way) with bottles and beer-taps, every inch occupied by a local brew or knick-knack. It’s homey and comforting and makes for a game-day experience that’s bound to be memorable, even if the home team loses.
At the Office, “Where overtime is a good thing,” modernity and amenity are expertly combined. There are 16 TVs, with all the NFL & pay-per-view packages, diverse & tasty pub grub, and an extensive selection of draughts and custom cocktails. The food and drink are welcomingly classed-up. There are refreshing options like crispy cauliflower or goat cheese salad to complement classed-up classics like hamburgers and fish & chips. With all the sports, beer and well-balanced food to fill a long weekend, what more could one want this season?
This deliciously food-centric, hip sports hideaway embodies the Western aesthetic ubiquitous throughout the modern culinary (and brewery) scene. Sleek, dark woods, elegant lighting and trend-setting cocktails and brewers’ concoctions are in appropriate amount. They serve to elevate the sports-bar experience, without actually being a sports bar. Yes, it has all the TVs, access, munchies, and happy hours to promote an amazing game-viewing experience, but a unique menu you won’t find at just any sports bar.
The hottest spot in town for watching the game and eatin’ some grub, Bomber’s is simply fun. Be it local football or the Super Bowl, this is the sports bar for Rock Springs locals and passers-through alike. The large TV screens above the bar and a formidable draught selection bolster the joviality, pleasantly bookended by friendly service, and stripped-down food and drink. This straightforwardness reinforces the essentials of enjoying sports on TV: a basket of fried goodness, an ice-cold brew and some likeminded company.
It’s less about books, and more about Happy Hour, cerveza-centered cuisine and a focus on brews & ballgames at the Library. Here, beer is king. And it just so happens most are made on-site. A brewery at its inception, this establishment has since cornered the market on fusing gastro-pub service, great sports-bar vibes, and an appreciation of hops & yeast exclusive to the brewpub. The important boxes are checked here: good, local, handmade libations, and all the access to sports a fan could ever desire.
Buck’s is quite awesome, and very, well, bucky. Just look at the menu: sandwiches are “buckshots” and the pizza is “buckalicious.” But wordplay (?) aside, food from the grill is pretty darn good, and the moderately-sized TVs hung throughout more than make a great game-night. The modern hunting lodge exteriors house an open floor plan, with pine from floor to ceiling, and the walls blanketed in photos of patron’s hunting exploits. Unpretentious and unabashed, this sports grill is simply a great spot for a burger, a beer, and a ballgame.
Taylor’s proves that, sometimes, size really doesn’t matter. A compact saloon in a compact town, this neighborhood watering hole is what a local bar should be. Pretentiousness is absolutely foreign, and there’re likely to be as many friendly regulars as visitors. Once a hub for the railroad, and now a lucrative natural gas producer, the town of Evanston is straightforward, hardworking and no-BS. And this sports bar is equally minimalistic. The liquor selection is bare-bones, but with all the essentials, and the beers on tap are authentically rural: Bud, Coors, and a couple seasonals. But the necessities are here, much-improved with charming localness and affordable drink.