These reviews originally published in the Business by the Bay newsletter. For more business news delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.

Over the past month, I’ve been on a journey to visit and rank pubs in Tampa Bay to find the ultimate World Cup viewing experience.

I remember watching Germany’s winning run in 2014 from downtown St. Petersburg’s Hofbrauhaus, where soccer super fans would get spanked for good luck and patrons jumped on top of tables during penalty kicks. I’ve never experienced anything as exhilarating in my life as those games at the iconic biergarten that closed in 2020. It made me fall in love with the operatic elements of a sport that has struggled to gain ground in this country.

Ever since, I’ve tried to find places like that that and continue to make those kinds of special memories. The hunt began as a tradition with friends when I lived in New York City during the 2018 World Cup. I wrote reviews of each spot on my personal Instagram as I hopped from bar to bar and invited anyone who wanted to come along. Now that I moved back to Tampa Bay and the St. Pete biergarten’s gone, I’m continuing that tradition.

Here are my 2022 World Cup pub rankings.

I judge each bar on three metrics to determine a value out of five stars: affordability, TV accessibility and atmosphere.

Affordability is key to determine if I would return to this pub on a frequent basis. Can I buy food and a drink that will fill my stomach without emptying my wallet? I also consider whether I have to fight to see the TV screens or not within an establishment. It’s not fun having to squint, stand on my tip-toes to look over crowds or position myself in an awkward angle. I want a full HD, surround-sound experience.

The most important factor is atmosphere. What kind of fans does the bar attract? This is a metric that is based more on quality than quantity. I want to be surrounded by fans whose passion for the game is infectious and are not just passively watching. The most joyous moments are when you get to cheer for the team of the stranger next to you.

During this tournament, I got to visit 8 different pubs. Here’s how I ranked them.

*All of these reviews are subjective since I’m the referee in this article and these are my rules.

Big Storm Brewery

Poland vs. Mexico

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️

I paid $14 for a pretzel with some beer cheese. The drinks and cocktails are pretty reasonable though.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Spend your days with Hayes

Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter

Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

The Pinellas Park brewery’s large space is full of screens and you can also watch outdoors if you want to enjoy this absurdly warm winter weather.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️

There were very few fans, if any, during the late morning game. But I did give it an extra star because I would go back if I needed a quiet place to work from while watching. There is free wifi.

Total: 3/5

Jannus Live

USA vs. Netherlands

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️

I paid $10 to just watch the game, not bad for event pricing but still far more expensive than watching from home, plus a can of margarita cost $10.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️

There was a giant screen that nearly everyone in the pack of sardines could see. But because it was a special event for one game, this concert venue gets 2 stars.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The best part of the World Cup is watching and cheering for your country with other people. There’s nothing quite like getting showered in overpriced Bud Light over a goal even though we were still losing and yelling into the sky over every shot USA tried to make. This camaraderie is why you pay the $10 to get in.

Total: 2.6/5

Webb’s City Cellar

England vs. Senegal

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I actually didn’t buy anything this time but I typically get a mead here for $10 when I feel like splurging. But they do have many more original beers and ciders on tap for cheaper.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

They had a large projector displaying the game along with some TVs at the bar.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My friend found this hidden gem at Green Bench Brewery after Ferg’s was packed for Sunday football. Surrounded by giant tanks of beer, Webb’s had some avid fans watching the game but it was also quiet enough to have a real conversation and offered a more laid back watching experience, which is just what we wanted for this match.

Total: 3.3/5

Horse and Jockey

England vs. France

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️

I paid $10 for a single scotch egg. Not even remotely filling. Drinks were fair and the mouthwatering bread pudding also was reasonable at $10, but most full meals on the Pasadena British restaurant’s game day menu were $17 or more.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were a good amount of screens to watch from, but from my table it did require a bit of neck turning and dodging the crowds to see a TV in one of the room’s 3 corners.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fans came prepared all decked out in England gear, one wearing a white and red jester hat and another bringing her own tablecloth of the English flag to lay over their table. The place was packed to the brim and everyone was all in on the game. It might not be the same now that England didn’t make the final but it’s still worth checking out.

Total: 3.33 /5

Maloney’s Local Irish Pub

Argentina vs. Netherlands

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This Channelside Tampa pub had a great Arnold Palmer with vodka for $8 including delicious chicken tenders for $9.95.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The question here isn’t where are the TV screens, but rather where are there not? Every corner has a screen to glance at so even when you have to look at someone during a conversation, you won’t miss a beat.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️

For all the potential of a place with one of the most ideal soccer pub aesthetics I’ve seen in the area, a lot of watchers were only passively interested in this explosive game until the penalty shootouts.

Total: 3.6/5

Mary Margaret’s Olde Irish Tavern

USA vs. England

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The official watch bar for Tampa Bay has a range of promotions for the tournament like $6.50 Jameson. I paid $8 for some pretzel bites which disappeared far too quickly and $12 for a good amount of cheese curds.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I almost gave this 2 stars. The view is great if you’re lucky to find a spot inside, but if you’re watching from the sidewalk then it gets competitive for the sole TV outdoors and you have to avoid downtown St. Petersburg passerbyers and the sun’s glare. But I give them an extra star for being open for EVERY game, including the 5 a.m. ones and for hosting watch parties at Williams Park and Jannus Live.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t think I’ll find a place nearby with as passionate fans as this Irish pub. The energy from those watching is magnetic and when I tried other bars downtown for Sunday’s Spain and Germany game, I found myself back at this place since some of its neighbors prioritized another sport also called football.

Total: 3.6/5

Hattricks Tavern

Croatia vs. Argentina

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are plenty of filling finger foods between $9 and $12 at this downtown Tampa hockey bar. The Italian egg rolls, for $9.95, were pretty good.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another spacious location filled with screens, but from the corner I’m sitting at, it’s a bit far to see where the ball is.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was one of the most packed places I saw for a midday weekday game. It was filled with devotees to Argentina, Lionel Messi and even those rooting for the “underdog” Croatia.

Total: 4/5

Where’s Jubes?

Poland vs. Argentina / Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia

Affordability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I paid $10 for a delicious cocktail with pineapple juice, melon liqueur and vodka (to honor Poland, of course). The only problem is they don’t sell food at this new Australian pub downtown or else it would have gotten another star. But I was able to grab a $4 pizza slice at Top Slice Pizzeria next door and bring it over during half time, so that was actually cheaper than bar food could ever be.

Accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were so many TV screens to choose from on both sides of the bar, and there’s seating outdoors as well with a full view. I was able to watch the two games happening at the end of the group stages with no obstruction. Overall, Where’s Jubes is a great alternative to Mary Margaret’s Tavern if you value your personal space.

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Even though it was a mid-afternoon game, the bar was open early for avid fans and had a handful of passionate followers rooting for team Mexico. It was one of the most memorable games I’ve ever watched as Mexico and Poland were both vying to get into the knockout rounds up until the last minute and it almost came down to who had fewer yellow cards. We all felt comfortable screaming together for our respective teams, despite being on opposite sides.

Total: 4.3 / 5