10 Best Sports Bars in Albany

“Awesome spot 💯 Food and prices were exceptional, the bartender was super friendly, and she was even cool with me taking over the jukebox for about 45 minutes 😂 Would go out of my way to stop again!“

“the new sports bar to be at“

“Real nice! Definitely worth a visit“

“We were in town for the 2025 CrossFit Games and stumbled upon Dawn's Victory Sports Cafe, right across the street from our hotel. What started as a convenient dinner stop quickly became our go-to spot every single night of our trip!

The vibe here is unbeatable: welcoming, local, and full of charm. On our last night, we were lucky enough to meet Dawn, the owner, and it all made sense. She's incredibly friendly and clearly pours her heart into this place. We learned that most of the staff have been with her for years, and it shows in how genuinely kind and attentive everyone was.

Not only did they open on days they normally wouldn't, but they even put together a special menu just for the CrossFit crowd. That kind of thoughtfulness and flexibility is rare these days.

Every waitress and bartender we met was just the sweetest. We truly felt like part of the local crew by the end of the weekend. We're crossing our fingers that the Games return to Albany next year because we'll absolutely be back.

Thank you, Dawn and team!“

“Great food! Amazing service!“

“thank you Reggie for everything food was awesome and the best server Reggie“

“I’m updating my review for Johnnie's On Broadway after another disappointing visit. When we first moved into the area, we were excited to support a local spot, but unfortunately, the experience has gone downhill.

They’ve gone from offering a full menu to just a few items—on this visit, only fried wingettes or fish were available, and sides were limited to string beans, yams, and potato salad. I asked for greens and was given yams instead, which I assume means they had run out. The bartender did her best and wrote the menu options on a sheet of paper, but it was clear the kitchen was unprepared. We arrived around 5 or 6 PM, and she mentioned the staff was “just coming in,” even though the posted hours say they open at 1 PM.

To make matters worse, the food was burnt (I’ve included a photo for reference), and the atmosphere was anything but welcoming. The owner or manager came in and immediately started blasting music so loud we couldn’t even hold a conversation. We ended up taking the food to go and won’t be returning.

Summary of review in 2024
Overall, Johnnie's Daughter is a gem of a restaurant, serving up soulful dishes that hit all the right notes. With a few tweaks to the ambiance, it has the potential to become a timeless favorite for generations to come.“

“Prompt, friendly service. OUTSTANDING food. Fair warning, the mozzarella logs are enough for the table 😂👌. Seriously delicious. Would recommend. Unpretentious proper pub fare. Little things stood out, romaine on the BLT 👍, asked for a to go box, the server brought a separate container for the au jus. The onion soup wasn't available because they were MAKING it, as opposed to opening a tin or packet. That speaks volumes. To the good.“

“Dashdoor made a hot mess out of our work lunch today. Junior’s staff went above and beyond to make things right! Food was great as always, in our office it’s always a top pick place for us to order from!“

“Dave & Busters in Albany, NY came in absolutely CLUTCH for us today! I had my son's 6th birthday party booked at Urban Air, but 20 minutes in, everyone had to evacuate due to a ceiling pipe bursting and causing a HUGE mess. Feeling stranded, a guest jokingly mentioned Dave & Busters, and after a couple minutes of thought, we decided to give it a shot. Not only did they accommodate our entire group of people(about 25), we also recieved fantatic service and was able to enjoy the rest of my son's special day. Thank you so much to the staff in Albany, NY today for helping us save this day. We appreciate it so much, and will absolutely return in the future!“