Regardless of the season (or where in the world they’re currently hanging their team colors), the biggest sports fans simply must catch their favorite teams’ biggest games, live and in the moment. And on the Grand Strand, when your squad is taking to the field, court or rink — whether it’s baseball in the spring/summer, football in the fall/winter, or basketball or hockey in the winter/spring (or any other sport or season, for that matter) — there’s no shortage of great places to catch all the action.
For those who like to congregate with fellow sporting enthusiasts, there are few better environments than a sports bar or TV-loaded tavern for catching the big game — after all, not only do the spectators watching at these establishments tend to be more passionate, but the drinks are colder, the big screens are bigger, and the menus offer more delicious pub-grub options. The next time your favorite team’s about to face off during your Grand Strand getaway, head for one of these top places to catch a ball game in the Myrtle Beach area:
Pine Lakes Tavern — Located a strong tee shot away from the famous Myrtle Beach golf course of the same name, this North Kings Highway establishment set the standard as the first non-smoking sports bar in Myrtle Beach. And when game time rolls around, it offers up sports, sports and more sports on its in-house TVs. It then pairs the on-screen action with 15 beers on tap and a menu featuring wings, burgers, barbecue, fish & chips, and more. Visitors looking to face off with friends can also challenge their cohorts to a game of shuffleboard or darts here.
The Boathouse — Sitting right on the Intracoastal Waterway, this local hot spot is known for showcasing live music in one of Myrtle Beach’s best backyards. Sports are also a fixture on the in-house TV screens, and a fireplace serves as a bonus, especially when the weather outside cools down. The menu features pub-grub classics like sandwiches, salads, burgers and wings, with some seafood options thrown in, too — because we are in Myrtle Beach, after all.
Topgolf — With its variety of golf-themed games utilizing microchipped golf balls that players hit at giant, dartboard-like targets spread across an outdoor playing field, this national chain of driving range-meets-nightclub entertainment venues offers golf enthusiasts of all experience levels a fun destination for enjoying “everyone’s game.” And when game day rolls around, its climate-controlled playing “bays” (think along the lines of bowling lanes for golf) are also a great place to catch all the televised sporting action on the surrounding big-screen TVs. Rounding out the experience are a chef-driven food menu, a full bar menu, and food and drink service from a “bayhost.”
The Grumpy Monk — For the craft beer-loving sports fans in your game day crew, it’s hard to beat this restaurant/pub with a pair of Grand Strand locations — the original in Carolina Forest and the new spot at Broadway at the Beach. The main attraction here is the extensive beer list, with a lean toward Carolina brews and a wide range of (rotating) on-tap choices that includes lagers, pilsners, ambers, browns, IPAs, stouts, porters, wheats, sours and more. Big-screen TVs lining the walls at each location regularly feature the day’s top sporting events, and when hunger strikes, the Grumpy Monk’s full dining menu includes a range of sushi offerings, a long list of appetizers, salads, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, tacos and more.
Dale Jr.’s Whiskey River — Owned by NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., this beer and wing joint on Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach keeps the sports fans coming back with its unpretentious charm, feel-good music, enticing food — and great game-watching atmosphere. Here, big screens show the big games; a long list of appetizers, wings, salads, sandwiches and heavier entrees like ribs and chicken keep the game-day crowds well-fed; and a wide range of beer, bar and (of course) whiskey options help the fans fight their thirst.
No matter the season, everyone wins with a trip to the Grand Strand. So book your trip to the Myrtle Beach oceanfront today — and put a notch in the vacation win column at Ocean Reef Resort!
