Cardinal red still holds a place of honor at Palo Alto's The Pro sports bar, a revival of the legendary favorite known as The Old Pro for nearly 60 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Cardinal red still holds a place of honor at Palo Alto's The Pro sports bar, a revival of the legendary favorite known as The Old Pro for nearly 60 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
With football season underway, the basketball and hockey seasons nearly upon us and baseball’s Fall Classic coming up, it’s time to visit some new — or newish — venues for your watching, eating and drinking pleasure.
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Here are five discoveries to add to the ever-growing list of great Bay Area sports bars. Do you have new recommendations to share? Perhaps a popular hangout that’s recently added screens and wants to join the sports party? Let us know by filling out the form at the bottom of this roundup.
The Pro, Palo Alto
Patrons watch football at The Pro sports bar and restaurant on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Palo Alto, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Patrons watch a San Francisco 49ers game at The Pro, the remodeled and revived sports bar and restaurant in Palo Alto. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
The legendary Palo Alto sports bar and Stanford hangout known for decades as The Old Pro has received a new lease on life, emerging as The Pro, a fan venue with restaurant pedigree.
Credit owner-chef Guillaume Bienaime of Zola and Bar Zola and investors including NFL-Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, now GM of the Stanford team, for remodeling and reopening the Ramona Street spot earlier this year. The 2022 closure had ended a 58-year run here and on El Camino Real.
There’s table, high-top and bar seating for 250 patrons inside and, now that this stretch of Ramona is closed to vehicular traffic, for 60 people out front.
The new logo features a zebra with a referee’s whistle, signaling that this is a new era and all fans are welcome here. (But Stanford and Niners games still pack the place, naturally.)
And Bienaime’s menu signals that all diners are welcome. Elevated offerings include a Flannery Dry-Aged, Bone-In New York Steak; Local Rockfish Ceviche; Cavatelli Mac & Cheese With Smoked Gouda; and Aged Cheddar Biscuits. That Mac & Cheese has developed quite a following, manager Josefo Pereira reports, as have the super-crispy Battered Fries; Chicken Tinga Tacos; Pro Burger; and Tavern Style Flatbreads with San Marzano tomato sauce.
By the numbers: The Pro features 15 indoor screens, including two huge split screens that can show multiple games at one time. For big games, an 85-incher goes outside. It has 16 taps for beer, wine and cocktails.
Good to know: The tasty signature cocktail is Luck’s Margarita, made with Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau, hibiscus agave and lime. But we’re curious about what Luck’s digital alter-ego, Civil War Capt. Andrew Luck, would add to the bar menu. Maybe rye whiskey with squirrel juice?
Details: Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays, 3-9 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays at 541 Ramona St., Palo Alto. Reservations available Mondays-Saturdays; thepropaloalto.com.
Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar, Pleasanton
Bartender Alyssa Worshan serves drinks at Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Bartender Alyssa Worshan serves drinks at Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar in Pleasanton. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Newly opened this year, Pivot is a large, sleek space at the Four Points by Sheraton that drew its first crowds during this summer’s World Cup.
Now Pivot has pivoted to welcome fans of football, basketball and hockey — and there’s room for all. The bar area seats 70, the dining space 50-plus and the patio 60-plus. VIP suites add more.
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Because this is a hotel restaurant catering to guests from morning till late night, there’s no problem getting fueled up for early contests, including NFL games and English Premier League matches. A full breakfast menu offers eggy scrambles and burritos, French toast, fruit-protein bowls and more, plus coffee from Vallejo’s artisan roaster, Moschetti.
Patrons watch Thursday night NFL football at Pivot Craft Kitchen & Sports Bar in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Patrons check out the dinner menu for Thursday Night Football at Pivot in Pleasanton. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Elevated sports-bar food dominates the main menu, courtesy of Pivot partner and chef Francis X. Hogan of Sabio on Main in downtown Pleasanton and Pivot executive chef Juanrafael Ramos. They’re offering trendy fare like Maitake Mushroom Po’boys, Pork Belly Nachos, Togorashi Chips With Black Garlic Dip and sauces made from scratch (even the ketchup, they boast).
Desserts, all made in-house, include the very popular Guinness Chocolate Cake and a Banana, Walnut and Chocolate Bread Pudding.
By the numbers: There are 26 screens, including 100-inchers, and 16 beer and cider taps.
Good to know: Guests can reserve the Topgolf Swing Suite or another private suite for gatherings. Minimum food/beverage order applies.
Details: Open 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends at 5121 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton; pivotpleasanton.com.
In 2024, Maurice and Giuseppe Carrubba revived the original Kirk's SteakBurgers in Campbell a landmark since 1948, pictured here and turned a Santa Clara space into a Kirk's in November 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
In 2024, Maurice and Giuseppe Carrubba revived the original Kirk's SteakBurgers in Campbell a landmark since 1948, pictured here and turned a Santa Clara space into a Kirk's in November 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
Kirk’s SteakBurgers, Santa Clara
The entrepreneurs responsible for buying and reinvigorating the original Kirk’s SteakBurgers in Campbell — a landmark since 1948 — turned this restaurant space into a Kirk’s in November 2025.
With Santa Clara University nearby, this has become a hangout for students and a go-to spot for families from the nearby residential neighborhoods, along with other fans of the char-broiled SteakBurgers.
A Big Kirk burger is served at Kirk's Steakburgers in Campbell. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
A Big Kirk burger is served at Kirk's Steakburgers in Campbell. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
Brothers Maurice and Giuseppe Carrubba, the owners, stick to the “if it ain’t broke” style of restaurant management. The beef burgers are made with the same proprietary butcher’s blend as back in the day. Joining the menu are chicken sandwiches, salads, appetizers and the best lineup of potatoes around: Steak fries, crinkle-cut fries, sweet potato fries, garlic parm fries, Cajun ranch fries and tater tots.
Sports memorabilia from the 49ers, Giants, Warriors and Sharks hangs on the walls, with a prominent spot for SCU-to-NBA star Steve Nash’s jersey.
By the numbers: There are 12 TV screens, plus a jumbo 14-footer, and 18 taps for beer and wine.
Good to know: Kirk’s will host fundraisers, with a percentage of sales going to your school or sports team.
Details: Open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays at 2565 The Alameda, Santa Clara; kirks-steakburgers.com.
Zac's Bar & Grill in San Carlos hasn't even been open a month, and it's already quite a popular spot to watch sports. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Zac's Bar & Grill in San Carlos hasn't even been open a month, and it's already quite a popular spot to watch sports. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Zac’s Bar & Grill, San Carlos
San Carlos has a new upscale-yet-family-friendly sports bar that opened Sept. 1 — and it’s already become quite popular, according to Btool Massis, who runs the restaurant and bar with her husband, Zaki Massis.
“We’ve been packed every night since we’ve been open,” she says.
Whether you make your way to Zac’s for the game and stay for the food, or the other way around, there’s plenty to please people looking for both top-notch game-day bites and vibes.
The restaurant is in the location of the former bar and grill The Office, which closed in 2025. On the menu, you’ll find a hearty selection of appetizers — think loaded nachos ($16) and jalapeño poppers ($13) — alongside carefully plated mains like a Wagyu beef smashburger ($21), drunken salmon ($31) and grilled rib-eye steak ($45). For dessert, there’s homemade bread pudding ($12), chocolate cake ($10) and tiramisu ($11).
A smash burger featuring two Wagyu beef patties with cheddar,...
A smash burger featuring two Wagyu beef patties with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickle red onions, and mayonnaise on a a brioche bun is served with fries at Zac's Bar & Grill in San Carlos on Sept. 14, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
When it comes to drinks, there’s a full bar menu, with six signature cocktails, plus over 20 beer options in cans and on tap. The most popular cocktail so far? The prickly pear margarita, according to Massis.
The bar is also home to a dog-friendly outdoor patio and a play area for kids. “We want to welcome everybody,” she says.
“Honestly, the community is amazing,” she says. “Everybody is so excited about it.”
Fans watch Monday Night football at Zac's Bar & Grill in San Carlos on Sept. 14, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Fans watch Monday Night football at Zac's Bar & Grill in San Carlos on Sept. 14, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
By the numbers: There are 12 TVs, including some at the outdoor patio, and 16 beers on tap.
Good to know: Two 49ers players have already stopped in to pay their respects: Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins. And you can expect a scene on game days. The restaurant team plans to add additional speakers to boost the volume for big games. “It’s going to be super loud,” Massis says.
Details: Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at 1748 El Camino Real, San Carlos; zacsbarandgrill.com.
Oakland Athletic Club customers cheer as the United States scores the equalizer against Turkey at a World Cup watch party in Oakland on June 26, 2026. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletic Club customers cheer as the United States scores the equalizer against Turkey at a World Cup watch party in Oakland on June 26, 2026. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletic Club
This downtown sports bar suffered a potentially career-ending loss when it shut down this winter due to a series of unfortunate events. But a group of fans came off the bench, reinvesting and rejiggering operations, bringing it back with new ownership just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The vibe is serious – serious fun, that is, with sportos dressed in full regalia pouring in for every major game, or games, as there always seems to be something on the TVs that wallpaper the joint. A speaker system delivers crisp, booming sound. The fans clap for the national anthem and cheer every point or goal. Like a coliseum, the Oakland Athletic Club features a mezzanine where even more fans can egg on the action below (and enjoy a comfy lounge with arcade games like Mortal Kombat).
Oakland Athletic Club patrons cheer as the United States scores the equalizer against Turkey at a World Cup watch party in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 26, 2026. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletic Club patrons cheer as the United States scores the equalizer against Turkey at a World Cup watch party in Oakland on June 26, 2026. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
The new owners have rebuilt the kitchen and are betting big on it. An all-day menu mixes tavern grub like lemon pepper wings, fried burrata and braised-oxtail French fries with Mexican dishes like nachos and carnitas tacos. An upscaled dinner menu offers 36-hour brisket and coffee-crusted pork loin in whiskey sauce. There are local draft beers and Guinness, a sizable wine list and boilermakers like a $12 Radler and mezcal with fresh orange.
By the numbers: The club boasts 40 TVs, multiple sound zones and almost every TV sports package. On a recent visit, the menu offered half a dozen draft beers and nearly 20 wines.
Good to know: The club takes reservations and is happy to put on your game, if available.
Details: Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily (except Sundays, when it closes at 10 p.m.) with a daily happy hour with $1 off drinks plus beer-and-shot combos from 3-6 p.m. 59 Grand Ave., Oakland; oaklandathleticclub.com.
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