This year’s Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro span more than two weeks, which means there are plenty of opportunities to watch events—be that in the comfort of your own home, in a packed sports bar, or at a major park. No matter what type of crowd you’re looking for, you’ll find a great place to watch the games in these cities around the world.
The viewing parties range from free (in Tokyo’s public parks) to invite-only (at the swanky, celebrity-filled Omega House in Rio). There are activities for children and adults of all ages in London and Philadelphia. And you’ll never have to look too far for a specialty cocktail in places like San Francisco and Vail.
And no matter what sport you’re into, you’re likely to find like-minded people, ready to cheer along or launch into a spirited debate, at some of the best bars around the world. That’s the greatest thing about the Olympics—even though it’s happening far from home for most, it’s a global event that brings people together, in hotels, public squares, and local watering holes.
Tokyo
As the home of the 2020 Games, Tokyo is pretty excited about the Olympics right now. During this year's Summer Games, there will be several live viewing events, including outdoor viewings at Ueno Park and Showa Kinen Park. The parks will have jumbo screens, music performances, lectures, and faux Olympic events, where visitors can compete in their own games. Ueno Park’s scheduling goes from August 6 to 22, and Showa Kinen Park’s events run on August 6 to 7, 11 to 14, and 20 to 22. Prefer to stay indoors? Bars around town will be screening the games as well—try the Hobgoblin British pub, Tasuichi standing bar, and the M-Spo sports bar in Shibuya. —Selena Hoy
Boston
Boston might be 4,845 miles from Rio, but that doesn’t mean the city takes the Olympics any less seriously, especially with local gymnast Aly Raisman going for the gold again. The Revere Hotel Boston Common will be celebrating at the sophisticated Emerald Lounge, with cocktails like the Swim Faster Phelps (Bully Boy vodka and triple sec) and the Aye Que Rio! (tequila and St. Germain). The Lounge will air the opening ceremony on August 5 at 7 p.m. The hotel’s rooftop pool, which has a Slim Aarons-meets-Los Angeles vibe, will also serve the cocktails through August 21, and guests can play lawn games poolside, including corn hole. —Jessica Bowne
Chicago
Chicago may have lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics back in 2009, but that doesn’t mean the windy city isn’t prepared to celebrate this year’s games. From food and drink specials to large watch parties, Chicagoans will be out sporting their red, white, and blue all month. At the Hubbard Inn, the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid team is hosting a reunion and opening ceremony watch party. There will be free food and an open bar for the first hour. Attendees are encouraged to make a donation in support of World Sport Chicago. —John Scarpinato
Shanghai
Shanghai’s most popular sports bars are the venues of choice if you’re looking for exciting viewings. The Camel, a chain of Australian sports bars, attracts a range of international clientele, and will be screening the games live. Other places to go for live events and a mixed crowd of fans include the Shed, another Aussie sports bar; Boxing Cat Brewery, an American pub; and the Brew, inside Kerry Hotel Pudong. For a more relaxed vibe, go to Zapata’s, with its large terrace area, or rotisserie restaurant Wishbone. The latter has installed a wall-sized projector screen so you can see the games from every seat in the house. —Nyima Pratten
Rio de Janeiro
The hottest ticket in Rio isn’t for the games themself—it’s the invite-only Omega House. Omega, the Olympic timekeeper since 1932, is taking over the Casa de Cultura during the games with viewings on oversized screens, parties, and other events. The space is stunning—palm trees surround it and there’s a huge waterfall near the entrance. The guest list is just as impressive, with celebrities like Eddie Redmayne, Cindy Crawford, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Phelps, and Jessica Ennis-Hall scheduled to make appearances. Expect to see athletes unwinding there after their competitions as well. —Bridget Arsenault
Manhattan
When it comes to watching large international sporting events in Manhattan, beer halls and taverns are the way to go. In Chelsea, stake out a spot along the 70-foot bar at Smithfield Hall. The tavern, which is known for its sports coverage, will be playing the Olympic competitions for the duration of the games. Or head to the Standard Biergarten, which opens at noon and hosts daily viewings from August 5 to 21. Grab a stein or choose from one of the Brazil-inspired frozen caiprinha cocktails, which will only be served during the games. —John Scarpinato
Paris
To watch the Olympic games in Paris, look no further than the centrally located Hotel de Ville. The square in front of its Renaissance Revival façade will already be decked out as part of the annual Paris Plages, when the riverbank is transformed into a beach paradise. Volleyball courts and a concert series will add to the ambiance, as well as a giant screen for the Rio games until August 21. The best part: it’s all free. With 400-plus athletes representing France, expect Parisians to be cheering loudly for their compatriots, especially after the events that have marked the country over the past year. —Bryan Pirolli
Las Vegas
For the first time in 15 years, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has lifted restrictions on betting on Olympic events—meaning Americans can now head to Vegas and place bets on their favorites for the gold medal. To prepare for this occasion, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is hosting viewing parties at the hotel’s recently renovated Race & Sports Book. It’s now located on the Cosmopolitan’s casino floor, and has both mobile betting technology and traditional betting stations. For newbies, they’ll also host a free seminar on how to place bets and who to watch. —Stephanie Wu
Brooklyn
For those who love pop culture and sports, check out the Brooklyn Museum’s new sports photography exhibit and stick around for an Olympics watch party on August 18. There will be a cash bar and pop-up talks about the photography from past Games. If you’re looking for more regularly hosted viewings, head to Kent Ale House, where Brooklynites go to watch soccer, rugby, and other games played on the bar’s 13 flat-screen TVs throughout the year. —John Scarpinato
Nashville
Nashville welcomes a chance to celebrate, well, anything. The city’s ultimate fun zone, Pinewood Social—13,000 square feet outfitted with karaoke, six bowling lanes, bocce ball court, and dipping pools—will undoubtedly be the go-to place for Olympics viewings. Nashville’s newest game hub, Clyde’s on Church, which has Ping-Pong, foosball, shuffleboard, and more, will also air the games on its big-screen TVs. Many of the bars on Broadway will tune in, but the second floor of Acme Feed & Seed is an ideal viewing lounge with TVs and seating galore (plus a photo booth and potent cocktail concoctions). —Kristin Luna
San Francisco
Some of the best Olympic-themed drinks in town will be served at Elixir, a cocktail bar in the Mission Dolores district. Choose from options like the Olympic Torch, with Yaguarra Cachaca, watermelon, and a flaming lime garnish; or the Team America USA, with bourbon and cinnamon liqueur. And yes, these will be included in the bar’s beloved happy hour specials, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every weekday. The televisions at the bar will be tuned in to Team USA whenever they’re playing, but guests can request specific events as well. —Stephanie Wu
Philadelphia
Take in the opening ceremony at the rebranded Schmidt's Commons (formerly known as the Piazza at Schmidt's) in Northern Liberties. The neighborhood spot will kick off the Olympics with a day-long party hosted by hip hop artist Chill Moody. The festivities include performances by WTSS, Tortured Soul, and DJ Ben Arsenal, in addition to aerialists, stilt walkers, and fire dancers. Kiosks will sell international food and beverages, and there will be plenty of sports-related activities, like beach volleyball, fencing, and wrestling. The opening ceremony will be screened on the Commons' 40-foot Jumbotron throughout the day. —Megan Ritchie Jooste
Vail
Expect both visitors and locals to flock to the Remedy, the bar and restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail. There are tons of televisions indoors (including a massive one at 165 inches), but several of the seats on the outdoor deck face inside–meaning you could watch the games while sitting by a fire pits. During the games, they’ll serve cachaca cocktails in honor of the host city, as well as a daily dish from the country with the most medals. They’re even building an Olympic podium for this occasion—it’s an ideal backdrop for photos, but also a great reason to set up a mini-competition of your own while you’re there. —Stephanie Wu
London
There will be countless pubs in London broadcasting the games, but Beach East at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be the UK's largest official fan zone for the Olympics in Rio. This East London park turns into a playground for kids and adults, with over 1000 tons of sand shipped in for the occasion. Entrance costs £2 for adults, and £1 for children ages 3 to 12. Inside, there are rides, paddling pools, bars, and food for purchase, so don't bother packing a picnic. The stadium built for the 2012 summer games serves as the backdrop as fans cheer on the UK's teams, who will try to top the 29 gold medals they won last time. —Bryan Pirolli
Dallas
You can’t miss Dallas’s biggest Olympics attraction: the Omni Dallas Hotel plans to light up its façade with the famous rings and various sports figures during the 16 days of the games. Inside, all the competitions will be broadcast at the hotel’s sports bar, the Owners Box. Local NBC affiliates will film all its Pre-Olympics coverage at this location, plus the TVs here are so massive that you don't have to fight for a good seat. Other great bars in Dallas that are slightly more casual and include the Nodding Donkey, Stan's Blue Note, and Henderson Tap House. —Diana Oates
