The NFL season is upon us! If you’re anything like me and familial emotions are conferred almost entirely through the lens of how a group of millionaire strangers wearing a particular set of jerseys perform, it’s time to get serious about where to park it while waiting to find out whether the field goal that just doinked the upright is going to bring joy or despair. Fortunately, Park City is a town of transient sports fans who pack their allegiances along with their ski boots, so you’ll never feel like a lonely Patriots fan at an airport bar in Cincinnati. Here are our favorite spots to cheer with a beer this season.
The Après Arena: Drafts Burger Bar
Sometimes the snow is just too good to walk away from, even if your team’s finally playing well. On these powder-filled days head to Drafts Burger Bar. Drafts is located right at the base of the Red Pine Gondola in Canyons Village, so you don’t even need to take off your boots before catching kickoff. Drafts has more than 50 beers to choose from and enough large-screen televisions to provide ample evidence for you to loudly contest the referee’s interpretation of the catch rule. The gourmet burgers are excellent, but my favorite is the Tatchos, a tater-tot and nacho amalgamation that’s sure to stop your heart even if the action on the field doesn’t. 435-655-2240, 3000 Canyons Resort Dr., Park City
The Secret Gourmet: Boneyard Saloon and Wine Dive
Boneyard Saloon and Wine Dive is a bit of a hidden gem in Park City Sports Bars that punches way above its weight class. The bar area has a “classic” sports bar feel with screens everywhere you look and an impressive row of taps behind the bar, but what takes Boneyard up a notch is the elevated menu. Pork belly lettuce wraps, jambalaya and Waygu beef sliders with fig compote aren’t your standard bar fare, and the available Wine Dive menu has everything from an ahi poké tower to sriracha deviled eggs to wood-fired pizzas. There’s a reason the Boneyard is filled with locals year-round. Just beware of the vocal deluge of transplanted Patriots diehards who flock there to worship Belichick. 435-649-0911, 1251 Kearns Blvd., Park City
All-Star Slices: Maxwell’s
With hands-down the best pizza in Park City, Maxwell’s makes its way into our hall of fame. Available by the slice or by full pie, the thin-crust, east-coast-style pizza is pretty much the perfect food for watching a game. It’s tasty enough that the Honorable Guy Fieri and his frosted tips featured Maxwell’s on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2014. The huge L-shaped bar and cozy booths mean you can find just the right setting for your sports fandom, whether it’s publicly jubilant or privately shameful. Another all-season hot spot for locals and visitors, Maxwell’s has all the elements you need to make it through a stressful fourth-quarter challenge. 435-647-0304, 1456 Newpark Blvd., Park City
Honorable Mentions
Collie’s: An awesome location on Main Street just across from the ski bridge at Park City Mountain makes Collie’s a contender for the best quick-hit après spot. The beer list is expansive and the televisions plentiful, but the grub doesn’t hit quite the high notes of others on our list. 435-649-0888, 738 Main St., Park City
Silver Mine Tap Room at Whole Foods: A surprisingly decent place to catch a game, it’s more civilized than other joints on this list. The menu is superb, but the three-drink limit can be problematic during a four-plus-hour playoff game. 435-575-0200, 6598 N. Landmark Dr., Park City
Looking for a burger with your beer? We have a list of the best Park City patties here!
