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The TV tuned to March Madness coverage at Arlington Rooftop.
The TV tuned to March Madness coverage at Arlington Rooftop.
Arlington Rooftop/Facebook

Where to Eat and Drink While Watching March Madness

Catch every fast break, buzzer-beating three-pointer, and crushing defeat here

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The TV tuned to March Madness coverage at Arlington Rooftop.
| Arlington Rooftop/Facebook

March Madness is back again, and so too are the corresponding food and drink specials diehard college hoops fans will basically subsist on for the next few weeks.

Some of the bars and restaurants featured in this latest roundup proudly tout regional allegiances — University of Virginia Cavaliers, West Virginia University Mountaineers, and the University of Kentucky Wildcats, to name a few — while others are interested in catching every last second of down-to-the-wire victories and bracket-busting, no-no-this-can't-be-happening defeats this year's championship tournament in sure to provide.

Here are 11 clutch places to experience March Madness to the fullest around the DMV.

Note: The featured bars and restaurants are not ranked. The map is arranged geographically from north to south.

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Millie's

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This recent addition to Spring Valley plans to offer discounted food and drink deals including select $5 beers from Massachusetts-based Cisco Brewers as well as bar fare on game days starting at noon on Thursday, March 15. There will also be giveaways throughout the tournament, as well as a Millie’s-run bracket challenge.

Millie's DC bar Customers seated in the bar area at Millie's. Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Ventnor Sports Cafe

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This Adams Morgan watering hole is opening at 11 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays beginning on Friday, March 9, and continuing with that schedule for the duration of the tournament. Specials include $5 tall boys of select beer during every game, bonus brunch service on Thursday and Friday, $5 green beers and discounted pitchers on Saturday, March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day, and Skyline Chili-style Coney dogs will be served during games featuring the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

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Town Tavern

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This neighborhood bar is where University of Kentucky Wildcats fans (aka Big Blue Nation) gather to cheer on their favorite team. Standard specials during games include $4 bottles of Bud or Bud Light, $6 burger baskets, and $12 pitchers of Bud Light.

Town Tavern DC crowd Customers gathered at Town Tavern. Samantha E./Yelp

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

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This Adams Morgan bar is offering select $5 draft beers, $7 specialty punch, and $9 whiskey drinks on the covered terrace during regular hours on game days from Thursday, March 15 through the end of the tournament. Featured half-priced snacks include crispy chicken skins, smoked wings, fried oysters, and lamb sliders.

Jack Rose DC rooftop The rooftop bar at Jack Rose. Jack Rose/Facebook

Nellie's

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This U Street mainstay is opening at 11:00 a.m. on game days for the duration of the tournament starting on Saturday, March 17, and will offer $4 Miller Lite bottles during every game.

Nellie's DC crowd Customers crowded into the downstairs dining room at Nellie's. D. Vann/Nellie's Sports Bar

Stoney's

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The Logan Circle watering hole is starting early, offering discounted drafts ($4 to $6 for pours ranging from Bud Light to Devils Backbone Brewing Company's Vienna Lager), pitchers ($12 for Bud Light, $15 for Shock Top, and $20 for Vienna Lager), shots ($5 for Fireball), and food deals ($5 grilled cheese; $7 super grilled cheese) during any tournament or NCAA game effective Friday, March 9.

Stoney's DC sgc A super grilled cheese at Stoney's. Christine S./Yelp

City Tap House (Multiple locations)

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This Dupont Circle newcomer is pregaming for the tournament at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 with a kick the keg challenge: whichever beer runs out first between featured kegs of Sweetwater Brewing Company’s 420 Extra Pale Ale, Troeg’s Sunshine Pils, Founders Brewing Co.’s Solid Gold, or Brewery Ommegang’s Nirvana IPA becomes the special $5 pint for the remainder of the tournament.

City Tap Dupont DC beer A flight of beers at City Tap House in Dupont Circle. City Tap House [Official photo]

Penn Social

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This sports bar is offering deals specifically for fans of teams in the Atlantic 10 conference including $4 Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, and $5 Devils Backbone Brewing Company beers throughout the tournament. Fans of teams in the ACC or Big Ten conferences can get happy hour drink prices at the bar by wearing their team gear during any March Madness game.

Penn Social DC crowd Customers packed into Penn Social. Penn Social/Facebook

Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill

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This skyward-reaching bar is where University of Virginia and Virginia Tech fans gather to cheer on their respective teams. Happy hour specials vary.

Arlington Rooftop VA bar The bar at Arlington Rooftop. Arlington Rooftop/Facebook

Ragtime

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This Courthouse mainstay is a second home for fans of the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The bar plans to offer $13 pitchers of Miller Lite and $15 pitchers of Founders Brewing Company’s Solid Gold Lager when WVU is playing in the tournament.

Ragtime VA bar The bar at Ragtime. Dave L./Yelp

Open Road Grill

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This Merrifield eatery plans to serve $5 nachos, and $20 buckets of select beers while tournament games are on.

Open Road VA bar Sports fans gathered around the bar at Open Road. Open Road/Facebook

Millie's

This recent addition to Spring Valley plans to offer discounted food and drink deals including select $5 beers from Massachusetts-based Cisco Brewers as well as bar fare on game days starting at noon on Thursday, March 15. There will also be giveaways throughout the tournament, as well as a Millie’s-run bracket challenge.

Millie's DC bar Customers seated in the bar area at Millie's. Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Ventnor Sports Cafe

This Adams Morgan watering hole is opening at 11 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays beginning on Friday, March 9, and continuing with that schedule for the duration of the tournament. Specials include $5 tall boys of select beer during every game, bonus brunch service on Thursday and Friday, $5 green beers and discounted pitchers on Saturday, March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day, and Skyline Chili-style Coney dogs will be served during games featuring the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

Official

Town Tavern

This neighborhood bar is where University of Kentucky Wildcats fans (aka Big Blue Nation) gather to cheer on their favorite team. Standard specials during games include $4 bottles of Bud or Bud Light, $6 burger baskets, and $12 pitchers of Bud Light.

Town Tavern DC crowd Customers gathered at Town Tavern. Samantha E./Yelp

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

This Adams Morgan bar is offering select $5 draft beers, $7 specialty punch, and $9 whiskey drinks on the covered terrace during regular hours on game days from Thursday, March 15 through the end of the tournament. Featured half-priced snacks include crispy chicken skins, smoked wings, fried oysters, and lamb sliders.

Jack Rose DC rooftop The rooftop bar at Jack Rose. Jack Rose/Facebook

Nellie's

This U Street mainstay is opening at 11:00 a.m. on game days for the duration of the tournament starting on Saturday, March 17, and will offer $4 Miller Lite bottles during every game.

Nellie's DC crowd Customers crowded into the downstairs dining room at Nellie's. D. Vann/Nellie's Sports Bar

Stoney's

The Logan Circle watering hole is starting early, offering discounted drafts ($4 to $6 for pours ranging from Bud Light to Devils Backbone Brewing Company's Vienna Lager), pitchers ($12 for Bud Light, $15 for Shock Top, and $20 for Vienna Lager), shots ($5 for Fireball), and food deals ($5 grilled cheese; $7 super grilled cheese) during any tournament or NCAA game effective Friday, March 9.

Stoney's DC sgc A super grilled cheese at Stoney's. Christine S./Yelp

City Tap House (Multiple locations)

This Dupont Circle newcomer is pregaming for the tournament at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 with a kick the keg challenge: whichever beer runs out first between featured kegs of Sweetwater Brewing Company’s 420 Extra Pale Ale, Troeg’s Sunshine Pils, Founders Brewing Co.’s Solid Gold, or Brewery Ommegang’s Nirvana IPA becomes the special $5 pint for the remainder of the tournament.

City Tap Dupont DC beer A flight of beers at City Tap House in Dupont Circle. City Tap House [Official photo]

Penn Social

This sports bar is offering deals specifically for fans of teams in the Atlantic 10 conference including $4 Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, and $5 Devils Backbone Brewing Company beers throughout the tournament. Fans of teams in the ACC or Big Ten conferences can get happy hour drink prices at the bar by wearing their team gear during any March Madness game.

Penn Social DC crowd Customers packed into Penn Social. Penn Social/Facebook

Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill

This skyward-reaching bar is where University of Virginia and Virginia Tech fans gather to cheer on their respective teams. Happy hour specials vary.

Arlington Rooftop VA bar The bar at Arlington Rooftop. Arlington Rooftop/Facebook

Ragtime

This Courthouse mainstay is a second home for fans of the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The bar plans to offer $13 pitchers of Miller Lite and $15 pitchers of Founders Brewing Company’s Solid Gold Lager when WVU is playing in the tournament.

Ragtime VA bar The bar at Ragtime. Dave L./Yelp

Open Road Grill

This Merrifield eatery plans to serve $5 nachos, and $20 buckets of select beers while tournament games are on.

Open Road VA bar Sports fans gathered around the bar at Open Road. Open Road/Facebook

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