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Hard Times Cafe
Hard Times Cafe
Hard Times Cafe/Yelp

Where to Watch Hockey in D.C.

Follow the puck while drinking.

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Hard Times Cafe
| Hard Times Cafe/Yelp

The Capitals are having a good season so far— it's enough to turn anyone into a hockey fan. The teams in both conferences are neck and neck, so there's plenty of entertainment to enjoy for both dedicated fans and bandwagon jumpers.

Here's a list of some great places in the D.C. area to watch hockey. Of course most sports bars will always have the game on, but these spots particularly care about maintaining and building their hockey-loving clientele. Have another favorite? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar

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The Alexandria spot was founded by retired hockey player Bryan Watson. It has since changed ownership, but Bugsy's is still a place where hockey fans from all areas can find each other and watch the game among hockey jerseys hanging on the walls.

Glory Days Grill

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This Virginia sports bar has been named “Best Sports Bar” thirteen times by various associations and publications in the area. It's partly thanks to more than 25 TV screens, the NHL Center Ice cable package (among others), and speaker boxes at every table.

Hard Times Cafe

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A classic staple of the Clarendon restaurant and bar scene, Hard Times has consistently provided a boozy and friendly setting for the burgeoning Caps fan base in the area. The second floor, equipped with over 50 flat screens, doesn’t exactly hurt either.

Nellie's Sports Bar

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Nellie’s is one of the few places in D.C. that offers happy hour every day of the week. Combined with their neighborly hospitality and love for sports, the result is a comfortable place to sit, drink, and follow the puck.

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern

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Located just a few blocks from the Verizon Center, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern proudly reps the Caps not just by rocking the red, but also by rocking drink specials during games like pitchers priced from $12 to $16 and specials like "Buy 5 bottles, get 1 free.”

R.F.D. Washington

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This bar, adjacent to the Verizon Center, plays the Caps games on a projection screen and can show several games at once.. It also carries over 300 beers from around the world.

Redline

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A gastropub located a mere stone’s throw from the Verizon Center, Redline boasts an 11-foot projector screen, 40 flat screens, table taps, and happy hour on weekdays. It's the perfect combination for any hockey fan looking to bask in the energy of a home game.

The Front Page

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If Hard Times Café is the place in Clarendon to watch hockey games, then Front Page is definitely where to go in Ballston. Their Twitter page declares them the “Official Washington Caps Bar,” so they’re not just expecting fans to take over. They’re demanding it.

The Greene Turtle

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As one of the few bars actually inside the Verizon Center, this Greene Turtle location offers unparalleled pre-game energy that sticks around even after those attending the game leave. It's also fueled by competitive drink and food prices.

The Pug

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Neighborhood bar The Pug supports their local sports fans with a $5 D.C. pint special during all televised local matches. Their hockey clientele consists of newcomers and regulars attracted to both the variety of games shown and The Pug’s love for the city.

Ventnor Sports Cafe

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This low-key Adams Morgan bar attracts a friendly, hockey-loving crowd. They offer nightly specials and play all the hockey games. They've even done food and drink specials during past during playoff seasons that included The Caps.

Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar

The Alexandria spot was founded by retired hockey player Bryan Watson. It has since changed ownership, but Bugsy's is still a place where hockey fans from all areas can find each other and watch the game among hockey jerseys hanging on the walls.

Glory Days Grill

This Virginia sports bar has been named “Best Sports Bar” thirteen times by various associations and publications in the area. It's partly thanks to more than 25 TV screens, the NHL Center Ice cable package (among others), and speaker boxes at every table.

Hard Times Cafe

A classic staple of the Clarendon restaurant and bar scene, Hard Times has consistently provided a boozy and friendly setting for the burgeoning Caps fan base in the area. The second floor, equipped with over 50 flat screens, doesn’t exactly hurt either.

Nellie's Sports Bar

Nellie’s is one of the few places in D.C. that offers happy hour every day of the week. Combined with their neighborly hospitality and love for sports, the result is a comfortable place to sit, drink, and follow the puck.

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern

Located just a few blocks from the Verizon Center, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern proudly reps the Caps not just by rocking the red, but also by rocking drink specials during games like pitchers priced from $12 to $16 and specials like "Buy 5 bottles, get 1 free.”

R.F.D. Washington

This bar, adjacent to the Verizon Center, plays the Caps games on a projection screen and can show several games at once.. It also carries over 300 beers from around the world.

Redline

A gastropub located a mere stone’s throw from the Verizon Center, Redline boasts an 11-foot projector screen, 40 flat screens, table taps, and happy hour on weekdays. It's the perfect combination for any hockey fan looking to bask in the energy of a home game.

The Front Page

If Hard Times Café is the place in Clarendon to watch hockey games, then Front Page is definitely where to go in Ballston. Their Twitter page declares them the “Official Washington Caps Bar,” so they’re not just expecting fans to take over. They’re demanding it.

The Greene Turtle

As one of the few bars actually inside the Verizon Center, this Greene Turtle location offers unparalleled pre-game energy that sticks around even after those attending the game leave. It's also fueled by competitive drink and food prices.

The Pug

Neighborhood bar The Pug supports their local sports fans with a $5 D.C. pint special during all televised local matches. Their hockey clientele consists of newcomers and regulars attracted to both the variety of games shown and The Pug’s love for the city.

Ventnor Sports Cafe

This low-key Adams Morgan bar attracts a friendly, hockey-loving crowd. They offer nightly specials and play all the hockey games. They've even done food and drink specials during past during playoff seasons that included The Caps.

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