Austin FIFA World Cup Viewing Party Guide For Places To Gooooooo!

AUSTIN, TX — Are you ready for some futbol? The FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and you might be wondering if any viewing parties are in the offing locally. The answer is yes; there will be a few places you can goooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry. Couldn't resist. The much-anticipated World Cup kicks off the weekend of June 14-15. Here are some cool places staging watch parties to root for your favorite teams.

CENTRAL STANDARD

1603 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

(512) 942-0823

In South Austin, Central Standard will feature special hours and menus beginning on June 15 and lasting until July 15. The restaurant will be opening as early as 7 a.m. for select games, offering breakfast sandwiches from Executive Chef Casey Wilcox along with coffee, bloody marys and more. Group dining and private event options are also available for fan clubs or bigger watch parties; those interested in hosting a private party can reach out to Central Standard via email.

COVER 3

Various locations

Widely considered "one of the top sports bars in the country" (according to CNN, Sports Illustrated, Travel + Leisure, The Daily Meal and more), Cover 3 has long provided guests with an elevated dining experience compared to what patrons might find at traditional sports bars. All this while boasting enough HD TV's that guests will always have multiple options for their game-watching viewing pleasure. Given such attributes, Cover 3 will be a premier venue in which to watch the FIFA World Cup.

COVER 3 serves up a full bar with a highly curated selection of spirits, a variety of local beers on tap, and over 100 wines from its distinctive wine cellars. The chain also recently won as having the "Best Wings" at the 2018 Austin Chicken Wing Festival. The menu also features scratch-kitchen options in a sophisticated, yet approachable atmosphere. For those early-morning games, COVER 3 is also one of the area's most popular brunch destinations too having been named last year "Best Brunch" in Austin Monthly's Best of ATX: Readers' Picks and San Antonio Current's Best of SA: Critic's Pick, which includes the beloved U-Mix-It Bloody Mary & Bubbles Bar. Whether you are awaiting your favorite team’s big match, a working professional looking for some post-work Happy Hour relief, or a large family seeking quality time together over a great meal, COVER 3 offers a refined, yet comfortable and approachable atmosphere for all patrons.

Over the years, the restaurant has expanded to four locations in Central Texas, including San Antonio and Round Rock, as well a second restaurant concept in COVER 2. Paying homage to football, COVER 3 works hard to cover its three “zones” - dining, spirits and sports - to provide a truly upscale dining experience. For more information on COVER 3, please visit www.COVER-3.com and follow along at #DiningSpiritsSports.

LOCATIONS

• Downtown Austin: 1717 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703 / 512.982.1550
• North Austin: 2700 W Anderson Ln #202, Austin, TX 78757 / 512.374.1121
• Round Rock: 2800 N Interstate Hwy 35 #200, Round Rock, TX 78681 / 512.693.2393
• San Antonio: 1806 TX-1604 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78248 / 210.479.9700

Photo by Julia Keim courtesy of Cover 3

InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel

701 Congress Ave.

The hotel will transform into a venue in which to watch the World Cup semifinal and final games at Stephen F.’s Bar, the only restaurant with an outdoor terrace on Congress Avenue. Located at 701 Congress Ave., in the heart of downtown Austin, Stephen F.'s is an ideal spot for downtown workers looking to sneak away from their desks to watch the game. The restaurant and terrace feature beautiful views of downtown and the State Capitol. Guests who mention the “World Cup Special” to the bartender will receive $1 off draft beers.

Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, courtesy photo

JACK & GINGER'S IRISH PUB

11500B Rock Rose, Austin, TX 78758

(512) 350-3738

Jack & Ginger's will be open early for every single game starting Thursday, June 14 and will be broadcasting all games and featuring the following drink specials:

• $5 Screwdrivers
• $6 Irish Coffee
• $5 Micheladas

For more information please visit www.jackandgingers.pub.

LA MATTA

501 Comal St., Austin, TX 78702

(512) 580-8772

The Italian sandwich, salad and wine shop in East Austin will air games during its regular business hours throughout the duration of the World Cup series and will also feature happy hour specials from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on game days. Guests will also have the option to fill out a bracket for prizes. Codes will be received after making a purchase at La Matta, and can then be input into FIFA's website.

Martin's KumBak Place

2808 Guadalupe St.

If you want to watch the World Cup in a quintessentially Austin way, there's no better place than the iconic Martin's KumBak Place at 2808 Guadalupe St. This place has been around for 92 years, serving up hamburgers and other American fare to generations of nearby UT-Austin students and neighborhood patrons. It's a storied place that once was a gas station. the nickname "Dirty's" referred to when the outside was all gravel back in the day. Just stepping into this place is a throwback to an age gone by, with the tables and counter of its front end reminiscent of old-time eateries you've seen in old movies. The menu consists largely of good, old American fare — burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, milkshakes and more — served up by a friendly and unflaggingly hospitable staff. Patch dropped in recently and had a large hamburger (two patties), fries and a drink. It was a simple yet delicious meal with the centerpiece burger — and honest burger that really hit the spot. A steady stream of regular diners streamed in during the lunch hour, including a man with his two granddaughters, the younger of the two mulling over the various milkshake options. Just a few short months ago, an outdoor patio was converted into an indoor, triangle-shaped room out back with the walls lined with television sets. It's a deceptively expansive space when judging against the footprint of the outdoor patio that was once there. Given this new wing, restaurant officials are spreading the word of its ideal setting to watch the FIFA competition. There's a full bar in that back part now too. "World Cup Headquarters," reads a sign now installed outside the front entrance. For the most authentically Austin way of watching the soccer games in a neighborhood setting, there is arguably no better place than this. For more fascinating history about this neighborhood joint, visit: www.dirtymartins.com.

Martin's KumBak beckons soccer fans with its old school charm. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff

Martin's KumBak now has a sports viewing section where an outdoor patio once stood. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff

NATIVE HOSTEL

807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

Phone: (512) 551-9947

Native Hostel will be screening every game of 2018 FIFA World Cup in its new 3,400-square-foot event space for the entirety of the sporting event from Thursday, June 14, to Sunday, July 15. The hostel will be offering free game watch parties, drink specials including Revolution White Russians, Irish Coffees and deals on select international beers, a 1v1 soccer tournament and more. Throughout the duration of the international event, Native will offer 21 screenings complete with drink specials, including Revolution White Russians, Irish Coffees, Mimosas, and select beers. A schedule for games will be posted on the Native Hostel Facebook at Facebook.com/NativeHostels. Fans of every team are invited to watch the games, with the predicted best matches including the opening game of Russia vs. Saudi Arabia, June 14 at 10 a.m.; Portugal vs. Spain, June 15 at 1 p.m.; Argentina vs. Iceland, June 16 at 9 a.m.; Mexico vs. Germany, June 17 at 10 a.m.; Germany vs. Sweden, June 23 at 10 a.m.; and Nigeria vs. Argentina, June 26 at 1 p.m. (all times CST). Doors will open one hour before the start of games.

The hostel’s viewing parties are open to the public, and the event space will also have an indoor soccer pitch that will be set up all month to allow guests the chance to participate in 1v1 duels, where two players can show off their skills and determination before and after the World Cup matches. On July 14 and 15, Native will host a 1v1 tournament for Austin's top soccer players called the “Best Baller in Austin” tournament. The event is open to all and membership to a club team is not required to compete. The first place winner will receive a World Cup-replica trophy styled by a HOPE projects artist, a one-night stay in the Romper Room at Native for the winner and 10 friends (blackout dates apply, value of $1,200), and a custom t-shirt. For more information on this tournament, description of prizes and how to register, visit https://bit.ly/2H3wino.

Native will also offer a special discount on rooms for dedicated fans whose favorite teams play the early games and a sleepover is the only option to wake up in time. To book a discounted stay, interested guests can use the code “Kick15” upon checkout for 15% off at https://nativehostels.com/rooms. More information on Native’s 2018 FIFA World Cup activities and the full schedule of screenings can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/979536368870926/.

THE PARK
4024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 277-3004

11601 Domain Dr #200, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 478-7275

The Park will be opening at 10 a.m. starting Thursday, June 14, for all World Cup games. Happy hour prices for anyone wearing their countries' colors. Below are some of their happy hour favorites:

Drinks:

• $5 Frozen mojitos and margaritas
• $5 red and white (house) wine
• $5 Titos Vodka, Maker's Mark Bourbon, amongst other.

Appetizers:

• $5 4 Dips n' Chips
• $5 Artichoke dip
• $6 Chicken satay
• $7 Sirloin sliders
• $7 Brisket quesadilla

For more information please visit www.thepark.us.

PLUCKERS WING BAR

Various locations
Pluckers Wing Bar will be opening early on the dates below for FIFA World Cup Mexico games, and will be offering $1 off 34 oz mugs of Dos XX.

• Sunday, June 17 at 9:45 AM (game starts at 10 a.m.)
• Saturday, June 23 at 9:45 AM (game starts at 10 a.m.)
• Wednesday, June 27 at 8:45 AM (game starts at 9 a.m.)

To spice-up the tournament, guests will have a chance to win $2,500 in cash by correctly guessing the teams that will make it to the Final Four. The only way to enter the contest will be through the Pluckers Club. For just $20, members can enjoy a variety of rewards, including, but not limited to, free birthday meals, invitations to exclusive events, food and drink specials, and more. For more information please visit www.pluckers.com. There are seven area Pluckers locations, five in Austin and one each in Cedar Park and Round Rock. Click here to find your nearest Pluckers.

So no need to watch the game at home when it can be enjoyed with friends, among strangers in a way that befits the spectator nature of soccer. Perhaps you, too, will be able to partake in a prolonged, breathless exclamation alerting to a goal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please let us know if you have a venue that will be staging a FIFA World Cup viewing party so we can add it to this guide. Email antonio.cantu@patch.com.

>>> Image via Shutterstock