Nina Rossiello
Food, Booze, Body Art Editor & Writer
Founding Member
Salute to you, Henrik: Spots in NYC to watch a Rangers’ game
At the end of September, news dropped that Sweedish NHL superstar and goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, of the New York Rangers had his contract bought out. *Sigh*. A bittersweet time for Rangers fans. Lundqvist has been a New York Ranger for the last 15 years. What an amazing 15 years it has been with an incredible 459 game wins under his belt. Lundqvist quickly became a superstar during his rookie year and was deservingly given the nickname of “The King”.
There is nothing more exciting than being in New York City while the Rangers are playing. New York Rangers’ fans are energetic and dedicated to their team. Whether you’re at Madison Square Garden or watching elsewhere, watching the hockey game always makes for a night filled with energy. If you’re not at the arena, you’ll likely be at a bar filled with fans wearing their blue (or white) jerseys, happily and anxiously yelling at the televisions surrounding them. Luckily for Rangers’ fans, there are a bunch of quality places to grab a beer and watch the Rangers play.
Tonic East: Times Square
Tonic is literally advertised as a “hangout with big TVs”, which is absolutely perrrrrfect for watching the Rangers game. You want to make sure you can see that puck sliding around the ice at all times. Big TVs are the way to do that.
Normally, I try to avoid Times Square, but on game night, a sports bar with huge screens is my must go to spot. The one place that I do avoid is the area around MSG itself, unless of course I am actually going to the game.
If you try to grab a seat at a watering hole in this area, the bars are usually packed with fans who are going to the game, so it will be tough to get a seat unless you get there after the puck drop. Times Square is a pretty safe distance away from MSG. You’ll avoid running into the fans who are going to the game later on.
Tonic offers a long list of beverages for you to sip on while you cheer on the Rangers. Tonic offers a giant list of beers on tap and in bottles for you to choose from. There is also a listing of some speciality cocktails, familiar cocktails, and wine. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to the bar in time for happy hour so you can munch on some discount mozzarella sticks or nachos to go with your drink! If you miss happy hour, don’t fret, their menu is quite extensive and they always have yummy specials, like a cauliflower crust flatbread. Oh! And, Rangers aside, they do brunch! Who doesn’t love brunch?
Mercury West
Mercury is a cozy, dimly lit sports bar. It is your typical sports bar aesthetics wise, and the walls are lined with screens, so you will be able to see the game wherever you end up sitting. The bar is set on 9th Avenue, which is west of MSG and Times Square, so it tends to be a bit less crowded in the area too.
This bar offers exactly the type of grub that you’d want when you walk into a sports bar. Their menu has your basics (buffalo wings, sliders, quesadillas, spinach dip) included as well as delicious twists on the classics (honey sriracha tenders, cheddar and jalapeno stuffed pretzel bites, etc). Mercury offers plenty of options to wash down those wings too such as draft beers, bottle beers, wine, cocktails, and even frozen beverages. Personally, I recommend the chipotle spice mango margarita. It is the perfect amount of spicy and sweet you’re looking for to tantalize your taste buds. You know what else they have? Hot cocktails. That’s right, hot cocktails!!! Who doesn’t love the sound of a Warm Old-Fashioned Apple Cider? I know what I’m getting next time I go there…
Redemption Sports Lounge
If you’re looking for a bit of a classier spot where you can still cheer on your favorite NHL team, look no further than Redemption. Redemption is a high-end sports lounge that conveniently has a bunch of TVs around the bar. They also have a “giant HD projector” to quote directly from Redemption. How cool is that? Even though this bar is more upscale in ambiance, you can still wear your favorite team’s jersey (obviously it’s a Rangers jersey) to cheer them on from the bar.
Redemption has a pretty extensive food and drink menu. The food menu includes your bar classics and your more decadent options. I was scrolling through the menus earlier and was drooling over everything. There are SO many cheesy, delicious options like mac and cheese and short rib grilled cheese . Mmmmmm. There’s also six different fry baskets to indulge in. SIX. SIX FRY BASKET OPTIONS. As if you weren’t already in heaven hanging out at this impossibly awesome bar watching the Rangers play, now you get an option of six fry baskets too. They have plenty of bottle beers, craft beers, wine, cocktails to go with your food as well. If you’re feeling really lavish, you can get some bubbly or even bottle service too. Classy AF.
Blondies Sports
Located on the Upper West Side, Blondies is a perfect place to hop on that barstool, eat some saucy wings, and get a pitcher of beer to watch the game. When you walk into the bar, it is exactly what you’d expect of a sports bar: dim lighting, a packed bar and televisions lining the wall behind the bar. If you’re not a fan of sitting at the bar, there is a separate area where you can dine at Blondies and still watch the game because that room also has a bunch of TVs.
There’s plenty of beer on tap at Blondies for you to choose from and such a variety of wings, so you can get your favorite flavors like buffalo, garlic, or bbq! The wings are definitely their speciality, but Blondies also offers other great foods to munch on from salads, to sandwiches to full entrees like steak. When you’re done with your wings or your meal, don’t forget to order some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to finish up your experience at Blondies. Yummy appetizers, dinner and dessert? A guaranteed satisfying meal for everyone.
Jack Doyle’s
Normally, I don’t love being so close to MSG on the night of the game, but hey maybe that is a personal preference. In my experience, and I can’t overstate enough, it is so crowded with fans pre-gaming for the actual game, it is near impossible to find a seat. Jack Doyle’s is even closer to MSG than Tonic in Times Square, but oh so worth bearing the crowds for. Jack’s is a spacious Irish pub, and it is filled with other excited fans on game night that you can yell and cheer along with at the TVs. An energy you want to have while enjoying the game.
Jack Doyle’s is another classic sports bar (maybe just with better lighting). There are flags from different New York sports teams all around the bar. You know which one you notice almost immediately when you walk in? That’s right – the New York Rangers. Aside from the flags, there are TVs set up just about everywhere here: along the walls, in the walls, behind the bar, so you’ll never miss a single play while you grab a pint and dig into that game day food. The menu is filled with your standard operation bar food. Everyone is guaranteed to find one of their favorites listed on there. I know I saw a few of mine! Jack’s has a giant list of beers from bottle to tap as well as wine and other cocktails. There are even a few create your own options thrown in there. The ideal menu for a perfect night spent watching the game. Cheers!
Madison Square Garden
Lastly, not to state the obvious, but the absolute BEST spot to have a beer while watching the Rangers score is Madison Square Garden itself. There is no better feeling than throwing on your jersey and heading to The Garden (maybe after a pitstop for a pregame beer at one of the aforementioned sports bars) to root for New York’s hockey team. Everyone knows how expensive it can be to eat and drink at MSG, but something about buying that $15 Bud Light on game day there just makes it feel worthwhile. You can yell and scream to your heart’s delight with your friends and hundreds of other fans in the stands while singing, “GOOOOAAALLLL HEY! HEY! HEY HEY HEY!” when you see the Rangers score.
As stated, the food at MSG is outrageously overpriced. Everybody knows that already, but this is all about the experience and less about the money. So, go ahead, order that giant Bud Light and traditional sports game hot dog and have a blast!
Salute to you…
Thank YOU, Henrik, for 15 dedicated years to New York. We’ll miss seeing #30 out there on the ice at MSG. We know the Caps will take great care of you.
Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. Farewell to The King. We salute to you!
