Sports bars in Johannesburg
There's a specific kind of joy in watching a big game shoulder to shoulder with strangers who instantly become friends when your team scores. Johannesburg has 40 sports bars where you can do exactly that. Below are the real spots — names, addresses, what kind of place each one is — plus how to pick the right one for game day. Names you'll see below include Ridgeway Racebar, Hogshead, Green & Gold, and 37 more across town.
The sports bars scene in Johannesburg
We indexed 40 sports bars in Johannesburg. The scene leans Burger Joint, Sports Club and Sports and Recreation. You'll find them in Sandton, Edenvale, Randburg. Ridgeway Racebar (Sports Bar) on Stoneridge shopping centre (Modderfontein Road). Hogshead (Sports Bar) on Sandton. Green & Gold (Sports Bar) on 22 Vlakhaas Ave.
Sports bars in Johannesburg
Ridgeway Racebar
A sports bar 14.5 km from central Johannesburg.
Hogshead
A sports bar 8.3 km from central Johannesburg.
Green & Gold
A sports bar 12.9 km from central Johannesburg.
Grandslam
A burger joint spot 11.9 km from central Johannesburg.
Rosebank Bowling Club
A sports bar 7.9 km from central Johannesburg.
Modderfontein Sports Club
A sports club and sports and recreation spot 17.4 km from central Johannesburg.
The Club
A sports bar 2.8 km from central Johannesburg.
Union Sports Club & Resturant
A restaurant spot 3.8 km from central Johannesburg.
The Zoo Lake Sports Club
A sports bar 4.6 km from central Johannesburg.
Paddy's
A sports bar 11.6 km from central Johannesburg.
AJ's in the park
A sports bar 9.4 km from central Johannesburg.
Fan Park - Core
A sports bar 10.6 km from central Johannesburg.
Eagles hideaway
A sports bar 10.7 km from central Johannesburg.
Action Cricket Meyersdal
A sports bar 11.2 km from central Johannesburg.
Shebeen
A sports bar 11.7 km from central Johannesburg.
How to pick a sports bar in Johannesburg
Screens beat everything.
Count the TVs before you count the taps. A good sports bar has sightlines from every seat — if you have to crane your neck, keep walking.
Sound matters for big games.
Playoff games and finals deserve a bar that turns the sound on. Call ahead if the game matters to you; the best bars advertise which matches they're showing.
Arrive early for the big ones.
Championship games, derbies and rivalry matches fill sports bars an hour before kickoff. The regulars know this. Now you do too.
Food is part of the deal.
Wings, nachos, burgers — sports-bar food is its own cuisine. Kitchens get slammed at halftime, so order before the break.
Common questions
What is the best sports bar in Johannesburg?
The honest answer depends on your team and your vibe — some bars are built for football crowds, others for hockey or basketball nights. The listings above show you every option with its address so you can pick by neighborhood and style.
Do sports bars in Johannesburg show live games with sound?
Most do for major matches, but policies vary by venue and by game. If sound matters, call the bar ahead of time — especially for finals and rivalry games.
Are sports bars in Johannesburg family-friendly?
Many are restaurants first and bars second, especially earlier in the day. Evenings and big fight nights skew adult. When in doubt, go before 7pm.
Photos: SEDACMaps, Sdnxumalo, Dimitrios Savva (Photography) Greg Zaal (Processing) via Wikimedia Commons. Venue listings by 
Foursquare.