March Madness: 6 sports bars locals love in Waterloo/Cedar Falls

March Madness is here again, and there’s no better place to watch a game and cheer on your team than at your favorite sports bar.

They offer up big screen TVs, tasty food, plentiful beverages, and a lively, spirited atmosphere to make watching basketball game after basketball game a whole heck of a lot of fun.

Get your brackets ready and check out this list of sports bars across the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area that locals love to frequent during this season of courtside madness.

LJ’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

Website

3550 Kimball Ave., Waterloo

(319) 234- 3680

LJ’s is a great example of a welcoming neighborhood sports bar that is an ideal spot for enjoying the March Madness fun. LJ’s has an amazing menu including pasta, made-from-scratch recipes, and an amazing breakfast menu. While you’ll find classic, delicious sports bar fare, you’ll also find some more health-conscious selections like salads and wraps. There’s indoor and outdoor seating which is always nice when the weather is ideal. And with 18 TVs (one of which is 80 inches!)  mounted throughout the sports bar, you’re sure to have a great view of all the games you want to watch.

Photo courtesy of LJ’s Bar and Grill via Facebook.

Pepper’s

Website

620 East 18th St., Cedar Falls

(319) 266-9394

Pepper’s is an iconic sports bar in Cedar Falls that you definitely have to check out. It’s spacious with two full bars and boasts the most TVs (40!) of any of the watering holes on this list. It’s also been around the longest, first opening in 1991. It’s become a tradition for many sports enthusiasts and their families, many finding their favorite spot to sit whether in one of the lofted dining areas or at the bar. And their food keeps people coming back as well. They make all their own soups, sauces, and salad dressings and appetizers are hand breaded and made to order.  You can taste the difference in the fresh ingredients. 

Photo courtesy of Pepper’s.

Zsavooz

Website

206 Brandilynn Blvd., Cedar Falls

(319) 266-3050

Zsavooz Sports Lounge & Grill has been a favorite spot for watching the game in Cedar Falls since opening in 2003. It’s a great atmosphere that is also family-friendly. Their menu has some definite highlights, including hand-breaded tenderloins and hand-crafted burgers. They have 18 beers on tap at any given time plus run frequent drink specials. There are pool tables, darts, video games, and digital music to keep you entertained during halftime of the game. If the weather is warm enough, head outside to their enjoyable patio. Plus, they have a party room you can reserve if you are getting an especially big group together for a game.

Photo courtesy of Zsavooz Sports Lounge & Grill via Facebook.

Screaming Eagle

Website

228 E 4th St., Waterloo

(319) 235-8865

It might look like a biker bar (and it certainly is) but Screaming Eagle is a great sports bar for catching a game as well. Thanks to 14 big-screen TVs and a larger projection screen, you won’t miss out on any of the March Madness fun. And their menu is irresistible, too. Grab an Angus burger, wings, or handmade pizza to feed your appetite.  After the game, hang around to see what live music act is on for the night. Joining the Screaming Eagle fan base is a sure way to have a go-to spot for watching your favorite games. 

Photo courtesy of Screaming Eagle.

Happy Hour Sports Bar

Website

117 N. Main St., Waterloo

(618) 939-7127

While it has a smaller menu and square-footage than other spots in town, this sports bar offers a comfortable, casual atmosphere for cheering on your favorite team. There are various food specials and limited-time beers on tap so it’s always fun to stop in and see what is new. They also have a nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages on offer. Grab a flatbread, some wings, and your beverage of choice and you’ll be sure to agree that at this sports bar, “every hour is happy hour.”  

Photo courtesy of Happy Hour Sports Bar via Facebook.

Wild Hare American Bar & Grill

Website

2512 White Tail Dr. Suite 400, Cedar Falls

(319) 277-4273

Finally, there’s Wild Hare American Bar & Grill in Cedar Falls. Laid back with a great menu selection (wings, wraps, burgers, pizza, and more), this sports bar also has great outdoor space, including a sand volleyball pit, for when the weather is just right. There are 11 TVs featuring top-quality sound so you won’t miss out on a moment of the full-court action. The bar first opened in 2012 so they have seen their fair share of basketball tournaments and other sporting events. Check it out this season as another great spot to watch a game.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.