GOOOAL: Where to Watch the World Cup in NYC

Sure, watching Wold Cup matches with rowdy, rabid fans is a big part of the fun, but how much bad bar food can you actually handle during the month-long tournament? Here's how to score a goal and where to watch the World Cup in NYC. At these spots, you'll be guaranteed Latin favorites on the menu, tables packed with loyal fans, creative cocktails or extensive wine lists, and screens big enough to see each match.

Centro Español and the La Nacional Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Under normal circumstances, La Nacional Tapas Bar and Restaurant, located in the 14th Street brownstone of the cultural club, Centro Español, is calm and quiet. But World Cup, of course, doesn't count as normal circumstances. 

You can be sure that Spanish and Catalan expats will show up here in flag-waving droves, as eager to indulge in La Nacional's renowned paella and other classic dishes, including tortilla española, pulpo a la gallega, and arroz negro (all washed down with sangria, of course), as they are to cheer on players.

Other soccer fans in the know will make lines up the street to gain entry to the club and its restaurant, which, while open to the public, will not be accepting reservations: it's first-come, first-serve only.

Boqueria Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Boqueria, a Barcelona-inspired tapas bar, will be opening at noon on every game day during the World Cup, showing every match on large screens. Cheese and charcuterie platters and traditional tapas, including patatas bravas and tortilla española, can be accompanied by cava or a tinto from the extensive wine list. And if you're hungry for something sweet, order churros con chocolate or mel i mató, whipped fresh cow’s milk ricotta cheese with candied walnuts, berries, and honey.

Colonia Verde and Cómodo

These sister restaurants will show day and night matches (except on Mondays, when the restaurants are closed) and menus will feature specials reflecting the flavors and favorite dishes of the Latin American country that's playing. At Cómodo, try the mezcal octopus with warm kale or the lamb sliders on pão de queijo. And if you want a “Little Piece of Brazil,” ask for it, your Colonia Verde server will bring you a coconut yuca cake with lime zest. Be sure to order a drink from Colonia Verde's cocktail menu, which has all the requisite Latin American spirits, mezcal, tequila, rum, and pisco among them. At Colonia Verde, you can watch the game at the bar or in the garden; for a full schedule of games showing at which restaurant, check this list.

Next, we head to Chelsea and Brooklyn… [pagebreak]

Sembrado

Danny Mena's taqueria will be showing every World Cup match, and there may not be a better menu (or deal) in the city to accompany the games. During each match, Mena will be serving two-for-one tacos al pastor and esquites asados alongside all his usual menu items. He's not neglecting the drinks department, either: you and your güeys can buy a cubetazo for $20 and a uno y uno, mezcal and beer, for $9. And for your sweet spot, Fany Gerson, who oversees Sembrado's desserts, has developed a margarita sorbet with sweet tomatillo salsa for the World Cup menu. 

Beija-flor, 38-02 29^th Street, Long Island City

Long Island City's newest and trendiest Brazilian restaurant can't not participate in World Cup festivities, so management has installed extra screens in order to show each match to what it expects will be big crowds. Come out to Queens for bacalhau, fish and shrimp stew, and other Brazilian specialties (including caipirinhas) and celebrate the World Cup's host country in a neighborhood that's home to plenty of fútbol experts. The restaurant is just a few blocks from both the 39th Avenue and 36th Avenue stops on the N and Q trains, so you won't have to walk far after the festivities to catch the train and head back to your own neighborhood.

Miss Favela

You'll have a hard time finding a more fun place to enjoy World Cup matches; in addition to its extensive lunch, brunch, and dinner menus, all featuring Brazilian specialties, Miss Favela will have live music and dancing during the games. Extra TV screens, including one outside, will ensure that everyone who wants to see fancy footwork and yell “Gooooool!” will be able to do so.

Cafe El Presidente and Tacombi at Fonda Nolita

The recently opened Cafe El Presidente and its sister spot, Tacombi at Fonda Nolita, will be showing many of the World Cup matches during the month-long sports-stravaganza. You may want to make a special effort to visit these spots during days when Mexico is playing, since both restaurants will be serving mezcal shots on the house each time Mexico scores.