Where to Watch the Game in Medellín Without Feeling Like a Walking Wallet

Top 10 Sports Bars in Medellín, With an Envigado Honorable Mention

• 🏈 Laureles wins when you want a calmer neighborhood feel with solid game-night options, while Poblado wins when you want convenience and louder crowds.

• 🍕 Skybox and Sweet Georgia give you two totally different wins, rooftop energy versus and comfort-food.

• 🍜 Mamá Panda is a sleeper because you can watch sports while eating real Chinese food with a XXL screen.

• 🚕 Medellín keeps growing as a destination, so the smartest move is picking reliable spots instead of improvising late at night.

When I first came to this city 12 years ago, there were no real sports bars in Medellin outside of the few in Parque Lleras. Now, as more foreigners come to town, the market is shifting to cater to the sports fans that are coming here. There seem to be two main hotspots of sports bars, and that is Poblado and Laureles. I'll concentrate on those ones with an honorable mention in Envigado.

Because tourism in Colombia keeps climbing and Medellín keeps pulling in so many first-timers, it creates more options, but also creates more places that price for confusion, not value, so if you want a clean game night, you need a plan.

I’m splitting this guide the way people actually live and move in the city, with five picks in Laureles and five picks in El Poblado, with one for the Envigado crew. Laureles and El Poblado are the two zones where most newcomers spend their time before they figure out what their “Real Medellín” looks like.

Before you go, use this quick filter

If you want an easy win, ask yourself one question before you leave your apartment.

Do you want a place where you can chat with people, or a place where you can yell, because that one decision determines whether you go Laureles or Poblado most nights.

Laureles usually gives you with a more local rhythm and less nightlife chaos; while Poblado has the convenience and density, but it comes with more tourist gravity, which can raise both prices and risk if you get sloppy.

Honorable Mention: Envigado

Barrio Sur Café earns a huge nod for sports fans who want a calmer, more local experience without the chaos of Provenza or the party vibe of Laureles, because this is a café first and a sports spot second, which works if your goal is watching a match with solid coffee, decent food, and zero pressure to yell at strangers. I went here to watch a Liverpool/Man U match, and though it's a Liverpool friendly spot, it never felt like I was in enemy territory. Pros - reliable WiFi, strong coffee, a neighborhood crowd that actually lives nearby, and staff who will usually put on a big match if you ask politely. Cons - fewer screens, no game-day atmosphere, limited late-night hours, and you are not coming here for NFL Sundays or wall-to-wall sports coverage.

📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JKR6Gp5sD3p2d5xKA
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/barriosurbar
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/BarrioSurCafeBar

Laureles: 5 sports bars worth your time

Skybox Rooftop Sports Bar works when you want the game on, but you also want a rooftop night that feels like a plan, not an accident, and local chatter regularly calls out the food, including pizza that stands out for the area, which makes it easy to bring a mixed group where not everyone cares about sports. Pros - It's a well laid out area with a sneaky good kitchen, and the fact that there are 2 levels allows for the sports fans to have a different area from the people that are just looking for a night out. Con - It's a rooftop, so you'll have to take an elevator to get there. In the end this is a positive, but I have to have a con there.

📍 Laureles – Tv. 39B #40
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZZT3vVYm3pGFTaBk9
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/skyboxmedellin
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/Skyboxmedellin

Mamá Panda is the curveball pick, because it’s a restaurant-first spot that still gives you the screens and space you need, and you can ask anyone who has been there and they will likely rave about the food, service and the overall setup, which matters when you want a calm environment where you can sit through a full match without fighting for attention. Pros - Quite possibly the largest screen to watch sports on in Medellin. It's also a calm place which will has authentic US-Style Chinese food Con - Just like Skybox, it's a little difficult to get to, but well worth the small journey.

📍 Laureles – Cq 74 #39-36 Tercer piso
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FdThMcjLHTf7TGfR7
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/mamapandacocinaasiatica

Medellín Sports Bar is the straight-line answer for many American sports fans because people describe it as an American-style spot with a great ambience and the kind of vibe where you can post up, order, and actually watch the game without distractions and an overly crazy environment. Pros - The Nachos are very, very good they also have drink specials that actually feel like specials. Con - The first time going you may have a little problem finding it, but you will.

📍 Laureles – Cl. 41A #70-42
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FWgF3nB7Sf3xANwY8
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/MedellinSportsBar

Sweet Georgia is the one you use for daytime games and comfort energy, since it has a long-running reputation in Laureles for breakfast and American comfort food, and while some reviews complain about slower service during busy moments, that’s an easy to fix thing by arriving early and ordering fast. Pros - One of the few spots with grits in Medellin, also, they have some amazing brunch options for watching the Sunday games. Cons - The service can be bogged down fast, and there aren't a bunch of TVs there to watch multiple games.

📍 Belén (close to Laureles vibe) – Cra. 78 #32ee-26
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1oy8tXcD1YfyP6Sa7
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/sweetgeorgiasportsmde

Public House Laureles is your pub night pick, where you want drinks, music, and a social crowd that feels like it belongs to the neighborhood, and everyone I asked described it as a strong mix of atmosphere and food with a solid drink selection. Pros - Feels super authentic to Medellin, a SOLID mixed crowd Con - Can be a bit loud if it's packed and you're trying to watch a match.

📍 Laureles – Estadio area
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6g6gX3Lq3a2jM3Vr9

El Poblado: 5 sports bars that cover the main needs

Vibes Sports Bar, which most people will recognize as Vibe Gastrobar Medellín, is built around screens and sports energy, and food group posts point out the multiple TVs and full bar setup in Poblado, so it’s a good “meet here first” option before the night gets noisy. Pros - Strong screen coverage and volume control, which makes it reliable for big matches where you actually want to hear reactions and commentary. Their Manila location works well as a planned meetup spot before the neighborhood gets chaotic. Con - Crowds stack quickly for high-profile games, so late arrivals often get stuck with awkward sightlines or standing-room energy

📍 El Poblado – Cra. 43B #11-88
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/owhLxj9idQ3pVSKg7

Philly Steaks deserves a spot because it has leaned harder into the sports-bar identity, including big nights like UFC and NFL Sunday plans, and your own write-up on the relaunch makes it easy to frame as a place that finally decided what it wanted to be, while public reviews rate it strongly overall. Pros - Clear sports-first identity with dependable NFL, UFC, and big-event nights, which removes the guessing game entirely. Food that feels familiar and filling, making it easier to commit to a full game without needing a second stop. Con - Seating fills fast on marquee nights, so showing up late can turn a relaxed plan into a wait-and-hover situation.

📍 El Poblado – Cra. 43E #11a-15
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YFz9p6q7oCkwtTCp6
🌐 Website: phillysteaks.co

Patrick’s Irish Sports Pub remains a classic because it’s the type of place where you can walk in, find a screen, and settle in with a beer, but you should be smart here, because some reviews complain about billing surprises and pricing, so you keep your head on straight and you check the bill before you stand up. I've never had that issue there, but I always look at the bill closely everywhere I go. Pros - Multiple floors and a long-standing sports-bar setup that makes it easy to find a screen without much negotiation. Predictable pub energy that works for soccer, NFL, and international tournaments when you want a lively crowd. Con Tourist-zone pricing.

📍 El Poblado – Cra. 37a #8 A 43
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ENe5N4b4BjkzSH2s6
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/patricks_medellin
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/PatricksIrishPubMedellin

El Parche Grill is the food-forward pick, and if you miss In-N-Out, their burger has that flavor - a rare thing in Medellin and pricing as a strong combination, which makes it a good pre-game meal stop when you want value and you do not want to gamble on mediocre food in the busiest nightlife zone. They are also located in the heart of Parque Lleras, but not on the street, so people watching is a clutch thing there. US Veteran owned and has a bi-monthly military veterans night so you can get to know other Vets if you are looking for community. Pros - Food-centric menu with burgers and plates that justify sitting through an entire match instead of eating elsewhere first. Calmer, more conversational environment that works well for smaller groups or mixed priorities. Con - Not designed as a full sports bar, so screen count and game availability are limited during overlapping events.

📍 El Poblado – Cl. 9A #38-26 Local 106
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YpA9hsTuYvdQa9Aq6
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/elparchegrillmedellin

Hooters Medellín is the predictable chain option, and predictability is not a bad thing when you are traveling, because people want to know they can sit down, order wings, and watch the game, and that’s the recurring theme you see in reviews. Pros - Predictable sports-on-screens setup that delivers exactly what most travelers expect without surprises. The best hotwing variety in Medellin, also they have the famous boneless wings. Easy option for groups with different tastes who just want wings, beer, and the game on. The waitresses don't disappoint, but aren't shy about asking for huge tips. Con - Chain atmosphere lacks local character, which makes it feel more functional than memorable once you’ve been in Medellín awhile.

📍 El Poblado – Cra. 37a #8-44
📍 Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/e1cBgMv6K8xgYrZr8

The “keep it fun” rules that protect your night

I know we've covered this in the past, but it bears repeating until everyone understands. Medellín is incredible, but it can also be unforgiving when people act like it’s an adult theme park, so your best move is staying simple and consistent.

• Check the bill before you leave, especially in tourist-heavy zones. Most times there is confusion, and it's rarely anything nefarious. There are some places that do that, but none on this list.

• Do not walk home distracted and/or drunk with your phone out. You are the prey in this situation

• Pick your ride home before your judgment drops, because “I’ll figure it out later” is how nights go sideways.

• Go out there and make new friends.

Medellin is an incredible city and it's starting to catch up with sports fandom, so go enjoy your favorite game at one of the sports bars above. The culinary talent is catching up here as well, so you're likely to have a great time with limited drama at any of the spots above.