Christchurch is a known sport-loving city and has the most successful Super Rugby team in the competition’s history. The city also has several sports bars to ensure lovers do not miss watching live sports and celebrating with their favourite teams.

Apart from having myriads of television screens (TVs) to show sports, these bars have playgrounds, gaming lounges and machines, and other exciting, suspense-filled, and breathtaking sports activities to make your day fun-filled.

And you do not have to miss the action this season. We have a collated sports bar near you where you can watch live games, including rugby, cricket, racing, tennis,  basketball, netball, golf fighting championship, and soccer in unbeatable, exciting atmospheres.

Interestingly, most of them tell what match they will show, especially on social media, to keep you informed.

Here are some of the sports bars.

Best Sports Bars in Christchurch for Watching Live Rugby, Football & Cricket

#1:- Robbies Riccarton Sports Bar & Restaurant

• Location: 87 Riccarton Road, Riccarton
• Operating Hours: 11 am – late at night
• 24 Big screens

Sports lovers are fond of the popular Robbies Riccartons sports bar, one of the city’s finest. Its multiple screens across the booths ensure that it covers several matches and gaming events you like. Its cuisines are equally mouthwatering, highly rated, and have great flavours while sipping one from a vast catalogue of drinks. In fact, you can customize your meal and decide what cut of meal and sides you want.

The atmosphere is constantly bubbling and energetic as sports lovers see their favourite team slug it out with their opposition. Before or after watching a live match, you can also try out the sports and gaming rooms, competing on the pool table, darts setups, and cornholes.

Interestingly, they offer customers free Wi-Fi for six hours daily. You can stay indoors or in their large, covered, heated outdoor area for meals or spotting activities. The space is also wheelchair accessible, and outside the bar, there is an ample parking space.

Whether you stay at Ilam, Fendalton, or Addington, Robbiesport space is perfect. But from Central City, it’s an 8-minute car ride via St Asaph St and Riccarton Avenue or Harper Avenue.

The sports centre currently has a 4.2 rating, and customers believe it is comfortable, cozy, and a great space for sports enthusiasts and even for hosting social events. They also like the service rendered at the bar but believe the meals should be more kid-friendly, specifically having more dairy-free meals.

Check out their website.

#2:- The Papanui Club

• Location: 310 Sawyers Arms Road, Bishopdale
• Operating Hours: 11 am daily till late at night
• Multiple big screens

Papanui Club is an entertainment and dining world where you can watch local and international live matches in its sports bar. They have a vast space in their sports bar, whether with other sports fans, family, or colleagues. You can watch these matches while sipping and eating any of their assorted drinks, snacks, salads, desserts, and main from their menu including kid-friendly meals).

There are also several games you can try, including darts, pool, and snooker, and there is a gym, courtyard, ample event space, outdoor space, and gaming rooms. If you choose to get their membership card, then you can further join clubs for bowling, cornhole, golf, cards, fishing, gardening, leisure marching, netball, and many more.

The club is close to you if you stay in Redwood, Casebrook, and Harewood. But it’s a 15-minute drive via Papanui Road from CBD. The club also operates a shuttle service from 3 pm upwards, from Thursday till Sunday; thus, for just $2, you can hop in to watch your favourite match (check the website for the route). It’s free for ages 15 and downwards.

Sports fans rate the club 4.3/5, saying the club has a massive building and that there is always plenty to do. Also, there is always a great atmosphere at the club, free off-street parking, and a club accessible to people with disability.

Extra: Tavern Harewood is another very high-rated sports bar you can check out in Bishopdale.

Check out their website.

#3:- The Turf Sports Bar

• Location: 6 Inwoods Road, Parklands
• Operating Hours: 10 am daily to 10 pm Sunday to Wednesday, and to 11 pm Thursday to Saturday
• 22 Big TV Screens

Turf Sports Bar is a fantastic place to feel the unrivalled experience of watching sports with other sports lovers. This sports bar is an established sports bar in Christchurch Northeast. You can also have sumptuous and tasty dishes or snacks (including gluten- and dairy-free meals). In fact, you can book a table for you and your family or friends to watch any of the UFC, Canterbury NPC, and Warriors, all for 99 NZD, with fries, a platter, pizza, and even drinks to energize you during the matches.

The sports bar environment is welcoming and calm and has a great outdoor area. You can also try out extra sporting activities in their gaming facilities and pool tables, kids’ playground, and X-Golf indoor space (one of the best in the city).

Sports nuts rate 4.1/5; the bar is perfect for watching rugby and AFL, the playground is amazing, the food and drink are cheap, ample parking space, and the staff is helpful.

From the CBD, just drive down via Gloucester Steet and Wainoni Road, and you will be at the sports bar in 17 minutes. If you stay around Avonhead, you can also check out their other location, the Avomhead Tavern, which has about 20 big TV screens for showing live sports.

Check out their website.

#4:- The Fitz 2 Sports Bar

• Location: 77 Stevens Street opposite Lancaster Park
• Operating Hours: 10 am – 11 pm daily (closes 10 pm on Monday)
• At least 2 Big screens

Four years ago, Sports lovers in Christchurch’s central city woke up to the sad reality that their favourite Fitz Sports Bar, which had served the neighbourhood for about 50 years, was fire-gutted. Though later demolished, the sports bar bounced back and is now up and running in Waltham, where the Final Whistle sports bar was. It is open to all who love to watch all major sporting events live, including rugby, football, boxing, and UFC, on their big screens, enjoy the banters of other sports lovers, and appreciate good meals.

Aside from live sports shows, Fitz 2 is home to the Lancaster Cricket Club. It has world-class gaming facilities, including gaming machines, darts boards, a pool, gaming rooms, and a 100-person function room, among many others. It hosts events like Poker Night every Thursday at 6.30 pm and other entertaining activities.

You can get there from Christchurch’s central city within 6 minutes by driving via Moorhouse Avenue or Tuam Street and Ferry Road. The pub has free parking spaces. It has a lovely atmosphere, lovely staff, and a 4.5/5 Google rating. Their long menu of tasty meals, including desserts, cold drinks, and kid-friendly meals, is a hit.

Check out their website.

#5:- Monza Sports Bar

• Location: 30 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City
• Operating Hours: Closed on Monday; 5 pm to Up to 3 am daily (varies; check website for current time. Restaurant and Casino opens around noon daily)
• 208” LCD wall in HD and 10 Big screens

With Monza Sports Bar, you can’t miss the live action of your favourite sports team, whether you are interested in the NBL, netball, cricket, or even soccer matches. This sports bar is part of the Christchurch Casino and is open to locals and visitors at the city’s heart. While watching live matches there, you could also have a gastronomic journey. That’s by having their snacks, desserts, drinks, and main meals, which include Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and kid-friendly meals. The fries are as low as $9, and you can try the burgers, bread, garlic, and so on, which many people love.

You can walk into the gaming sections if you have more time before or after watching the live sport. Note: The casino is a 2-story building, and the sports bar is upstairs. Fortunately, it has a lift for people with disabilities to access the building.

The casino has 36 table games (including blackjack, roulette, and pokers), 450 slot machines, three restaurants, and bars. It also offers live music shows by several local Christchurch artists and hosts championship poker games. Check them out to support your favourite team within a 3-minute drive from the city centre via Colombo Street. Sports nuts rate the sports bar 3.9 and enjoy watching matches from the big screens. However, many sports lovers believe the staff can do more in their service and that the food is not exceptional.

Check out their website.

#6:- O’Shea’s Public House

• Location: 124-134 Marshland Road, Shirley
• Operating Hours: 10 am daily to 10 pm Sunday to Wednesday, and 11 pm Thursday to Saturday
• Multiple TV Screens

O’Shea is a vibrant Irish pub showing live sports, especially the NFL and Rubgy, alongside chilled drinks and mouthwatering meals (including vegetarian and vegan options). Hung on the wall are several famous Irish athletes photos amidst many others, which gives the bar a sporty look you choose to sit in the lovely indoor dining area booths, which also have a fireplace, or the bar area, the well-heated sheltered outdoor space, there is a TV to cover your favourite game.

The pub is not limited to showing live matches, as they also have a gaming room with 18 gaming machines and several other games, such as golf. There is also a function space which can accommodate about 50 people. The staff, especially the owner Alan Stroudy, is friendly and fun to be around, and the pub is regarded as one of the best in the city and has a 4.3/5 rating. To get to the pub from Christchurch CBD, drive through Hills Road or N Parade and you will get there within 10 minutes.

Check out their website.

#7:- Coasters Tavern

• Location: 1 Daniels Road, Redwood
• Operating Hours: 11 am to 12 am; Kitchen closes by 9 pm.
• Multiple TV Screens
• Check their Weekly Live Sports Schedules

Follow your team’s live actions all season long at Coasters Tavern bar. Their schedule of live matches they will show is always fully packed, allowing you to keep up with the latest local and international sports. However, it’s highly recommended you book your spot on their website.

The spot has a great atmosphere and unrivalled experience watching sports with other sports fans on any TV mounted on the wall. Alongside sports, they offer superb drinks and cuisines, including kids-friendly meals, to offer a memorable dining experience, which is another great deal. They also provide free Wi-Fi to customers; just sit on any of their comfortable couches and booths. A fantastic social club in the bar also offers events like horse racing, golf, and many other activities. You can also book the space for social functions like dinners, birthdays, and other events. Customers rate the spot a 4.3/5, lauding their ample parking space, quality meals, and good customer service.

Coasters Tavern is a 13-minute drive from the city centre via Cranford Street. It has Carlton Bar, Steakhouse, and Casa Publica as other locations at 1 Papanui Road and 180 Armagh Street, respectively, which you can check out if they are within your neighbourhood.

Check out their website.

Final Words

You should not miss any of the live actions of your favourite team and sports at these sports bars. Let us know how you feel when you visit any of them and if there is a better one in your neighbourhood.