Best local sports bar? Here’s why this Florida ‘juggernaut’ ranks No. 1 in US
A Florida destination is a magnet for baseball fans — and it was named the nation’s best local sports bar.
Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill in St. Petersburg ranks No. 1 on a list of top places to watch a game, according to results published Aug. 27.
And the fan-favorite bar wasn’t the only place in Florida to earn a top 10 spot on the national list. Flora-Bama Ole River Grill in the Pensacola area landed at No. 3 in the rankings from USA Today’s 10Best.
“These 10 neighborhood sports bars — no chains or franchises here — have been nominated by a panel of experts and voted by readers as the best in the nation,” 10Best wrote in its report. “They have electric atmospheres, an abundance of big-screen TVs, top-tier food and drink menus, and comfortable seating that keeps sports fanatics coming back all year long.”
To create the list, 10Best said travel experts and editors picked out top-notch sports bars across the country. Then, readers could spend a month voting on their favorites.
Why the FL sports bar ranks No. 1
On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill reigned supreme. The bar — which calls itself the “official gathering spot” for fans of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team — on its website said “it’s nothing to see 17,000 people here for Opening Day and over 30,000 for the World Series.”
“A juggernaut within the St. Pete drinking and dining scene, Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill takes up nearly two full city blocks, leaving plenty of room to roam for visiting sports fans,” 10Best wrote. “More than 90 TVs can be found around the space, and it’s also a top spot for classic pub fare, with dishes like chicken wings and potato skins available on the open-air patio or in the main dining room.”
The bar is less than 1 mile from Tropicana Field, home to the Rays. The team has been playing at another ballpark this season as Florida’s Gulf Coast recovers from hurricanes that hit the region last fall.
Also ranking among the nation’s best neighborhood sports bars was Flora-Bama Ole River Grill. As the bar’s name suggests, it’s located along the waterfront in the Florida Panhandle, near the Alabama border.
“Diners can choose between more than 20 TVs showcasing a wealth of different games, then sit down to snack on key lime shrimp, char-grilled oysters, and gulf grouper po’boys,” 10Best wrote.
In addition to the top local sports bars, 10Best asked readers about other sports destinations they love the most. Here are other winners with Florida ties:
- Miller’s Ale House (based in Orlando) at No. 1 in best sports bar chains
- Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (based in Tampa) at No. 3 in best sports bar chains
- Hurricane Grill & Wings (based in West Palm Beach) at No. 9 in best sports bar chains
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens at No. 10 in best NFL stadiums
In the past, 10Best has told McClatchy News it doesn’t reveal how many people vote in its contests.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Best local sports bar? Here’s why this Florida ‘juggernaut’ ranks No. 1 in US."
