Comments (0) BEST PLACE TO WATCH SOCCER - 2007

Sweetwater Bar & Grille

Viewing futbol in public is always problematic, owing to the fact that many sports bars (and sports bar patrons) regard such an act as the equivalent of swearing allegiance to the French flag. While the Local and Brit's Pub remain the most popular destinations for big-time European matches, the Sweetwater has carved out a niche as the de facto home for watching U.S. national team games in the Twin Cities. On a recent Sunday morning, some 30 fans gathered to watch the Americans eviscerate Ecuador 3-1, on the strength of a Landon Donovan hat trick. The Sweetwater's owner is of Iranian descent, spent years in Germany, and is a devoted fan of the game, so you won't get any cross looks for asking to watch Chelsea v. Liverpool, Werder Bremen v. Stuttgart, or D.C. United v. Chicago Fire. With three high-def televisions, cheap drinks, and decent bar fare, the Sweetwater is a superb venue to watch that most maligned of American sports.