New York Screens and Booths for Four Friends

I would start with a booth, not a fight over the remote. Soft Bar + Cafe puts coffee up front and booths, couches and bar seats in back, with non-alcoholic drinks keeping the first catch-up flexible. For four friends, this is the conversation-first opening before the louder rooms. Check seating before leaving for Greenpoint; the space is compact, and four adjoining spots are not guaranteed.

Buddy's is the week’s full-volume choice, not the place I would pick for a whispered catch-up. Its 25 TVs, game-day DJs and layered hot dogs give four friends something to watch and eat without splitting the plan. Make the screen-and-supper session count by asking which game and audio feed they will carry. Check that everyone meets the venue’s 23-plus door rule before setting off.

I would step away from the screens midweek rather than make every evening compete for volume. The Bar at Mandarin Oriental sits on the 35th floor, where the asset describes a live DJ kept low enough for conversation and cocktails with table snacks. This is the talk-across-the-table pause, not another promised broadcast. Confirm access for your group before going; everyone must be at least 21.

I would put the kitchen ahead of another round here. Tara Mór’s Irish-American menu includes sandwiches, spice bags and garlic parm fries, giving four friends a proper meal break near Madison Square Garden. Treat the halftime plate as the point rather than assuming this stop comes with a screen. Ask for the current kitchen cutoff before leaving; food service can end before the bar closes.

Amelia's is my pick when the game should share the evening with dinner, not swallow it. The Park Avenue South bar pairs a relaxed place to watch with grill classics such as smashed burgers, plus a photo booth for the group. Keep this second screen less of a production by agreeing on food first. Confirm your specific broadcast and table arrangements before the four of you head out.

I would trade another wall of screens for a room with something else to talk about. Wild East Brewing Co. has a large central bar and seating farther back among wine and spirit barrels, with Czech-style lagers and other low-ABV brews shaping the choice. Let the barrel-side regroup slow your own pace. Check where four can sit together before heading to Sackett Street; seating is not a reservation promise.

I would finish with one neighborhood stop rather than another big viewing session. Queue Beer’s 24 rotating taps and more than 80 craft cans give the group plenty to compare, while cider, wine and spirits leave room for different orders. Make the last conversation the main event without assuming a broadcast here. Check the current hours and plan each person’s trip home before meeting on Smith Street.