The search for blue jays vs red sox in New York still pulls up one beloved name first: Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant. The problem is practical, not sentimental. Foley’s announced in 2020 that it would not reopen, so a 2026 watch plan needs to treat it as history and move to active rooms with TVs, late hours, group handling, and easy transit. For a night game with friends, the smartest NYC strategy is to pick by neighborhood first, then call or message the venue before leaving. Ask whether the specific MLB feed will be shown with sound, whether another major event has priority, and whether your group size needs a reservation.
Want a sharper game-night pick for your group size, subway route, and preferred crowd level? Text Karpo before leaving and ask for a Blue Jays-Red Sox watch spot near you.
Start With Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant as a Closed Landmark, Not Tonight’s Plan
Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant matters because it was a real baseball institution at 18 W. 33rd Street, near the Empire State Building. A 2020 FOX 5 NY report said the bar would not reopen after the pandemic shutdown, and later local sports coverage treated the closure as final. That makes Foley’s useful context for the rivalry, but not a working destination for July 27, 2026. Do not build your night around old listings, recycled maps, or nostalgic blog posts that still show it as active.
The practical move is to use Foley’s as the starting point for backup logic. If someone in the group says “meet at Foley’s,” redirect them to the current tenant area on West 33rd Street and confirm the actual venue name, address, and hours. This matters for accessibility, rideshare pins, and late arrivals. Closed-venue confusion is a real failure mode in Midtown, where old sports-bar reputation can outlive the business itself by years.
Use Finnerty’s at 18 W. 33rd Street When the Foley’s Address Is the Anchor
Finnerty’s is the cleanest Foley’s-era pivot because its official site lists 18 W. 33rd Street, the same address baseball fans associate with Foley’s. The venue’s page says baseball season is active, promotes all-season game viewing, lists 24 big-screen TVs, and notes that the kitchen is open all day. For friends who want a baseball-forward room without moving far from Penn Station, Herald Square, or the Empire State Building, this is the first call to make.
The tradeoff is identity. Finnerty’s describes itself as an SF Giants home away from home, so Blue Jays and Red Sox fans should not assume priority sound or the best screen if another fan event is booked. Its contact page lists late hours, but schedules can still shift for private events. Before committing, call the listed phone number or use the site’s group-watch-party path, then verify the game feed and whether walk-ins will have a clear viewing angle.
Choose Playwright Irish Pub on West 35th for Late-Night Midtown Reliability
Playwright Irish Pub’s official hours page lists 27 W. 35th Street and daily hours from 11am to 4am, which makes it a practical Midtown choice when a baseball game runs long or your group is arriving in waves. The location is close to major train access, office hotels, and Times Square overflow, so it works for mixed groups where half the table cares about every pitch and half mainly wants an easy meetup.
The downside is competition for attention. A Midtown Irish pub with broad sports programming may also be juggling soccer, football, basketball, hockey, UFC, or private-event traffic, depending on the night. Ask directly whether the Blue Jays-Red Sox game can be put on a visible screen and whether sound is possible. If anyone needs step-free transit, use the MTA app’s accessibility mode and check elevator status before leaving, not after you reach the platform.
Pick Smithfield Hall When Chelsea Access Matters More Than Team Allegiance
Smithfield Hall’s official site places it at 138 West 25th Street, a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, with sports navigation, menus, and event contact information. It is better known as a soccer-heavy room, but that can still work for baseball if the timing is clean and your party wants Chelsea, NoMad, or Flatiron convenience. This is a strong option when your group is coming from different subway lines and wants a large, central bar.
Because Smithfield’s brand center is not Toronto or Boston baseball, verification is the whole decision. Email or call before leaving and ask whether the MLB game will be available, whether another event has priority, and whether a table can see a screen without standing in an aisle. The failure mode here is arriving during a bigger scheduled match and discovering baseball is technically on, but not functionally watchable for a group.
Book Blue Haven in the West Village for Groups of Five or More
Blue Haven’s official West Village site lists 108 W Houston St. and says it accepts reservations only for groups of five or more by text request. That makes it useful for a friends-first watch night, especially if you are choosing between SoHo, Greenwich Village, and the West Village. The venue describes itself as an upscale NYC sports bar and draught beer pub, so expect a more polished social setting than a tiny baseball-first dive.
The group rule is the key planning detail. If you have four people, treat it as a walk-in risk; if you have five or more, send the reservation text with name, date, time, and headcount. Then add the important question: will Blue Jays-Red Sox be shown where your table can see it? Blue Haven can be a good compromise for mixed-interest friends, but it is less ideal for fans who need guaranteed sound and a single-team crowd.
Try The Standings in the East Village for a Smaller Baseball-Bar Feel
The Standings at 43 E. 7th St. remains one of the more logical East Village names for baseball because reputable NYC sports-bar listings describe it as a compact room where bartenders help customers find specific games. Its size is part of the appeal: fewer distractions, more conversation, and a crowd that tends to understand why an out-of-market divisional game matters. For two to four fans, it can feel more purposeful than a giant TV hall.
Small also means fragile. Seats can disappear quickly, food may require outside planning depending on the night, and one conflicting local game can change the mood. Call before you go, ask whether the exact broadcast is available, and have a nearby backup if nobody answers. For accessibility, verify both the venue entry and the nearest subway route in advance; East Village stations and older bar layouts can be uneven for mobility needs.
Use Blondies on West 79th When the Upper West Side Is Non-Negotiable
Blondies is the Upper West Side fallback when your group wants baseball without crossing town. Long-running reputable listings place it at 212 W. 79th Street and describe it as a sports bar with many TVs, pub food, wings, and a crowd built around watching games together. It is not the most surgical pick for a Blue Jays or Red Sox loyalist, but it solves the neighborhood problem better than dragging everyone downtown.
The planning risk is that older directory listings may not reflect real-time hours, staffing, reservations, or event priorities. Treat Blondies as a conditional yes: call the number on the venue listing, confirm that the game is available, and ask whether a table can be seated before first pitch. Your final verification step is simple: check MLB’s live schedule or team page for any broadcast or timing change, then check MTA service and elevator status before heading out.
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Sources consulted: Source 1: fox5ny.com · Source 2: finnertysnyc.com · Source 3: finnertysnyc.com · Source 4: playwrightirishpubnyc.com · Source 5: westvillage.bluehavennyc.com · Source 6: intercom.help
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