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Big screens, cold drinks, coastal food, and plenty of match-day energy!
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in full swing, bringing more than a month of football to stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and giving fans here on 30A plenty of reasons to gather around a screen. Group-stage play continues through June 27, followed by the Round of 32 beginning June 28. The quarterfinals run July 9 through 11, the semifinals take place July 14 and 15, and the World Cup Final is set for July 19. Check the official FIFA match schedule for the latest fixtures, results, and kickoff times as you plan your next watch party.
Luckily, there is no shortage of local places to catch the action, complete with big screens, cold drinks, coastal favorites, and plenty of fellow fans. Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar, Shades Bar & Grill, and The Big Chill earned the top three places in the Hottest Spot to Watch the Big Game category of the 2026 30A Hot Spot Awards, so they are a natural place to begin. From there, we have rounded up several more popular bars and restaurants where you can settle in for a match this season.
Editor’s Note: Beach Happy Cafe + Cocktails in Seagrove is serving up a little extra summer cheer throughout July, with $5 premium well drinks, mimosas, and Bloody Marys every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Happy Hour may continue into August 2026, so stop by at 5311 E. County Highway 30A and stay tuned.
Coverage, sound, and screen assignments can sometimes change when multiple games or other events overlap, so it’s always worth checking the venue’s current event calendar or social pages before heading out.
Voted 30A’s 2026 Hottest Spot to Watch the Big Game, Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar is the perfect place to kick off the list. The Gulf Place favorite has screens throughout the restaurant, a dedicated Gulley Bar, and the kind of lively crowd that makes every late goal feel even bigger. Add open-air seating and Gulf views, and game day still feels unmistakably 30A.
Oysters are the natural match-day order, served naked or grilled with toppings such as Meyer lemon garlic, cheddar jalapeño, or bourbon chipotle butter. Smoked yellowfin tuna dip and Duck Fat Gulley Fries are easy to share with the table, while the Shunk Burger and Gulf seafood baskets offer something heartier. Regular live music often keeps the fun going after the final whistle. Shunk Gulley has a well-established sports-viewing setup. We didn’t see a full tournament schedule when we checked, so please confirm your chosen match and sound availability before you visit.
With 28 TVs and 34 beers on tap, Shades Bar & Grill makes it easy to keep up with the action from almost anywhere in the restaurant. The spacious, family-friendly Inlet Beach favorite took second place in the 2026 Hot Spot voting and is open daily from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m., making it a handy choice for afternoon fixtures as well as games that run later into the evening.
The menu has all the game-day classics covered, including hot wings, chicken nachos, smoked tuna dip, chicken tenders, flatbreads, cheesesteaks, and Angus cheeseburgers. Weekday happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m., with $3 Outlaw Lager, $1 off appetizers, and selected cocktails, spirits, and wines starting at $7. With so many screens, late hours, and plenty of crowd-pleasing food, Shades is an easy place to settle in when several games are happening at once.
For a World Cup experience that feels a little more like an outdoor fan zone, The Big Chill is hard to beat. The third-place Hot Spot winner is showing tournament matches on its 25-foot Jumbotron, with plenty of open-air seating and room for families, friends, and larger groups. When scheduled evening entertainment begins on the main stage, remaining match coverage moves to the TVs beneath the covered Pavilion. The venue’s calendar currently includes recurring World Cup screenings through at least July 7, with hours varying by date.
The food-hall setup is especially helpful when everyone in the group is craving something different. Current choices include tacos, burritos, and quesadillas from Mile Marker 15, all-American favorites from Duos, pizza and other casual options, plus coffee, smoothies, drinks, and frozen treats. Grab a table, let the kids move around, and settle in beneath the big screen. Be sure to check The Big Chill’s live event calendar before visiting, since Jumbotron hours may shift around movies, concerts, and other nightly programming.
One of the newest additions to the local dining scene, Scout Sports Tavern brings a more polished feel to the neighborhood sports-bar experience. The space takes inspiration from a classic sporting club, with vintage memorabilia and separate areas for the bar and lounge, dining room, game room, and courtyard. It also earned the 2026 30A Hot Spot Award for Best New Restaurant.
Scout is actively promoting 2026 World Cup watch parties, along with house-made specialty cocktails and tastings featuring tournament-sponsored spirits. The menu goes beyond standard bar fare, with shareable starters, handcrafted burgers, prime steaks, local seafood, and modern tavern dishes. Daily happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Scout has not publicly listed an exact television count, but its dedicated World Cup programming, stylish setting, and elevated menu make it one of the most exciting new places to watch.
Cajun Corner Sports Bar & Grill is promoting itself as a headquarters for World Cup viewing, with current social updates listing daily fixtures and noting that outdoor viewing is available with sound. That makes it a strong choice for fans following teams and matches beyond the biggest headline games.
The Santa Rosa Beach restaurant brings plenty of Louisiana flavor to game day. Menu highlights include Cajun nachos, gumbo, crawfish étouffée, fried shrimp and catfish, hearty sandwiches, and a Bayou Plate loaded with Southern favorites. The setting is easygoing and welcoming, with the focus on good food, cold drinks, conversation, and the game. Check its social feed for the day’s match list and the latest details on outdoor sound.
Red Fish Taco has made its World Cup plans especially clear, calling itself a watch-party headquarters and announcing plans to stream all World Cup games throughout the tournament. That makes the Blue Mountain Beach restaurant a particularly good choice when you have a specific fixture in mind.
The atmosphere is casual, colorful, and full of beach-town energy, with a menu built around local fish and shrimp, slow-cooked chicken and pork carnitas, smoked brisket, sizzling fajitas, quesadillas, bowls, and plenty of tacos. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 5 p.m., with $2 off draft beer, $5 off frozen drinks, $7 house margaritas, and half-price chips and dips. For fans who would rather pair the match with redfish tacos, queso, and a frozen margarita than the usual wings and burgers, this is a fun place to gather.
Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill has 21 TVs inside and outside, giving fans plenty of viewing angles throughout the laid-back Grayton Beach restaurant. It has long been a popular spot for professional and college football, with screens extending beyond the main dining room into the outdoor areas and even the waiting space.
The menu blends flavors from the Gulf Coast, Caribbean, New Orleans, and the Low Country. Oysters are the signature, but smoked wings, Hurricane nachos, gumbo, tacos, sandwiches, and seafood are all well-suited to a long afternoon of football. Daily happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m., with $2 drafts, $5 Hurricane or house margaritas, $8 house wines, and additional specials. A full World Cup schedule was not posted when we checked, so call ahead for the fixture you are hoping to watch.
Proper Restaurant & Bar offers a more restaurant-forward option for fans who want good food and drinks alongside the match. Formerly known as Idyll Hound Proper, the venue highlights an energetic community atmosphere, daily happy hour, and evenings that can easily continue beyond dinner.
Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 p.m., with selected draft beers, wine, specialty cocktails, and food choices including the Proper Burger and a poke bowl. Weekend brunch and late-night entertainment give the venue a broader social feel than a traditional sports bar. Since an official World Cup schedule and television count were not publicly listed, it is best to call ahead before choosing Proper for a must-see match.
Outcast Bar & Grill offers one of the most traditional sports-bar setups on the list, with more than 20 TVs, cold beer, and a menu full of wings, burgers, seafood, salads, and shareable appetizers. Its signature wings and tenders are made with fresh, never-frozen chicken that is brined overnight, while the sauces and dressings are prepared in-house.
Outcast also keeps some of the latest hours in the group, staying open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. That makes it a convenient place to keep the evening going after a match or catch another game once the World Cup action wraps up. We didn’t see a dedicated tournament schedule when we checked. Please confirm individual matches and sound availability directly with the restaurant.
Whether your ideal watch party involves a giant Jumbotron, a bar lined with screens, tacos and margaritas, Cajun comfort food, or Gulf oysters with a view, there is a 30A spot ready to welcome you. Pick your match, round up your crew, and arrive early for the biggest games, especially once the tournament reaches the knockout rounds.
Hey30A AI
