World Cup International! The Top 5 Places To Watch The Football In London

By Max Leonard, le cool London

Word on the street is there’s some sort of major sporting occasion starting imminently. Personally, I try not to form strong emotional attachments to England (I support Spurs, which takes up all the enthusiasm I can muster for habitually disappointing teams wearing white). So I’m going to take advantage of our metropolis – the most cosmopolitan in the world – and watch it with foreign fans instead. Here, in no particular order, are some picks:

1. Hard Rock Café
150 Old Park Lane, W1K 1QZ

My choice for England’s opening match. Like a Continental forward flinging himself to the turf under the faintest of touches, it may look as if I’m cheating, but, I figure that you have to watch England somewhere, and it may as well be in a US stronghold. Go, eat fries and burgers, and talk knowledgeably about ‘soccer’ while the Yanks attempt to win a game – something they failed to do in 2006.

2. Afro Cup Festival at Rich Mix
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA

 Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix showed some pretty lively African Nations Cup games back in January, and hopefully the World Cup will see the same atmosphere. For 25 nights there’ll be bands from London’s African communities, DJs and football on a 10’x15’ screen.

3.  Camino
3 Varnishers Yard, N1 9FD

Spain are a good bet to go all the way, and you won’t be disappointed if you pick this King’s Cross bar for the duration. BBC Radio 5 will be broadcasting live from Camino during Spain games, and £80 buys you a well-placed table, 12 beers and paella for four. There’ll also be a giant screen in the yard.

4. Bincho
16 Old Compton Street

This Japanese restaurant in Soho will be showing Japan’s matches on screens in the bar and, for every goal Japan score, they’ll be giving punters a free glass of warm sake. Back of the net.

5. Bar Italia 
22 Frith Street, W1D 4RP

I thought about a lesser team for the final pick (step forward Slovenia, whose countrymen will be colonising The Colonies pub in St James for three games), but Bar Italia is an institution. It will be absolutely packed with London’s Italian community, and, if Italy make a good showing, emotions will run high as the tournament progresses.

Honourable mention number one goes to Wahaca. The upmarket Mexican will give free food to those wearing the Mexico shirt – and, if you stand on the terrace at their Canary Wharf restaurant, I’m reliably informed that giant public screens will be in full view. So eyes and stomachs both win.

And, finally, honourable mention number two goes to Jetlag. Still relatively new to Fitzrovia, it’s nevertheless already made a big impression. In the downstairs (departure?) lounge, you can relax on chaise longues, watch on an HD projector and choose from a dizzying array of World Cup-themed beer and street food, including Brazilian coxinhas, Greek souvlaki, Japanese Asahi and Kiwi Steinlager Pure. There’s a £25 minimum spend but, with their around-the-world-ticket cocktail package (4 for £25), that shouldn’t be difficult.

Photo credits: Courtesy of Bar Italia and Jetlag