Cleveland has long known what the rest of the country just figured out — the Winking Lizard is in a league of its own.
The Winking Lizard Tavern, the beloved Northeast Ohio chain, has been crowned the Best Sports Bar in America by USA Today’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s the kind of recognition that’ll have locals nodding their heads and saying “yeah, obviously.”
After tallying results from its 10Best Readers’ Choice poll, USA Today christened Winking Lizard as the top sports bar in the nation, beating out seemingly more well-known brands like Cosm, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s.
So what makes the Lizard so special? Anyone who’s ever pulled up a barstool there already knows the answer. Since its founding in 1983, the Winking Lizard has grown to over a dozen locations across Northeast Ohio, including spots in Cleveland, Lakewood, and Canton. The menu — loaded with wings, burgers, ribs, and pizza — is backed by more than 100 beers and an extensive whiskey selection.
USA Today highlighted the bar’s wall-to-wall televisions and sports-centric atmosphere, calling it a “home-away-from-home” for sports fans. For Clevelanders who’ve spent a game day there cheering on the Guardians, Browns, or Cavs, that description hits exactly right.
The award was determined by reader votes following nominations from an expert panel — meaning real people went out of their way to put the Winking Lizard on top. That’s not an algorithm. That’s loyalty.
For a locally owned chain competing against massive national brands, this is a big deal. It’s a reminder that Cleveland’s food and bar scene punches well above its weight — and that sometimes, the best things in America are hiding in plain sight right here in Northeast Ohio.
Next time you’re debating where to catch the game, the answer just got a little easier.