CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals' first rumble in the jungle this season will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, when the team takes on the Chicago Bears at Paul Brown Stadium in preseason play.
Although going to PBS to watch the game may be the best choice for Bengals fans, there are plenty of other places to cheer on the team.
Downtown
Kitty's Sports Grill: This Downtown staple puts Bengals fans close to the action inside Paul Brown Stadium. Located on West Third Street, the bar boasts a huge projection-screen television, multiple flat-panel TVs and a subscription for NFL Sunday Ticket. Kitty's serves tasty smoked wings, along with a solid menu of standard pub food. And yes, the bar sells cold beers by the bucket. 218 W. Third St., Downtown. www.kittyssportsgrill.net
Moerlein Lager House: Moerlein Lager House has plenty of TVs to watch the Bengals play and spectacular views of the Ohio River and Smale Riverfront Park. The Lager House also offers a great selection of Moerlein craft beers and delicious food. 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. www.moerleinlagerhouse.com
Yard House: Beer and the Bengals are always on the menu at the Yard House during football season. The restaurant boasts an impressive list of beers and serves great food from its from-scratch kitchen. 95 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. www.yardhouse.com
Holy Grail Banks: Since opening at the Banks in 2011, Holy Grail has become the place for Bengals and Reds fans to gather, eat and drink before, during and after games. The sports bar features 31 high-definition TVs, an outdoor patio with a bar and a full food menu. Holy Grail's light, airy space offers a festive atmosphere for sports fans. 161 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. www.holygrailcincy.com
Knockback Nats: Knockback Nats is a bare-bones Downtown bar that has worked its way into the hearts of thousands of sports fans over the years. Knockback serves arguably the best dry-rub wings in the Queen City and they pair perfectly with watching the Bengals play on multiple TVs around the bar. Two tips for first-time visitors: There is no wait staff at Knockback -- you must place your food and drink orders at the bar. And if you order wings, get sauces on the side for dipping. 10 W. Seventh St., Downtown. www.facebook.com/Knockback-Nats
O'Malley's in the Alley: Cincinnati's second-oldest bar in continuous operation is also one of the Queen City's best places to watch the Bengals. O'Malley's has about 20 televisions, great food and a solid beer selection. It's also connected to the Blind Pig, with an outdoor patio that overlooks Third Street. 25 Ogden Place, Downtown. omalleyscincy.com
Over-the-Rhine
Rhinehaus OTR: Rhinehaus definitely wears the crown for the best sports bar in Over-the-Rhine -- it's arguably the only sports bar in the neighborhood since Lachey's closed. Bengals fans will have no problem watching games while enjoying the bar's great service and a solid selection of beers and other drinks. 119 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. www.rhinehausbar.com
O'Bryonville
O'Bryon's Irish Pub: The pub is a regular watch spot for Bengals games for anyone in the O'Bryonville area. O'Bryon's has multiple TVs, a great beer selection and a second-story outdoor patio. The Buffalo wings served at O'Bryon's are great, too. (Bonus: O'Bryon's opened a second location in Newport earlier this year, if you would rather be closer to the action Downtown.) 1998 Madison Road, O'Bryonville. obryonsirishpub.com
Mount Adams
Crowley's Irish Pub: Crowley's has been in business longer than the Bengals have been a football team. There may not be as many TVs in Crowley's compared to other Cincinnati bars, but the atmosphere and group of longtime pub regulars makes up for it. 958 Pavilion St., Mount Adams. www.facebook.com/Crowleys-Irish-Pub
Mount Lookout
Mount Lookout Tavern: Repeat after me: Mount Lookout Tavern is a legendary neighborhood sports bar and a perfect place for Bengals fans. The tavern (lovingly referred to as MLT by regulars) has been slinging beers to rowdy sports fans for decades. Last year, MLT's owners updated the bar's interior and added a few more TVs -- the tavern serves some mighty fine wings, too. 3209 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout. mtlookouttavern.com
CUF
Clifton Heights Tavern: Clifton Heights Tavern is another of those familiar neighborhood mainstays for college students and Bengals fans. The tavern has plenty of TVs for game watching, plus a pool table and jukebox. Fans have been known to dance around the bar when the Bengals play well. 239 W. McMillan St., CUF. www.facebook.com/CliftonHeightsTavern
Greater Cincinnati
Blue Goose Sports Cafe: Live outside of Cincinnati and want to watch the game someplace closer to home? The Blue Goose in Sharonville has plenty of TVs and bar space to watch the Bengals while enjoying a cold beverage or two. The cafe is also family friendly and serves some tasty food. 11060 Reading Road, Sharonville. www.bluegoosesportscafe.com
Rick's Tavern & Grille: For more than 16 years, Rick's has served food and drinks that pair perfectly with watching a Bengals game. Multiple TVs line the spacious bar for fans to stand in front of as they cheer, boo and pray the team along. 5955 Boymel Drive, Fairfield. www.rickstavern.com
Champions Grille: The eatery's tagline says it all – "Get in the game." Champions boasts about 20 TVs, build-your-own burgers and multiple beers on tap, making it an ideal spot to show your stripes. 3640 Werk Road, Green Township. www.championsgrille.com
Across the river
Smoke Justis: Smoke Justis is a recent addition to the list of places to watch the Bengals play. The Covington bar and restaurant opened in late 2016 with a healthy menu of smoked meats, craft beers, specialty whiskeys and multiple flat-panel televisions. And if the game gets a little too intense, fans can always bench themselves in Smoke Justis' video arcade in its basement. 302 Court St., Covington. smokejustis.com
Dickmann's Sports Cafe: Dickmann's is the OG of sports bars in Northern Kentucky. The original bar opened sometime in the early 1970s and relocated down the road a couple decades later. The bar offers a wide open space, plenty of indoor seating, multiple TVs and some of the best Buffalo wings in the region. 479 Orphanage Road, Fort Wright. Ages 21 and over. www.dickmannscafe.com
Longnecks Sports Grill: With three Northern Kentucky locations, Longnecks is obviously doing something right. Perhaps it is the grill's orange color scheme or the number of televisions lining the walls of each location. Each Longnecks features a reliable menu of pub food and lineup of beers on tap and in cans. 1009 Town Drive, Wilder; 12919 Frogtown Connector Road, Walton; and 2141 Bend Road, Hebron. www.longneckssportsgrill.com
