The third-largest city in Ontario, Mississauga, sits on the western side of Toronto. Mississauga sports bars are for you if you’re looking for a place to relax and watch a game.
Mississauga has all the usual entertainment venues you would expect from a bustling modern city, with a host of eateries, wine bars, and high-end restaurants to visit for that special occasion. But sometimes you want an excellent old unpretentious night out with friends or family and a chance to let your hair down – and that is where sports bars enter the frame. Need a chicken wing hit or a draft beer selection to boggle your mind? Hitting the town with the guys after work and want to watch the live game or fight? Mississauga has all the sports bars you will ever want, so here are our fave Mississauga sports bars to kick back and relax…
Table of Contents
- Wingporium
- Cities Sports Bar & Grill
- The Crown and Lion
- Cooper’s Pub
- Big Slick Bar & Billiards
- Fred’s Bar & Grill
Wingporium
170 Lakeshore Rd. East, Mississauga (905) 990-4300
Just a few hundred metres from Tall Oaks Park and the shore of Lake Ontario’s Port Credit, Wingporium takes a simple concept – bar food, dominated by chicken wings, and lots of them – and does it exceedingly well.
So popular it now has multiple restaurants across the region; the eatery first opened its doors in 2005 but has quickly expanded, its rapid success underlining just how good it is. Family-owned and with a welcoming, casual vibe across its six locations, Wingporium offers a comprehensive selection of dishes that include appetizers such as jalapeño poppers and beer-battered shrimp, ‘pub grub’ such as pulled jerk chicken sandwiches or fish and chips, as well as wedges, salads and a host of beverage choices.
Wings are the main draw here: the flavour, heat and combo choices are unique, from 10 lb platters to plates of plump, juicy chicken smothered in Black Mamba sauce so hot it comes with a health warning. Throw in daily specials, takeout and pick-up options, an outdoor patio and enough live sports to keep the most demanding fan happy, and Wingporium is pretty hard to beat.
Cities Sports Bar & Grill
5835 Dixie Rd, Mississauga (905) 795-7775
Unassuming yet enjoyably lively, Cities Sports Bar & Grill is located on Dixie Road just off the 401 Express and describes itself as ‘Your Home Away from Home. While not the largest bar in Mississauga, it makes up for its lack of size with its big heart: there are fun times to be had here, with a thoroughly hospitable atmosphere, great staff and half a dozen televisions – along with a giant projector screen – to catch up on the latest sporting action.
The boisterous atmosphere is further enlivened by a great selection of draught and bottled beers, enjoyable – and pretty significant – bar meals such as burgers, nachos or wings, and occasional live music. Shed your pretensions at the door with Cities Sports Bar & Grill, and enjoy a relaxed, casual night out with family or friends.
The Crown and Lion
7985 Financial Dr, Brampton (905) 453-1000
A short drive north of Mississauga, The Crown and Lion English Pub in Brampton doesn’t particularly resemble a traditional UK watering hole from the outside – its façade is more shopping plaza chic than the grand Victorian tower – but it more than makes up for it with its interior: with plenty of rich mahogany panelling, lush red carpets and lots of comfortable seating cross the tables, bar stools and banquettes that surround the lengthy bar, what you have is the ambience of a proper Brit’ boozer’ right in the middle of Mississauga.
For beer enthusiasts, The Crown and Lion offer an impressive amount of bitters, ales and lagers imported from ‘The Motherland’, most of which are on tap. Its menu is positively enormous, running the gamut from soups and salads to starters and sharing plates, daily specials (for example, Monday is ‘Wing Day’, while Saturday is for fajitas), along with a choice of burgers, grill items and hearty comfort food including steak and Guinness pie, liver and onions or the house curry.
Cooper’s Pub
780 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Mississauga (905) 275-3245
Running the Crown and Lion, a close race for the best classic wood-accented pub interior in Mississauga, is Cooper’s Pub, found right in the heart of the city on Burnhamthorpe Road West.
With décor that screams ‘traditional Irish’ – think emerald carpeting, raised drinking and dining areas, glass and brass room dividers and an abundance of leather Chesterfield sofa-style cubicles – Cooper’s demands sinking plenty of the black stuff. At the same time, you enjoy the buzzing atmosphere and watch a choice of sports on fifteen televisions dotted around the walls and above the redbrick fireplace.
Cooper’s prides itself on being your ‘neighbourhood pub’ providing great food, service and atmosphere. The menu is something to behold: packed with crowd-pleasers such as steak & kidney pie, bangers’ n mash and shepherd’s pie, along with handcrafted burgers, grill choices, a raft of appetizers and salads, soups, poutines, spuds and sandwiches.
Big Slick Bar & Billiards
1965 Britannia Rd W, Mississauga (905) 858-7768
When watching sports is not enough, Big Slick Bar & Billiards allows you to get involved in a little healthy competition while you sink a few drinks with friends.
Situated on a somewhat tired-looking strip mall at Streetsville Junction, Big Slick’s interior is in sharp contrast to its drab exterior and surroundings: it’s a surprisingly roomy place, packed with billiard tables, bright décor and offering a laid-back yet buzzing atmosphere where games are constantly ongoing and the staff are happily serving cold draft beers to patrons from midday to the early hours of the morning.
Very popular during peak times – you may have to wait a short time for a pool table, for example – Big Slick’s is great for just hanging out with friends while you listen to music (there’s often a live DJ set from Thursday to the weekend) and chow down on chicken wings while you wait to take your next shot.
Fred’s Bar & Grill
636 Bloor St, Mississauga (905) 279-0097
Located on a busy little shopping plaza off Bloor Street, Fred’s Bar & Grill is a family-owned and run establishment that has been serving customers since 1990.
Original owner Fred Fazzolari’s mission, was to provide a friendly neighbourhood bar ‘where customers could unite to enjoy his three passions – food, drink and sports. Given its longevity, it’s safe to say Fred’s Bar & Grill has succeeded magnificently: the place continues to go from strength to strength, providing a modern, cosy and festive space where patrons can enjoy each other’s company, along with the excellent drinks and pub grub on offer.
The menu is extensive, with favourites including fish & chips, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and seafood linguine, and a whole host of pizza choices, pasta dishes, salads, appetizers, burgers, fingers and bites.
Every major sporting event is covered on the selection of televisions, while if you want to eat, drink and chat with friends in relative peace, there’s a fab outside patio area where you can kick back and watch the world drift by.
So next time you’re looking for a night out, try some of the Mississauga sports bars just a bit past Toronto.
