Leisure

Super, Man

Your Alternative Super Bowl Venues

We don’t have anything against cheap beer and signed jerseys on the walls, but we think something a bit more unexpected might be in order for Super Bowl XLV. Like these six spots, which aren’t at all synonymous with football.

THE HOTEL LOBBY

The Ritz-Carlton Downtown

Where You’ll Watch: The Lobby Bar, bedecked with crown molding, dark wood and a few extra 60-inch TVs.
What You’ll Have: Quesadillas, wings and a bucket of either Iron City (if you’re pulling for Pittsburgh) or Lakefront (if you’re a Cheesehead).
Extra Point: In honor of the host city, they’re also pouring the signature margarita from the Ritz Dallas.

THE CIGAR PARLOR

Shelly’s Back Room

Where You’ll Watch: In Shelly’s new side room, opened this fall with a whole wall of humidors and even more HDTVs.
What You’ll Have: Roasted wings by the pound, bacon-wrapped shrimp and flights of Grand Marnier.
Extra Point: It’s one of the few places in the city where you can smoke legally, so you’ll have your choice of scores of victory cigars, once your prop bet on the coin toss comes through.

THE BIG SCREEN

Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse

Where You’ll Watch: Anywhere you’d like (if you get there early enough) to get a view of the massive movie screen in the art deco theater.
What You’ll Have: Cheese fries, New York strip and, yes, popcorn, to go with a dozen draft beers.
Extra Point: On the silver screen, you can be sure Troy Polamalu’s hair is 30 feet in diameter.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Café Saint-Ex

Where You’ll Watch: From your usual subterranean perch for DJ music, along the wall in the basement.
What You’ll Have: Elevated pub food like chicken confit tater tots and prosciutto potato skins. Also: Leinenkugel.
Extra Point: When the fat lady finally sings, stick around for cocktails like the Aztec Manhattan (bourbon, vermouth and chocolate bitters).

THE NIGHTCLUB

L2 Lounge

Where You’ll Watch: At one of the benches that you normally don’t grace until 1am.
What You’ll Have: Lamb nachos, bratwurst, mussels, gin cocktails bedecked with elderflower petals (okay, so maybe that’s for your date).
Extra Point: On Sunday, they’re importing multiple projection TVs with surround.

THE GENTLEMEN’S CLUB

Stadium Club

Where You’ll Watch: At the bar, where you can have one eye on Flozell Adams and the other eye on... someone more attractive.
What You’ll Have: Half-price beers during the game, and a gratis buffet from 5 to 8pm.
Extra Point: More skin than the cheerleaders will be showing.