Nightlife

Hoop Dreams

Five Spots for Taking In the Tournament

March Madness is coming. And sure, you could pretend to work while watching from your desk, but you could also take in the games at a private theater. Or a bar that’s serving buckets of chocolate bacon. Decisions, decisions. Anyway, here’re the five best Big Dance–viewing spots.

FOR WATCHING THE LATE GAMES

Table #300, Will Call Miami

The Scene: A rugged Downtown music hall turned rowdy tournament-watching spot.
The Setup: A velvet banquette, buckets of chocolate-covered bacon and a clear view of almost every flat-screen in the joint.
The One Shining Moment: They’re open 24 hours a day. Helpful if any games go into octuple overtime.

FOR THE THIRSTY

The Bar Seats, World of Beer

The Scene: A lofty tavern with 50 taps and 500 varieties of rare beer.
The Setup: The bar seats put you right in front of the HDTVs. And within arm’s length of the beer coolers.
The One Shining Moment: It’s BYO bar snacks here. Yes, pizza counts as a bar snack.

FOR LAID-BACK MADNESS

Tables #10 and #14, American Social

The Scene: Co-eds, pour-your-own-beer stations and an abundance of vintage Americana.
The Setup: The corner booth has a four-tap lazy Susan built into it. How convenient.
The One Shining Moment: There’s a s’mores Belgian waffle topped with fried chicken here. Do with that information what you will.

FOR KEEPING YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL

Table #16, Haven

The Scene: Swanky SoBe lounge stocked with LCD walls and women wearing stilettos.
The Setup: A back-corner table completely surrounded by wraparound screens. It’s like being in the CBS Sports studio. Only with bottle service.
The One Shining Moment: That would be their liquid-nitrogen cocktails. You’ve outdone yourself, science.

FOR BIG DANCE–ING IN PRIVATE

Any Seat, Delano Media Room

The Scene: A plush private theater for you, 20 friends and their brackets.
The Setup: Three rows of gray leather couches, a couple of chandeliers... oh, and a crystal-clear 85-inch TV.
The One Shining Moment: Theater refreshments come courtesy of the hotel’s chef. Apparently, he makes a mean truffle-butter popcorn.