Draft beers, wall of TVs, and wings inside Terminal 1
Watch! Sports Lounge & Grill sits past security in ABQ’s Terminal 1, right along the main concourse near several Southwest and American gates. It runs as a full sit-down sports bar with a grill menu and a long bar rail, rated about 3.6 stars online and priced in the mid-$$ range. If there’s a Sunday NFL slate or an NBA playoff game, this is where the jerseys and cheers collect.
Screens are everywhere here – reviewers talk about “lots of TVs” and a “sports-bar vibe,” so you can follow ESPN or a specific game without squinting from a corner. The menu leans heavy: burgers, wings, and nachos show up in most Google reviews, with wings called “okay but nothing special” by one regular. Expect standard airport markup: think mid-teens for burgers and similar prices for wing baskets.
Beer is the better play. One reviewer calls out a “decent beer selection,” and the bar usually has several taps plus bottles and basic cocktails. Locals mention grabbing one or two drinks and skipping the heavier food, using the bar as a viewing spot before an evening departure after 6 p.m. If you’re only slightly hungry, nachos or a shared appetizer plate often beats committing to a full entrée.
Service is the weak point. Multiple reviews complain about very slow turnarounds during big games; one traveler reports waiting 30 minutes just to get the check and nearly missing boarding. Others talk about trouble flagging servers, especially at tables. Regulars on Google say they sit at the bar instead of at a four-top to get quicker refills, faster checks, and an unobstructed line of sight to the TVs.
Tip: If your connection is under 60 minutes, grab a bar stool, order everything in the first five minutes, and ask for the check as soon as your main hits the table.