Ginger's Ale House presents itself as English and Irish, but the second you walk in it becomes clear that the greener of the isles is favored. Irish flags, Irish beer, Irish bartenders—it's an Irish pub. It's also one of the best places in the country to watch a soccer match (voted #1 by USsoccer.com).

The decor—bricks, beer ads, soccer jerseys and almost no light—is exactly what you think of when you imagine a pub. Not a bar, not a club, but a pub. There's a pool table, there are dartboards, there are plenty of televisions showing sports, and there are the requisite old men sitting at the bar, staring into their beers. It's almost eerie how quintessential it is.

During soccer season, the place goes nuts. A pull-down projector screen sits in the corner (another is in the party room), waiting for the World Cup games to begin so people can come from everywhere to watch, drink and scream.

Like any good pub, Ginger's has a sizeable food menu, making it completely unnecessary to ever leave. The food ranges from standard bar fare—burgers and Buffalo wings—to more traditional Anglo-dishes like lamb stew and bangers and mash. It's perfect to soak up all that beer; there are dozens to choose from, with all of the English and Irish favorites you'd expect (Guinness, Boddingtons, Bass, Smithwick's, etc.). Ginger's is the type of place to sit and drink for a few hours, at least. No one is in a hurry, but the energy stays up somehow; one gets the feeling that a soccer riot could break out at any time. But it probably won't.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Mac McCormick