I've got a few people coming from work around Union Square/Flatiron and we're trying to find a spot that won't screw up the Apple TV+ stream. I know a few sports bars advertise "all the games" but the last two Apple TV+ games I tried to watch out were a mess: one place had the app but the bartender couldn't log in, another had it on mute because the early college football crowd wanted audio, and a third was running a pirated feed that looked like a 2010 webcam. Not cutting it for a Sox series.

Anybody have a spot around Union Square, Flatiron, or the northern East Village where they've actually watched an Apple TV+ MLB game this year with sound and minimal buffering? We're not looking for a full dinner, just a couple of hours of drinks and maybe an app or two. Walkable from Union Square after 6 is ideal.

Would also appreciate knowing if they take reservations or if it's first-come, because there will be maybe five of us. We tried the place on Broadway near 17th last year, but the side room was booked for a private party. I'll report back if we find somewhere solid.

Lina, the Apple TV games are such a crapshoot. I watched one in the West Village in April and the stream had the little "are you still watching?" pop-up in the seventh inning because the bar was using someone's personal account. Bartender had to call the owner to get a code. By the time it came back, the Yanks had blown it open and I missed a grand slam. Never again. My move for Friday Night Baseball now is just watch at home with the radio call, but if I had a group I'd maybe call the place first and ask if they have a dedicated Apple TV box or a business login. Cheap Chinese place on the same block had better wifi than the bar.

WestVillage_W is right about the personal account issue. The real variable isn't just whether the bar has Apple TV—it's whether they're running a hardwired Roku/Apple TV and whether the bartender has access to an account that isn't tied to someone's family plan. A few places I've had success with for streaming-only games around that area: there's a taproom on 3rd between 17th and 18th that runs all the baseball packages off a dedicated box over Ethernet. They don't do real food, but they've always had the sound on for Yankee games, even against a random West Coast trip. The problem is it gets packed by 6:30. Another spot on 22nd off Park has a back room with one TV, but you can sometimes ask them to put the game there if it's the Friday night featured match. The front room will still have college football on, so you have to specifically request the back TV.

One thing to avoid: places that advertise "every game" on a chalkboard outside. Those tend to have a bootleg stick and a guy who'll shrug when the stream is two minutes behind your phone. If I'm meeting four or five people, I'll walk in and ask the bartender to show me the Apple TV home screen before I order. Sounds obnoxious but it saves an hour of staring at a frozen logo.

I'm in Murray Hill but would go down to Union Square if there's a group. The place I've used for the Friday Apple TV games is on 28th and 3rd, closer to me than you, but they've been fine. They have a few screens and they'll put the sound on in the front if the Yanks are on Apple TV and there's no Knicks/Rangers. It's not a sports shrine or anything, just a standard Irish-ish bar. Usually not slammed before first pitch, but by 8 it fills with a younger crowd. They do have food; wings are passable. If you want to stay by Union Square, I'd skip the big place on 14th with the rooftop—they don't even have Apple TV. Could maybe call the taproom astoria_arch mentioned; that sounds like the one with the weird neon sign.

Thanks astoria_arch and MurrayHill_M. That's helpful. I'd forgotten the "show me the Apple TV home screen" move—probably worth doing even though it feels like you're interrogating a bartender. We're aiming to be there by 6:15, but if the taproom on 3rd gets packed by 6:30, maybe the 28th Street option is safer for five people. The group text is split: two want to stay near Union Square, one is coming from Grand Central and doesn't want to walk far, and one only cares that they can hear the game. I might call both places today. If the sound is on in the front, we're set. Has anyone been to the taproom recently? Wondering if they still do the little metal stools or if it's standing only after a certain point.

Honestly, the "show me the Apple TV home screen" thing is not obnoxious if you're nice about it. I've done it once and the bartender laughed and said "smart." The places that get weird about it are the ones with the bootleg feed. Also if you're meeting at 6:15, maybe one person should go early and grab the table. If I wasn't on the opposite side of the island I'd join, but Friday night from WV to Union Square after work is not happening unless I leave early. Keep us posted on where you end up.

landmark_lina—I was at the taproom maybe three weeks ago for a midweek game. They still have the metal stools, but after around 7 it's mostly standing because people pile in for the late game. For a 6:40 first pitch, if you get there 6 and grab one of the long tables against the wall, you'll be fine. One caveat: their kitchen is not really a kitchen. It's chips and maybe a pretzel, so don't expect real food. Eat before or plan to go somewhere after. The place on 28th has actual food, but I found the audio a little muddled with the front windows open.

To the earlier home watching point: I get the appeal, but if the group goal is to have somewhere to watch together and not make someone host, a bar with a dedicated box is the move. Also, Friday night games on Apple TV don't always show the local pregame, so don't expect the YES booth. The sound might be the Apple TV broadcast team, not Michael Kay. Just a heads up since a couple people in my orbit got upset about it.

Good call on the Michael Kay thing. I almost forgot Apple TV uses their own crew. My buddy refused to watch one because it wasn't YES and went home to listen to the radio. If someone in the group is picky about announcers, have them bring earbuds and pull up WFAN? Does the radio sync actually line up? Usually not. Maybe don't mention it and let them notice in the second inning. I'd still do the 28th spot because of food and the 6 train straight down. If you all want the taproom, I could be convinced but I'm not standing for nine innings.

Update: we're going to try the taproom on 3rd but with a backup plan. Called this afternoon and the guy said they can put the game on the big TV near the back with sound "unless there's a crowd for the college game." That's not exactly reassuring, but we'll get there at 6 and see. If it's packed or freezing up, we'll walk over to the 28th Street spot. I'll report back after first pitch. Appreciate the advice—this is exactly the kind of thing you can't tell from Google Maps. Also echoing astoria_arch: eat a slice beforehand because the taproom's "food menu" is basically warm pretzels and a bag of chips.