It started with around six die-hard fans and a couple of TVs. Back in 1994, when the World Cup was being held in the US for the first time, it was tough to find bars that showed live soccer—it just wasn’t that popular a spectator sport in the States. But starting small, a French bar in Soho soon emerged as Lower Manhattan’s soccer HQ. By the time Brazil won the tournament, Félix was hosting crowds of hundreds that spilled out across West Broadway and holding multiple jerry-rigged TV screens that seemed to sprout from the walls.
The French soccer team opens its latest World Cup campaign on June 16 at NYNJ (MetLife) Stadium, just across the Hudson River from the City. One place in NYC where people are sure to cheer on “Les Bleus,” the nickname for the national squad, remains Félix. The bar-restaurant has been a favorite with French soccer fans since those early days, but over time it has also developed a following with other supporters’ groups—American, Brazilian, Dutch, English and Mexican, to name a few. The convenient location, full-screen coverage and bistro-style ambience all help. That easygoing, Mediterranean atmosphere is encouraged by jovial owner Alain Denneulin, who says his mantra is “Every day we have fun is a good day.”
Some background
Alain and his wife, Angela, who hails from Rio de Janeiro, came to New York in 1982 on their honeymoon. They loved it so much they never left. Alain grew up in the small seaside town of Juan-Les-Pins, close to Antibes, in the south of France. Trained as a musician, he fell into the New York hospitality business by accident, working in restaurants for 10 years—including a stint at the famous Midtown venue Mr. Chow—before opening Félix in 1992. Previously, the place had been an Indonesian restaurant called Tamu; Alain had to strip the interior completely to reimagine it as a typical French bistro. In addition to adding the red leather banquettes, wood tables, full-length windows and terrazzo floor tiles, he shipped in a grand 1920s wood and mirror-lined bar from northern France. As for the name, Félix is a common one for bars and restaurants in France (see, for example, the iconic Félix brasserie in Nice); as Alain says, “It’s easy to remember.”
Though known for good French food and wine (and late nights Thursday to Saturday), Felix made live soccer part of its brand since the beginning. Alain says, “Back then hardly any bars were showing live games.” The bar also featured in an iconic scene from the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy (1999). When Sandler’s character and his adopted kid are denied the use of the bathrooms, they pee on the columns outside—even now, fans take pics pretending to re-create the scene.
For Alain, the biggest challenge in the early years was the long working hours. These days he has time to socialize, see his friends and chat with regulars at the bar—he’s frequently around, bringing a personal touch and making sure his staff are happy. Bartender Sarah Cindy is from Paris and has been in New York City for six years (and working at Félix for just under two). Like most who work there, she’s a native speaker, happily talking to customers in French or English; many on the current staff come from France, including chef Lucien Coignard, a more recent arrival who learned his trade in Europe before gaining experience in local kitchens.
What it’s like inside
Sipping a glass of Provence rosé on a warm day at Félix as a cool breeze flows through the open doors, it’s easy to feel you’ve drifted into a bar in Marseille. The space is laid out as a classic bistro, with circular tables, long windows that open out onto the sidewalk and mirrors daubed with the specials of the day. Vintage French posters and paintings line the walls. When it’s warm there are also tables outside, an ideal perch for people watching in fashion-forward Soho. The space is anchored by that antique wooden bar, its giant mirrors lined with shelves crammed with spirits and wine, and a huge steel ice bucket on top, packed with white, rosé and champagne bottles. On a normal day there are couple of TV screens around the bar and a giant one at the back.
Clockwise from top: Le croque madame, espresso martini, seared duck breast
What the food and drink are like
The wine—fabulous chilled rosé and bubbly, and all sorts of Bordeaux reds, Vouvray whites and more—as well as the usual spirits and a small selection of bottled beers, is more than matched by the excellent food. Chef Lucien knocks out the classics: escargot, French onion soup, steak frites “Félix” and boeuf bourguignon, along with modern bistro options like Moroccan-style lamb shank, spicy lamb burgers and Spanish-style octopus. Sunday brunch is a big deal at Félix, with a lively atmosphere that can morph into a champagne-fueled dance party in the evenings. The bar celebrates Midsummer in June, Bastille Day on July 14, the arrival of Beaujolais nouveau in the fall and many other special occasions.
Bartender Sarah Cindy garnishes a cocktail
What it’s like on game day
Félix screens all the major Champions League games from Europe, plus Ligue 1 games from France (the top French soccer league): though Alain supports Marseille, fans of archrival Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) are, ahem, welcome. Everything changes during the World Cup: more screens are added to accommodate the large numbers of fans expected, which often spill out to the adjacent streets. If you want to be seated inside, make sure to reserve tables in advance.
Watching France play here can be intense: fans scream Allez! (“Let’s go!”), and alternately cheer and groan as the action unfolds. Les Bleus have won two World Cups (in 1998 and 2018) and lost on penalties in the final four years ago to Argentina. With the team being one of the favorites for 2026, expectations and excitement levels should be at a fever pitch.
France’s fans will have a blast here and find plenty of compatriots to cheer alongside, but Félix will also, like many other spots around the five boroughs, be showing most World Cup matches. Whether you come for the soccer, steak frites or a chilled Sancerre, prepare to be transported to the south of France. Santé!
Practicalities
Félix is at 340 West Broadway, at Grand Street, and reachable on the A, C, E or 1 train to Canal Street.