Downtown dining options and other attractions for NCAA fans

ALBANY — MVP Arena will host six games during the first and second rounds of the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament scheduled for Friday and Sunday. Before games, between them, after and all day and night on Saturday, visitors and locals alike will find the city’s downtown alive with dining, entertainment and attractions. Everything listed here is within a 10-minute walk from the arena on South Pearl Street and is similarly close to downtown hotels.

Breakfast and lunch

Pearl St. Diner: 40 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-463-4829. facebook.com/pearlstreetdineralbany. Classic Greek diner for quick, hearty breakfast and lunch fare.

Maurice’s Deli: 50 S. Pearl St., Albany. 518-434-7364. mauricesdeli.com. Classic deli with small breakfast menu and larger offering for lunch.

The Skinny Pancake:

76 N. Pearl St. (aka 1 Steuben St.), Albany. 518-512-0182. skinnypancake.com. All-day breakfast, sweet and savory lunch and dinner crepes, salads, fries, burgers, shakes. Read more.

Stacks Espresso Bar: 488 Broadway, Albany. 833-782-2571. stacksespresso.com. Coffee, pastries and light fare. Read more.

Lunch and/or dinner

677 Prime: 677 Broadway, Albany. 518-427-7463. 677prime.com. Pricey, stylish big-city steakhouse. Dinner only.

Albany Pump Station: 19 Quackenbush Square, Albany. 518-447-9000. evansale.com. Brewpub with eclectic casual menu.

Albany Stadium Restaurant & Bar:

51 S. Pearl St., Albany (at MVP Arena). 518-813-4003. albanystadium.com. Open only on event days, starting three hours prior. Limited menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers. Full bar.

Albany War Room Tavern:

42 Eagle St., Albany. 518-451-9871. albanywarroom.com. Sushi, steaks, pub food, expansive drinks list in rooms festooned with political memorabilia. Read more.

Ballistic Shrimp: 51 S. Pearl St., Albany (in front of MVP Arena). 518-599-0792. ballisticshrimp.com. Platters and sandwiches of fried seafood. Read more.

Banh Mi 47: 74 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-512-9762. banhmi47.com. Vietnamese sandwiches, Vietnamese coffee, iced teas and bubble teas. Read more.

The Bishop: 90 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-512-5009. thebishopalbany.com. Beef-andbourbon bar for dinner and Sunday brunch.

Cafe Capriccio:

49 Grand St., Albany. 518-465-0439. cafecapriccio.com. Beloved basement spot for Italian and Mediterranean fare. Dinner only.

The City Beer Hall:

42 Howard St., Albany. 518-449-2337. thecitybeerhall.com. Eclectic brewpub for dinner, Sunday brunch, beer and free pizza with every pint and late-night partying on weekends. Read more.

Dawn’s Victory Sports Cafe:

10 Sheridan Ave., Albany. 518-4639113. dawnsvictorysportscafe.com. Friendly neighborhood sports bar.

DP: An American Brasserie/ Yono’s:

17 Chapel St. (at the Hampton Inn), Albany. 518-4367747. dpbrasserie.com and yonos.com. Sibling restaurants with separate rooms for upscale cocktail restaurant (dp) and top-tier fine dining (Yono’s). Dinner only.

The Excelsior Pub: 54 Philip St., Albany. 518-462-0690. excelsiorpub.com. Boutique tavern showcasing beer, wine and spirits made exclusively by New York state producers, with a small food menu of New York regional specialties.

Hill Street Cafe:180

Madison Ave., Albany. 518-462-3544. hillstreetalbany.com. Lunch through late night in a casual pub setting.

The Hollow Bar + Kitchen:

79 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-426-8550. thehollowalbany.com. Beer and food including vegetarian/vegan options and a lively music calendar.

Loch & Quay: 414 Broadway, Albany. 518-389-7201. lochquay.com. Pub food at a beautiful art-deco bar.

Mcgeary’s:

4 Clinton Square (North Pearl Street at Clinton Avenue), Albany. 518-463-1455. mcgearys.com. Large tapline and big menu for a diverse crowd from neighborhood folks to sports fans.

The Olde English Pub: 683 Broadway, Albany. 518-4346533. theoldeenglish.com. Cozy pub, British food and beer.

Parish Public House: 388 Broadway, Albany. 518-4650444. parishpublichouse.com. Cajun, Creole and other Louisiana fare. Also a lively music venue.

The Spinning Gyro: 38 S. Pearl St., Albany. 518-227-7783. spinninggyro.com. Mediterranean gyros, platters, salads and sides.

Wellington’s: Renaissance Albany Hotel, 144 State St., Albany. 518-992-2432. wellingtonsalbany.com. Hotel bar and dining room in a beautifully restored historic Albany hotel. Check for hours/days for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wizard Burger:

74 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-250-9440. wizardburger.com. Vegetarian/vegan takes on burgers and chicken sandwiches. Read more.

The Yard/boozy Moo:

16 Sheridan Ave., Albany. 518-631-4002. theyardalbany.com. Ax-throwing bar, lawn games, greenhouse seating, creative cocktails, boozy ice cream.

Attractions

Albany Center Gallery: 488 Broadway, Albany. albanycentergallery.org. Local artists and a current show, the 24th annual High School Regional Juried Exhibition.

Discover Albany Visitors Center:

25 Quackenbush Square (Broadway at the foot of Clinton Avenue), Albany. 518-434-1217. albany.org. Information on Albany history, information desk, gift shop and exhibit space.

Empire Live:

93 N. Pearl St., Albany. 518-900-5900. empirelivealbany.com. Busy rock club with two standing-room venues holding 1,000 people and 400.

Irish American Heritage Museum:

21 Quackenbush Square (Broadway at the foot of Clinton Avenue), Albany. 518-427-1916. irish-us.org. Exhibits, events and research offerings about the Irish in America.

New York State Museum:

Madison Avenue at Empire State Plaza, Albany. 518-474-5877. nysm.nysed.gov. Permanent and rotating exhibits related to the state’s natural, cultural and artistic history.