Ridgewood, Queens: World Cup 2026 Guide

Ridgewood gets overlooked in World Cup conversations about Queens, but it shouldn't. The neighborhood has something no other borough can offer for European football fans: actual European history. Germanic and Eastern European families have lived here since the early 1900s. Old-world bakeries, traditional German restaurants, and social clubs that have survived a century sit alongside bars and restaurants that opened in the last five years. It's a neighborhood where watching Germany or Belgium or Portugal feels like it means something beyond the match.

Who's Here

The European diaspora in Ridgewood is one of the most layered in the city. Austrian, Belgian, French, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Swiss communities have roots here going back generations. The more recent creative influx has brought a younger, international crowd that has made Ridgewood one of the more interesting neighborhoods in the outer boroughs for nightlife. The result is a place where a multi-hour World Cup watch session feels natural — there are spots for every stage of the day.

Where to Watch

Myrtle Avenue is the primary commercial corridor — it runs the length of the neighborhood and has the highest concentration of bars and restaurants. Nowadays on Wyckoff Avenue is the neighborhood's highest-profile venue and has outdoor space that becomes essential in July. Fresh Pond Road and Fairview Avenue have the more traditional spots — neighborhood bars with long histories that draw regulars who grew up here.

For Germany specifically, Ridgewood is a natural complement to Zum Stammtisch in Glendale, the famous old-school German restaurant just over the neighborhood border, and Gottscheer Hall — both are worth knowing for the June 25 Ecuador vs Germany match at MetLife.

The Neighborhood on Match Day

Ridgewood is not Jackson Heights — it doesn't spill into the street when a match ends. But inside its bars, the community is genuinely engaged. European football carries weight here in a way it doesn't in generic sports bars. If you want to watch a Germany, France, or Belgium match surrounded by people who care about the outcome for reasons that predate the tournament, this is the right neighborhood.

Key Streets

Myrtle Avenue is the main commercial strip — bars, restaurants, coffee shops, everything you need for a full day. Fresh Pond Road has the older, more traditional spots. Fairview Avenue has some of the best old-world architecture and a few quiet spots away from the main corridor. Wyckoff Avenue is the venue strip — where the newer, busier bars are concentrated.

Getting There

The M train to Seneca Avenue or Forest Avenue is the primary route. From Midtown Manhattan: about 35 minutes. From Jackson Heights: take the M from Forest Hills or transfer at Queens Plaza. The L to Jefferson Street puts you on the Brooklyn border edge of Ridgewood, about a 10-minute walk from Myrtle Avenue.

Eating in Ridgewood

The food in Ridgewood reflects its layered history. Old-world German and Eastern European spots still exist — look for pierogies, schnitzel, and traditional bakeries along Fresh Pond Road. The newer Myrtle Avenue restaurants trend international. For pre-match, the bakeries are exceptional: Ridgewood has one of the best concentrations of traditional European baked goods in the five boroughs.