Sacramento bars and restaurants have “entered the villa as bombshells” offering Love Island USA watch parties with drinks, food, and drama.
Love Island USA is a reality TV show originally from the United Kingdom that airs daily—except on Wednesdays and Saturdays—at 6 p.m. on Peacock.
It’s a show where contestants, or “islanders,” live in a villa cut off from the world and under surveillance, couple up, and compete with each other to find love or friendship. Ultimately, the winning couple receives $100,000. Fans get to vote on the final winners of the show.
The show's 7th season premiered on June 3 and has become what some call a “pop culture phenomenon,” sweeping the nation and social media. This season has become so popular that bars and restaurants in Sacramento have been hosting watch parties.
Places like Bar West in Midtown, 8-track on P Street, and The Trap on Riverside Blvd have all invited people to watch Love Island at their establishments, with many curating food and drink menus based on the show.
Tom’s Watch Bar is another location that started showing Love Island on July 2, according to operating manager Will Gonzalez. The bar hosted watch parties on Tuesdays and Thursdays, offering a unique viewing experience with over 75 TVs, a live DJ, and Hawaiian leis upon entrance.
Fans enjoy the latest episode of Love Island USA at Tom's Watch Bar Thursday.Keyshawn Davis/CapRadio
He said the watch party has had such a great response in Sacramento that they’re doing it company-wide now.
“Everybody's been loving it,” Gonzalez said. “We got a great TV package here. It's built for sports, but it could be transformed into anything we want. So doing Love Island is great. This is gonna be the first of many different things we try to do here at Tom’s Watch Bar.”
Gonzalez said Tom’s Watch Bar will be showing the finale on Sunday, and he expects many people to show.
“I think the finale is going to be nuts,” he said. “I think a lot of other places are offering it, which is great because it's got such a great following. It's good for Sacramento, but we expect the finale to be crazy.”
Gonzalez said they’re going to continue hosting Love Island watch parties for the following seasons.
Eugenia Kamau and her friend Anita Ivayo came to Tom’s Watch Bar for the Love Island watch party on Thursday.
Eugenia Kamau and Anita Ivayo enjoy drinks at Tom’s Watch Bar Thursday while they watch the latest episode of Love Island USA.Keyshawn Davis/CapRadio
Kamau said she had just started watching Love Island recently, and her friend asked if she would like to attend a watch party.
“It's just super cute, it's funny. It's something to talk about, and everyone's been loving it,” Kamau said about Love Island. “I've been hearing so many things on TikTok, so I feel like I've been following it anyway.”
Kamau said what she likes most about the show is the banter between the islanders.
“I like the storylines,” she said. “I kind of like certain individuals, and then when they kind of pair up, it makes it more interesting. I like the sisterhood and the brotherhood between the groups. I always love that part about Love Island. I feel like they all become like family.”
Just a few steps away from Tom’s Watch Bar, Punch Bowl Social was also hosting a Love Island watch party for the first time on Thursday. Punch Bowl has a 360 bar area equipped with TVs that show Love Island.
One of the workers, Daniela Rosas, said the Love Island watch parties are fun and they bring the community together, especially the women.
“I just feel like more people bond over it, and it's just fun watching it at the bars because I feel like guys go out and watch sports at the bar,” she said. “So it's cool that girls can go out and watch something together at the bars.”
Sienna Osborne came to Punch Bowl Social to watch Love Island and said it’s been exciting to find other fans watching together.
“It’s like sports but for girls,” Osborne said. “I think it’s just so fun to like see other people that are just as committed to it as I am.”
Anna Smith also watched at Punch Bowl. She says getting out to watch with others has been more fun than streaming it alone at home.
“Usually I watch it by myself on my couch,” Smith said “I think it’s a good way to get out and watch with your friends and bring some local restaurants some business.”
Several bars across Sacramento, including Drake’s: The Barn, Tom’s Watch Bar, and Barwest, are all preparing for big crowds on Sunday for the finale night.
Tiger, Darling Aviary, Townie’s and K Bar on K Street, have all teamed up to host the finale on Sunday as well, according to Instagram.
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