St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays where it doesn’t matter whether or not you’re actually Irish – you just have to like wearing green and drinking.
We love a good Irish pub any day of the year, but celebrating St. Patty’s Day anywhere but an Irish pub just seems…wrong. Whether you just stop by for a Guinness, or you set up shop at the bar with your pals and start drinking at 7AM, be sure to pencil in some time at your local Irish pub this coming weekend.
We’ve created a top 5 list of our favorite Irish pubs in the U.S. – it was hard to pick just 5, but we think these establishments are the real deal. If you live near any of these pubs, you are undoubtedly going to have an extra awesome St. Patrick’s Day.
Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix isn’t known for being a super Irish city, but Rosie McCaffrey’s more than makes up for it. The owner’s name is Seamus McCaffrey Belfast, and it opens at 8AM on St. Patrick’s Day. Along with live Irish music all day long, they’ll be serving up corned beef and cabbage and Irish lamb stew. The $10 cover gets you in, enjoy.
Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub, Portland, Oregon
Kells has been rated the number one Irish restaurant and pub in the nation before and it’s obvious why. Their St. Patrick’s Day events aren’t just happening on the 17th – they rock out for three days from the 15th-17th. In addition to their restaurant and pub sections, they also have a festival tent. There’s live music, USA vs. Ireland boxing and they’ll open at 8AM on Saturday and 7AM on Sunday.
McGurks, St. Louis, Missouri
McGurks was voted one of the Best Bars in America by Esquire magazine and we can only assume it’s because it’s huge. If you’re looking for a quaint Irish pub to spend your St. Patrick’s Day in, look somewhere else – this is nearly 20,000 square feet of “pure Irish fun.” It’s a series of strung together dining rooms and bars and it’s decorated from top to bottom with awesome Irish artifacts. They’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with live Irish bands and plenty of Guinness and Jameson for all.
The Burren, Somerville, Massachusetts
There are a lot of proud Irishmen in the Boston area, and The Burren is one of their favorite watering holes. It was opened by two Irish musicians, making it a great place to grab a beer and listen to some live music. It opens up at 10AM on Sunday, so get there early to order their full Irish breakfast of Irish rashers, Irish sausage, black and white pudding, eggs, grilled tomato, Irish baked beans and home fries. Wash that all down with a Guineess and you’ll be ready to go.
The Irish Oak, Chicago Illinois
Saturday is Chicago’s huge St. Patrick’s Day parade, so the major festivities are happening then. The Irish Oak is hosting their annual “You Cant Drink All Day If You Don’t Start In the Mornin'” party – what does that entail, exactly? You purchase the 4-hour package (it’s from 8AM-12PM) and it includes admission, premium Bloody Mary’s, Screwdrivers, green domestic draft beer, and a big breakfast buffet. Of course, that’s the just the morning. The pub is open for the rest of the day and night and ready to rage on into the wee morning hours. In addition to their authentic menu and decor, they also have a Signature Whiskey Still Room in the back of the bar with pretty much every whiskey out there.