Wondering where to make merry this St. Patrick’s Day? You’re in luck! The odds are pretty good that no matter where you may be there’ll be an Irish pub nearby. As for the very best and most authentic, it would be impossible to list all the most amazing Irish pubs across the country, but we did our darndest to narrow things down to this list of seven great US watering holes of Irish origin.
Doyle’s Café
Boston, Massachusetts
Image via Flickr CC – Sarah Nichols
Obviously, there are loads of great Irish pubs in the Boston area. But if you had to choose just one, Doyle’s Café in Jamaica Plain would be it. It’s one of Boston’s most beloved bars and is considered by many to be the quintessential Irish pub. Doyle’s opened in 1882 and has been racking up fans and accolades ever since. It boasts one of the biggest selections of draft beer in New England and was the first home of Sam Adams Beer.
Wilfie & Nell
New York City
This tiny West Village bar can’t claim the history or longevity of the other places listed here. Even though it’s just a few years old, Wilfie & Nell wins over imbibers with its modern Irish take on how to bend an elbow in Manhattan with an excellent range of beers; inspired cocktails; and highly lauded, locally sourced bar bites.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
New York City
Image via Flickr CC – MsSaraKelly
Established in 1854, McSorley’s is New York’s oldest continuously operated saloon. And it’s still one of Manhattan’s best watering holes, with utter pros backing the bar, a sawdust floor, option of two ales (light or dark) and dim-lit, Old World feel.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly’s oldest pub opened the same year Abraham Lincoln was first elected, and it remains to this day one of the city’s finest and most popular places to drink. Come to McGillin’s for regional microbrews, a great range of bar snacks, and a friendly setting for watching the big game on the big screens (as long as you support the home team).
Chief O’Neill’s
Chicago, Illinois
You want charm and atmosphere, awesome pub grub, a perfectly pulled Guinness, and a giant beer garden for when it’s nice outside and three wood-burning fireplaces for when it’s cold? You want Chief O’Neill’s in Chicago! Located in the Avondale neighborhood, O’Neill’s is the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day – for young and old – whether you’re Irish or not.
Kevin Barry’s Pub
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah’s St. Pat celebrations are epic. With the fourth biggest parade in all of the US, festivities here rival or surpass those in far bigger cities. Yep, lots of folks in and around Savannah are proud of their Irish heritage. And when they raise a glass to toast the Emerald Isle, they prefer to do so at the wildly popular Kevin Barry’s, while enjoying the riverside views, live music, and Irish pub delicacies. The team behind this 35-year-old pub credits its success to their adherence to the “Three Cs” of Irish life: Craic (a Celtic word roughly translated to mean conversation), Culture, and Community.
Tom Bergin’s Tavern
Los Angeles, California
The “House of Irish Coffee Since 1936,” Tom Bergin’s Tavern is one of LA’s oldest restaurant/bars still in operation. With its dozens (if not hundreds) of paper shamrocks lining its walls, there’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek kitsch about the place, but the corned beef and cottage pie are authentic Irish fare and the welcome is always warm and full of Gaelic pride.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Where will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year? Let us know in the comments below![/perfectpullquote]
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