‘Erin Go Bragh – Ireland Forever’
St. Patrick’s Day in Philadelphia is right around the corner. Do you have your green on and your pint glass in full tilt for that Irish toast!
Below is a list of Irish breakfasts and events on St. Patrick’s Day, which is a Thursday this year, events and activities leading up to St. Patrick’s Day and most of the Irish Bars located in the City of Brotherly Love.
If you plan on starting St. Patrick’s Day in Philadelphia early, you should check out a few of the Irish bars in Philadelphia that serve Irish breakfast or brunch. Here is our list and you’ll find more activities and specials at the bottom.
St. Patrick’s Day ~ Thursday, March 17
Con Murphy’s ~ March 17 ~ Opens at 6:30 am for Irish Breakfast which is two eggs any style, bangers, rashers (Irish Bacon), black and white pudding, potatoes, grilled tomato & baked beans (there are other breakfast selections). Live acoustic music at 5 pm with Seamus McGroary * Bagpiper at 7 pm * DJ at 10 pm. There will be Irish food specials all day long.
Plough & the Stars ~ March 17 ~ Opening at 7 am! From 7 am – 10 am: Judge Jimmy Lynn’s 17th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Breakfast ($25 pay at door) * Noon - Live music from Stephen Dodds * 1 pm Philadelphia Runners stop in – 65 of them for 65 pints of Guinness * Bagpipers at 4 pm. There will be Irish music, dancers and singing throughout the day with food served all day (different menus depending on time of day). ~ Updates ~
Fadó Irish Pub ~ March 17 ~ 8:00 am – 10:00 am ~ Fadó is not known for having breakfast, but St. Patrick’s Day is a special day. All you can eat pancakes free plus full breakfast buffet with donation to AoH . (must pay for your beer) - Kitchen Hours 10 am – 11 pm; * 2 pm Live Music with Element K & then 52 Pickup * $10 cover starting at 2 pm & No minors after 2 pm * 11 pm DJ Press Play
O’Neals Pub ~ March 17 ~ Opening at 9 am ~ Enjoy corned beef & cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, Beef Stew and fish & chips with early drink specials * TBD because of parade - 2nd Street Irish Society Pipes & Drums will stop by * TBD Irish Dancers
McGillin’s Olde Ale House ~ March 17 ~ Opening at 10 am * Try their original Irish Potato Martini or some authentic Stout from Ireland! Serving rotating list of Irish food specials, including bangers and mash (Irish sausage & mashed potatoes), Shepherd’s Pie, Irish lamb stew, corned beef and cabbage & more.
For Pete’s Sake ~ March 17 ~ Opening at 11 am – Serving Shepherds Pie, ham or corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, mussels cooked in Guinness, etc * Irish music playing on the system all day and night!
Bridget Foy’s ~ March 13 ~ Doors open at 11:30 am. Enjoy Guinness Beef Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Lamb Burger, smoked salmon Rillette & Irish Whiskey Flights * 7 pm Live Irish Music by Connemara Codfish Company ~ Live Music March 13 & 17 at Bridget Foy’s ~
Courtesy of McGillins Olde Ale House
Here is our list of Irish Bars in Philadelphia :
(Listing them in alphabetical order with no preference over one or the other)
The Bards ~ located in Rittenhouse Square ~ A neighborhood favorite, Bards in Philly is a quaint establishment with good Irish food, beers, and atmosphere while giving you a real taste of Ireland.
Black Sheep ~ located in Rittenhouse Square ~ An Irish pub that is nestled in the corner of Historic Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. It has all the comforts of home; to include a fireplace, 6 televisions, darts, comfortable sitting areas, and much more.
Blarney South Bar & Grille, The ~ located in South Street District ~ Has lots of character thanks to the memorabilia and many antiques lining the walls. You can sit in the back room by a scenic mural while eating some authentic Irish food.
Bridget Foy’s – located in the South Street Headhouse District ~ Pleasant downstairs & upstairs bar and seating with a home feeling to it.
Brownies Pub ~ located in Old City ~ A small 2 story Irish pub with a pool table, darts, and singing bartenders. A good hang out for that shot and beer, with a friendly owner and bar staff.
Cavanuagh’s Headhouse ~ located in South Street Headhouse District ~ Once known as the Dark Horse, is a great place for a round of darts with a glass of beer. Known for their large selection of beers, having 44 taps, this particular bar has a lot of character because of it’s 5 different bar rooms.
Cavanaugh’s Restaurant & Pub * ~ located in University City ~ An Irish bar and sports bar where local patrons and students from Penn and Drexel hang out together, giving it a diverese crowd. Good food and drink specials with plenty of tv’s.
Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse * ~ located in Rittenhouse Square ~ A two story bar more known as a sports bar, but still knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Erin’s Express makes a stop here also.
Con Murphy’s ~ located in the Art Museum District/Logan Square ~ Irish owned and operated, Con Murphy’s is a 2-story Irish pub that gives you that warm/cozy Ireland feeling when inside. Having a good selection of 9 drafts, Con Murphy’s has been known to pour one of the best pints of Guinness’s in Philadelphia.
Downey’s Restaurant & Pub ~ located in Society Hill ~ Downey’s is a Philadelphia landmark, and it’s not unusual to run into a local sports figure or two on any given night. The bar is of rich mahogany wood throughout and stained glass panes that were imported from County Cork in Ireland. Also serving an Irish menu and drinks.
Fadó Irish Pub ~ located in Center City ~ Always fun, with crazy things going on at Fadó. A bar with many nooks and crannies, good food, drinks, people, and good atmosphere. Please see below for St. Patrick’s Day events at Fadó.
Fergie’s Pub ~ located in Center City/Market East ~ Fergus Carey has created a laid back atmosphere and decent food at Fergie’s to go along with their 11 beers on tap and selection of 38 bottled beers. Please see below for more details for St. Patrick’s Day events at Fergie’s.
Finnigan’s Wake ~ located in Northern Liberties ~ Finnigan’s Wake, opening their doors at 6:00 am, is a large 3-story Irish bar with plenty of room, that always has something going on, especially for St. Patrick’s day. Also serving Irish beers and Irish foods. Please see below for more details for St. Patrick’s Day events at Finnigan’s Wake.
For Pete’s Sake ~ located in Queen Village ~ Many say, after visiting this Irish Pub, “For Pete’s Sake, why didn’t I find this place sooner?” A good corner bar in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia, with good food and drink specials.
Irish Pub ~ located in Rittenhouse Square ~ This pub opened in 1983 and it’s sister bar, 9 blocks down the street, opened in 1980. Both of these spots are popular to both Philadelphians and out-of-towners. You can always find a green beer on St. Patrick’s Day at this establishment.
The Irish Times ~ located in Queen Village ~ When walking into this Irish bar, you have the option to head upstairs to the loft bar or descend 50-feet underground to the Down Below bar. In either case, you will always be able to enjoy good food and drinks with good company and a friendly wait and bar staff.
Kelliann’s Bar & Grill * ~ located in Spring Garden/Fairmount Area ~ A fire in 2010, Kelliann’s has rebuilt and are still a neighborhood favorite with good beers.
Kildare’s ~ located in Manayunk ~ A comfortable pub in Manayunk to stop and relax at before, during, or after the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Manayunk. Please see below for more details for St. Patrick’s Day events at Kildare’s.
McCrossen’s Tavern ~ located in Art Museum District/Fairmount ~ offers a great selection of beers on draft and upscale pub fare like braised pork belly and roasted bone marrow.
McFadden’s Ballpark ~ located in South Philly ~ Located at Citizen’s Ball Park, it’s has some room with many types of beer on tap, tv’s, and an outdoor bar. Keep your eye out for the jello shot girl, they might be green on St. Patrick’s Day.
McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon ~ located in Edge of Northern Liberties & Spring Garden area ~ With doors opening at 8:00 am, this is definitely a party place that serves cheap beer with a large open bar area, a back bar, and a bar downstairs. Please see below for more details for St. Patrick’s Day events at McFadden’s.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House ~ located in Market East ~ The oldest continuously operating bar in Philadelphia, who knows how to party on St. Patrick’s day in Philly. Green beer will be flowing and they will open an hour earlier at 10:00 am.
McGlinchey’s Bar & Grill ~ located in Rittenhouse Square/Avenue of the Arts ~ This bar is one of the best dive bars in Philadelphia, and is always crowded with cheap beers. People keep coming back, even after they recover from the night before.
Moriarty’s Restaurant & Irish Pub ~ located in Center City East ~ This Irish pub is known far and wide for their delicious wings and good selection of draft beers. Having character, the timber bar was handmade by the owner and hanging on the walls are vintage photos and prints from the many shows that have played at the Forrest Theatre next door.
Murph’s Bar ~ located in Fishtown ~ This no frills Irish bar in Fistown can be easily missed, blending into the urban landscape along Girard Avenue. It’s just a cozy pub with cheap beer and friendly people.
New Deck Tavern * ~ located in University City ~ The New Deck Tavern opens at 9am on St. Patrick’s Day and is part of the Erin Express. Good pub food with good beer, especially Guinness.
O’Neals Irish Pub & Restaurant ~ located in Queen Village ~ A sports bar & Irish bar, Spoonie and his crew certainly make you feel like one of the regulars. Basically good food, with 19 + beers on draught, including the area’s only “Real Ale” beer engine and over 100 bottles available for six-pack takeout. Their back patio will also be opened for St. Patrick’s Day.
Paddy Whacks Irish Pub ~ located in Head House Square/South Street District ~ This clean Irish pub has two bars with a pleasant selection of 15 appetizers, 15 draught beers on tap, and 19 bottled beers.
Plough & the Stars ~ located in Old City ~ Plough & the Stars features live music while serving traditional Irish pub fare to include fish and chips, Guinness cassarole and Shepherd’s Pie. They rotate eleven different types of draft beers from countries such as Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States while having a selection of 30 bottled beers.
Sláinte * ~ located in University City ~ A well-kept Irish bar and restaurant that has very comfortable seating. They have an European draft beer system imported from County Cork, Ireland, which ensures they pour the perfect pint everytime. Hungry? Sláinte has a wide-selection of foods, to include your Irish fare of fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie.
St. Stephen’s Green ~ located in Fairmount ~ This bar has a partnership between the owners of Bishop’s Collar and Black Sheep Pub; all good Irish bars in Philadelphia. What you get at this bar is that they place the beer menu front-and-center, making sure you know your selections of beers. (web site is under construction)
Tir Na Nog ~ located in Art Museum District Area/Logan Square ~ Tír na nÓg is an Irish bar that has several rooms so you can eat and drink either with the crowd or away from the crowd. Their draft beers consist of 11 domestic beers and 12 import beers, while serving 30 different kinds of bottled beers. Always a polite crowd at this bar/restaurant, with a friendly bar and wait staff.
Irish music – Courtesy of Plough & the Stars
St. Patrick’s Day events in Philadelphia from March 7 – 17, 2014
Running of the Micks ~ March 5 & 12 ~ Party starts at 9 am at Lolie’s Ale House. Starting at 12 pm until 9 pm, buses will take you to certain Irish bars in Philly. The cost of the ticket gets you drink specials. You’ll even make a stop to the Art Museum steps for the historic run up the steps. ~ Running of the Micks ~
Erin’s Express ~ March 5 & 12 ~ Noon to 6 pm ~ Green buses taking you to various locations which are marked with an asterick above for those participating. ~ Erin’s Express in Philadelphia ~
Plough & the Stars~ March 12 - Stephen Dodds Live at 6 pm; March 13 - Serving Celtic Honey (Irish Whiskey) for the day * Live Music at 4 pm * Stephen Dodds Live at 5 pm; March 20 - Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfetones Live at 6:30 pm. * Irish dancers throughout the month of March.
FADO ~ March 12 ~ St. Practice Day at FADO - Doors open at 7 am for EPL soccer & 6 Nations Rugby * 1 pm Live Music with Velvetones & Celtic Rock Warrior * 11 pm DJ Press Play; March 16 - 8 pm Paddy’s Quizzo - Test all your St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland knowledge!; March 20 - 1 pm to 5 pm Baldrick’s Head Shaving Event - 6th annual head-shaving event where the community raises money and awareness to help fight children’s cancer. Event begins at 1pm. $55,000 goal this year with 30 shavees already registered! It’s great craic for a great cause. Click here to learn more or to donate.
O’Neals Pub ~ March 13 ~ Opening at 9 am ~ Enjoy corned beef & cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, Beef Stew and fish & chips with early drink specials * 3 pm - 2nd Street Irish Society Pipes & Drums will stop by * TBD Irish Dancers
Bridget Foy’s ~ March 13 ~ Doors open at 10 am. Enjoy Guinness Beef Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Lamb Burger, smoked salmon Rillette & Irish Whiskey Flights * 3 pm Live Irish Music by Connemara Codfish Company ~ Live Music March 13 & 17 at Bridget Foy’s ~
McGillin’s Olde Ale House ~ March 13 – 16 ~ Opens at 11 am daily * Try their original Irish Potato Martini or some authentic Stout from Ireland! Also green beer. Serving rotating list of Irish food specials, including bangers and mash (Irish sausage & mashed potatoes), Shepherd’s Pie, Irish lamb stew, corned beef and cabbage & more.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Philly ~ March 13 ~ 11:30 am to 3 pm ~ Join in on the fun, the 2nd oldest Irish Parade in the country starting at noon. ~ Map of the Parade ~ ~ St. Patrick’s Day Parade ~
Con Murphy’s ~ March 13 ~ Seamus McGroary Live at 12 pm * Bagpiper at 1 pm * Face Painting at 2 pm * Live DJ at 5 pm; March 16 ~ Neil McKernan Live at 7 pm: March 20 ~ Neil McKernan Live at 3 pm – 6 pm ~
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Philly ~ March 13 ~ Join in on the fun, the 2nd oldest Irish Parade in the country starting at noon. ~ Map of the Parade ~ ~ St. Patrick’s Day Parade ~
The Leprechaun Run ~ March 14 ~ Starting at 9 am, the 5 run/2 mile walk starts at the bottom of the Art Museum steps and all proceeds benefits the Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes in Philadelphia. Walk-up registration is available on the day of the event as well. ~ The Leprechaun Run ~
McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon ~ March 14 ~ McPattys Fest; March 15 Hosting the St. Patrick’s Day Parade after party and celebrating March 17th with Live bands (Lost in Paris) all day long. More details can be found at McFaddens.
3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Festival at the Piazza ~ March 14 ~ Starting at noon till 8 pm at the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties, enjoy beer, open bars & live music by Shameless. ~ 3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Festival at the Piazza ~
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Conshohocken ~ March 28 (postponed now to the 28th) ~ Starting at 2 pm, enjoy the parade in beautiful streets of Conshohocken. Rain date will be March 28th. ~ St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Conshohocken ~
St. Paddy’s Party at XFinity Live ~ March 14 ~ Starting at 3 pm at XFinity Live, enjoy drink specials, contests, games & Live performances by The Dan Band (appearances in The Hangover and Old School) and Gypsy Wisdom. ~ St. Paddy’s Party at XFinity Live ~
Irish Memorial ~ March 17 ~ The Irish Memorial, located at Penn’s Landing, the annual commemoration starts at 11 am, which will include mass, dancing and Irish music. For more info: Irish Memorial at Penn’s Landing ~
Irish Memorial in Old City – On St. Patrick’s Day there will be Mass, music & more
Below is not yet updated for 2016
Fergie’s Pub ~ Starting at noon, there will be Pipers, Dancers & Clowns in Green Plastic Bowlers.
Tir Na Nog ~ St. Patrick’s Day party on March 17th with Kegs n Eggs, Irish band, Irish dancers and much more. For more info, click here.
Kildare’s in Manayunk ~ Free Irish breakfast during the first half of the Manchester United vs. Liverpool Game and $9.99 Irish entrees all day.
Philadelphia Weather for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Events
March 12 – Mostly Sunny | High 66° | Low 51°
March 13 – Cloudy | High 66° | Low 52°
St. Patrick’s Day – 40% AM Showers – Overcast During Day & 50% Rain Showers at night | High 70° | Low 50°
March 19 – Mostly Cloudy | High 64° | Low 47°
March 20 – 50% Showers | High 59° | Low 43°
Please let us know in the comments below if you have a favorite neighborhood Irish bar that we didn’t include. And don’t be shy to leave a comment in regards to what you like about your favorite Irish Bar in Philadelphia.
Sláinte! - Meaning Good Health or Cheers