13 Places to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Philly

St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year, which means the Jameson-fueled revelries will likely continue well into the night. And with Philly ranking No. 5 on Trulia’s list of the best cities to celebrate the holiday, restaurants pouring discounted drinks and dishing out corned beef and cabbage are not hard to find. Just remember, there’s a direct correlation between St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls and a green-tinged face the next morning.

Doors open at 7 a.m. at Fado Irish Pub on 15th and Locust, where the festivities start bright and early with the restaurant’s 12th annual St. Patrick’s Day charity breakfast. It’s free but a donation, going to the Sunday Love Project, is expected. After 1 p.m. there’s a $5 cover and at 2 p.m. the live music chimes in. McGillin’s Olde Ale House (1310 Drury Street) is also throwing its annual all-day St. Patrick’s Day bash, starting at the more reasonable hour of 10 a.m. and running until 2 a.m. with music and, yes, green beer.

There’s more green brews to be had at Howl at the Moon, the dueling pianos bar at 258 S. 15th Street that is crowded on a regular Friday night and sure to be jam-packed on St. Patrick’s Day. But the drink specials, including 86 oz. Get Lucky buckets, which are literally buckets of mixed drinks, only run from 2-6 p.m.

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In Old City, Nick’s Bar and Grille kicks the party off at 11 a.m., with $5 shots of Powers Irish whiskey and $4 Miller Lites all day, along with a themed food menu, which includes a cross-cultural item: corned beef and cabbage empanadas. Just down the street, JJ Bootleggers is doing giveaways and discounted drinks, including $5 Jameson shots and $3 beers, from noon to 8 p.m.

Starting at 7 p.m., Bridget Foy's at 200 South Street will have live Irish music from Connemara Codfish Company plus plenty of Irish food, including the ubiquitous corned beef and cabbage and a Guinness beef stew. Irish whiskey flights are $15. Next door, Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub has a similar game plan, with music from Jamison Celtic Rock, plus bagpipers and people dressed as leprechauns.

Stop in at The Bards (2013 Walnut Street) for a rift on Philly’s citywide special, the “countrywide”: a Guinness and a shot of Jameson for $10. Or go next door to Irish Pub (or the other Irish Pub on the east side of Broad) for $3.50 Bud Light pints and $6 Tour De Shore Irish Red from Lancaster Brewing Company. WMMR will be broadcasting live from Irish Pub’s 12th street location. The radio station’s “Shamrock & Roll” t-shirts are sold out, but redheads score a free Irish Pub t-shirt.

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Square 1682 at Hotel Palomar (121 S. 17th Street) is offering Guinness-glazed chicken wings on Friday and recommending The Quiet Man cocktail, made with Art in the Age Sweet Potato, Jameson Caskmates whiskey, honey, and lemon, as a pairing option. Over at Philly’s other Kimpton property, Hotel Monaco at 433 Chestnut Street, Red Owl Tavern will be offering flights of Irish whiskey served with a side jar of picked cabbage.

Down by the stadiums, Xfinity Live is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party with live music from cover band Bangarang Philly in Victory Beer Hall and specials on Irish Car Bombs, Jameson, and green beer. Parking will be free after 8 p.m., but this feels like a good night to call an Uber.

To balance out all that alcohol, stop at one of Slice’s locations for the March pizza special: The Oh Danny Boy pie with mozzarella and Swiss cheeses, corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage.