By: Lindsay Garbacik By: Lindsay Garbacik | February 24, 2023 | Food & Drink, Community,
Whether you’re of Irish descent by blood or by choice, St. Patrick’s Day is speedily approaching and we are here to help you prepare. While you vacillate between green outfit combinations, check out our picks for the best bars for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in San Diego. From green limited-time margaritas to all-day festivals loaded with green beer, to Irish pubs serving up their regular mouth-watering fish and chips and Guinness, San Diego’s bars and pubs are ready to party the Irish way.
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903 Island Avenue / Website
Owned and operated by an Irish family, this brewpub is a few blocks from Petco Park and is known for its craft beer, made and served in-house. Find a variety of IPAs, stouts, ales and sours, perfect for lovers of the San Diego beer scene. To eat, explore Irish dishes like bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and red ale braised pork belly, amongst a lengthy menu of creative, quality bites.
2955 Jamacha Road, El Cajon / Website
Head to this popular pub for ‘Hooleyfest’, an all-day music festival on Friday, March 17 in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The three-day party will feature a rockin’ lineup of live bands, as well as pints of beer and traditional Irish fare. Further details will be announced as the holiday approaches.
4204 Voltaire Street / Website
Check out this fun, new-school Irish pub for tasty bites, beers on tap and creative cocktails. Irish-themed drinks include the Irish mule and the Irish ‘goodbye’, made with Irish whiskey, Bailey’s and Guinness. To eat, snack on fish and chips, decadent macaroni and cheese, Irish egg rolls, and a variety of smash-style burgers.
1872 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma / Website
Head to GoodBar for the third annual St. Patrick’s Day block party, hosted in front of GoodBar and benefitting The Animal Pad dog rescue. Hosted on Friday, March 17 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and only open to those 21 and older, this dog-friendly event will have two stages with live music, green beer, festive foods, and themed games throughout the day. After the bands cease at 10 p.m., head into GoodBar to party the rest of the night away (or at least until 1:30 a.m.) Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
1107 Orange Avenue, Coronado / Website
A staple in the community for over 40 years, this Irish pub was founded by a former Navy SEAL and serves a slew of Irish beers, cocktails and cuisine. On the menu, find Irish classics like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and the St. Patty’s Patty, perfect for an on-theme holiday bite. Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s are on draft in addition to local brews.
118 E Grand Avenue, Escondido / Website
Pop into O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub for St. Patrick’s Day with beer-laden festivities set to begin at 11 a.m. and last until midnight. The pub’s regular menu features mouthwatering Irish bites like Guinness bangers, Irish nachos, Irish potato skins, and a variety of chicken wings.
428 F Street / Website
Celebrate St. Patty’s Day at this always-fun Gaslamp Quarter spot. The pub frequently hosts live music and serves a huge selection of Irish cocktails all made with Irish whiskeys.
3402 Adams Avenue / Website
A Normal Heights watering hole for almost 40 years, this neighborhood pub serves up beers and bites, streams sports, and hosts live music. Find menu highlights like loaded tots, chicken wings, fried goat cheese balls, and a variety of sandwiches. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, the pub will host live music in the evening on both Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 night. The pub will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
800 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach / Website
In celebration of the holiday, this beachfront tavern will offer three unique themed cocktails on St. Patrick’s Day only. Try the ‘lucky shamrock sour’, made with Jameson Irish whiskey, sour mix, simple syrup and garnished with edible gold glitter, or try the ‘tipsy leprechaun’ margarita, made with Loz Javis mezcal, Monte Alban tequila, green simple syrup, lime juice and a salted rim. Or, go for gold with the ‘pot o’gold’ mimosa, made with blue Curaçao, orange juice, Wycliffe Champagne, and a gold sugared rim.
3701 India Street / Website
Head to Shakespeare Pub for an all-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17. Drink specials will include brands like Guinness, Slane Irish Whiskey, Jameson, Proper 12, and Tullamore Dew, among others. To eat, Irish-themed bites will include sausage rolls, beer-battered pickles, corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and beef and Guinness Irish stew. For dessert, check out the pub’s Bailey’s cheesecake and the sticky toffee pudding.
Gaslamp Quarter / Website
While no, this is not strictly a bar, this family-friendly Gaslamp Quarter St. Patrick’s Day event is set to be filled with music from Irish and Celtic rock bands and never-ending green beer and seltzers. The large festival will take place from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and feature three stages for live music and seven bars with seating, as well as free games, photo booths, Irish dancing lessons, and a shamrock selfie station. Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
1125 6th Avenue / Website
Head to this neighborhood Irish pub for tasty brews and bites, and to catch the latest hockey games with fellow fans. The menu is loaded with Irish cuisine, like traditional Irish breakfast, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, bangers and mash, Guinness stew, shepherd’s pie and chicken pot pie.
Ocean Beach / Website
Nope, this entry isn’t a bar either, but the beachside event is always a popular one, so we’ll let it slide. The party is set to be two days of non-stop fun with more than ample beer, live music and free games. It kicks off on Friday, March 17 at 1 p.m. and guests will indulge in green beer, guacamole tastings, and other cocktails. Throughout the two-day event, there will be 12 live bands performing. Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
544 5th Avenue / Website
Lovers of the classic Irish pub must check out The Field. The pub’s Irish owners shipped a pub, piece by piece, from Ireland to San Diego to create this authentic, unique space. On draft, find Irish beers like Guinness, Harp Lager, Smithwick’s Ale, Kilkenny Irish Ale, and Magners Cider, as well as local brews from Half Door, as the option to order pints mixed together. Irish dishes include shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, lamb shepherd’s pie, Guinness beef stew, corned beef and cabbage, and the whiskey chicken ‘boxty’ (griddled potato pancake).
3373 Adams Avenue / Website
Visit this popular Irish pub for a good time filled with Guinness, wine and a large selection of whiskeys. On St. Patrick’sDay, enjoy karaoke starting at 9 p.m. and discounted drinks.
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Photography by: SEA 180 Coastal Tavern