By: Amy Rosner, Chandler Presson and Sarah O'Brien By: Amy Rosner, Chandler Presson and Sarah O'Brien | March 7, 2025 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guides,
While some might await March all year long because it means spring, we eagerly await the third month because it means St. Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Day is a perfect excuse to drink tons of beer, indulge in greasy bar food and shamelessly pinch the cute guy you just met because he isn’t wearing green.
See Also: 8 St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Recipes, And They're Not All Made With Whiskey
With a million and one bars in the city, it’s difficult to narrow it down to the best of the best. Do we need to buy tickets? Are there going to be long lines? Do we really need to wear green? To make your lives a little easier, we’ve rounded up the most classic Irish pubs in NYC to cheers your green beer.
519 2nd Ave. / 917.261.2113 / Website
With live music seven nights a week, Paddy Reilly’s is the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. With Guinness and other rotating beers on tap, you’re guaranteed to end the day with a slice of Prince Street Vodka pizza in hand and good memories for your troubles.
508 9th Ave. / 646.490.4803 / Website
With a happy hour lasting from 4–7 p.m., $10 lunch specials and live music, Scallywag’s is many Hells Kitchen residents’ go-to bar. With plenty of Guinness and french fries to go around, all the necessary St. Patrick’s Day provisions will be available. Be sure to arrive early, as we expect this pub to fill up quickly.
165 W. 4th St. / 212.206.8959 / Website
Located in Greenwich Village, this pub is a haven for Irish ex-pats and NYC locals alike. Unpretentious and always welcoming, this watering hole sits inside a landmark historic building, as all good pubs should. Grab a pint of Guinness or one of the delicious craft cocktails and enjoy!
30 Water St. / Website
The vibes are anything but dead at this multi-award-winning Irish bar in NYC. Famous for its vintage cocktails, delicious beer and unbeatable Irish coffee, you definitely won’t leave this downtown establishment thirsty. And if you get hungry, the food here is very solid, too.
99 Park Ave. / 212.867.4484 / Website
The Irish are known for their iconic Irish Pubs and a hearty Guinness beer. When you can't make it to Ireland, Park Avenue Tavern will bring the green to you. With their live music and special St. Paddy’s menu including Irish shepherd's Pie, corned beef plate and sliders, this will be the best St. Patrick’s day yet.
27 W. 35th St. / 212.268.8868 / Website
With over 25 rotating draught beers and tons more options by the bottle, beer lovers should look no further than Playwright. We also love their menu full of pub grub including both Irish and American favorites such as bangers and mash and shepherd's pie.
15 E 7th St. / Website
Famed for being New York’s oldest Irish pub, McSorley’s is a no-brainer when it comes to where to eat and drink on St. Patrick’s Day. With a history as rich as Bill Gates, this New York City landmark is a great place to pay homage to the day of the Shamrock.
626 11th Ave. / 212.247.2562 / Website
Established in 1868, this traditional Irish tavern is the definition of a landmark. If it’s in the name, you know it must be true. With an extensive pub-grub menu, ranging from juicy sirloin burgers to classic corned beef and cabbages, Landmark Tavern is the place to be after a full day of chasing beer with well, more beer.
287 3rd Ave. / 212.889.3361 / Website
Dating all the way back to 1895, this neighborhood favorite, complete with sawdust floors and a working fireplace, is as authentic as they come. Both a full-fledged restaurant and a lively Irish pub, Molly’s is a fun spot to dance, drink, and eat the day away.
34 E 4th St. / 212.260.3600 / Website
This tavern may be the most low-key spot on the list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time. In fact, we can almost guarantee that your group chat will be popping off with hilarious stories from the day before. If you’re not grubbing a corned beef taco, you’re seriously doing something wrong. It is St. Patrick’s Day, after all!
22 W. 46th St. / 212.391.1111 / Website
With a name like St. Pat’s Bar & Grill, one might think this spacious pub is almost too on the nose for St. Patrick’s Day. But with its huge selection of beer, an extensive menu of pub grub and excellent vibes, this Midtown haunt is a great place to drink the day away. Expect to find traditional Irish favorites on the menu in celebration.
177 Chrystie St. / Website
St. Patrick’s Day is the luckiest day of the year, and also an excuse to toast to the Emerald Isle. A beer in hand and Ray’s iconic Ray’s Red Hots spicy frankfurters is the perfect combination on the one day everyone is Irish, and don't forget to wear your green and show some Irish charm.
518 W 30th St. / 646.558.5706 / Website
A live DJ, Irish dancers, and Irish-inspired dishes are the O’Tool’s Way to spend this green holiday. With Irish nachos and an Irish cheese plate, this really is a celebration dipped in good luck. There's no need to figure out what's at the end of the rainbow—it's something better than a pot of gold—it's O'Toole's Way.
So follow the rainbow and discover the pot of gold that is these NYC bars this St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you limit your celebrations to green beer or go all out with boiled cabbage and black pudding, we hope you have a very happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Photography by: Timothy Dykes
