With more than 1 million residents of Irish heritage, Chicago is the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Every year, the Chicago River is dyed emerald green on the Saturday morning preceding March 17 as a symbol of Irish pride. Afterwards there’s a parade through Grant Park on Columbus Drive. Naturally, a city with such a large Irish population has plenty of bars. We’ve created the Ultimate Chicago Irish Pub Crawl: eight places representing the entirety of the city–downtown and the North, South and West Sides–where pints whiskey flow freely and classic pub food is available all year long.
Emerald Loop
Tradition Meets Today: Emerald Loop’s hot cocktails–spiked hot chocolate, Jameson Irish coffee and a hot toddy–hit the spot after exploring downtown on a winter day, and there’s also a large selection of Irish and local brews on tap. Pair them with an innovative dish like the baked naan flatbreads, chicken shawarma salad and elote mac and cheese.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Not Your Corner Bar: Located in Fulton Market, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery is one of only two American brewpubs from the legendary brand. Formerly a rail depot, the 15,000-square-foot space features 12 beers brewed on premises, stouts imported from Dublin, upscale Irish and American fare and a giant metal harp above the bar.
Timothy O’Toole’s
Explore the Excitement: Streeterville’s go-to gastro pub since 1992, Timothy O’Toole’s has eight flavors of wings, plus a large selection of burgers and entrees that can be washed down with more than 60 beers. Additionally, with 72 TVs, you can catch all the March Madness action, or stop by on Wednesday nights for comedians.
Lizzie McNeil’s
Sláinte: Overlooking the Chicago River in Streeterville, Lizzie McNeil’s has everything you want from an Irish pub. Start with an Irish or local beer (or a seasonal cocktail), split an order of Reuben rolls and move on to the bangers & mash or lamb stew. Top off the evening with a Bailey’s cheesecake for dessert.
The Embassy Public House
Ireland in Little Italy: The atmosphere inside The Embassy is warm and inviting, with Guinness on draft, fish & chips and curry fries. It’s a haven on the Near West Side for lovers of international sports, with 20 TVs showing soccer, rugby and Formula 1, as well as all the Chicago teams.
Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant
Local Favorite: An Avondale staple, Chief O’Neill’s is famous for its Friday night all-you-can-eat fish fry and Sunday brunch buffet, and the menu has other Irish staples like shepherd’s pie and grilled Atlantic salmon. Francis O’Neill was a Chicago police chief who preserved Ireland’s musical traditions, and there’s live Irish folk music several nights a week.
Cork & Kerry at the Park
Truly Chi-Rish: South Side Irish pride is celebrated nightly at Bridgeport’s Cork & Kerry at the Park. Here, Irish pub classics meet classic Chicago dishes like Italian beef sandwiches and our “dragged through the garden” hotdog. The White Sox-friendly tavern is only a few blocks away from Guaranteed Rate Field, so the games are always on the many TVs.
Kitty O’Shea’s
Raise a Pint: Found inside the Chicago Hilton overlooking Grant Park, Kitty O’Shea’s has Guinness, Smithwick’s and Harp on tap as well as local craft beers. The menu also consists of farm-to-table versions of Irish standards like pan-seared halibut, corned beef sandwich and pub steak with a smoked peppercorn sauce.
