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Uptown
George Keeley
485 Amsterdam Ave., nr. 83rd St.; 212-873-0251
This Upper West Side hot spot doles out traditional Irish comfort food and 22 brews on tap. In years past, pipers and drummers stopped by post-parade for an impromptu after-show. Don’t be surprised by a repeat performance.
Kinsale Tavern
1672 Third Ave., nr. 93rd St.; 212-348-4370
Patrons can tune into the big hurling match (broadcast live from the homeland) and sup on lamb stew and a full Irish breakfast at this neighborly Upper East Side pub. A D.J. will be onboard for those committed to pulling an all-nighter.
The Parlour
250 W. 86th St., at Broadway; 212-580-8923
Defying expectations, this spacious pub not only has enough room for two bars, a separate dining room, a pool table, and a dance floor—it also has a menu loaded with light fare and salads. Don’t worry: Traditionalists can still chow down on bangers and mash.
P.D. O’Hurley’s Pub & Restaurant
174 W. 72nd St., nr. Amsterdam Ave.; 212-873-1900
Bagpipers will be stopping by this sophisticated Irish-American pub all day, and they won’t be there for the cozy banquettes and tasteful, Tiffany-style hanging lamps. It’ll be the sixteen drafts and traditional Irish menu they’re after.
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Midtown
Kennedy’s
327 W. 57th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-759-4242
From the traditional menu (baked stuffed clams, Irish smoked salmon, fish and chips) to the brogue-talking staff, Kennedy’s is as authentic as they come. Irish band Borgna O’Rourke will add music to the proceedings starting at 3 p.m.
Langan’s
150 W. 47th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-869-5482
You can start by asking the bartender to pour you a milky green shot with a name too crass to print here. Next, order up a bowl of Langan’s-stout-and-onion soup or Irish lamb stew, followed by Galway Bay fish and chips. Finish with a Guinness, Harp, or Smithwick’s.
O’Flaherty’s Ale House
334-336 W. 46th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-581-9366
This Restaurant Row megapub isn’t just another tourist trap: There’s an enormous rectangular bar, a garden area for smokers, and two fireplaces. Plus live bands and specialties like Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish soda bread.
Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar
519 Second Ave., at 29th St.; 212-686-1210
When every tap pours Guinness, you know Irish eyes are smiling. At this year’s festivities, a $10 cover charge gets you an all-day music lineup of Celtic and American folk bands like Random Folk, April’s Fools, and Smirk.
Stout NYC
133 W. 33rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-629-6191
World-music jammers Ice Wagon Flu appear at 4 p.m.; pipe bands are expected to drop by post-parade. While you wait, you can down at least one of 130 different bottled beers (or 22 drafts), and grub on traditional Irish eats.
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Downtown
Mr. Dennehy’s
63 Carmine St., nr. Bedford St.; 212-414-1223
This back-to-basics bar may forgo some of the distractions of typical Irish pubs—like dartboards and pool tables—but it does boast nine plasma-screen TVs that will be broadcasting the parade (and March Madness games).
Nancy Whiskey Pub
1 Lispenard St., at Sixth Ave.; 212-226-9943
Bartenders not only sing along to the jukebox (Leonard Cohen, anyone?), they also provide quickie whiskey tutorials. Plus, any bar that serves corned beef and cabbage while dispensing green hats and leis is fine by us.
Nexus
76 E. 1st St., at First Ave.; 212-598-9126
This downstairs lounge pulls out all the stops on Saint Patrick’s Day. Its menu includes creations like bubble and squeak, corned-beef sandwiches on Irish soda bread, and fried Mars bars. Brian Conway, a two-time all-Ireland fiddle champion, takes the stage at 4 p.m., while the Dirty Water Dogs play sets at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
Ulysses’
58 Stone St., at Pearl St.; 212-482-0400
The old hands at this sprawling financial-district bar know a thing or two about pouring Guinness. They host an enormous celebration that begins at 5 p.m. on Friday the 16th. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Guinness girls will be there, and at midnight there’s a toast with Bailey’s. Slainte!
Woody McHale’s
234 W. 14th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-206-0430
Though corned beef is on the usual menu at this tavern, the $7.95 corned beef and cabbage is a one-day-only Saint Paddy’s special. Drink discounts include $4.50 Guinness Draft pints and $3 Sam Adams Light bottles.
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Brooklyn
Spike Hill
184 Bedford Ave., at N. 7th St.; Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-218-9737
Named after the owner’s parents’ farm in Galway, Ireland, Spike Hill is as authentic as you can get on Bedford Avenue. Chef Brett Ackerman whips up a limited menu: a traditional Irish breakfast (at any hour) and hot dogs for the Irishman on the go.
Water Street Restaurant & Lounge
66 Water St., nr. Main St., Dumbo, Brooklyn; 718-625-9352
If you want to avoid Manhattan’s crowds, head over to this Dumbo pub where you’re unlikely to bump into an out-of-towner with a face painted green. A special Saint Patrick’s Day menu is on tap, as are dozens of beers, including the new SixPoint IPA. Expect burlesque, live bands, and bagpipe classics on the jukebox.
TheBrazen Head
228 Atlantic Ave., nr. Court St., Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-488-0430
Generally, there’s little reason to venture here if you don’t already do so (with great regularity). But on Saint Paddy’s Day, the pub serves complimentary corned beef and potatoes from noon on. Pints of Guinness and Black & Tan are $4; shots of any Irish whiskey are $4.
Iona
180 Grand St., nr. Bedford Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-384-5008
This intimate and welcoming neo-tavern is the kind of place where no one will mind if you monopolize a window seat and nurse your pint all night. Tonight you can also listen to live music or nosh on the requisite corned beef and cabbage.
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Queens
Sean Ogs Tavern
60-02 Woodside Ave., Woodside; 718-899-3499
If you’re looking to hook up in Woodside, this cozy bar is probably one of your better bets. With a long, narrow, dark bar area full of late-night energy, Sean Ogs is a good place to make some bad drunken memories.
Saints and Sinners
59-21 Roosevelt Ave., at 60th St., Woodside; 718-396-3268
The staff’s logo-embroidered shirts might make you think you’ve entered some sort of local Houlihan’s, but the quality pour and the price of a Guinness pint assure that this place has its priorities straight.
The Cuckoo’s Nest
61-04 Woodside Ave., nr. Roosevelt Ave., Woodside; 718-426-5684
There’s something on the bar menu for every type of drinker. Hungry Guinness guzzler? Get the potato skins. Famished wine imbiber? Try the herb-breaded fried brie.