Irish Pubs and Restaurants With Special Food and Festivities for St. Patrick's Day

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Chicago may have just celebrated its 189th birthday, but the real party is this weekend. The festivities honor not the city’s founding but St. Patrick’s Day, which is the occasion for arguably the most raucous revels in this proudly Irish city. While the official St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, celebrations are concentrated on the weekend before, with the River dyeing and downtown parade taking place on March 14 and the South Side and Northwest Side Irish parades on March 15.

Every bagpiper in the city must be occupied over that long weekend, as pubs and parades invite musicians and dancers in to provide live entertainment alongside beer dyed green to match the River and reuben sandwiches galore. 

We’ve compiled a list of some Irish restaurants and pubs offering specials over the long weekend, as well as some bakeries offering soda bread, brown bread, and more for the holiday. Many open early to accommodate parade-goers over the weekend and some are open late for those who won’t stop. Some establishments – especially near downtown – require tickets, so we encourage checking ahead. 

Butch McGuire’s at 20 W. Division St. - Not only can you enjoy St. Patrick’s Day inside this Gold Coast pub, you can also step outside for music, dance, food, and more at the Shamrock and Roll Street festival outside on March 14. 

Chief O'Neill’s at 3471 N. Elston Ave. - This large Irish pub named after a Chicago police chief who also compiled traditional Irish tunes naturally offers plenty of Irish music from Thursday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 17 (Monday excluded). You can also enjoy dance on some of those days, the Avondale St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday morning, and buffets Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. 

Cork & Kerry at 10614 S. Western Ave. and 3258 S. Princeton Ave. - You can enjoy the South Side Irish parade and drink specials at the location in Beverly, or an Irish pub closer to downtown at the Bridgeport location.

The Dearborn at 145 N. Dearborn St. - Owned by Irish sisters Amy Lawless and Clodagh Lawless, scions of an Irish restaurant family, The Dearborn has a menu of specials from March 12-17, engraving of Guinness glasses on March 12, and live music on March 14 and March 17. The performer on March 17 is Paddy Homan, the star of a PBS music special, I Am Ireland, that is available to stream. 

The Gage at 24 S. Michigan Ave. - Another upscale Irish restaurant downtown, The Gage is owned by Billy Lawless, brother to the owners of The Dearborn. You can find Irish specials from there March 13-17 and live music on March 14 and 17.

The Galway Arms at 2442 N. Clark St. - There’s sure to be live traditional music at this restaurant and pub in Lincoln Park, which features musicians four out of seven days of the week even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day. 

Guinness Open Gate Brewery at 901 W. Kinzie St. - Live music and dance and Irish special dishes enliven this Chicago Guinness brewery in the West Loop on March 13, 14, 15, and 17; tickets are required on March 14.

Irish American Heritage Center at 4626 N. Knox Ave. - Grab a beer and Irish specials in the Mayfair-based center’s Fifth Province Pub, which will also have live music and dance. You can get a four-day pass for festivities that start March 14 and run through March 17.

The Kerryman at 661 N. Clark St. - This Irish pub is in River North, not far from the River and the parade, so tickets are required for March 14, the day of the River dyeing. 

Lady Gregory’s at 5260 N. Clark St. - A full menu of Irish food specials is already on offer at this Andersonville pub, through March 17, with live music every day as well.

Lizzie McNeill’s at 400 N McClurg Court - Given its location just off the River, this pub requires tickets on March 14, the day of the River dyeing and parade. But there’s live music March 12 through 17, excluding March 16. 

Mystic Rogue at 6070 N. Northwest Highway - Irish music and dance fill the long weekend from March 12 through 17 at this Norwood Park pub, and you can get a Guinness pint glass engraved on March 12. The Northwest Side Parade goes past on March 15. 

O’Shaughnessy’s Public House at 4557 N. Ravenswood Ave. - This pub opens nice and early on March 14, 15, and 16, the rare place not taking a breather on the Monday between the weekend and St. Patrick’s Day.

Porter Cullens at 3541 W. 99th St. - You can catch live music every day from March 12 through 17 at this Evergreen Park pub and restaurant, which also has specialty cocktails, many a vivid green.

Pippin’s Tavern at 39 E. Chicago Ave. - Live music, Irish food specials: it’s what you’d expect from a longstanding Irish tavern. 

Shamrock’n at Old St. Pat’s at 625 W. Adams St. - Historic Old St. Patrick’s Catholic church hosts a street festival on March 14 with food, drinks, live music, dancing, and kid-friendly activities. Tickets required.  

Vaughan’s Pub at 5485 N Northwest Highway - This Gladstone Park pub opens early March 14 through 17 with Irish food specials and live music and dance on March 14. 

Wilde Bar & Restaurant at 3130 N. Broadway - Irish food specials are already running at this Lakeview restaurant, while live music and dance join the fun on March 14, 15, and 17.

Other Irish pubs and restaurants where you're likely to find festivities (if not always food) for St. Patrick’s Day: Blackthorn Pub (3300 W. 111th St.), Celtic Crossings (751 N. Clark St.), The High Stool Bar (5522 N. Elston Ave.), Irish Nobleman (1367 W. Erie St.), Lanigan’s Irish Pub (3119 W. 111th St.), Ma O’Brien’s (5734 N Elston Ave.), Mrs. Murphy’s and Sons Irish Bistro (3905 N. Lincoln Ave.), Shinnick’s Pub (3758 S. Union Ave.), Six Penny Bit (5800 W. Montrose Ave.), The Wolfhound Bar & Kitchen (3188 N. Elston Ave.).

Bakeries with soda bread, brown bread, whiskey cake, and other Irish specialties: Beverly Bakery & Cafe (10528 S. Western Ave.), Bennison’s Bakery (1000 Davis St. in Evanston), Daisies (2375 N Milwaukee Ave.), Floriole (1220 W. Webster Ave.), Hewn Bakery (1733 Central St. in Evanston), Publican Quality Bread (1759 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago and 211 Harrison St. in Oak Park).