The 50 Best Irish Pubs In America

So you won't be able to make it back to the old country for St. Patrick's Day this year. Not surprising; neither will we. But that doesn't mean you have to celebrate the day like a phony. Get back in touch with whatever immigrant roots you can claim at your local Irish pub. Taste fresh-tapped draught Guinness. Experience the art of the pour. Pound whiskey. Detonate car bombs (inside your guts).

Get as close to Ireland as possible at any of these spots, the 50 best Irish pubs in America.

City: Raleigh, N.C.
Address: 311 Glenwood Ave.
Website: hibernianpub.com

This Raleigh staple mixes tradition (live music, cold pints) with the contemporary (free wireless internet access). Spacious, with plenty of rooms available to rent for your next birthday party, the Hibernian also offers plenty of outdoor seating. With the sudden appearance of nice weather, grabbing a Guinness and posting up at one of the picnic tables to watch the girls in skirts is a better, more attainable dream than whatever you've been pining for all workday.

City: Nashville
Address: 2740 Old Lebanon Rd.
Website: mcnamarasirishpub.com

McNamara's has the necessary requirement for an Irish pub—authentic Irish music. Everyone in Nashville knows of the city's famous music scene, and everyone knows that the McNamara's house band, Nosey Flynn, is one of the city's best. This may be one of the newest bars on the list, but we are firm believers in the words of Robert Kelly: Age is but a number.

City: Germantown, Wis.
Address: N116 W16218 Main St.
Website: bubsirishpub.com

Voted the best Irish bar in Wisconsin by IrishBeerFinder and named the best live music venue in Milwaukee, Bub's covers all the bases: food, beer, music, and dance. When the pub first opened in 2003, it took its name from a famous group of local Irish dancers who went by the name The Bubs. Check out live tunes on Saturday nights from bands like Oil Can Harry and Pete & the Hot Mess. At over 15,000 square feet, there's plenty of room for cutting a rug.

City: State College, Pa.
Address: 538 East College Ave.
Website: kildaresirishpub.com

There are a few things State College is better equipped for than football and drinking. As you may have heard, Penn State had a tumultuous year on the gridiron, so you can forgive Nittany Lions for wanting to indulge in the latter pastime. Take a seat at Kildare's, have a drink. Maybe order some of the tasty wings. And if your St. Patrick's Day disappoints, there's always State Patty's Day. And vice versa.

City: Denver
Address: 1201 E Colfax Ave. #100
Website: irishsnug.com

The concept of a “snug” (a private speakeasy) originated in Ireland. Vistors would pay a little bit extra for their drinks in order to not be seen—strictly for those who wouldn't want to be eyed in public. Now, it's the present and the Snug has a corned beef egg roll. Pair that with a "Black Velvet," a Guinness and cider mixture and toast to the future.

City: Baltimore
Address: 1371 Andre St.
Website: pw1.netcom.com

The offical home of the Baltimore Folk Music Society, J. Patrick's is your home for real Irish music in Maryland. The pub is famous for its Irish coffee and friendly staff. A pub so fine, you might find Jimmy McNulty falling off his stool beside you. But since everyone is so nice, he won't try to pin any bodies on you.

City: Pensacola, Fla.
Address: 600 East Gregory St.
Website: mcguiresirishpub.com

This pub serves up a $100 burger that's more of a gimmick than anything (ground filet mignon, served with caviar and Moët) but it boast a huge menu and a long list of recommendations. Try one of the steaks if you're feeling less stupid with your cash. McGuire's also offers an 18-cent soup, so they're not only out for one thing (or maybe they are—jokes). And another one: The in-house brewery creates a beer fit to drink out of a brown paper bag. More and more chuckles.

City: Tucson, Ariz.
Address: 800 East University Blvd. #104
Website: aulddubliner.com

The folks behind the Auld Dubliner wanted to recreate a small village pub, so they brought one, piece by piece, to Tucson. Advertised as Tucson's "very first" authentic Irish pub, they feature all the classics on tap (Guinness, Bass, Harp) and plenty of Irish whiskeys. Now, the bacon and parmesan cheese tots might not be as authentic, but the bar brought them to our mouths first, and for that we're forever grateful.

City: Atlanta
Address: 4058 Peachtree Rd.
Website: pub71.com

A real relaxed pub, where a drink can be had without having to scream in a friend's ear. Guinness BBQ wings are a serious man's pub food; we like to go on Wednesdays when they're all you can eat. Because we're serious eaters. Pub 71 also caters to serious sleepers—the St. Patrick's Day celebration doesn't kick off until 11:30 a.m., giving you plenty of time to rest before the long day ahead.

City: Lawrence, Mass.
Address: 399 Canal St.
Website: thecladdaghpub.com

Lawrence is a town about 30 minutes north of Boston, making the Claddagh perfect for when you need to run away from urban Massholes. Unpretentious and simple, the Claddagh regularly hosts live bands. Two will perform on St. Patrick's Day. However, if you're into something a bit more casual, know that Thursdays are college/live DJ nights. Live DJ at the pub? Sounds weird.

City: Portland, Oregon
Address: 6000 Northeast Glisan St.
Website: biddymcgraws.com

Biddy McGraw's: sounds so good, we've decreed our intern must name their first born the same. Go to Biddy's to hear some serious bluegrass music, different from the normal Irish pub fare. Hit up brunch and get the stuffed brioche french toast. Again, non-traditional but believe in the name. Say it with us now: Biddy McGraw's.

City: Louisville, Ky.
Address: 2319 Frankfort Ave.
Website: theirishroverky.com

Real-deal Irish food, including fish cakes and smokies (salt-dried haddock that's smoked) are the highlight at the Rover. Real-deal Irish servers, too, including men and women. The pub claims to have taken relaxation to an art form. Well, our St. Patrick's Day festivities tend to be breakneck sprints to the vomitorium, but this could be a nice change of pace.

City: Houston
Address: 2425 Norfolk St.
Website: mcgonigels.com

Since 1990, McGonigel's has specialized in music, but unlike most Irish pubs the bar isn't beholden to the styles of the Emerald Isle. The open mic night on Mondays finds up-n-coming country artists competing for the spotlight, while the other evenings are packed with shows from industry greats. Whether you want a simple Guinness or a micro brew, the pub has an extensive draught list for even the most picky drinker. And, like we said, even if you're picky about your twangy accents and strummed six-strings, you'll still be satisfied.

City: Austin, Texas
Address: 204 East 6th St.
Website: bdrileys.com

The best place to grab a Guinness in Austin is also one of the most adventurous Irish pubs as far as food is concerned. Black bean queso at the pub? Yes, please. B.D. Riley's gathers accolades from the most disparate places. It's a SXSW venue, and acknowledged as one of the best places to catch a Notre Dame game outside of South Bend. Keep Austin weird, yes.

City: San Diego
Address: 544 5th Ave.
Website: thefield.com

The Field calls itself the most authentic Irish bar in San Diego, “literally shipped piece-by-piece” from Ireland. The fish comes hot from the kitchen battered in Guinness, which is so much nicer than forcing us to pour beer over our dinner. The Field's won numerous "Best Pub" awards from the California Restaurant Association. On St. Patty's, the pub's doors swing open at 5:30 a.m. sharp. King shit.

City: Boston
Address: 160 State St.
Website: blackroseboston.com

Skeptics might balk at the Black Rose's high-traffic, touristy location, but don't be fooled. The food is top-notch, often thrown around during "best of Boston" debates. And Bono has played there. If The Black Rose is good enough for Bono, it's good enough for you.

City: Mystic, Conn.
Address: 4 Pearl St.
Website: harpandhound.com

Housed in one of the oldest buildings in Mystic, and at one point host to meetings of the Daughters of the Revolution, The Harp and the Hound is like a museum that doubles as a pub. It was opened by Leo Roche, who hails from Limerick, Ireland, as a pub-away-from-pub. Historic building, imported Irish furniture, and Guinness on tap—in other words, everything you need.

City: Jamaic Plain, Mass.
Address: 3484 Washington St.
Website: doylescafeboston.com

The mahogany bar at Doyle's is over 100 years old, and behind it you'll find one of the largest selections of draughts in New England. Not good enough? They got a ringing endorsement from a mayor of Galway City—in Ireland, mind you—as the "best pub outside Galway." That'll do, that'll do.

City: Detroit
Address: 349 Monroe St.
Website: oldshillelagh.com

What's a shillelagh? Remember Monk from Gangs of New York? He carried a walking stick (or club) with a knot at the end. You might need one of these if you beef with the regulars. Amateurs are advised not to fuck with Detroit natives, as that city is one of the realest. Make peace early with a round of Jameson and melt into the background at this bar, a staple since 1975, now seeing its third generation of owners.

City: Savannah, Ga.
Address: 117 West River St.
Website: kevinbarrys.com

The two-storey Kevin Barry's has live music daily. They were voted one of the best bars for military personnel in the country. The bar takes credit for marching Irish music south of D.C. Salute for that, and also for selling the second highest amount of Guinness in the entire state of Georgia.

City: Las Vegas
Address: 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Website: ninefineirishmen.com

New York, New York or Ireland? Inside the New York, New York Casino in Vegas is Nine Fine Irishmen, an Irish pub as extravagant as the casino and city it lives in. Authentic? In a Vegas way—it was built in Ireland and then shipped to the States. A little over the top? Of course. And it wouldn't be Vegas without a little music. The setlists at Nine Fine Irishmen are heavy on Celtic rock as well as the traditional fiddling and such. The City of Sin permeates all things.

City: Somerville, Mass.
Address: 247 Elm St.
Website: burren.com

The Burren is a rock-covered expanse in County Clare, Ireland, dotted with crude and enigmatic stone structures. Irish pubs are made up of crude and enigmatic gentleman (at least the good ones). Now does the name make sense? Of course the pints are right, but the Burren is extra special for the stand-up comedy, which is great even if you drink two Guinnesses instead of ten.

City: New Orleans
Address: 331 Decatur St.
Website: kerryirishpub.com

New Orleans is a drinking town, but this pub stands out, even among the glittering debauchery of the French Quarter. A straight dive—in the right kind of way—the Kerry is small and smokey, the way a bar should be. Plenty of locals frequent this spot, meaning no one will be throwing beads at you. And it wouldn't be New Orleans without live music seven days a week, so grab a Jameson (neat, of course) and get at it.

City: Portland, Maine
Address: 375 Fore St.
Website: n/a

Portland is one of the homier towns in Maine, an easy gateway into the shockingly polite Northeast. Bull Feeney's claims the most extensive selection of single malt Scotch and Irish whiskeys in the state. They also host a regular cheese and bacon happy hour. Oh, and you can eat fresh lobster with your impeccably poured Guinness. If the other Portland just became your next vacation destination, we have nothing but dap for you.

City: Santa Montica, Calif.
Address: 2615 Wilshire Blvd.
Website: sonnymcleans.com

This place got a huge publicity boost when one of the FBI's most wanted criminals, James “Whitey” Bulger (a.k.a. the inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character in The Departed) was nabbed. In the whirlwind of press following his pinching, it came to light that Sonny McLean's was one of his favorite haunts. The food served here, though Irish-inspired, has a clear Cali influence. Probably Whitey was just there for the beer. He strikes us as a purist.

City: Phoenix
Address: 906 East Camelback Rd.
Website: rosiemccaffreys.com

Seamus McCaffrey from Belfast, Ireland, left because of “the Troubles” and eventually found himself in Phoenix. But what he found was not encouraging—no Irish pubs and no Guinness. To correct this, he opened his first bar, The Dubliner, and brought sweet Guinness draught to the city. Things were never the same. McCaffrey has since opened a number of other bars. Rosie McCaffrey's, named after his wife, is the best of the bunch. Order the fish and chips—it's consistently voted the best in Phoenix.

City: Spring Lake, N.J.
Address: 2031 New Jersey 71
Website: ssgpub.com

Well-received in New Jersey, but largely unknown outside of the Garden State, St. Stephen's is famous for food. In fact, its menu is arguably the most authentic on this entire list. Most of the time you need a reason to go to New Jersey—St. Stephen's can be that. They serve their Irish breakfast—a hash of scrambled eggs, roasted tomato, ashers, bangers, beans, boxty cake, black and white pudding, and stout and ale bread—all day. That's reason number two.

City: Chicago
Address: 4530 N. Lincoln Ave.
Website: thegrafton.com

Because Chicago has a large Irish population, they do pubs right. The Grafton Pub has one of the best burgers in the city and mulled wine in the winter months. On St. Patrick's Day, the doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the rugby coverage begins at high noon. Try not to black out before then.

City: Indianapolis
Address: 2533 East Washington St.
Website: goldenaceinn.com

McGinley's was opened at the end of Prohibition by an Irish immigrant couple with no knowledge of the bar business. They took some time observing beer preferences and ran the place the best possible way—simply. It's stayed in the McGinley family ever since, serving cheap but delicious food (the cheeseburger, voted the best in Indianapolis, costs a whopping $3.50) and cold beer. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

City: Minneapolis
Address: 931 Nicollet Mall
Website: the-local.com

Apparently the greatest thing to come from Minnesota isn't the Mighty Ducks or Prince! It's The Local. 80 foot bar? Love it. Their signature drink? The Big Ginger, a simple combination of Jameson, ginger ale, and both lemon and lime wedges. They have a ton of beer on tap, but who cares when they have the Big Ginger. Did we mention that we like the Big Ginger? And we're not the only ones—in 2008, when the bar kept track of this sort of thing, they were going through 22 bottles of Jameson a day making just Big Gingers.

City: New York
Address: 1641 2nd Ave.
Website: mollysshebeen.com

NYC has a lot of pubs to choose from (and who wants to pick one in the rich crap factory know as Gramercy), but Molly's has miraculously carved out a space for non-douchebags. Just about every paper in NYC has written the praises of Molly's, a place with a burger so underrated it boggles the mind. Some folks might not dig the gruff attitude from the bartenders, but those d-bags should just steer clear. Molly's doesn't want you.

City: Philadelphia
Address: 1310 Drury St.
Website: mcgillins.com

Since opening in 1860, McGillin's has never closed its doors, making it the oldest continually operating bar in Philadelphia, which makes it one of the oldest in the country, too. Having the necessary room and the right attitude, McGillin's attracts drinking-game enthusiasts. A great spot for when you're feeling Irish, fratty, or some combination of the two.

City: San Francisco
Address: 116 Clement St.
Website: theploughandstars.com

The live music draws a mixed crowd of young and old enthusiasts of all things Irish at this worn-in, old-world pub. When the traditional music stops, come back to America by playing Steve Earle on the jukebox while you smack the pool balls around. SF Weekly named it the "Best Irish Pub" in the city; if you've had a Guinness here, you didn't need that particular alt-weekly to tell you that.

City: Boston
Address: 11 Marshall St.
Website: somerspubs.com/green-dragon

The original Green Dragon was a public house established in the early 18th century, smack-dab in the home of the American Revolution. Paul Revere frequented the joint for drinks, and the Boston Tea Party was planned within its hallowed walls. Though that building was demolished, the new Green Dragon Tavern, located on Marshall Street, pays homage to the history of Boston in name and spirit. Raise a glass for no king and country.

City: Alexandria, Va.
Address: 11 North Pitt St.
Website: pattroysirishpub.com

To honor his Irish-Catholic roots, President Reagan famously visited this pub in 1988. Among other hands the 71-year old Pat Troy has shaken include Pope Benedict XVI and Charlton Heston. When he's not schmoozing with the rich and famous, Troy runs a bar, named one of the best in the D.C. area for it's dog-friendly happy hour. Some things you just can't make up.

City: New Orleans
Address: 3701 Banks St.
Website: finnmccools.com

The owners of Finn McCool's came to America from Belfast and decided to open up a piece of home. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina had other plans for their bar and their city. Still, the bar managed to reopen in the wake of the disaster, bringing Ireland back to Mid-City. Known for its trivia night and regular soccer programming, McCool's has earned every award it has won, including "Best Neighborhood Bar," a title recently bestowed by Gambit, the Big Easy's famous weekly paper.

City: Chicago
Address: 3511 North Clark St.
Website: irishoak.com

The Irish Oak, located in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of the Chi, is the perfect place to drown your sorrows after a Cubs loss. Nothing helps us get over a real heartbreaker better than a well-seasoned burger and a Guinness. Plenty of room, so bring everyone who feels like crying into their beers.

City: Chicago
Address: 2442 North Clark St.
Website: galwayarms.com

All you can eat fish and chips for 10 bucks. Forget quality, go quantity (though they're delicious). Pretend to be Catholic and head down to the Arms on Fridays and sit with the other Lent-lovers. Or go for trivia on Wednesdays if you can't find a rosary to pass the time.

City: Milwaukee, Wis.
Address: 142 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Website: mosirishpub.com

In the heart of downtown Milwaukee sits Mo's. Though it has all the trappings of your standard Irish pub, Mo's stands out for its serious St. Patrick's Day celebration. How serious? They open at 6 o'clock in the morning. That serious. For the first two hours the pub will be open on Saturday, a free bar tab will be raffled off every 20 minutes. Early bird drinks the worm. And goes on to ravage whatever else the day brings.

City: Bronx, N.Y.
Address: 445 West 238th St.
Website: anbealbochtcafe.com

An Beal Bocht Cafe is a busy bar offering more than your standard pints and whiskey. They have art exhibitions, poetry readings, theatre, live music, and readings. Come for the Irish breakfast and stay for the whatever. Gotta love black and white pudding on the same plate. Harmonious.

City: Houston
Address: 509 Main St.
Website: mollyspubs.com

Though it's located in the forever-trill city of Houston, Molly's is yet another pub to receive the stamp-of-approval from famed restaurateur Tom Horan, the man with the Irish pub top 10 everyone clamors to appear on. With a $2.75 pint night, anyone skeptical of Molly's charms can be drunk into submission. And if those beers don't convince, there's always the upstairs party room.

City: Pittsburgh
Address: 1227 Monterey St.
Website: montereypub.com

Monterey Pub is located in the Mexican War Streets, a historic neighborhood in Pittsburgh's North Side. The menu includes such delights as Guinness nachos, a quality bar food that can be shared by many, or destroyed by one bold man. On St. Patrick's Day, the spot opens at 1 p.m., giving you plenty of time to warm up one of the fancy antique mahogany booths before the live music starts at 7 p.m. Be sure to pace yourself.

City: Seattle
Address: 808 Post Ave.
Website: owlnthistle.com

We might describe this place as quaint if we were bougie assholes (though the name is a wee bit much). The Happy Hour special promises burger, fries, and a beer for under $7 dollars. A great place to catch a Sonics game. Did we say Sonics? We meant it's a great place to stare at the wall blankly for three hours. But on St. Patrick's Day, petty sports rivalries won't matter—it'll be all community, music, and friendship. Until 11 p.m. where everyone is too drunk and the fights start.

City: Toluca Lake, Calif.
Address: 10111 Riverside Dr.
Website: timmynolans.net

The biggest problem facing this California establishment? An identity crisis. Is Timmy Nolan's an Irish pub or a sports bar? Ponder this while you sample the large beer and whiskey selection, or while you chew on traditional fare like corned beef and cabbage. Regardless of what conclusion you come to (and that corned beef and cabbage should be a tip-off), rest assured you're drinking in a great bar.

City: San Francisco
Address: 10 Mark Ln.
Website: theirishbank.com

The real thing in San Fran. Any bar that you have to walk down an alley to get to has that gutter feel we love. When the fog blows off in S.F., chill in the alley for outdoor drinking done right. Hopefully NoCal will be experiencing one such nice day this St. Patrick's—the bar is slated to open at 9 a.m., and Irish rebel reggae music is promised on the itinerary. Sounds like the perfect complement to blue cheese fries and green beer.

City: New York
Address: 15 East 7th St.
Website: mcsorleysnewyork.com

If you've spent time in New York City, chances are you know about McSorley's. When it actually opened is forever a matter of debate, but it has definitely been around for over 100 years. Sawdust on the floors soaks up any mess (a must on St. Patrick's Day) and the coal-burning stove in the center keeps the joint toasty. The entire place—walls and everything—is jammed with stuff, including a pair of Houdini's handcuffs hanging behind the bar. Like drinking in your grandfather's attic, if your grandfather was a devil-may-care Irish hoarder with fine taste and an insatiable thirst for pints.

City: Syracuse, N.Y.
Address: 100 South Lowell Ave.
Website: colemansirishpub.com

Established in 1933, Coleman's is an institution in 'Cuse. Located in Tipperary Hill, the Irish neighborhood west of downtown that was settled in the 1820s, the bar has a tiny leprechaun door on the side to let you know where the owners stand on the truthfulness of certain beloved national myths. If you get drunk enough, try and crawl through—and probably get kicked out.

City: St. Louis
Address: 1200 Russell Blvd.
Website: mcgurks.com

McGurk's, recognized as one of the best bars in America by Esquire, hosts Irish music seven nights a week. Some more stats: McGurk's has five different bars taking drink orders within the pub, meaning no worries about pissing off the bartender. According to the Web, the pub is "nearly 20,000 square feet of pure Irish fun." That sounds like an amusement park for drunks. Sign us up.

City: Cleveland
Address: 4408 Detroit Ave.
Website: the-harp.com

The greatness (and authenticity) of The Harp has been proclaimed by various media outlets, from MSN to Maxim (yeah, we know, but it's still a national publication). The amount of positive press the joint receives is matched only by the generous scoops of ice cream and voluminous amounts of whipped cream that make up their signature Guinness ice cream sundae. Dig into one on the large outdoor patio, where you can take in the bar's self-proclaimed "best view in Cleveland." Translation: an unobstructed look at Lake Erie and the Browns stadium. Whether or not you order the mammoth sundae on St. Patrick's Day depends on how courageous you are. Dairy and all-day drinking are not the happiest bedfellows. We've had to learn the hard way.

City: Portland, Oregon
Address: 112 SW Second Ave.
Website: kellsirish.com

These days, you're lucky to find a dank alley you can smoke in without being harassed. Kells, however, has its own cigar room. The spot topped noted restaurateur Tom Horan's list for best Irish pub in America in 2012, and has been included on his highly-respected hot sheet for the past 10 years. Their St. Patrick's festival is the largest in the Northwest. They even host amateur boxing events. Boozing and brawling—sounds like home to us.