8 Amazing Irish Pubs to Visit this St. Patrick’s Day

Some of us may only be a wee bit Irish, however, the ambiance and energy of an authentic Irish pub, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, has many of us reaching for a Guinness, green beer, or Fish & Chips this time of year. Cozy pubs in historic US cities provide the best ambiance for celebrating. I have always been a fan of everything Irish.

Growing up on the southside of Chicago, I had my pick of wonderful local pubs, festivals, and one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country. Recently, I finally attended the annual dyeing of the Chicago River green (which has been on my bucket list for a long time!). Whenever I travel, I try to find a great local pub to test out. Oftentimes, it can be hard as a vegetarian to find something I can eat although there have been many nice surprises along the way.

Parades and cultural festivals continue to dominate the lineup of local events each March in many US cities. Many residents eagerly await for the annual parade. Interestingly enough, the first St. Patrick’s day parade was held in Boston in 1737, followed by an official parade in New York in 1766. Ireland itself did not get into the action until 1903!

St. Paddy’s Day has become a country-wide celebration, with people of all different backgrounds (regardless of their Irish heritage) decked up and down in green.

Here are a few fantastic pubs I have enjoyed throughout the US, from Tucson to Orlando. Whether you are craving a traditional plate of Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, or a pint of Guinness, you will find all the traditional flavors of Ireland and more at all the great pubs featured below.

Update: Sadly 2 amazing pubs featured on my original list (Rula Bula in Tempe and the Irish Embassy in downtown Durango closed in recent years). I have replaced these 2 with equally awesome pubs. Enjoy!

1. Raglan Road

Location: Orlando, Florida

Highlight: Live music & step dancing performances

Raglan Road is an amazing authentic pub located at Orlando’s touristy Disney Springs entertainment complex, formerly known as Downtown Disney. Featuring daily step dancing performances, a huge menu of authentic Irish favorites, and a gorgeous dining room and bar, this is one authentic restaurant not-to-be-missed if you are vacationing in Orlando mid-March. I also love the food, decor, and entertainment so much that I stop here even if my visit does not fall during the holiday. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to live in Tampa for several years and frequently daytripped to Orlando to enjoy fun themed restaurants like this local gem.

The decor at Raglan Road is completely authentic, right down to the bar which was built in and shipped straight from Ireland. I love the dark wood and the beautiful colorful stained glass. It’s just really an attractive space.

Complimentary to the authentic decor, the food is also straight from Ireland. Do not expect green beer or corned beef and cabbage here. In the words of house manager Enda O’Connor of Killarney, “It’s not Irish. Irish-American, but not Irish.” 

The menu is quite diverse, with traditional fare, a few local specialties, as well as a large selection of vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Raglan is known as one of the best places to dine gluten-free, with the staff taking great care to avoid cross contamination. Where else can you enjoy GF fish and chips?! When I lived in Tampa years ago I was eating GF at the time and was so happy to be able to enjoy their onion rings and fries. Now that I no longer dine GF, I can enjoy a lot more including the most delicious and rare vegan shepherd’s pie (how often have you seen this one the menu?)

The best part of visiting Raglan is watching the incredible step dancing performance. The talented award-winning dancers and musicians put on a spectacular show several times per day. And, if you are lucky enough to visit over St. Patrick’s weekend, you will find a whole lineup of festivities all weekend long. Every band and step dancer I’ve seen performed here has been nothing short of spectacular.

2. P.J. McIntyre’s

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Highlight: Amazing appetizers and weekday specials

P.J. McIntyre’s is an awesome pub located in a very Irish neighborhood of Cleveland known as Kamm’s Corner. I first visited this pub to check out their “Irish Power Hour” where they serve Guinness and Harp for just 3 bucks, but quickly found out that the appetizers are the best part of the menu. While the Fish and Chips here is decent enough, I really come for the incredible appetizer lineup which includes everything from Spinach Artichoke dip, to giant pretzels with cheese, Irish eggs rolls, and calamari. I really love the curry chips which is basically french fries served with the most amazing curry sauce.

Food aside, the ambiance is wonderful. There is a huge stone fireplace, a Jameson tree, gorgeous old stained glass, and a beautiful old bar. It’s dark and cozy so the perfect ambiance on a cold, overcast day (Cleveland gets plenty of these!).

I highly recommend putting this pub high on your bucket list if you happen to be visiting Cleveland this time of year. I actually found quite a few fun things to do over the holiday weekend in my 2 years living here. First off, the St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the oldest and best. Second, I noticed a lot of businesses and homeowners go all out with decor which makes me nostalgic for my childhood in Chicago where the holiday was a big deal. Third, there are lots of great pubs to support and even an Irish coffeehouse. Check out my Cleveland Irish guide for more details on March events.

3. Kell’s Irish Pub

Location: Portland, Oregon

Highlight: Cash donations collected on the ceiling and “sweeped” each year

Kell’s Irish pub is one of the top restaurants to try out in downtown Portland. It is super popular amongst both locals and tourists for a good reason. This lively local gem, founded in 1983, features beautiful decor, a fantastic menu, and a great lineup of entertainment, 7 days a week. The owner is a really nice guy and Mike and I enjoyed talking with him. This is by far the best restaurant we tried during our first trip to Portland.

Kell’s is unique in that they offer both traditional entrees along with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. In keeping up with Portland’s health conscious theme, there is a big emphasis on local, organic ingredients. In fact, even the ketchup is organic! I loved that I had so many healthy options to choose amongst here.

Menu highlights include: Kell’s Irish Nachos, Fish & Chips, Butternut squash and Barley Risotto (an excellent vegetarian option!), and the Jameson Chocolate Pot (a dark Belgian chocolate custard with Irish whiskey and shortbread cookie) for dessert. I would come back again just to indulge in the nachos again.

Cozy wood tables, a large fireplace, and exposed brick walls give Kell’s a super cozy feeling. This place is the perfect escape on those (almost constant) dreary Portland days. There is just something about a dark cozy pub that makes me feel nostalgic.

When you enter the pub, you will notice loads of money stuck up to the ceiling. Kell’s has a unique tradition of collecting donations throughout the year and putting the cash up on the ceiling. The ceiling is swept every St. Patrick’s Day, with proceeds being matched, and then donated to charity. Last year they raised over 13,000 for the Providence Children’s hospital! This gives the pub an eclectic vibe, plus I love that they donate. As of 2026, this tradition has been going strong for 31 years! Here’s to at least 30 more!

4. The Harp

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Update: Amazing Boxtys

The Harp is another amazing find in Cleveland, Ohio. As Cleveland is the 16th most Irish city in the country, it’s no surprise that there is no shortage of incredible authentic pubs to support.

I like that this pub offers a mix of traditional entrees plus some regional specialties. According to the business, the owner even uses an Irish soda bread recipe straight from their grandmother. I always respect restaurants which keep it more old school in today’s day and age where everything is modern and bland. It’s nice to support local businesses which take pride in their food.

While the Fish and Chips is amongst the best in town, they are also known for their Boxtys. I really love that they offer a vegetarian version which is quite awesome. This wonderful dish featured a potato pancake stuffed with sauteed carrots, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, squash, and spinach – with a decadent creamy spinach sauce on top. It’s super filling and delicious, so much so that I can’t order any appetizers but I do sneak a bit of Mike’s fries and coleslaw (both awesome).

The ambiance is homey and woodsy with a small cozy bar in the back. It’s always packed with people, and thus, I’ve never been able to capture a good picture of the interior. In the summer, you can take a seat on the patio and even catch a glimpse of the lake which is just minutes away. If you have the time, definitely check out some of the gorgeous Lake Erie beaches while you are in town!