St. Patty’s Day or not, San Diego is filled with fun Irish bars to visit during a night out on the town. While St. Patrick’s Day is technically not part of the holiday events San Diego, San Diegans celebrate the Irish feast. From Downtown San Diego to Gaslamp Quarter to Little Italy and beyond, check out the best Irish bars San Diego has to offer!

1. The Field

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than by enjoying traditional Irish food like corned beef and cabbage or shepherd’s pie? The Field Irish Pub offers a piece of Ireland courtesy of two Irish transplants for a truly authentic experience. Located on Fifth Avenue, in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll find yourself centrally located for all St Paddy’s Day festivities or any time of the year when you’re in need of some warm, hearty grub.

2. BarleyMash

Starting the festivities off right every St. Patrick’s Day, Barley Mash serves up a traditional corned beef Reuben that you can pair with a boilermaker, Dew, and Brew (Tullamore Dew and a green Coors light). Or, choose to opt for their whiskey flight with five tasting options. Either way, being centrally located in the Gaslamp Quarter, be sure to add them to your March 17th schedule.

3. Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub

As a little piece of history serving up popular Irish drinks and hosting live performances, Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub is a can’t-miss! Located in the Keating Building on F Street, this little pub has been around since the 1930s, at the end of prohibition. Try one of their Irish Coffees, Patrick’s Mule with whiskey, or a refreshing Irish Maid, which is a mixture of whiskey, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, and lemon. Yum!

4. The Smoking Gun

Known for being Gaslamp’s favorite all-in-one sports bar, arcade, and smokehouse, The Smoking Gun is the place to be this Paddy’s Day. They will not only be offering an Irish-themed menu featuring their hearty, healthy Irish TV Dinner, but they will be the starting point of the San Diego St Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl & Block Party. Doors open at noon with the Pub Crawl & Block Party event starting at 3 pm.

Courtesy of SoCalPulse

5. Stout Public House

Hear me out on this one; an Irish pub and hockey bar combo. That’s exactly what you get at Stout Public House. Enjoy classics like Irish Bangers and Mash, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, and Fish and Chips at this Irish-Canadian public house. Accompany these with any of their over 75 whiskeys, or grab a proper pint of Guinness.

6. The Whiskey House

Nothing says Ireland more than Guinness and whiskey. Good thing The Whiskey House in the Gaslamp Quarter has both. In fact, they are the Guinness World Record holder for the most whiskey in the world; over 4,000 to be exact. Choose to partake in an Irish Whiskey flight to taste the best of Ireland, ranging from $32 to $149.

7. Shakespeare Pub

Although established as a British pub, the Shakespeare Pub in Mission Hills has been doing St Patrick’s Day right for over 30 years! They offer a traditional Irish menu, as well as host a live piper and drummer showcase. Don’t forget to try a Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale and save room for Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake!

Courtesy of ThereSanDiego

8. McGregor’s Grill

Everyone’s favorite Irish bar and restaurant out by the stadium, McGregor’s Grill, is sticking to its roots with its specialties like their brunch favorite, Hangover Hash, featuring corned beef and potatoes, and their Irish Nachos, composed of loaded kettle-style potato chips. Pair either with a Guinness Stout and enjoy! Both indoor and patio seating are available, or you can post up by the billiards, shuffleboard table, or dart board. The best part is it’s a short walk from the trolley, so you won’t have to drive or rideshare. Sláinte!

9. Hooley’s Public House

With two locations to choose from in Rancho San Diego and La Mesa, Hooley’s Public House is a great Irish bar and restaurant in San Diego for those traditional Irish dishes. From good ‘ol Guinness Irish Stew to Corned Beef and Cabbage, even Irish Boxty, Hooley’s knows tradition. Can’t go wrong pairing any of these with a draft Smithwick’s or an Irish Mule. Enjoy the grub alongside a live music lineup playing at both locations.

10. The Harp

Not only does The Harp in Ocean Beach have Guinness on draft but this friendly little Irish pub also sticks to its Celtic-inspired origin by providing corned beef hash plates, Leprechaun soup, and whiskey specials. Head down to this Ocean Beach institution to celebrate this St Patrick’s Day.

11. Long Story Irish Pub

Traditional Irish fare, Guinness, whisky cocktails, Guinness, innovative takes on classic pub grub, and did they mention Guinness?? A St Patrick’s Day schedule has not been released yet; however, this past year, doors opened at 6 am to start off festivities with golf cart shuttles to and from the St Paddy’s O’Beach Party by the pier. Stall the ball and head to Long Story Irish Pub for a pint of the black stuff. What a lucky way to spend the day!

12. St Paddy’s O’Beach Party

Live music, green beer, and all sorts of shenanigans! Taking over the parking lot at the end of Newport by the Ocean Beach pier, the folks that brought you OB Oktoberfest and the Chili Cook-Off now present to you St Paddy’s O’Beach Party. Show up early for the 5K Fun Run or sign up for the Corned Beef Invitational – cornhole competition. Don your Kelly green, head down to the beach, and compete to be crowned Mr. or Mrs. Corned Beef. Dates and times have yet to be released, but you can check out their website for more information.

Courtesy of St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party

Interested in something outside of the pub? Why not take things up a notch at the best rooftop bars in San Diego.

13. St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

Kick-off St. Patrick’s Day early with the Irish Congress of Southern California’s 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on March 11, 2023. The Irish Festival in Balboa Park will be open from 9 am-6 pm and will feature live entertainment on two stages, Irish step dancers, traditional music, and more! Delicious food and beverage vendors will be set up, offering various Irish-inspired dining options, while you can grab your favorite Irish brews in the beer garden.

The flag presentation will be at the corner of Sixth and Laurel at 9:45 am, while the parade will step off at the corner of Fifth and Laurel at 10:30 am, heading north towards Upas before crossing over to head south on Sixth. Although the 2023 theme has yet to be announced, you can check for more information as it becomes available on their website.

Courtesy of San Diego Union-Tribune

Whether you’re looking for an Irish pub to enjoy the traditional dishes of Ireland or are planning out your St. Patrick’s Day festivities, San Diego has something for everyone. Grab yourself a proper Guinness pint or an Irish whiskey, and cheers to being Irish for the day!

Written by:

This blog was written by Aleezah Davenport. Aleezah is a native San Diegan, and a second-generation PLNU alumna. She enjoys exploring the city and taking her girls out for dinner on the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs. Writing about San Diego provides her the opportunity to learn more about the local scene, and share her newfound knowledge about her hometown – two of the things she loves most. She enjoys sharing her passions with readers, and is excited to be writing for a platform that provides fun information to a large audience.