St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to figure out where you’ll be buying a round of drinks for you and your friends come March 17th. As the luck of the Irish would have it, Cincinnati is full of great bars and restaurants throwing St. Paddy’s shindigs this year – partiers welcome.
Whether it’s drinking at a bar, enjoying some top notch noshing, or trying something totally new, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the hottest spots in Cincy this year so that you can find your group’s perfect vibe. Getting your game plan together early is the key to locking down a lucky and joyful St. Paddy’s Day for all!
Here’s what’s on the docket:
- Quick overview of city-wide St. Patrick’s Day festivities
- In-depth look at some of the most popular pubs and bars in Cincinnati
- St. Patrick’s Day celebration options with all the fun, and none of the alcohol
- As many pets in green outfits as I can possibly squeeze into one article
I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s dive in.
Cover the first round with GiftYa 🍻
Looking for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day gift for one of your friends, or maybe just trying to coax a few of your favorite introverts to join in the fun? We’ve got a gift so good you could find it at the end of the rainbow: a giftcard to your favorite Cincinnati business, of course!
We’ve noted all of the spots on this list currently in the GiftYa catalog, which means it’s easy to send an e-gift card to any participating businesses. Personalize and send a gift card to thousands of local and national businesses, right to the lucky recipient’s phone, in seconds. The luck of the Irish is on your side today!
💚 Paddy’s Pro Tip: We all have a friend that likes to go rogue on a night out. Make sure your favorite people make it home safe when you text them an Uber gift card or a Lyft gift card to use when they’re through partying for the night.
🍀 Top St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawls & Events in Cincinnati
Every neighborhood has its own celebration going on. Here’s your TLDR; guide to what’s going down, so you can decide once in for all if you’re focusing your energies on Clifton, Downtown Cincy, or Over the Rhine… or just maybe all of the above.
Pre-Paddy’s Parties
Saturday March 11th
- We just can’t wait for Cincinnati’s 55th St. Patrick’s Day Parade – and neither could the organizers. The event begins with the National Anthem at 11:50 and gets underway at noon.
- Can’t wait to start the party? The Luck of the Irish Pub Crawl heads out on March 11th for some daytime celebration, 1pm to 8pm. Tickets are $10.99 and include a map, wristband, discounts, and more.
Wednesday March 15th
- The party kicks off early at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Party in Fountain Square downtown. This is your hub for downtown festivities – Celtic rock music, authentic Irish food, and of course plenty of beer. Things wrap up Friday, March 17.
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Pub Crawls
Friday March 17th
- Get in on the Official St. Paddy’s Friday Pub Crawl. The pub crawl runs 6pm to midnight and includes stops at some of Cincinnati’s favorite watering holes. Tickets run $10.99 and get you maps, wristbands, discounts, and more.
- Day 1: Partake in a Cincy tradition with Lucky’s 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl on Friday & Saturday. Tickets are $15-$20 and include two drink tickets, covers at all venues, discounts, afterparty access, professional photographers, and more.
Saturday March 18th
- Day 2: Partake in a Cincy tradition with Lucky’s 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl on Friday & Saturday. Tickets are $15-$20 and include two drink tickets, covers at all venues, discounts, afterparty access, professional photographers, and more.
- Hit up some of Cincy’s favorite bars and pubs with the Shamrock Stroll. Don your best green duds and head out for a 1pm-8pm adventure. Tickets are $10.99 and include map, wristband, discounts, and more.
🍀 Best Bars & Pubs for St. Patrick’s Day in Cincinnati
Looking for something a little more low key? We’ve got you covered too. If you’re selecting just one or two spots for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, make sure you grab them from this list.
1. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
Kegs & Eggs St. Patrick’s Day Feast for the Early Birds… or Very Late Night Owls
Send a Molly Malone’s gift card
112 E 4th St | Covington | mollymalonesirishpub.com
Rise and shine, St. Patrick’s Day Partiers! Molly Malone’s Irish Pub gets the festivities started right with kegs and eggs starting at 7am. So roll yourself out of bed the same time you would to head to the office – and head here instead. The first 100 guests through the door will get a free souvenir t-shirt, and the self-proclaimed “Biggest Paddy’s Day Party in the Tri-State Area” only ramps up from there.
Molly’s festivities will include two stages – one on the third floor and a tent outside – where you can enjoy live Irish music and other entertainment all day. It’s got everything you could want in a St. Patrick’s Day party. Irish dancers? Check. Bagpipers? Check. And of course, plenty of green beer on tap.
“Lots of beer options, food was good and great atmosphere. There was a group of locals jamming out on the other side of the bar that sounded great. Service was really good and the glasses stayed full. I'd recommend going there anytime you're in downtown Cinci.” - Yelp Review
Send a Molly Malone’s gift card
2. Keystone Bar & Grill
Enjoy All-Out St. Patrick’s Day Shenanigans
Text a Keystone Bar & Grill gift card
313 Greenup St | Covington | www.keystonebar.com
Two days to party means twice the fun. Last year Keystone Bar & Grill decided they were “Dublin” down on the St. Paddy’s Day shenanigans with an all-day weekend event for St. Patrick’s Day as well as an evening-of celebration.
They’re keeping the details of their 2023 plans under wraps as of this writing (check for updates on their event page here), but no matter what the celebration entails, you can always rely on Keystone Bar & Grill for college basketball on TV and plenty of specials on all your favorite beverages.
“Always a great time, and not our first time by a long shot- good food good vibes for 7+ years we've been going. Tonight was especially great! Its burger week and their maple bacon burger was amazing!! They were super busy but we had great service regardless. ” - Yelp Review
Text a Keystone Bar & Grill gift card
3. Dingle House Irish Pub & Grill
Irish Whiskey, Food, and Beer for Your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
9102 W Chester Towne Center Dr | West Chester | dinglehouse.com
Dingle House is the place to be if you’re looking for fine Irish fare and an expansive beer selection, with 30 draughts and 75 bottles ready to go any day of the year.
will be open for business at their customary “steak and eggs” time and partying throughout the day. On St. Patrick’s Day, they take the usual cozy pub vibe up a notch. Traditional steak and eggs start the celebration out right, and you can stick around all day to party with all your friends in West Chester. Rain or shine – Dingle House has plenty of room indoors and out to keep the good times rolling.
“I used to love coming here all the time, but a move farther away has stopped me. There aren't many Irish places left in Cincinnati, so I hope they stick around for many years to come!” - Yelp Review
4. MOTR
Cincinnati’s Pub & Live Entertainment Stop for a Rockin’ St. Patrick’s Party
1345 Main St | Over the Rhine | motrpub.com
Mention MOTR, and one thing should come immediately to mind – live music. The pub has been featured in a number of St. Paddy’s bar crawls, including Lucky’s, and the experience is worth fighting the crowds. With a regular Friday Happy Hour as well as other weekly events like Industry Nights, Neighborhood Nights, open mic, poetry readings, and more, MOTR is always packed.
This St. Paddy’s weekend (and pre-weekend) the lineup at MOTR includes:
- March 11: Gonies w/ Waste Man, Waning - free show, 10pm
- March 17: The Electric Indigo, The Weird Sisters, Happy Tuesday - free show, 10pm
- March 18: Inhaler Presents Maria Carelli - free show, 10pm
“MOTR is the mostly undisputed leader in the free concert venue scene of Cincinnati. It's a music bar first and foremost. No other place has consistently excellent national shows for free. The reasonably-priced draft selection includes the best IPA in the world, Bell's Two-Hearted ($6), so that's a win. They even have solid food until 11pm! ” - Yelp Review
5. Street City Pub
Text a Street City Pub gift card
580 W Walnut St | Downtown | streetcity.pub
Street City is a locally owned restaurant, but that doesn’t mean they’re throwing a smalltown shindig. Oh, no. Partnering with KISS 107.1, Street City Pub has four days of festivities planned to squeeze as much fun as possible out of St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Thursday through Sunday, expect big crowds and even bigger events. The agenda includes live music, stand up comedy, karaoke, giveaways, and more.
“I never use yelp and I logged into it specifically to give this place a 5 star review. That should tell you how amazing the burger I had was. I think it's called the FC Cincy burger? The one with pimento cheese. Get it with the egg, thank me later.” - Yelp Review
Text a Street City Pub gift card
6. Americano
A round of drinks to go with a round of games!
Downtown | 545 Race Street | americanoburgerbar.com
Perhaps you’re a more active St. Paddy celebrator who doesn’t want to simply sit at a bar and have a few drinks. Americano may then be the perfect spot for you, as they host fun games to play as you enjoy a meal and drinks. They also have draft beers, house wines, signature cocktails, and $3 shots -- for all the types of celebrators in your friend group! Get one of the best burgers in town while competing with your friends over a game of Foosball or Shuffleboard.
“Another good meal at the Americano burger bar! A great place for drinks after work for a small or large group, easy to reach if you are downtown, and a great vibe. After 20+ visits I have never had a bad meal or server, just great consistent experiences.” - Yelp Review
7. Zula Bistro
Cheers to St. Paddy’s Day with a fine wine
Downtown | 1400 Race Street | zulabistro.com
Rather have a chill St. Paddy’s Day? Zula can supply the modern, relaxed atmosphere and the wine. Come for their extensive wine list, and stay for the flatbread and desserts they serve until midnight. Enjoy fine wine and eccentric meals, and clink your glasses to a happy St. Paddy’s Day!
“I love Zula because of their ambiance and variety on their menu. You can go one day and enjoy flatbreads, another and have tapas to share or another and have one of their many scallop plates.” - Yelp Review
8. BanaSun Smoothie Bar
Stay refreshed with a smoothie or lemonade!
Buy a BanaSun Smoothie Bar gift card
Over The Rhine | 1810 Race Street
Want to avoid alcohol this Saint Patrick’s Day, but also still want to go out and have some fun? Stop by BanaSun Smoothie Bar for fruit smoothies and chilled lemonades. Spending your St. Patty’s Day at BanaSun will make it more likely for you to find a green beverage that’s fitting for the holiday! While you're there, make sure to try their plant-based baked goods.
“BEST SMOOTHIES EVER! Pure fruit, great combos, perfect toppings (when they recommend a certain topping, say "yes"). Had a long and interesting conversation with the owner and his wife--very nice people. A definite "must stop" for me from now on whenever I'm in Over-The-Rhine.” - Yelp Review
Buy a BanaSun Smoothie Bar gift card
9. Platform Beer Co.
High-quality beers for your high-quality group of friends and yourself
Send a Platform Beer Co. gift card
Over The Rhine | 1201 Main Street | platformbeer.co
Brewing happens on-site and they serve from morning to night! What better place to buy a round of beers and toast to St. Paddy’s Day? And no worries if a friend in the group isn’t a beer person. Platform Beer Co also serves artisan coffee, craft cocktails, and a variety of foods. Platform Beer Co usually has a relaxing atmosphere in a bright and airy room where everyone can enjoy themselves.
“Locoba is such a nice atmosphere. It's bright and clean and every time I've been it was quiet. It's great to relax with a beer or coffee here and not deal with a rowdy crowd.” - Yelp Review
Send a Platform Beer Co. gift card
10. The Drinkery
The perfect place to get a drink -- it’s in the name
Over The Rhine | 1150 Main Street | www.drinkotr.com
Come to The Drinkery this Saint Patrick’s Day to get your drink on! Want to know what beers they have on draft? Check their website for the full list, but you’ll see brands such as Guinness, Miller, Lite, and Cidergeist. Check out their social media to see what events The Drinkery is hosting. You don’t want to miss out on karaoke night. Overall, The Drinkery is a great option to bring friends, order an affordable drink, and be sociable.
“Very affordable and fun bar. After 10pm, dj begins to play great dance music. Tons of space to dance and get down to. Drinks are great and fairly priced. Awesome time.” - Yelp Review
11. The Buzzed Bull Creamery
Get your alcohol cold and sweet this St Paddy’s Day
Over The Rhine | 1408 Main Street | buzzedbullcreamery.com
The Buzzed Bull Creamery is a great place to start the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day with the family. Everyone will love the taste of their hand-crafted ice creams and milkshakes. And for the adults, their ice cream choice can be infused with alcohol, starting at a 5% ABV. Select one (or several) of the 30 flavors they have available, and see first hand how your order is created with the use of liquid nitrogen. Not only is it delicious, but it’s a fun and new experience too! Challenge your friends and family to see who can customize their ice cream to be most festive; bonus points if it’s green!
“Great ice cream, with the bonus of having alcohol. I would recommend the tiger stripes, or the hard apple pie. Both are delicious!” - Yelp Review
12. Rosedale
Rain or shine, you’re Saint Patrick’s Day can’t go wrong here
www.rosedaleotr.com | Over The Rhine | 208 E. 12th Street
Rosedale is a bar, and yet so much more. They host events, and their exclusive upstairs bar can be the venue of your next private party. Rosedale has partnered with Cincinnati's entrepreneurship hub, MORTAR, which has brought you the space known as the MORTAR Mess Hall for you to experience new and upcoming foods. At Rosedale, you can also enjoy their indoor entertainment as you grab a drink. You have options at Rosedale, which make it a great place to hang out on a holiday like Saint Patrick’s Day.
“This place is a super cool, typical old-school Cincinnati atmosphere! They have a great selection of beers and mixed drinks, and, my personal favorite Mango Cart by Golden Road! Despite being such a small place, they have fun typical bar games to play, pool, etc.” - Yelp Review
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