Fave Five: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Green beer, car bombs, Irish whiskey, dressing up in unbearable amounts of green, and getting lucky — what’s not to love about St. Patty’s Day?
I’ll tell you what: Crowds.
You know as well as I do that every Irish bar in town will draw a huge crowd on March 17 and will probably charge a cover to get in. This would have sounded perfect in college, but as I’m nearing the big 3-0, crowds and covers are becoming less and less appealing.
Sadly, crowds are nearly impossible to avoid on a day like St. Patty’s, so if you have to brave them, make sure they’re worth it.
This Buckhead staple really knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day properly. Fado is hosting a week-long celebration, which started yesterday and features drink specials, beer & whiskey tastings, traditional Irish fare, live music, and contests. On Sunday, the party starts at 7 a.m. (!) and turns into an outdoor festival at 12 p.m. $10 to get in.
This is one of my very favorite watering holes in Atlanta. For St. Patty’s, Cypress will features $5 specials on corned beef and cabbage, Irishman shots or Guinness pints, and Irish car bombs. What it lacks in indoor seating it makes up for with outdoor space (complete with a fire pit, in case it gets chilly). Even if it does get a little tight, the crowd is always a good one, so I promise you’ll have a good time.
This East Atlanta Village pub is skipping the green beer this weekend. Instead, they’re offering $3.50 drafts all day on Sunday, as well as $4 Irishman shots, $3 well drinks, and live Irish music. The crowd is usually manageable and the service is always great.
This Brookhaven pub is another crowd favorite, but I like it because it has lots of little nooks and crannies for you to hide away from the masses. It’s featuring Saturday and Sunday celebrations, but I’d head here on Sunday for the kegs & eggs brunch. Get in before 2 p.m. and skip the $10 cover charge.
This is not an Irish pub, which is precisely why it’s on this list: It’s not an obvious choice. Head here on Sunday, March 17, for an Irish-themed brunch, complete with corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and beer and cheese soup. Brunch is only $24 and mimosas are $1! You can sit outside and enjoy the hopefully-gorgeous weather (and also watch airplanes take off from the PDK runway).