St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, meaning you can have your kegs and eggs and eat them, too. Plenty of spots are dishing up a full Irish breakfast—typically eggs, mushrooms, tomato, black and white puddings, and toast—among other hearty eats to pad your stomach before embarking down the green-beer road. Whether you’re thinking a rowdy crowd for a breakfast pre-party or a simple rasher-and-egg sammie, we have a number of spots to try. Don’t see your favorite? Leave a tip in the comments.
A-Town Bar and Grill
“Leprechaun dunk tank” is not only a great indie rock band name, it’s also a reality at this Fairax eatery during the St. Patrick’s Brunch Bash. A special $7 menu includes dishes like fried Reuben bites, beer-marinated pork with spicy slaw, and a Guinness float.
Bayou Bakery
Chef David Guas serves up New Orleans-style St. Paddy’s Day eats, with corned-beef dishes inspired by the city’s Irish Channel neighborhood. Look for the regular all-day breakfast from 8 AM to 4 PM at the Clarendon cafe, as well as the specials and a spiked Irish cafe au lait.
Billy Martin’s Tavern
Georgetown’s neighborhood watering hole typically doesn’t draw the college crowd, which is why a lot of regulars like it. Brunch runs from 8 to 4, and tempts with additional specials like beef stew and corned beef and cabbage.
Boundary Stone
One of the best neighborhood bars in Bloomingdale offers its regular brunch plus specials such as lamb stew and corned beef and cabbage, starting an hour earlier than usual at 10 AM. (Note: The bar’s bottomless drink deal is not available on St. Paddy’s).
The Brixton
While more general British Isles than Irish, the U Street pub will likely be just as bumpin’ as ever come Sunday. A small-plates menu, likely offered from 11 AM until the kitchen closes (probably around 11 PM), includes dishes like green eggs and ham, Irish beef “hand patties,” and whiskey brownies.
Fadó
The Chinatown and Annapolis locations of this national pub host big blowouts every St. Paddy’s, so don’t expect a tranquil meal unless you show up exactly at 8 AM, when doors open. You can order brunch until 2 PM, or the full Irish breakfast all day.
Irish Channel
Head to the Chinatown location of this pub for the regular brunch menu starting at 8, or the Crofton branch for a kegs and eggs buffet complete with $3 green beers.
James Hoban’s
The Dupont Circle bar and restaurant opens early for the occasion—8 AM—and serves an expanded version of its regular brunch until 3 PM with dishes like an Irish farmhouse breakfast and ham and cabbage.
Kitty O’Shea’s
The doors open early at this unassuming Tenleytown bar, but the brunch offerings, like egg-topped corn beef hash or an Irish Benedict with rashers, are offered during regular hours from 10 to 3.
Limerick Pub
We’re fans of this Wheaton watering hole, which hosts a kegs and eggs brunch from 9 to noon. Load up on the buffet ($15 per person including a drink and raffle ticket; $5 for kids 6 to 12) of corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, fruit, oatmeal, and more. The live music starts at 10 AM.
Molly Malone’s
It’s brunch business as usual (though probably more crowded) at this Capitol Hill saloon, meaning you can nosh on chili-topped Irish nachos or a smoked salmon omelet from the menu between 11 and 3.
O’Faolain’s Irish Pub
Early birds can make reservations for breakfast at this Sterling spot, which serves dishes like steak and eggs or a full Irish breakfast from 7 to 10 AM. Want to roll out of bed later? Lunch starts at 11. Reservations are encouraged.
O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub
The Herndon and Arlington sister pubs offer their regular brunch menus (check out this sample from the Herndon location). The Arlington pub offers eats from 7 to noon, while Herndon will serve up eggs and such until 2 PM.
The Pug
Fancy bottomless mimosas more than green beer? Head to the Pug on H Street, which offers its regular brunch menu of dishes such as “hangover hash” and sausage, biscuits, and gravy alongside Irish specials. Come hungry at 10:30 AM to capitalize on the $10 bottomless mimosa deal that wraps up by 1 PM.
Queen Vic
Head to the H Street gastropub for a traditional Sunday roast starting at 11 AM and featuring roast beef and gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and duck-fat-roasted potatoes. There is also a limited brunch menu that runs from 9 to 3:30 with dishes like biscuits and gravy with whiskey marmalade and vegetarian mushroom hash.
Shaw’s Tavern
The Shaw gastropub hosts its first-ever block party this year, with an expanded patio, live music, and activities for entertaining the wee ones. Fuel up for the day from the brunch menu with dishes like eggs Benedict or a blue-cheese-topped burger.
A limited menu runs from 11:30 AM to 10 PM at Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong’s two-story Alexandria tavern, with brunch-friendly offerings such as shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and corned-beef sandwiches.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
