St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and thankfully you don’t have to embark on a green beer-tinted bar crawl to celebrate. Restaurants and bars are celebrating all week long with food and drink specials, from Irish whiskey tastings to Guinness happy hours and, all-you-can-eat Irish-themed doughnuts.
Party all day at The Dubliner
Four F St., NW
DC’s oldest Irish Pub is one of the best places to be on St. Patrick’s Day if you’re looking for an classic celebration. The early bird gets the Guinness: from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, get 42-cent pints of Guinness to celebrate 42 years of the pub’s existence. The party continues from 10 a.m. on, where you can also expect live music, traditional Irish fare, and a huge selection whiskey blends. Keep an eye out for a presidential guest appearance: in 2012, Obama stopped by the festivities for a pint.
Irish Hoagies at Taylor Gourmet
All area locations
Taylor Gourmet partnered with the aforementioned Irish bar to create the Dubliner hoagie, filled with Guinness-braised corned beef, farm eggs, potato hash, and pickled cabbage. The belly-buster from new chef Kyle Bailey is available all week, March 14 to 20.
Rooftop happy hour at Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Where better to drink Irish whiskey than the largest whiskey bar in the Western Hemisphere? Head to the rooftop for an extended St. Patrick’s Day happy hour featuring $5 pints, $7 Irish whiskeys, and $8 punches until 9 p.m. You can also try vintage, single cask flights in the saloon, or sample Irish cocktails in the basement bar, Dram & Grain.
Pappy Van Winkle dinner at Bourbon Steak
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
The Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve releases a limited number of bourbons to a handful of restaurants every year, and you can be one of the lucky tasters during a “St. Pappy Day” pairing dinner at Bourbon Steak on Thursday. Sip one-ounce pours with steak, foie gras, and more. This one’s a splurge at $255 per person.
All-you-can-eat District Doughnuts
749 8th St., SE
If binging on sweets instead of alcohol is your thing, head to the Barracks Row doughnut shop on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. for bottomless fried dough in flavors like Baileys and coffee ($10 per customer). Preorder your selections at orders@districtdoughnut.com for pickup or delivery.
Irish vs. American whiskey tasting at Acadiana
901 New York Ave., NW
Irish and American whiskeys go bottle to bottle at this spirited competition on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Passion Food Hospitality’s wine and beverage director will referee and share his knowledge over ten different samples. The $85 price tag includes a full luncheon buffet. Make reservations online or email Laura@PassionFoodHospitality.com.
Corned beef and drink specials at Bar Deco
717 6th St., NW
If you’re looking for no-fuss specials, head to Bar Deco for $5 Guinness beers, $4 Bud Lights, and $4 Jameson Shots. Just don’t forget to eat–a corned beef and cabbage sandwich on soda bread and a drink are $15, while a corned beef dinner goes for $21.
Irish coffee month at Restaurant Eve
110 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA
Chef Cathal Armstrong pays homage to his Dublin roots with speciality Irish coffees until the end of March, which come topped with a treat: Guinness marshmallows created by pastry chef Joshua Jarvis.
Craft beer and Irish cheese at Righteous Cheese
1309 5th St., NE
Stop by the artisanal cheese shop in Union Market on Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for a St. Patrick’s Day-themed beer and cheese pairing class, which includes four beers and four handmade Irish cheeses for $49. Get your tickets fast, as the class is limited to just 16 people.
Greta started as an editorial fellow in January 2016 and joined as a full-time staff member that August. She now works as a web producer and writer. She was previously an intern at Slate and National Geographic and graduated from the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. She lives in Adams Morgan.
