Cincinnati’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade may be on hold this year, but bars, restaurants and neighborhoods across the Queen City are still celebrating the occasion with plenty o’ green beer, Irish eats and bagpipes.
Here are a few stand-out spots to visit if you’re looking for some Irish cheer. (Contact event organizers for COVID-19 protocols):
Celebrate St. Patty’s Day at The Pub
Both of The Pub’s Greater Cincinnati locations will be celebrating the holiday, with Rookwood kicking things off bright and early at 9 a.m., and Crestview Hills beginning at 10 a.m. Enjoy live music and performances by bagpiper Robert Reid and Cincinnati Highland Dancers and food and drink specials, including Guinness stew and corned beef and cabbage — available through March 21. Masks are required when not seated, and tables will be set up for social distancing. Food is available to-go and for free delivery via DoorDash.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Nicholson’s Pub
Nicholson’s Pub downtown is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with food and drink specials and performances by bagpiper Robert Reid and Cincinnati Highland Dancers. In addition to offering carry-out and free delivery from DoorDash, the establishment is featuring a “St. Patrick’s Day in a Box To-Go” special, with Roe & Co. whiskey, Guinness, a gift card and more. Masks are required when not seated, and tables will be set up for social distancing.
St Patrick’s Day at Molly Malone’s
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Covington will be opening early on St. Patrick’s Day starting at 7 a.m. for “kegs n eggs.” The first 100 guests receive a free t-shirt. There will be live music by Liam’s Fancy, Grey Dogs, Lost Celts and Easter Rising, with pipers and Irish dancers making stops throughout the day. Tickets are $10, and reservations must be made online. There will be a 2.5 hour limit on parties with all three floors open at a 150-person total occupancy.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Tin Roof Cincinnati
Cincinnati Tin Roof is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year with green clothing, live music and Irish beer. The fun starts at noon. Joey Fulton will be performing with the Sean Fitzpatric Trio beginning at 3 p.m. and Dueling Pianos wrapping up the day at 7 p.m.
March First Brewing’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
March First Brewing will be hosting the Sycamore Professional Firefighters Local 3907 on St. Patrick’s Day. One dollar of each pint sold will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a charity that March First Brewing and the firefighters work closely with. March First will be open 11:30 a.m. to midnight, with the firefighters in the taproom from 5 p.m. to close.
Covington Yard’s First St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Covington Yard, a new Northern Kentucky gathering hub, is celebrating its first St. Patrick’s Day this year, and in honor of the occasion, they’re offering traditional Irish eats, drink specials throughout the day, live music from 7-10 p.m. and prizes. The party starts at 9 a.m.
St. Patrick’s Day Party at Third Eye Brewing
Sharonville’s Third Eye Brewing rings in its first St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year with food and cocktail specials, live music and some exciting keg tappings. Folks can munch down on fish and chips as well as Reuben sandwiches and wash it down with the brewery’s signature Lucky Charms and Irish Slammer cocktails. Nuclear Penguins are slated to perform (weather permitting) and the brewery is tapping its Loteye Red Export Ale and Lucky of the Eye-rish brews. The party starts at noon.
Cin City Harley-Davidson’s St. Patty’s Celebration
CinCity Harley-Davidson on Tennessee Ave will be hosting a St. Patty’s Celebration from 5-8 p.m. Green beer, Guinness and Irish food will be available at the event. There is no cost for admission.
St. Patty’s Day Round 1 at Northside’s Higher Gravity
Higher Gravity in Northside will be hosting two rounds of St. Patty’s Day, with the first beginning at noon March 17 and the second beginning at 11 a.m. March 20. $4 green pints of Higher Gravity’s house blonde ale, Lo-G, $4 Guinness pints and $4 Jameson shots will be available. Food options are in the works.
St. Patrick’s Day at Big Ash Brewing
Big Ash Brewing is celebrating St. Patty’s Day with live music by the Harry Pedigo Trio and green beer, Irish car bombs and 28 taps for you to pour your own beer. The festivities begin at noon and do not require a reservation. Table reservations can be made for live music only.
Pearl’s St. Patrick’s Day Party
Pearl’s in Columbia Tusculum is ringing in St. Patrick’s Day with $8 pints of Guinness and a shot of Jameson, $7 Irish car bombs, $6 Irish breakfast shots, $5 mini beers and $12 domestic buckets. There will be complimentary pizza at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with Chandler Carter playing live music 6-9 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl in the Bellevue Entertainment District
The Bellevue Entertainment District (BED) is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Kegs and eggs will start the day off at 7 a.m., and you can carry your drink in an official BED cup from bar to bar. Participating bars include Darkness Brewing, Three Spirits Tavern, Danyelle’s Bellevue Tavern, Nomad and the B-List. Visit each bar’s Facebook for info about their offerings.
This Newport bar is kicking the party off at 9 a.m. with plenty of drink specials including $6 Irish Car Bombs, $5 Guiness, $5 Irish Viagra. There will be DJ sets from 1 p.m. to close.
The Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
The Irish Heritage Center of Cincinnati is hosting a more traditional St. Patrick’s Day event this year. Starting at 2 p.m. with Irish Mass, there will be music, singing, dancing, acting and more. Tickets for members are $10 and $15 for non-members and guests. Reservations are required.
Over-the-Rhine’s The Splatter Room
The Splatter Room Cincy, the newest iteration from OTR Escape where guests can fling paint at blank canvases, will be having a St. Patrick’s Day special. You can come and make messy art at a reduced rate of $25 per painter, but only green and white paint will be provided. Don’t forget that The Splatter Room is BYOB, making for a great St. Patty’s Day.
This article appears in Best Of Cincinnati 2021.