If thinking of St. Patrick's Day conjures images of the color green, leprechauns, corned beef hash, and (ahem) "socializing," that's by design! Believe it or not, imbibing a glass or two on St. Patrick’s Day is actually a traditional part of celebrating the holiday.
When St. Patrick died on the 17th of March, it happened to coincide with the day Lent alcohol restrictions were lifted, so his death was commemorated by many a lad or lass hoisting a pint. Now, Irish or not, it’s a day people like to go out and make merry with friends, wear green, pinch nonconformists, and have a good time. So to help you get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit, we’ve rounded up our favorite bars and pubs (Irish or other) to go out and celebrate!
Doyle’s Public House - Tacoma, Washington
Doyle’s Public House is straight out of Central Casting for an Irish pub in the US: dark wood, gold hardware, and Irish flags everywhere. Unsurprisingly, they take St. Patrick's Day very seriously. Doors open at 6 a.m. and they’ll have bagpipe performances and a tent with games, additional seating, and an extra bar. St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts go on sale March 1, and if you purchase one you get to walk right in and skip the line! Doors close at 2 a.m., meaning they’re offering about 20 hours of St. Patty’s Day partying. You won’t want to miss what they dub to be “Tacoma’s grandest St. Patrick’s Day celebration.”
O’Looney’s Irish Pub - Gig Harbor, Washington
O’Looney’s is a perfect choice for those of us who want a more lowkey St. Patrick’s Day. They’ll be serving their whole food menu with Irish classics like soda bread, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and more. Alongside their full menu, they’ll be offering their usual array of craft beers and Irish whiskey. If dinner and drinks is more your thing, O’Looney’s has you covered!
TK Irish Pub - Puyallup, Washington
Located in the heart of downtown Puyallup, TK Irish Pub is a must-do on St. Patrick's Day. Not only are they the only Irish pub in the city, they also offer traditional Irish dishes, 21 rotating taps (including Guinness!), and a full bar. Get there early and have some corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie, or just hang out for a few rounds with friends!
Lake City Pub - Lakewood, Washington
Lake City Pub is a perfect St. Patrick's Day option for those of us that aren’t huge beer drinkers. While they do serve it, they’re known for their amazing cocktails (they’ve even been voted best Old Fashioned in town!) and have a full bar. Come here for fun staff, great music, lots of covered outdoor seating, and a guaranteed good time!
McNamara’s Pub and Eatery - DuPont, Washington
McNamara’s hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration set with live music, DJ’s, dancing, and so much beer. They of course offer a classic Guinness, as well as 7 different “black list” drinks where they mix Guinness with different kinds of beer and ciders. They’ll be partying all weekend so make sure to stop by, have a pint, and maybe do a jig!
410 Pub - Sumner, Washington
410 Pub is new to Sumner; they opened their doors in mid-2023, so why not attend their first-ever St. Patrick’s Day? This year they’re serving up some classic American St. Patrick's Day drinks: green beer, Irish car bombs, and Jameson shots. They’ll also be offering a special cocktail for the holiday that hasn’t been revealed yet!
O’Malley’s Irish Pub - Tacoma, Washington
O’Malley’s is another classic Irish pub found in Tacoma. Their favorite holiday is St. Patrick's day and to celebrate they’re throwing a weekend long bash! The festivities include live music, green beer, jello shots, and O’Malley’s swag. There will be a $5 cover fee to enter the bar during St. Patrick's Day weekend but they promise the party will be worth it.
Exchange Tavern - Spanaway, Washington
Located in Spanaway, Exchange Tavern might not look like much from the outside. But walk in its door and you’ll be greeted by staff and regulars who love this place like it’s their own and will want to talk to you about its history. It’s one of the oldest bars in Washington state, established in 1980. They’re not offering any St. Patrick's Day specials but it’s still a great place to get your drink on!
Tides Tavern - Gig Harbor, Washington
Tides Tavern is located right on the water in Gig Harbor. If great views aren’t enough to tempt you to check them out this St. Patrick's Day, maybe some of their holiday specials will! For the big day they’re having Guinness Draught, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey, green beer, and some Irish eats. They’ll also be handing out beaded St. Patrick’s day necklaces for some additional holiday fun.
Pick and Shovel Saloon - Wilkeson, Washington
Come have a round of green beer and sing some karaoke at Pick and Shovel this St. Patrick's Day! This cozy little dive bar located in Wilkeson, Washington will also be slinging reubens and shots to celebrate. Come for the festivities, stay for the friendly staff and good times.
We hope you all have a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day! Is your go-to place on this list? Did we miss your favorite spot for St. Patty’s celebrations? Let us know! Tag us @traveltacoma on Instagram and Facebook if you try one of our suggestions, or if we missed your favorite spot.
