Go green this month with charity events, tasting menus honoring Irish heritage, rooftop dance parties, and So. Much. Guinness.
Boundary Stone
This Bloomingdale pub will host two events in honor of St. Patty’s Day. On March 13, the annual St. Baldrick’s Day will bring in DC Brau’s Brandon Skall to MC while The Barbers of Hell’s Bottom shave heads and beards to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. All funds from a charity beer garden on the patio will go to the childhood cancer nonprofit, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. On the actual holiday, the bar will open at noon and there will be food including Irish pork sausages with Guinness-caramelized onion gravy and a Guinness, chocolate, and mint buttercream sponge cake. (116 Rhode Island Ave NW, March 13 and March 17, FREE).
Colony Grill
This Clarendon tavern is famous for its signature New England pizza, which features a thin, crispy crust and is drizzled in spicy, pepper-infused oil. They dreamed up a pie to recognize bar’s Irish-American founders that will be available during the holiday week — think corned beef and cabbage, then drizzled with a mixture of Dijon mustard and their signature hot oil. The pizza is available for takeout and delivery. (2800 Clarendon Blvd #850, March 14—18, $13.45)
The Dupont Circle Hotel
Celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month through the end of March with Irish-owned hotel group The Doyle Collection. Doyle bar will feature Rare Irish whiskey flights that include Midleton Very Rare (only 1,500 bottles are made each year) and Green Spot, served with a map of Ireland. Waiters will also prep Irish coffees at the table. The wine offerings highlight “Irish Wine Geese”— a reference to the persecuted Catholic Jacobite soldiers who fled Ireland in the 17th century and became winemakers, now producing pinot noir in Chile and chardonnay in Napa. The cocktail menu features specialties like the The Post-Pandemic Punch, which makes use of hard-to-find Irish gin. At adjacent restaurant The Pembroke, try the full Irish breakfast, which includes Guinness-braised beef with herb dumplings, Cashel Blue cheese and walnut soda bread, and affogato made with Five Farms Irish cream liqueur. On St. Patrick’s Day itself, the hotel will bring in an oyster shucker and bathe the patio in green lights. (1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, now through March 30)
Guinness Open Gate Brewery
For a day trip, head to Guinness’s American outpost in Baltimore (its sister brewery is in Dublin) which will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day all month. The three-story brewery will release limited-edition holiday beers (like an Irish breakfast amber ale and a pineapple coconut stout) every Thursday. There will also be live music, traditional Irish fare, and an “Irish village” on the lawn complete with food stalls and community vendors to you how to pour a perfect pint (from March 12—13 and March 17—19). (To access a secret menu in Gaelic with deals, message Guinness a four-leaf clover on Instagram). No reservations necessary. (5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, M.D., Thursdays from 3 to 10 p.m., Fridays from noon to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through the end of March, FREE. On St. Patrick’s Day, the brewery will open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Hi-Lawn x Fadó Irish Pub
Fadó Irish Pub, which had to close its doors permanently during the pandemic, will not be making an Irish exit. Instead, they’re throwing two weeks of farewell festivities at Union Market’s rooftop bar Hi-Lawn. Greg Algie, who is a co-owner of both bars, says he couldn’t think of a better time than St. Patrick’s Day. From now through March 19, free and ticketed events include an all-day pub party featuring Irish dancers, a DJ, and plenty of Irish ales on March 12 ($20); broadcasts of the Six Nations Championship for rugby fans on March 11, 12, and 19; and a St. Patrick’s Day blowout with live music (including bagpipes). Listen while tucking into shepherd’s pie and corned beef sandwiches. (1309 5th St NE, March 2—19, FREE to $75 per person)
“Ireland” at the Wharf
Kirwan’s Irish Pub and The Wharf will host a festival at the waterfront on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Go for the bagpipers, live music, dance performances, or the Guinness beer garden on District Pier, which will sling pints and Roe & Co Whiskey. Kirwan’s will also host live music at the pub on Thursday and Friday. (101 District Square SW, March 19 from 1 to 6 p.m., FREE)
Last Call
The no-frills bar near Union Market plans to start celebrating early on St. Patrick’s Day with free bangers, eggs, and potatoes catered by Buffalo & Bergen (from 9 to 11 a.m., or until supplies last). Continue the party with Jameson Irish coffees, gold and green Jello shots, and Guinness, available until the wee hours. (1301-A Fourth St. NE, March 17—18 from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., FREE)
The Lot
If you’re waiting until the weekend to get into the Irish spirit, this outdoor venue in Clarendon will host ShamRock ‘N Roll on Saturday, featuring live entertainment, multiple bars serving drink specials and Jello shots, food trucks, and a giant Jenga. Guests must be 21 or older. Tickets are free, but RSVPing is required. (3217 10th St. N, Arlington, VA, March 19 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., FREE)
Pizzeria Paradiso
For three days only, DC Brau and Ice Cream Jubilee are joining forces with this veteran pizza spot to make an Irish-themed boozy ice cream float, available at all Paradiso locations. The drink pairs vanilla ice cream with DC Brau’s recently relaunched Incurable Sadness Irish Dry Stout. (Various locations, March 17—20, $13)
Shaw’s Tavern
Another option for St. Patrick’s Day partying includes bottomless mimosas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Irish dancers from the Boyle School of Irish Dance (4 p.m.), and acoustic 1980s and 1990s cover band Floppy Disk from 8 p.m. to midnight. (520 Florida Ave NW, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.)
Ted’s Bulletin
Try Irish-inspired specials with local influence, available at all Ted’s locations, for delivery and takeout: house-cured corned beef and Logan Sausage bangers on the savory end, and Shamrock peppermint shakes and Drunken Grasshopper milkshakes sprinkled with Lucky Charms for something sweet. (Various locations, March 14—March 20)
Wunder Garten
The expansive beer garden will host a whole week of St. Patrick’s Day events: a birthday party for drag entertainer Crystal Edge, live music, “yappy hour” for pups, St. Patrick’s Day trivia, a dating event, and Guinness and Smithwick’s on tap. The celebrations culminate in a day of local entertainment, including D.C. band Chasing Autumn and DJ Ruben. Some events require registration. (1101 First St NE, times vary, FREE)
