City of Green: Navigating Boston on St. Patrick’s Day

Boston’s gearing up for one of its favorite days of the year — St. Patrick’s Day — where a full on celebration breaks out across the city and flashes of green can be spotted everywhere. Not only is this a day to take off work and deck out in green garb, but it’s also a significant day historically in Boston. On March 17th, 1776, the British troops evacuated Boston during the American Revolutionary War. The day has thus been dubbed Evacuation Day and is actually a public holiday in Suffolk County. So, while it’s become a day to raise your glasses to anything Irish and drink the whole day through, there’s some valuable history behind it as well.

If you are in need of some help navigating the city on this fun, yet hectic, day we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking to chow down on some classic Irish fare, drink a green beer, watch the parade, or visit one of the city’s best Irish bars, the luck of the Irish is already with you because you can find it all on this list!

Where to Eat Corned Beef and Cabbage

Photo Credit: @skinnytaste via Instagram

Green Briar Pub

This is a classic Irish pub with traditional and modern fare. On the traditional side they are serving a special St. Patrick’s Day menu with corned beef and cabbage on it amongst other tasty dishes; but take a look at their regular menu for a modern spin on this classic and try their corned beef and cabbage egg rolls!

Address: 304 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: 617-789-4100

MJ O’Connor’s Seaport

This Irish pub boasts New England fare with Irish hospitality but their menu doesn’t go without some of the usual suspects like bangers & mash and cottage pie. They’re getting especially traditional for St. Patrick’s Day adding corned beef and cabbage to their entree offerings so head over and grab a plate.

Address: 425 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-443-0800

Grafton Street

This Harvard Square establishment is known for its laid back gastropub atmosphere and its upscale comfort food. Join them for St. Patrick’s Day for a menu full of Irish spirit with items such as Irish stout and cheddar fondue, corned beef and cabbage, and soda bread pudding. You’ll be speaking in Irish tongues before you know it.

Address: 1230 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-497-0400

Where to Eat Irish Soda Bread

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Greenhills Bakery

Named after the ‘Greenhills’ in the owner’s hometown in Ireland, this bakery holds true to the classic Irish bakes such as brown bread, soda bread, and Irish biscuit cake. They also have a lengthy menu of pies, cookies, and pastries with American origin. Whether you’re craving a pecan pie or some soda bread, Greenhills will fulfill that craving and keep you craving more!

Address: 780 Adams St, Boston, MA 02124
Phone: 617-825-8187

Clear Flour Bread

Brookline’s favorite hidden bakery makes traditional Irish soda bread every year when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. If it’s anything like the rest of their pastries it’ll be one of the best loaves you’ve ever had. Why not pick up a few extra pastries to munch on while you’re there? The case is just too tempting to leave with only one thing anyway.

Address: 178 Thorndike St, Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: 617-739-0060

Where to Drink a Green Beer

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21st Amendment 

Located right across the street from the State House in Beacon Hill, this neighborhood pub will be serving glasses of green beer to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. One of the only days of the year where it’s acceptable to put food coloring in beer and it’s actually sought after. Fun fact: a doctor from the Bronx was actually the first one to color beer green for a St. Paddy’s party in 1914 and the tradition has held since.

Address: 150 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-227-7100

The Pour House

It’s hard to not have a good time at this ‘no frills’ establishment as they refer to themselves, which makes it the perfect place to spend St. Patrick’s Day. Plus, they’re serving green beer! Join them for Boston’s favorite holiday and cheers with some green brews. Maybe cheers to that doctor from the Bronx who created this peculiar but beloved tradition too!

Address: 907 Boylston St #21, Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-236-1767

Where to Watch the Parade

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The famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston is actually the second biggest parade in the U.S., drawing massive crowds of people spreading cheer and celebrating the city’s Irish heritage. It begins at 1pm at the Broadway T station on the Red Line and heads all the way down to the water at Farragut Square and then back up through Southie ending at Andrew Square. While there are 3.2 miles of parade route for you to catch a glimpse of the fun, we suggest getting there early and having a plan because it get’s HECTIC over there. Hang around and stop into one of the local bars or restaurants for some fuel after. A few we like are:

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar

Neighborhood spot serving tacos, tequila, and more.

Address: 412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
Phone: 617-917-5626

Lincoln Tavern

Classic American tavern serving comfort food.

Address: 425 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
Phone: 617-765-8636

Fat Baby

Trendy Asian spot serving creative sushi, snacks, and sips.

Address: 118 Dorchester St, Boston, MA 02127
Phone: 617-766-3450

The Punk & Poet

Looks like a library, acts like a bar with pub-fare and buckets o’ beer.

Address: 658 E Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
Phone: 617-269-2537

Where to Grab a Pint and Have a Great Time

Photo Credit: Guinness

When it comes to where to find the best Irish Bars in Boston we’ve already done the work for you! Check out our blog post, Boozy Beantown: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day With Boston’s Best Irish Bars to find the list of places where the Irish coffees and the Guinness’ will be ever-pouring. Cheers!