Happy Hour

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day: Irish Pubs in San Francisco

By Keith Mizuguchi   |   March 15, 2012, 4:08 pm

The Irish know how to drink. Whether it’s a Guiness, Black and Tan, Irish Whiskey, Irish Car Bomb or even an Irish Coffee, St. Patrick’s Day has given San Franciscans one day annually to drink copious amounts of booze. Here are a few local spots to check out.

In Union Square, two of the most familiar Irish drinking establishments are Johnny Foley’s Irish House (243 O’Farrell St.) and Irish Bank (10 Marn Ln.). Both are a bit more on the touristy side in terms of clientele because of their locations and vicinity to all the shops around Union Square, but both are not bad spots to grab a pint and some grub too.

The Financial District has a few spots as well including Irish Times (500 Sacramento St.), Kells Irish Restaurant and Bar (530 Jackson St.), Murphy’s Pub (217 Kearney St.), Harrington’s Bar and Grill (245 Front St.) and The Royal Exchange (301 Sacramento St.). Again, because of location, some of the locales may not have that small, authentic Irish pub feel to them.

The Outer Richmond is filled with a wonderful mix-and-match of bars and restaurants that is as culturally diverse as any area of the city. They also have a small string of Irish pubs on Geary including Blarney Stone (5625 Geary Blvd.), The Nags Head (5346 Geary Blvd.) and McKenzie’s Bar (5320 Geary Blvd.). The Inner Richmond also has plenty to choose from including The Plough & Stars (116 Clement St.), Ireland’s 32 (3920 Geary Blvd.), The Bitter End (441 Clement St.) and O’Keeffe’s Bar (598 5th Ave.).

SoMa has a couple of spots as well like The Chieftan Irish Pub & Restaurant (198 5th St.), Kate O’Brien’s Irish Bar & Grill (579 Howard St.) and O’Neill’s Irish Pub (747 3rd St.).

Finally, a look at the Haight where there are spots like Danny Coyle’s (668 Haight St.), Kezar Pub and Restaurant (770 Stanyan St.), Mad Dog in the Fog (530 Haight St.) and Nickies (466 Haight St.) to enjoy and adult beverage or two.

Plenty of spots to choose from in these neighborhoods and others in San Francisco. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll pour myself a Guiness just for the occasion!