St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and you know Chicago is going to go all out. Whether you plan on going to the parade or watch the dyeing of the river, this city has more ways to celebrate than a leprechaun has gold.
Drink green beer, create your own lucky bouquet, take a cruise down the green river and enjoy fabulous Irish food specials with our list of things to do and ways to celebrate in all corners of the city. There's even a chance for a fun weekend getaway.
See also: The 13 Best Tasting Menus In Chicago
Each location adheres to its own COVID-19 regulations, so be sure to visit the websites for up-to-date information about each policy.
Wrigley Field’s Charm’d Pop-Up
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3505 N Clark Street / Website
Deuce's bar is known for its many holiday celebrations; Santa Baby, Nightmare on Clark Street, and Major League Bar to name a few. Now, Deuce's returns and with a St. Patty’s Day special. Charm’d is an enchanting experience set to feature over-the-top decorated rooms with wall-to-wall Irish decor, and you and your loved ones are invited to come eat, drink, take pictures for social media and be merry. Lots of special events are planned, including a chance to create your own beautiful bouquet of flowers. Only on March 1 and 15, expert instructors from Blossoms Anytime and B Collection will lead you tthrogh the process of creating your own unique spring floral arrangement. Each customer over the age of 21 will receive one glass of champagne, as many spring flowers as you need for your beautiful bouquet, and a vase. Any additional food or drink can be purchased at the event. Be sure to grab your tickets ahead of time.
LondonHouse Chicago St. Patty’s Day Celebration
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85 E Wacker Drive / Website
Luxury Lifestyle Hotel LondonHouse Chicago invites you to experience an unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 12, from 8 a.m. to midnight. Sip on some festive green beer while experiencing the holiday fun on LH on 21, the hotel’s indoor lounge, as well LH Rooftop, the hotel’s famed 22nd-level outdoor terrace. Located along the Magnificent Mile, the LondonHouse is an ideal spot in downtown Chicago to witness the dyeing of the river. General tickets include complimentary St. Patty’s merch, bottomless green beer, breakfast bites, a four-hour premium open bar, and so much more. A VIP package is offered for groups of four looking to upgrade their St. Patty’s Day experience. VIP ticket holders receive everything that general admission ticket holders do, as well as private group seating, a bottle of Ketel One Vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey along with the chef’s board of assorted bites. Tickets are available for purchase on Tock.
Dom’s Kitchen & Market
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2730 N Halsted Street / Website
Kicking off the St. Patty’s Day festivities with a live performance from the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, Dom’s Kitchen and Market welcomes you to join in on the fun. Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, the performance will be the band’s first after the official Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade. From March 12 through 17, Dom’s Kitchen and Market will also offer a variety of food and drink specials, including Green Corey’s bagels, house-made Irish soda bread, Guinness Stout potato chips, Green River soda, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish ale, and Hopewell Clover Club raspberry sour. The event is open to the public, so be sure to stop on by and enjoy these limited time specials.
Old Town Pour House
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1419 N Wells Street / Website
Start your St. Patrick’s Day celebration by adding some Irish to your morning. Old Town Pour House will host a special Kegs and Eggs event on Saturday, March 12 from 8 to 11 a.m. For $30 per person, you'll enjoy a decked-out breakfast buffet with everyone’s favorites: scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, cinnamon rolls, fruit salad and cheesy potato casserole. Old Town Pour House will also offer drink specials, including $5 green beer (Miller Light), Guinness, bloody marys, and mimosas. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, so be sure to grab yours before it’s too late!
Sweetwater Tavern & Grille
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225 Michigan Ave. / Website
If you’re looking for something to do right after the St. Patrick’s Day parade, visit Sweetwater Tavern and Grille for a holiday special. Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, the tavern will offer some of the most delicious Irish food for lucky guests. Try Irish nachos, pastrami reubens, and mouthwatering shepherd’s pie, then wash down your meal with Green Miller Light, Smithwick’s and Virtue Cider Brut, or the Magners Irish Cider and Guinness. Experience the sounds of the Irish with bagpipeplayers, and if weather permits, customers are welcome to enjoy Sweetwater’s massive outdoor patio on the Magnificent Mile all day and overlook the green river. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to arrive early and enjoy the St. Patty’s Day atmosphere.
Old St. Pat’s Shamrock’n the Block
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700 W Adams Street / Website
Looking for a fun St. Patrick’s Day event that has live music, food and drinks, but is also kid-friendly? Look no further than Old St. Pat’s Church's Shamrock’n the Block. Held on Saturday's Parade Day, Shamrock’n the Block is open to the public from 12 to 6 p.m. Offering tents and a heated outdoor beer garden, you can enjoy live music, food, drink and Irish dancers at the corner of Adams and Des Plaines Street in the West Loop. General admission tickets cost $15 and include entry, live entertainment, Wee One’s activities and the option to purchase food and beverages for $10. All-inclusive tickets, which cost $50 if you order online or $60 at the door, include everything the general admission offers as well as free drinks and a meal. Kids ages 6 to 10 cost $5, and kids 5 and younger get in for free. Kids tickets include entry, one kid’s meal, Wee One’s activities and Shamrock’n Craft Pack. Be sure to buy your tickets online as well as view what Wee One’s activities are planned on the official website.
The Exchange
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224 S Michigan Ave. / Website
Not too far from where the parade will take place, The Exchange will offer delicious dinner specials to keep the party going. Located on Michigan Avenue, The Exchange will serve St. Patty’s Day specials from Friday to Thursday, March 11 to 17. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage, and fish and chips while music plays in The Listening Room with a playlist full of Irish classics including U2, The Cranberries, Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor and more. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy brunch, The Exchange will be open on Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering $5 Guinness and $5 Roe and Co Irish Whiskey Shots, as well as an “all you can eat” brunch. Please be sure to book your reservations for dinner and brunch online.
The Kitchen American Bistro
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316 N Clark Street / Website
Overlooking the Chicago River, The Kitchen American bistro will serve delicious food as you watch the Chicago River turn green. Opening early at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, The Kitchen will launch a new brunch menu, offered until 3 p.m. The bistro has an amazing view of the river, but be sure to book your reservation for the window tables. Each party that makes a window reservation will also enjoy a complimentary surprise gift from the culinary team. If you’re looking for a way to upscale your St. Patty’s Day celebration, have your brunch at The Kitchen and watch the river as you feast.
Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap
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41 E Superior Street / Website
Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap will open early at 10 am on Saturday, March 12, to serve St. Patrick’s Day specials for you and your loved ones. Created by Chef Matt Smith, specials include the Jake’s Rachel sandwich with house-made corned beef, grilled rye bread, melted Swiss, cabbage slaw, and Russian dressing; sticky Guinness wings; Irish house-made nachos; “Reuben Pizza” Detroit-style; and Old Style green beer. If you are looking for a laid-back place to enjoy some delicious food with amazing company, plan your St. Patty’s Day lunch at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap.
River Roast
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315 N LaSalle Street / Website
Located along the river with amazing views of downtown Chicago, River Roast will be open and ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s day weekend. Come at 10 a.m. for brunch on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, to enjoy contemporary American tavern fare with delicious food options led by Executive Chef Cedric Harden. In addition to the regular and weekend brunch menu, River Roast will also serve traditional Irish dishes for the holiday; that means reubens, shepherd’s pie, mussels, fish and chips, or corned beef hash. Be sure to reserve your table on River Roast’s website for the St. Patty’s weekend.
The Ritz-Carlton
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160 E Pearson Street / Website
Whether you’re visiting the city to enjoy the parade or you’re a lifelong resident, the Ritz-Carlton is a getaway destination everyone deserves to experience. Finally done with renovations, this hotel is once again ready to serve its guests and offer the most comfortable living experience you can get in Chicago. For St. Patrick’s day, the Ritz-Carlton offers two cocktail specials; The Wired Irishman with a blend of Irish whiskey and Starbucks cold-brew; and the Paloma Irlanda, Ritz-Carlton’s creative twist on a classic traditionally served with tequila, though the hotel’s mixologists replace it for whiskey, falernum and bitters. Guests can choose sip the two cocktails alongside the delicious bites served at Torali steakhouse, a restaurant that overlooks Chicago on the 12th floor of the Ritz-Carlton.
I|O Godfrey
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127 W Huron Street / Website
I|O Godfrey is set to host a rooftop party Saturday, March 12, and from 8 a.m. to noon, you can enjoy bottomless beer, delicious mimosas, bloody marys, and a breakfast buffet at the urban oasis. The rooftop offers a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, fire pits, contests and giveaways, plus green pancakes. Guests will definitely feel the luck of the Irish at this experience. After 12 p.m., I|O Godfrey will transition into its all-day menu with Irish themed food and drink for the remainder of the holiday. Tickets for the morning event are available on eventbrite and are required in order to enter. Guests will also have the option to purchase the VIP tickets for select tables with bottle service included.
City Cruises at Navy Pier
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Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave. / Website
Do you love being on the water? Want to see the Chicago river dyed green from the best seats in the city? Well, City Cruises Chicago invites guests to buy tickets for the St. Patty’s Day cruise on the river, set for the morning of March 12. While cruising along the river, you won’t only experience the dyeing, but you will also get a tour of the city’s architecture. Boarding will begin as soon as 7:45 a.m., so participants don’t miss out on any of the festivities. For those who’d prefer to cruise the lake rather than watch the dyeing, other themed cruises down Lake Michigan will be available for guests to enjoy the holiday in a different way. Irish-themed menu items such as a corned beef special will be available, along with Irish tunes playing and St. Patrick’s Day décor throughout the cruise to keep the party going. Book your cruise in advance online.
Photography by: Benjamin Suter / Unsplash
