By: Lindsay Garbacik By: Lindsay Garbacik | February 17, 2023 | Food & Drink Lifestyle Community
Get ready Chicago, St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and true to form, Chicago is set to go all out. The iconic river dyeing will take place on Saturday, March 11 and numerous bars and restaurants will be offering themed deals and specials so you can make a day of it. Check out our picks for the most luxe St. Patty’s Day specials and celebrations in Chicago.
See Also: 8 St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Recipes, And They're Not All Made With Whiskey
65 W Kinzie Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11 at 10 a.m.
Head to Barrio for a special brunch set to fuel your day of St. Patty’s festivities. Housemade specials will include churro breakfast sandwiches, lemon ricotta pancakes, and bottomless brunch cocktails. Brunch is priced starting at $35 per person. Or, opt for a savory option like Barrio’s towering taco tower, comprised of 12 tacos, guacamole and chips.
505 N State Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Head to elevated cocktail bar CBR for a special Irish brunch on the day of the famed river dyeing. Specials will include corned beef and Irish banger hash, a classic Reuben, green beer, Irish coffee, and shamrock shots.
71 E Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Head to Hoyt’s Tavern for an all-day affair filled with green beer, good music and panoramic views of the river. There will be a heated tent on the patio with a DJ and full bar, and another DJ and full bar in the River Room. Entry is free, but if you’re coming with a group there is the option to reserve booths in advance, which comes with bottomless green beer and Irish-inspired bites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Tickets to reserve booths can be purchased here.
127 W Huron Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Head to the Godfrey Hotel’s rooftop for a high-energy rooftop party, complete with bottomless beer, mimosas, bloody Marys, a breakfast buffet and green pancakes. The rooftop will also have fire pits and igloos for extra warmth, and a handful of VIP tables with bottle service available. Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
405 N Wabash Avenue / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11 - Sunday, March 12
From Big Brother alum-turned-restaurateur Memphis Garrett, Southern-style restaurant Lady May will host its opening preview the weekend prior to St. Patty’s Day. Stop in to try Nashville hot sliders, deviled eggs with caviar, pork chops, and fried vanilla ice cream with strawberry compote for dessert. The bar will be set for the holiday with shots of Jameson, whiskey smashes, Irish coffees, green Bud Light bottles, and Guinness on tap.
1525 N Wells Street / Website
Date: Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 19
Head to Old Town’s Irish-American hotspot for a few unique celebrations. Starting on Friday, March 10, the pub will open at 2 p.m. and offer Irish classics like corned beef sandwiches, shepherd’s pie and corned beef hush puppies, among others, and green beer, $6 Irish pints, $10 Irish mules, and $5 mystery Irish whiskey shots. All of these specials will run until Sunday, March 19.
On Saturday, March 11, parade day, LG’s will host a ticketed ‘Who’s Your Paddy’ event starting at 9 a.m. Guests will be guaranteed five drink vouchers that are good on almost everything from mimosas, to green beer, to mixed Jameson drinks. Following the parade, the pub will host brunch at 11 a.m. Tickets for ‘Who’s Your Paddy’, can be purchased here.
85 E Upper Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Head to LondonHouse Chicago’s upper floors for a full day of St. Patty’s festivities. From 8 a.m. to midnight, LH will offer sweeping views of the iconic river dyeing ceremony, along with live music from top Chicago DJs, bottomless green beer, a four-hour premium open bar, breakfast bites, photo opps, a dance floor, and St. Patty’s swag. VIP packages are also available, with private group tables, a bottle of Ketel One Vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey, and a board of assorted bites. Tickets are required for this 21+ event and can be purchased here.
505 N Michigan Avenue / Website
Located steps away from the river, head to Michael Jordan’s Steak House for a Guinness pint with a green silhouette of Jordan on top. Other green cocktails will include the appletini and green Krankshaft beer.
400 N State Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Radio Room will host ‘Tap O’ The Morn’ on Saturday morning, complete with passed Irish-inspired breakfast bites, green Bud Light and select drafts, mimosas and well cocktails, and priority access to the Radio Room all day, with the purchase of a ticket.
838 W Kinzie Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Head to Recess for a raucous one-night-only rave, in partnership with Bingo Loco. While you’re there, enjoy boozy bings, over-the-top confetti showers, dance-offs, funny hosts and a stellar DJ playing tracks from the 90s and early aughts. There will be truly wild prizes given out throughout the night, like international trips to Dubai and Bali, and flights across the US. It’s sure to be a memorable (or not, depending on how you play it) night. Tickets can be purchased here.
700 W Adams Street / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Guinness, Wintrust and Bailey’s, Old St. Patrick’s Church will host a one-day block party under a heated tent, complete with Irish grub, a beer garden and live Irish music. Guests will enjoy classic Irish delicacies like Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, and corned beef sandwiches. The event is entirely family-friendly and will host a balloon artist and craft table. All funds raised will go to the church and its numerous community-focused ministries. Adult ticket prices start at $15 for general admission and $50 for the pub pass which includes four drinks and a meal. Tickets can be purchased here.
24 S Michigan Avenue / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11 to Friday, March 17
The Gage is perhaps THE spot to engage in authentic Irish culture and cuisine on St. Patty’s Day. With owners from Galway, Ireland, and visits from Irish diplomats, The Gage has garnered a reputation for authenticity. All week long, guests will enjoy Guinness, corned beef sandwiches with Guinness-soaked Swiss cheese on rye, colcannon, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd’s pie. There will be a special Irish breakfast on Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12, and performances from bagpipers and fiddlers on Saturday, March 11 and Friday, March 17. Reservations are recommended and can be made here.
71 E Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Experience the iconic river dyeing from 39 stories in the sky while enjoying an Irish breakfast buffet in a lavish penthouse lounge. There will be an open bar with green beer, wine, and Irish-inspired cocktails. The event is set to be kid-friendly with Lucky Charm pancakes and other offerings. Tickets can be purchased here.
622 N Fairbanks Court / Website
Date: Friday, March 10 to Friday, March 17
For the 31st year, Timothy O’Toole’s will host its famed weeklong St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Throughout the week, guests will enjoy corned beef on rye, Guinness beef stew, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, pints of green beer for $7, Jameson shots, and tons of Irish beer. The bar will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 and 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17, for those who want to optimize their drinking.
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for 20 of the Best Italian Restaurants Across America.
Photography by: Yancu