It’s St. Paddy’s and despite the wintery aesthetic of 40-some odd centimeters of snow out there, the celebrations must go on!
Whether you’re Irish for a day or 365 days, our list of pubs and grub-hubs should inspire you and your drinking team. Of course, Guinness could be considered a meal – just drink responsibly!
Here’s our curated list of locales to help you to get into the Irish spirit, and who knows, you might even ‘Happn’ meet someone 😉
Best Montreal Pubs for Drinking on St. Patricks Day
Bishop & Bagg
A true gem of the Mile End that has a favourable selection of beer and whiskeys. Bishop & Baggs gin selection is nothing short of impressive (the largest selection in QC), making this place is a perfect fit for any gin enthusiast, especially when paired with Bishop & Bagg’s homemade tonic.
52 Saint Viateur
Brasserie Harricanna
A stunning brew pub located in Little Italy that’s just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but still close enough to civilization. This spot is ideal for the brew enthusiast who has a passion for craft beer.
95 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest
Chez Dallaire
Located in Montreal’s very own Little Ireland, Chez Dallaire is a fine choice for drinks. They also serve up a mean brunch. Did we mention that it’s located in Little Ireland? How perfect is that?!?
2035 Wellington St
Honey Martin
NDG is a great part of town to celebrate this green-beer-filled holiday – especially if you are looking for a joint that has live music. It tends to pack a full house, so get there early!
5916 Sherbrooke W
Brutopia
Get festively sloppy in the old stomping grounds of your university days and take a stroll down memory lane. Known for their chill ambiance and live music, Bru is always a good time.
1219 Crescent St
Ye Olde Orchard
Ye Olde Orchard Irish pub is a long-time favourite of many Montrealers. With three locations in Montreal, Ye Olde Orchard is rich in character and offers a classic pub atmosphere. Their food menu is also impressive, which comes in handy when you need some good grub to soak up the Jamieson.
3 locations: 20 Prince-Arthur, 5563 Monkland and 1189 de la Montagne
The Olde Dublin / Le Vieux Dublin
Known as the oldest Irish pub in Montreal, Le Vieux Dublin has welcomed many St. Paddy’s celebrations over the decades. If walls could talk, we can’t imagine what these would have to say! One thing is for sure – this pub guarantees a great time.
636 Rue Cathcart
McKibbin’s
Chain or not, the family-friendly McKibbin’s is not without the warmth of a good pub. Their long list of drinks and plentiful food menu, and welcomes folks of all ages – but you might want to bring the youngsters home after the parade. We all know how things go down post-parade on St. Paddy’s Sunday. Of course, the West Island location is likely to be the better option if you’re planning on bringing the kids out.
3515 St Laurent Blvd, 1426 Bishop St, 6361 Trans-Canada Hwy, Pointe-Claire
Burgundy Lion
This Little Burgundy locale is perfect for folks living in the southwestern part of the city who would rather avoid the crowd downtown. Burgundy Lion brings a strong brunch game, so get there early and fill up on grub before the green beer starts flowing.
2496 Notre-Dame St W
Irish Embassy
Classic Irish pub with an elevated aesthetic that’s still true to Irish roots, making this spot to venture to after the parade. Their menu should satisfy those hard-earned munchies, just be sure to grab a pint to wash it down.
1234 Bishop St
Hurleys
One of the best to be found on Crescent, you can’t deny the authentic charm of Hurleys. Rumour has it that it won over Ewan McGregor, and it’s safe to say the lad likely has enough pub experience to know a good one when he sees it.
1225 Crescent St
McLean’s
Conveniently located within crawling distance of the parade, McLean’s Pub combines modern with traditional – like the self-tap tables on the second floor, which are just brilliant. Be sure to get there early because of its prime location, this pub is likely to fill up quick!
1210 Peel St
Pub St. Paul
This rock-themed pub is located in a historic building in beautiful old Montreal and offers guests & hearty fare plus billiards & live music. Pub St. Paul is perfect for folks who live in the neighbourhood and still crave that authentic experience, minus the chaos of downtown.
124 St Paul St E
The Gladstone
A Westmount-located resto-pub features a decor that was built in homage to the Irish tradition. The pubs wood-panelled aesthetic includes a super comfy bar – which is rare for a pub in this town. If good food is a priority, you’ve come to the right place.
4114 Saint-Catherine St W
Winston Churchills
Several of Montreal’s most recognized Irish pubs are located on the iconic Crescent Street, and Winnie’s is one of them. This 3 level establishment has seen more than we should probably know about (again, if walls could talk), which makes it the perfect spot to grab a brew or two, or twelve with your closest mates.
1459 Rue Crescent
Thursday’s
The newly renovated Thursday’s is spacious to host you and your troop – just be sure to get there early enough because the place fills up fast.
1449 Rue Crescent
Montreal’s 194th Saint Patricks Day Parade
It’s basically a pop-up BYOB pub where you can drink, dance and be merry with thousands of other Montrealers – Irish or not! Be part of the action from noon until the parade ends, at which point you’ll want to hurry over to one of the above 16 recommendations.
Happy Saint Paddy’s, indeed.
Final Takeaways
Dress for the occasion – there’s a whole lot of snow out there, and despite the miraculous effects that alcohol has on warming the body, you’ll want to prepare in advance for the day.
Drink lots of water!
Drink responsibly!
