St Patrick’s Day is a holiday just meant for Seattle! The Northwest is an ideal climate for cozy Irish pubs and there are many located in Seattle, Tacoma, and in between. There’s nothing like warming up with a Guinness. If you want to get out and do something more active than tip back a beer, there’s a parade, an Irish festival, and a run in the lineup for St Patrick’s Day 2012.
If you're driving into downtown Seattle, you may be interested in Seattle parking resources.
Bagpipers, pirates, drill teams, Irish dancers, bands, and more all march past for one of Seattle’s best parades. The parade ends near Seattle Center.
When: March 16, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Along 4th Avenue between Jefferson and Seattle Center
How much: Free!
St. Patrick's Day Underworld Tour
A 21+ special tour of the Seattle Underground that adds a bit of raunch, a splash of inappropriate humor, and much fun for all. The tour will explore Seattle's former Red Light District. After the tour, everyone will gather at the Underground Cafe to enjoy music, and special pricing on Guinness and Irish whiskey.
When: March 17, 7 and 8 p.m.
Where: Seattle Underground, 608 First Avenue, Seattle
How much: $25/person
St. Patrick's Day Dinner Cruise
A 2.5-hour cruise on Lake Union and Lake Washington with a multi-course dinner filled with traditional Irish favorites. Bangers and mash, pickled cabbage, beer and cheese soup, and corned beef brisket are all on the menu. After dinner, enjoy Baileys ice cream and whiskey bread pudding.
When: March 17, 4 p.m.
Where: Waterways Cruises HomePort, 2441 N. Northlake Way, Seattle
How much: $53/person, $47/senior or military, $26 kids 5-12
The parade route ends at Seattle Center, which is where the Seattle Irish Festival takes place. The festival has lots of vendors with Irish merchandise, live dance and music, workshops and lectures, and children’s activities.
This run covers about four miles of ground and encourages everyone to participate, whether you want to walk or run. The mood is light with racers often dressing in costumes, so you’ll be running (or watching) leprechauns and Guinness cans jog by. Most runners at the very least wear green to get into the spirit.
Irish Pubs in Seattle and Tacoma
There are many Irish pubs throughout the Seattle-Tacoma area. Most have something special on for St Patrick’s Day, but at the very least, these are great places to get Irish beer and food.
Fado has frequent Pub Quiz nights and live music, as well as plenty of soccer and rugby games on the TV.
Location: 801 1st Avenue, Seattle
Phone: 206-264-2700
Located in Kirkland with an outdoor deck overlooking Lake Washington, the Wilde Rover has live music many nights of the week. English Premier Football, rugby, Australian Rules, and most local games are all shown on a six-foot screen with full sound.
Location: 111 Central Way, Kirkland
Phone: 425-822-8940
Located close to Pike Place Market, Kells is a great stop any day of the year. Kells has a long tradition of St Patrick’s Day fun! Live music starts at noon and goes on all day.
Location: 1916 Post Alley, Seattle
Phone: 206-728-1916
Live music on Saturdays, over 100 bottled and on-tap beers from around the world, and a mix of Irish and Cajun food makes Celtic Bayou a bit unique.
Location: 7281 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond
Phone: 425-869-5933
Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub & Restaurant
With a mix of Irish and general pub food, Owl ‘n Thistle aims for comfort all around. Kick back with some Guinness beef stew or enjoy a Jazz Jam on a Tuesday evening.
Location: 808 Post Alley, Seattle
Phone: 206-621-7777
Live music 5 to 7 nights a week, and happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. every day make Conor Byrne worth a visit. With 14-foot-high ceilings and an eye-catching bar, this pub provides a cool atmosphere.
Location: 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle
Phone: 206-784-3640
Burgers and pub fare accent a menu that also has many Irish favorites, including shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and veggie pasties. Quiz nights and live music are also on tap. A great spot for St Patrick’s Day.
Location: 2722 Alki Avenue Southwest, Seattle
Phone: 206-932-7935
Karaoke nights, Irish nights ($3.50 Irish beers), and happy hour every day from 3 to 8 p.m. are only part of why Dubliner is worth a visit. Other special nights mean $3.50 wells or bartender’s choice deals.
Location: 3517 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle
Phone: 206-548-1508
Set in an old-world atmosphere decked out with dim lighting and dark woods, all Paddy Coyne’s locations strive to be traditional Irish pubs. Happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 to midnight each day.
Locations:
815 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma – 253-272-6963
1190 Thomas Street, Seattle – 206-405-1548
700 Bellevue Way NE Suite 100, Bellevue – 425-453-8080
T.S. McHugh’s is just a block from Seattle Center and stocks over 20 beers on tap and plenty of Irish fare.
Location: 21 Mercer Street, Seattle
Phone: 206-282-1910
