Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Atlanta

“Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da, wack fall the daddy-o, wack fall the daddy-o, there’s whiskey in the jar.” Have any greater words ever been spoken? For those of us who are lovers of everything Irish, the answer is a resounding “no”!

Irish pubs (and their accompanying drinking songs) have long stood as one of the best ways that people come together to socialize through libations and song.  Having become increasing popular over the years due to the stylish and refined way they are designed and operated – what remains the same is the admiration of Guinness, the consumption of “fish ‘n chips” and of course – celebration of St. Patrick’s Day!

So… whether you’re looking for a spot to grab an ice-cold pint of lager, or simply in search of where to spend this year’s St. Patty’s day, here’s journeyPod’s top picks the best places to celebrate the Irish festivities in Atlanta:

The Ellis Hotel & Terrace Restaurant: Yes, that’s right, we are not picking an Irish pub as our # 1 pick because we have found the real inside scoop on where the Irish folk will be celebrating this year! On March 13th, enjoy Guinness Beef Stew served with IrishSoda bread, $4 Harp, Guiness and Irish Coffee’s. Chef Thomas McKeon, hailed from Ireland, has prepared a fantastic dinner for the 17th.  As a starter, choose from Potato Leek Soup or Seared Smoked Salmon. For your main course it’s a difficult toss up between the Irish Boiled Bacon & Cabbage or Guinness Beef Stew. Make sure to save room for something sweet and pick from White Chocolate & Baileys Bread Pudding or Jameson’s Irish Whisky Trifle. The 3-course meal is only $30 pp.  Stay tuned for our podcast with Chef Thomas!

RiRa: Midtown’s hottest pub has some amazing live music performances, trivia, street festival and Irish food specialties planned for St. Patrick’s Day! The St. Pat’s Music Festival on the 17th is going to be a huge event! For a full list of events check out their St. Patrick’s Day Event Calendar! Come hungry — RiRa knows how to celebrate the culinary Irish arts and will be offering the traditional Sausages & Mash, Potato Leek Soup & Corned Beef!

Fados: Headed to Buckhead for St. Patrick’s Day? No better place to celebrate than this 3-story hotspot! If the weather is nice, lounge around their rooftop lounge, Guinness in hand, and enjoy the view of the Buckhead skyline! The celebration starts on March 10th and ends on March 17th with a huge outdoor festival! The week-long celebration is suitably called ‘Session On’,  a popular phrase in Ireland used amongst friends to describe that eager anticipation before a big day out at the pub. 14 years and counting, there is no bigger celebration at Fadó then St Patrick’s Day.  Session On!

Atkins Park: The Smyrna Market Village is alive and well on St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy live music, beer and Jaegermeister specials, Shepherd’s Pie & Corned Beef & Cabbage, while singing merrily along with friends! Be sure to check out their other locations in Virginia Highlands and off Howell Mill (Ormsby’s).

Not opposed to traving OTP? Why not plan a weekend getaway to Savannah? Here is our pick for best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the historic city:

Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub (Savannah, GA) – So, what do you do when your small town happens to have the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States? You open up one of the hottest Irish Pubs!  With well over 400,000 visitors each year for the cities’ St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it’s really no wonder why Kevin Barry’s is such a hotspot. Located in the beautiful and well-known historic district of Savannah, Georgia, this spot’s no more than just pure down home Irish “craic”(that’s Irish – for fun, friendly, and exuberant atmosphere).

Wherever you decide to celebrate, journeyPod wishes you a warm and wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!