Here at That’s So Tampa, we celebrate the Irish pub year-round. Comfort food, cozy digs, creamy pints of Guinness, and usually enough TVs to catch either version of football you prefer. What’s not to love? This time of year in particular, of course, the beloved Irish pubs become centers of the universe for a fair few days around St. Patrick’s Day and its closest weekend.
Tampa is fortunate to have a plethora of options when you’re looking for an Irish breakfast or a proper pint. For the sake of narrowing the list down to a manageable length, we’re highlighting several staff picks that are within a close-ish range of this weekend’s River O’Green festivities downtown, as well as a few to check out in other pockets of town.
Photo via James Joyce Irish Pub
This week and beyond, these are some of our favorite spots to celebrate the luck of the Irish and the beer of the Irish alike. As long as you’re feeling festive, don’t forget the three-day Paddy Fest in St. Pete this weekend, March 13-15. It’s Tampa Bay’s biggest St. Patrick’s festival, with plenty of Guinness on tap. And if you’re not feeling beer, you can always enjoy the humours of whiskey, me boys.
Four Green Fields
You have options here, but for the purposes of this story, let’s go with the Riverwalk location, which is sure to be a party all week. Few places do as great a job of transporting you to Eire, right down to the thatched roof, making it an excellent choice for a proper pint of Guinness.
702 N Ashley Dr
James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery
Ybor City’s Irish hub is laid-back, welcoming, and one of the best Irish pubs for a good meal. The elevated pub fare has twists on Irish classics (Shepherd’s Pie Egg Rolls, Guinness Tots), the usual standards, and plenty of regular bar options more friendly to the American palate.
1724 E 8th Ave
Maloney’s Local Irish Pub Downtown
Maloney’s is one of downtown Tampa’s best casual hangouts, St. Paddy’s-related or not. They have an excellent mix of Irish cuisines and traditional bar food, with a laid-back atmosphere that makes it easy to stay awhile.
1120 E Kennedy Blvd
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
It’s more out of the way from downtown, but the Davis Islands star is one of the best Irish pubs in the region. The portions-per-dollar ratio will leave both your stomach and wallet full, and the authentically Irish experience runs from the menu and drinks to the decor and hospitality.
304 E Davis Blvd
Paddy Wagon Irish Pub
The local chain of Irish pubs provides a well-placed hub in downtown. The vibes are great, the drink specials are even better, and last call doesn’t come until 2 am. If you haven’t been, note that there’s no food. This spot is all about the party.
813 N Tampa St
Strandhill Public
The Tampa Heights favorite adds some modernity to the Irish pub, providing a (relatively) more upscale option without being so fancy as to eschew chicken wings and beer pitchers. Between their huge Christmas pop-up and the St. Pat’s celebrations, Strandhill is a pub for all seasons.
309 W Palm Ave
More Irish pubs to try in the Tampa area:
Irish 31 Pub House & Eatery (Hyde Park) – 1611 W Swann Ave
The Dubliner Irish Pub (SoHo) – 2307 W Azeele St
MacDinton’s Irish Pub (SoHo) – 405 S Howard Ave