Everybody loves a good ol’ Irish pub ( specially on St. Paddy ’s Day ) , and the MSP area sure does have quite a few of them . But what make a saloon “ Irish ” ? Is it the beer selection ? The whisky ? The beer and the whiskey ? How about a bunch of 20 - somethings drinking heavily and dancing on the measure while wearing “ snog Me I ’m Irish ” T - shirt and those dumb shamrock sunglass ? Well , we care to think it ’s a mixture of all that ( with the exception of the last one ) , with the sum bonus of being a neighborhood favourite where you may have a few pints with some good supporter – and , sure , maybe even pair it with a plate of hearty food . Also whiskey . Definitely . There ’s got to be whisky . And in the Twin Cities , yeah , we ’ve got plenty of that .
The Local
One of the city ’s most well - be intimate Irish establishments , The Local has spent the past four years as a ball-shaped leader in the sale ( and pour ) of Jameson Irish whiskey . gravely , the place has even been honour for it . That aside , the beautiful wood décor , detailed bars , and bountiful excerpt of alcoholic drink ( namely that whiskey ) is what keeps it a substantial staple fiber for Twin Cities pub - goers . And sure , the fish & chips and whiskey - honey candy chicken shots aid as well .
Morrissey’s Irish Pub
There ’s just something about Irish pubs in the Twin Cities that guide to massive whisky sales ( which may or may not talk to the people of MSP in general ) . Morrissey ’s drift to be the biggest seller of Powers Irish whisky in the land , and even claims to sell more Greenore than anywhere else in the intact US . It was also apparently the first Irish pothouse in Uptown Minneapolis , which pretty much make it a historical landmark ( in our whisky - glazed eye ) . This place has a rather dark air in spite of appearance , but do n’t let it discourage you from the great lively music and delicious Irish - revolutionise snacks it offers at the bar and tableside .
The Liffey
moot the size of the Irish population in St. Paul , you ’d await to find some fairly decent public house . And this sister measure to The Local is just that . The bar was actually build in Ireland before being put together on - site , and pay its localisation near the Xcel Energy Center , it ’s fundamentally the good place to grab a pre - hockey shot of whiskey . If you ’ve been keep up with itsFacebook pageboy , it ’s jolly obvious The Liffey is get quick for a serious St. Paddy ’s Day celebration .
Merlins Rest
Oh , how we have sex Merlin ’s ! This shoes is easily one of the most colorful bar in the Twin Cities – especially since it frequently has bagpipers marching around the barroom bang out tune . Also , it boasts the largest selection of unmarried malted Scotches and Irish whiskey in the state . And if you think that ’s an magnification , just ask to see the menu ; your server will come back with what ’s referred to as the “ Scotch Holy Scripture ” : a ring-binder occupy with all the different brown liquors offered . What also do this post so corking is that it does ( somewhat ) frequent tasting , and take a leak a decent cottage pie .
Emmett’s Public House
This Grand Ave gin mill is a enceinte place to grab a dry pint and shot with a few friends . It has a hearty selection of Irish - inspired food ( get those curried beer & whiskey mussels NOW ) and is the only place in town ( that we ’re aware of ) that offers corned gripe & colcannon .
The Dubliner Pub
This position basically shed blood light-green , sport springy Irish music six night a week and an Irish dance nighttime every Wednesday . But do n’t worry , it ’s not all music and clogging ; it also has a pretty substantial rough drawing tilt and a variety of whiskey ( shocking , we know ) to rinse them all down .
Patrick McGovern’s
This well-disposed neighborhood pub has been pouring pints under its current possession since 1982 . locate in the bottom corner of an old Victorian building , the free-and-easy atmosphere makes it the staring place to prod into a big square bowl of Irish sweat while sipping away on a smooth pour of Guinness . It also has a beautiful terrace for those summer get - togethers with expert friends . ( Expect to make some new ones while you ’re out there . )
O’Gara’s Irish Pub
This St. Paul institution is definitely a human dynamo pub around these parts , offer live music , 35 strike beers , and a robust history . It ’ll be celebrating its 75th St. Paddy ’s Day this year , and is doing so with an entire calendar week full of different specials . While it ’s decidedly less of an Irish pub than it used to be , the polish live on on in the bod of the leprechaun cobblers wall painting , paint inside the bar by founder Jim O’Gara . Also , the shillelagh ( an old Irish weapon ) hanging over the stripe comes flat from County Sligo , home of the first O’Gara clan . Oh , and it still sells whisky .
Keegan’s Irish Pub
Keegan ’s is a solid place in town , offer a great collecting of craft beer , a variety of weekly special & body process , and a load of eatable Irish classic . The barroom has been consistently reward by the people at Guinness for the way the barman pour pints . harmonize tothe website , “ All our Guinness comes from the St. James Gate brewery in Dublin , Ireland , and we pour it at the right temperature with proper nitrogen to CO2 mixture . ” So if you ’re looking for a in effect pint - o'-Guinness this coming St. Paddy ’s Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , it looks like you ’ve found the place .
O’Donovan’s Irish Pub
This is the kind of legal community you come to and , after toast for some fourth dimension , initiate hazily clamour on about howauthenticit looks . “ It ’s almost like I ’m in Ireland ! ” you ’ll ( seek to ) say . Well , that ’s because it was the first Irish pub in Minneapolis that was built entirely in Ireland . Come by most nights of the week and you ’ll find live medicine , along with a healthy selection of rap beer . And if you ’re like most , you ’ll likely ( decidedly ) want to explore the Irish whisky natural selection as well … because why not ?
Dan Kelly’s Irish Pub
This downtown Irish public house is brought to you by the same phratry behind the Seven Corners craft beer temple , Republic , so you know it has a neat survival of different local brew and various taps . It focuses on present-day pub - style culinary art , with a firm clutch on traditional Irish smell , and has over 40 different varieties of whisky . So what we ’re saying is : make certain you show up good and thirsty .
The Local
The Local
Morrissey’s Irish Pub
Adam Kennedy Photography
Merlin’s Rest
Emmett’s Public House
Patrick McGovern’s
Keegan’s Irish Pub
O’Donovan’s Irish Pub