Everyone’s Irish on March 17, and these Irish-inspired pubs are ready to supply you with all the green and Guinness you can handle on St. Patrick’s Day.
Credit: Stephen Boyle, Flickr Creative CommonsO’Malley’s Supper, Spirits & Song
15231 Farmington Rd., Livonia; 734-427-7775; omalleyslivonia.com
A low-frills bar that has live music and karaoke and is considered one of Livonia’s best. Credit: O’Malley’s Supper, Spirits & Song, FacebookNancy Whiskey
2644 Harrison St., Detroit; 313-962-4247
Nancy Whiskey is one of Detroit’s oldest bars, having been around since 1902. Rumor has it that it survived the Prohibition by operating as a speakeasy. Credit: @bycolie, InstagramO’Toole’s
205 Fifth Ave., Royal Oak; 248-591-9226; otoolespubs.com
Established in 2002, O’Toole’s is known for packing large crowds of young people on weekends. Credit: @madelynvmiller, InstagramDanny’s Irish Pub
22824 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-546-8331
A charming hole in the wall bar known for its reasonably priced drinks and for hosting karaoke nights. Credit: @jenne_boylan, InstagramMcShane’s Irish Pub
1460 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-1960; mcshanespub.com
McShane’s Irish Pub might have a good whiskey list, but the food menu is the real star. The Corktown bar offers traditional Irish favorites like Shepherd’s Pie and some foods with a twist like “Irish Egg Rolls” stuffed with cabbage, Swiss cheese, and corned beef. Credit: @dna_313, InstagramNemo’s
1384 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-965-3180; nemosdetroit.com
A sports bar that dates back to the days of the old Tiger Stadium and has stayed in business thanks to its burgers. Since this is Corktown, it’s a St. Patrick’s Day favorite. Credit: @nemos_detroit, InstagramO’Connor’s Public House
324 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-608-2537; oconnorsrochester.com
Named after Ireland’s famous Gus O’Connor’s in Doolin, this pub was built in Ireland, made from crumbling churches and shipped to Rochester for an authentic experience. It hosts live music four days a week. Credit: @jibsbrown, instagramThree Blind Mice Irish Pub
101 N. Main St., Mount Clemens; 586-961-6371; threeblindmiceirishpub.com
Originally opened in 1900 as the Green Tree, Three Blind Mice has been under new ownership since 2020, boasting more than 300 beers, 160-plus types of whiskey, bourbon, and Scotch, a food menu featuring Irish favorites. Credit: @threeblindmiceirishpub, InstagramJohn Cowley & Sons Irish Pub
33338 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 248-474-5941; johncowleyandsons.com
Established in 1972, this family-owned pub is a fixture of downtown Farmington for three generations. Its latest owners have revamped the menu, and the bar hosts live entertainment on the weekends. Credit: John Cowley & Sons, FacebookDuggan’s Irish Pub
31501 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-549-3659; dugganspub.com
This Irish bar is beloved in the warm season, when it opens the windows on its second floor. Its menu features Irish fare and traditional bar food, including its signature “Big Chief” burger. Credit: @chuckg92, InstagramSullivan’s Public House
23 N. Washington St., Oxford; 248-572-7344; sullivanspublichouse.com
One of the owners actually lived in Ireland, bringing authenticity to this bar, which opened in 2014. Its menu includes a “full Irish breakfast” served for brunch, along with other Irish favorites. Credit: @motorcityirishdance, instagramConor O’Neill’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-665-2968; conoroneills.com
An Ann Arbor favorite, this bar boasts an authentic interior that was designed and built in Ireland to be reminiscent of old-school Irish pubs, and features a menu that includes traditional favorites. Located near the Big House, it’s also a great place to watch sports. Credit: @conorspubannarbor, InstagramKelly’s Irish Pub
3701 S. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn; 313-563-7510; kellysirishpubdearborn.com
Originally built in the 1930s, this neighborhood bar was renamed Kelly’s in 1977 and sold to lifelong customers in 2012 who have kept things largely as-is. Credit: @kellysirishpubmi, InstagramSean O’Callaghan’s Public House
821 Penniman Ave., Plymouth; 734-459-6666; seanocallaghanspub.com
Established in 2o01, Sean O’Callaghan’s features a menu of Irish dishes like Shepherd’s Pie, Lamb Shank Irish Stew, and Corned Beef and Cabbage, as well as more than 100 Irish whiskeys, bourbons, and Scotches — and, of course, Guinness. Credit: Sean O’Callaghan’s, FacebookDunleavy’s
6004 Allen Rd., Allen Park; 313-382-4545; dunleavypub.com
Founded by brothers, this Downriver neighborhood favorite features a menu of typical bar fare with some Irish staples. Credit: @mxrynx_, InstagramDick O’Dow’s Irish Public House
160 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-642-1135; dickodowspub.com
Dick O’ Dow’s boasts a moody interior with a gas fireplace. In recent years, ownership launched “the Dow,” a Wall Street-inspired part of the bar where the price of beer fluctuates with demand. Credit: @mcmastersells, InstagramShamrock Irish Pub
7715 Auburn Rd., Utica; 586-731-6886; shamrockpubutica
Shamrock Irish Pub has been a staple in Utica since 1935, and not much has changed since — because it doesn’t need to. Its simple menu is built around beer and its burger, which is considered one of the best in Macomb County. Credit: @lucky13astarcl, InstagramMcClenaghan’s Pub
52500 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-739-2913
A hole-in-the-wall bar beloved for its low prices and low-frills burgers. Credit: @therealjoeplumhoff,InstagramPat O’Brien’s Tavern
22385 E. 10 Mile Rd., St. Clair Shores; 586-771-5715; pobtavern.com
This Irish pub has been a favorite in St. Clair Shores since 1948, and became known for its famous perch dinners. It’s been under new ownership since 2006. Credit: Pat O’Brien’s, FacebookThe Blue Leprechaun
1220 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-929-5944; theblueleprechaun.com
Opened in 2008, this U-M campus bar boasts what it claims is the longest happy hour in Arbor from 4-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Credit: The Blue Leprechaun, FacebookColleen’s Irish Pub
32307 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-415-0571
Low-frills? This bar looks like it could be in someone’s basement. That’s not a diss. Credit: Colleen’s Irish Pub, FacebookO’Flaherty’s Irish Bar
15119 Charlevoix St., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-824-1140; oflahertysgpp.com
A Grosse Pointe staple for decades, what O’Flaherty’s lacks in a food menu (just chips and popcorn) it makes up for with a friendly, down-to-earth bar staff. Credit: @oflahertysgpp, InstagramKennedy’s Irish Pub
1055 W. Huron St., Waterford; 248-681-1050; kennedysirishpub.com
Opened in 1972, this neighborhood has been family-owned and -operated for four generations, its walls decked out in knickknacks and memorabilia. Credit: @kennedys_irishpub, InstagramMcShane’s Ypsilanti
2203 Ellsworth Rd., Ypsilanti; 734-434-0494; mcshanespubypsi.com
McShane’s opened its Ypsi outpost shortly after its Corktown location, with a menu that includes traditional Irish favorites along with typical bar fare. Credit: McShane’s Ypsilanti, FacebookO’Mara’s Irish Pub
2555 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Berkeley;248-399-6750; omarasrestaurant.com
Established in 1994, O’Mara’s recently reopened after a 2020 fire forced it to close for nearly three years. Its menu still features plenty of Irish favorites. Credit: O’Mara’s Irish Pub, FacebookThe Old Shillelagh
349 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-964-0007; oldshillelagh.com
For many metro Detroiters, Old Shillelagh is the bar of choice for their first St. Paddy’s Day celebration. The pub has been a Detroit staple since 1975. Credit: Stephen Boyle, Flickr Creative CommonsGaelic League Irish American Club
2068 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-8700; gaelicleagueofdetroit.org
This cultural heritage club is probably the most authentic Irish experience in metro Detroit and is modeled after Ireland’s Gaelic League, dedicated to preserving Irish culture. Founded in 1920, it’s called its current Corktown location home since the 1950s. The social club is open to all for $25 annual membership dues. Credit: Shutterstock
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