Get ready, Chicago. St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and true to form, the Windy City is set to go all out. The iconic river dyeing will take place on Saturday, March 16, and numerous bars and restaurants will offer themed deals and specials so you can make a day of it. Check out our picks for the most luxe St. Patty’s Day specials and celebrations in Chicago.
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901 W. Kinzie St. / Website
Date: Wednesday, March 13 to Sunday, March 17
What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than at this quintessential Irish brewery’s Chicago taproom? Celebrate the holiday and give back to the community with Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago’s St. Patrick’s week festivities, with nine sessions spread throughout five days. Sip on the selection of beers on tap, enjoy St. Patrick’s Day menu offerings, experience live entertainment and get your shopping fix at at the retail storefront. Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago will make a $30,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Tickets are required and can be booked here.
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24 S. Michigan Ave. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11 to Friday, March 17
The Gage is perhaps THE spot to engage in authentic Irish culture and cuisine on St. Patty’s Day. With owners from Galway, Ireland, and visits from Irish diplomats, The Gage has garnered a reputation for authenticity. All week long, guests will enjoy Guinness, corned beef sandwiches with Guinness-soaked Swiss cheese on rye, colcannon, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd’s pie. There will be a special Irish breakfast on Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12, and performances from bagpipers and fiddlers on Saturday, March 11 and Friday, March 17. Reservations are recommended and can be made here.
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300 N. State St., Suite EE / Website
Date: Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride in luxury with a BYOB river cruise on one of Electric Boat Company’s brand-new 22-foot Duffy Boats, decked out with a fully enclosed space, Bluetooth sound speakers, ice coolers and more—with the capacity to hold up to 12 guests. Special for St. Patrick’s Day, boats with up to 6 passengers will have their own expert captain from Chicago Electric Boat Company’s team. Rides can be reserved from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with limited boats available. Pricing starts at $304 per hour and reservations can be made here.
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127 W. Huron St. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Head to The Godfrey Hotel Chicago’s rooftop for a high-energy rooftop party, complete with bottomless beer, mimosas, bloody marys, a breakfast buffet and green pancakes. The rooftop will also have fire pits and igloos for extra warmth and a handful of VIP tables with bottle service available. Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
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3635 N. Clark St. / Website
Date: Sunday, March 10, 11 a.m to 3 p.m
Visit Gallagher Way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live performances from Trinity Irish Dance, Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and Old Town School of Folk Music. Guests of all ages can enjoy face painting, balloon artists, Irish dancing lessons from Old Town School of Fold Music and a make-your-own Rainbow Stuffie craft station for kids. Visitors ages 21 and up can sip on festive drinks, including green draft beer, Irish coffee and Guinness. Entry is free and open to the public.
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3471 N. Elston Ave. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 9 to Sunday, March 17
Iconic Irish pub Chief O’Neill’s will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day festival, with comedy nights, bottomless brunches, live performances and more, leading up to the holiday weekend. On Sunday, March 17, pub-goers can enjoy spirited performances by Brendan McKinney, Tim O’Shea, Saol Academy of Irish Dance, Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and more. Then, quintessential Irish dishes—including shepherd’s pie, fish & chips, Irish chicken curry and Reuben corned beef sandwiches—will be served, accompanied by seasonal libations.
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85 E. Upper Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Friday, March 1 to Sunday, March 31, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Head to LondonHouse Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed Afternoon Tea at the Bridges Lobby Bar on the hotel’s second floor. Available every day of March from noon to 3 p.m., LH will offer freshly-steeped tea, bread, scones and a three-tier tower with scrumptious light bites and pastries. Curated by the hotel’s acclaimed culinary team, including executive chef Elizabeth Sweeney and executive pastry chef Thomas Gorczyca, guests will enjoy sweet and savory treats and expansive city views at the hotel’s exclusive tea service.
See Also: The 10 Best Places To Get Your Irish On In Chicago
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505 N. Michigan Ave. / Website
Date: Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17
Located steps away from the river, head to Michael Jordan’s Steak House for a Guinness pint with a green silhouette of Jordan on top. Other green cocktails will include the appletini and green Krankshaft beer.
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838 W. Kinzie St. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Head to Recess for a raucous one-night-only rave in partnership with Bingo Loco. While you’re there, enjoy boozy bings, over-the-top confetti showers, dance-offs, funny hosts and a stellar DJ playing tracks from the 90s and early aughts. There will be truly wild prizes given out throughout the night, like international trips to Dubai and Dublin and flights across the US. It’s sure to be a memorable night (or not, depending on how you play it). Tickets can be purchased here.
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71 E. Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Experience the iconic river dyeing from 39 stories in the sky while enjoying an Irish breakfast buffet in a lavish penthouse lounge. There will be an open bar with green beer, wine, and Irish-inspired cocktails. The event is set to be kid-friendly with Lucky Charm pancakes and other offerings. Tickets can be purchased here.
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401 N. Wabash Ave. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an all-ages river dying party at Trump International Hotel & Tower. Get a front-seat view of the Chicago River dyeing and enjoy an Irish-inspired brunch buffet, a premium open bar, Irish-inspired cocktails, live entertainment and more. Tickets can be purchased here.
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622 N. Fairbanks Ct. / Website
Date: Friday, March 10 to Friday, March 17
For the 31st year, Timothy O’Toole’s will host its famed weeklong St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Throughout the week, guests will enjoy corned beef on rye, Guinness beef stew, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, pints of green beer for $7, Jameson shots, and tons of Irish beer. The bar will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 and 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17, for those who want to optimize their drinking.
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151 E. Wacker Dr. / Website
Date: Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Book your stay at Chicago’s landmark Hyatt Regency and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in luxury with views of the Chicago River dyeing and exclusive-for-the-holiday specials at BIG Bar’s and American Craft’s F&B specials. Raise a glass of green Guinness and sip on an Irish mule or enjoy themed fare, including the loaded Irish potato skins, Irish nachos and more at Big Bar. Visit American Craft Bar for Irish Bangers & Colcannon, a corned beef Reuben and Irish whiskey shots. Schedule your visit here.
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71 E. Wacker Drive / Website
Date: Saturday, March 16, 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Take in the views from the river’s edge with a full bar, bites and DJs at Hoyt’s Chicago. Move through the main dining room, the outside patio and the River Room while sipping on specialty drinks, green beer and Irish-inspired dishes and enjoying a heated tent on the patio. Entry is free and open to the public.
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our Ultimate Chicago Neighborhood Guide.
Photography by: Yancu
