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The 12 Best Irish Pubs in the City

Raid your closet for the color green and grab a stool at one of these solid Irish pubs for St. Patrick's Day.


1. The Irish Bank
Tucked away at the end of a dirty alley, this pub is a favorite of the downtown after-work crowd. Indoors or out, you’ll get a little taste of Europe in the heart of SF. 10 Mark Ln. at Grant Ave. (Union Square), 415-788-7152

2. The Plough and the Stars
Fiddlers, flautists and bagpipes, oh my! Known for their stellar lineup of live jigs, The Plough and the Stars has been keeping the Celtic tradition real for more than 30 years. 116 Clement St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. (Inner Richmond), 415-751-1122

3. The Blarney Stone
UK sports broadcasts and dart challenges are staple good times at this Outer Richmond bar, but we like it because of the proximity to John Campbell's Irish Bakery. Head next door for the quintessential slice of soda bread (then go back in the morning for their legendary Irish bacon breakfast sandwiches). 5625 Geary Blvd. between 20th and 21st Ave. (Outer Richmond), 415-386-9914

4. Buena Vista Café
St. Patrick’s Day may be synonymous with beer, but if you’re not feeling a pint, head to Russian Hill for Buena Vista's signature Irish coffee instead. 2765 Hyde St. at Beach St. (Russian Hill), 415-474-5044

5. Little Shamrock
The second oldest bar in the city, and a great spot to snuggle up to a game of backgammon. Whiskey connoisseurs will appreciate the vast selection of Irish varieties. 807 Lincoln Way at 9th Ave. (Inner Sunset), 415-661-0060

6. The Phoenix
Avoid the financial district’s block party and head to the Mission instead to rub elbows with hipsters over a Harp or Smithwick’s. Get there early to line your stomach with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread. 811 Valencia St. at 19th St. (Mission), 415-695-1811

7. Durty Nelly's
Lost in a sea of Asian restaurants and markets, this Sunset outpost is where the real Irish men hang out. Join the throngs of expats for an authentic Celtic toast. 2328 Irving St. between 24th and 25th St. (Outer Sunset), 415-664-2555

8. Kennedy's
It’s the only place we know of where you can get a side of curry with your Guinness and finish with a game of air hockey. 1040 Columbus Ave. at Taylor St. (North Beach), 415-441-8855

9. The Chieftain
Old world abounds at this Emerald Isle mainstay south of Market. We’re hoping the street grunge on the surrounding blocks will keep the tourists away so you can pound a pint in peace. 198 Fifth St. at Howard St. (SoMa), 415-615-0916

10. The Liberties
The dark mahogany bar and warm wood accents lend an air of sophistication to this neighborhood pub. Do what the locals do and order a BLT made with Irish bacon and soda bread to soak up all the booze. 998 Guerrero St. at 22nd St. (Mission), 415-282-6789

11. Napper Tandy

In the heart of the Mission, this packed Irish pub (with a little Latin flavor) offers all you can eat fish & chips on Mondays, an infamous pub quiz every Wednesday, and a hefty bar menu sporting shepherd's pie, bangers & mash and Irish breakfasts for all you early birds. 3200 24th St. at South Van Ness, 415-550-7510

12. Blackthorn

Sunday BBQ, Monday trivia, Tuesday karaoke and live bands the rest of the week, The Black Thorn is one of the more raucous Irish hangouts in the city where patrons converge to watch plenty of sports. The bar even has its own softball, darts, pool and soccer teams you can get involved with! 834 Irving St. at 9th Ave., 415-564-6626

Where are your favorite Irish pubs? Tell us in the comments!

Blackthorn, yes sold but still solid Irish, staff still the same but yes American owned now.
Get with the program 7x7 heres the real Irish up to date list
http://snob.tenderknob.com/?p=7

No O'reilys? Are you kidding me?

MARTIN MACKS is the real deal. I should know, I'm from County Down.

What about FIDDLERS GREEN on the Wharf. And NO, not Kennedys. Definitely Shannon Arms- real Irish.

Nice list! Here's PoorTaste SF's take on authentic St. Patrick's Day fare (and drink, of course) in San Francisco:

Ireland’s 32! O’Reilly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant! Fiddler’s Green! Martin Macks!

Correct name is "Blackthorn" they dropped the tavern part. But I have to say this list is very out of date. Blackthorn is an excellent Irish bar, its the folks who drink here that make the joint not just new owners, but I must say they have done a great job.
That been said, where WTF are the following bars not on the list?
Irelands 32
Danny Coyles
Martin Macks
McTeagues (semi Irish but one of the busiest in the city)
Foleys

& for the record
KENNEDY'S is not & never will be an Irish bar.

beuna vista cafe is an irish bar now hhahaha news to me an actual irish person

C'mon, 3 in the Mission and None in the Haight. there are 3 decent Irish pubs in the haigh, my pick is Martin Macks, and none of them are on here.

Agree with all comments above - it is inexcusable to omit Ireland's 32 from this list - should be top 3, easy.

How do you leave "Ireland's 32" off this list?

This list is a rejiggered version of the result you get from about.com

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/irishpubs.htm

Except you added The Phoenix (which refers to itself as the Mission's "hippest Irish bar", as if any self-respecting Irish bar would covet that title), Kenedys, and The Chieftain (a faux-Irish latecomer that was formerly the M&M, home bar for the Chron and the Ex (when that job meant something).

Do some work.

The correct name is "Blackthorn Tavern", not "The Black Thorn". Please fix.

Well, I guess half right is better than nothing. Any list of Irish pubs w/o Ireland's 32 and Dovre Club is just wrong.

What a joke of a list.

A real Irish bar in what used to be a real Irish neighborhood -one of the few bars left in the Mission not tainted by hipsters - where 3 generations of native San Franciscans are the ones pouring those pints - the 3300 Club at Mission & 29th. Bonus points for serving free corned beef tacos on Thursday.

7X7 doing a list of SF Irish bars is like Chris Dailey doing a list of anger management therapists...

No shout out to the Irish Cultural Center? If you're Irish and from San Francisco you've had beers here. Give it some love.

I'd also say that Shannon Arms is as Irish as you can get

Agree with the comment made by Seamus. To exclude Ireland's 32 and O'Reilly's makes this list a sham.

Terrific. A four-leaf clover used to illustrate a St Patrick's Day article. Tells me everything I need to know.

This is based on old bar reviews. Blarney Stone was sold last year. Now more of a SF native bar, not an Irish bar. Blackthorn no longer a good Irish bar - it was sold last year too! Chieftain is ok but certainly not in the top 12.

Ireland's 32 is solid. O'Reilly's and Foley's too.

This article is one of many reasons why native San Franciscans don't bother reading 7x7 - it is a magazine for transplants and a magazine produced by transplants.

Johhny Foley's , O'Reilly's...Hello???