There’s an old Irish saying that goes, “Happiness being a dessert so sweet, may life give you more than you can ever eat.” 

That’s the St. Patrick’s Day (Friday, March 17) vibe the city is offering this year as we join millions in celebrating the patron saint of Ireland with parades, block parties, concerts, and plenty of food and drink specials. 

If you’re looking for things to do this year, we’ve got you covered. Our advice? Stay hydrated (and by hydrated we, of course, mean drinking lots of green beer). And don’t forget to wear green.

8th Wonder Distillery

East End

The rainbow ends in EaDo this St. Patrick’s Day. This year 8th Wonder Distillery is celebrating by treating guests to their tasty (and very green) St. Patty’s Day draft cocktail, which comes with a souvenir glass (priced at $10.88). You can also get a 750ml whiskey bottle to go (plus two souvenir glasses for $34). The promo runs Monday, March 13 through Sunday, March 19. 

Axelrad 

Midtown

Favorite Midtown hangout spot, Axelrad, is celebrating all things Irish this year with $1 off Irish Mules, Irish Coffees, and PickleBacks (shots of Jameson with a pickle juice back). They’re also offering the Celtic Cider Crush cocktail, a festive brew crafted from Irish Whiskey, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, apricot liqueur, apple juice, and bitters. 

Bobcat Teddy’s Ice House

Heights

Bobcat Teddy’s Ice House will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year with loads of Guinness, live music, Irish dancers, and bagpipers. They’ll also be boiling crawfish, which we suppose is a very Texan way to celebrate the day. 

Christian’s Tailgate

West University, Energy Corridor, Heights, Midtown

Christian’s Tailgate will be having epic St. Patrick’s Day bashes at all of their locations on Friday, March 17. Featuring drink specials like pints of green beer and Irish car bomb shots (which come packed with enough liquid punch to put Westminster on notice), live DJs, karaoke, free swag, and giveaways, each of the parties promise to be epic. Since it’s crawfish season, mudbugs will also be served beginning at 2 p.m.

Como Social Club

The Woodlands

Nothing says St. Patrick’s Day in Texas quite like a Shamrock-a-rita. Como Social Club at the Westin Woodlands will be offering them as a special all day on Friday, March 17 as well as their special Emerald Crush cocktail—both $14. Enjoy your cocktail while dressed in your best St. Patty’s Day outfit. The winner of best outfit will receive $50 towards their bar tab. 

Cowboys & Indians

Montrose

Indian and Tex-Mex fusion restaurant, Cowboys & Indians, is adding further fusion to their fare this St. Patrick’s Day with their Luck-o-Rita cocktail special. The cocktail—priced at $10 and available from Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19—is crafted from Jameson, Cuervo Silver, blue curaçao, melon, agave, triple sec, and lime. 

EZ’s Liquor Lounge

Heights

If you’re looking to spend some green this St. Patrick’s Day, new-ish Heights dive bar EZ’s Liquor Lounge has two days of festivities that are sure to have you Irish step dancing into the wee hours of Sunday morning. On Friday, March 17, the bar has a pub crawl in their parking lot starting at 4 p.m. complete with a live DJ set (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), Nitro Irish Coffee specials (crafted from Paddy’s Irish Whisky, dark sugar syrup, cold brew, thickened cream, and nitro Irish coffee; priced at $10), frozen green tea and lone star cocktail specials ($10), and a sale on “Kiss Me I’m EZ” T-shirts. On Saturday, March 18, the parking lot party continues at 2 p.m. with special guests TRUTH BBQ, who will be serving up local pastrami and slaw. Saturday’s live DJ set will run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Flight Club Houston

Montrose

Resolve any sectarian divisions within your friend group at Flight Club Houston this St. Patrick’s Day through some rounds of darts—all while throwing back the bar’s special Pot of Gold cocktail, which comes sprinkled with gold dust. Or, test your aim with the bar’s green beer buckets, priced at $30 for five beers and $55 for 10. 

Gatsby’s Grill

East End

New East End craft-casual concept Gatsby’s Grill is offering a load of specials this St. Patrick’s Day. On Friday, March 17, celebrate all things green with $4 to $5 green draft beers and $7 Tullamore Dew shots. The concept is also celebrating the Irish all month long through their 4 Leaf Clover Club cocktail. Priced at $18, the cocktail features Tullamore Dew Whiskey, Lillet Rose Vermouth, and raspberry syrup—all topped with frothy egg whites. The festive drink is also being served all month long at sister locations Gatsby’s Prime Seafood and Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse. 

GJ Tavern

Downtown

Swanky downtown restaurant and bar GJ Tavern is ringing in St. Patrick’s Day this year through an exclusive six-course dining experience at 7:30 p.m., put together by executive chef Tim Reading. The dinner, priced at $100 per person, includes courses such as Harp Lager-cured salmon served with (you guessed it) Harp Lager; Trillium brie with accouterments served with Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey; and duck confit served with Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey. 

Reservations can be made through RESY. 

Heights & Co.

Heights

This Heights neighborhood favorite is celebrating both the spring weather and St. Patrick’s Day this year with a series of festive drink specials including $3 green beers, and two special emerald-hued cocktails. 

Hilton Americas-Houston

Downtown

Hilton Americas-Houston will be offering their refreshing Irish Slammer drink special all weekend long in celebration of all things Ireland. The drink, priced at $17.50, pairs a pint of green beer with a shot of smooth Irish whiskey—which, we must note, sounds like an upgrade from the typical H-Town dive bar staple of a Lonestar and a shot of well whiskey.

Kirby Ice House 

Upper Kirby, Memorial, Woodlands

All three locations of Texas’s favorite ice house will be ringing in St. Patty’s Day through celebratory green beer and Jameson specials—all while March Madness plays on its screens. To help keep folks in the Irish spirit, Kirby Ice House is bringing in the Houston Highlanders, Pipes, and Drums to perform on the special day. The bar opens at 11 a.m., meaning you can get in the spirit early—just remember to update your status on Slack to a shamrock.

Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House

San Leon

Embrace your inner selkie by spending St. Patrick’s Day seaside at Pier 6 in San Leon. The Gulf Coast seafood favorite will be hosting a patio seafood boil on Friday, March 17 complete with green beer, drink specials, and live DJ music. 

Los Tios 

Multiple Locations

Los Tios may be known for their famous puffy queso and their mouthwatering tacos and fajitas, but this St. Patrick’s Day they’re going fully green—and we don’t mean just their green salsa. The Tex-Mex staple will be offering $4 green domestic beers to customers all day on Friday, March 17. 

Marmo 

Montrose

Celebrated Italian chophouse Marmo will be offering a special green pasta all day on St. Patrick’s Day available in half and full portions ($18/$36). The emerald-hued marvel features scarpinocc pasta with smoked mozzarella, asparagus, parmesan fonduta, and morel mushrooms. Although it may not be the most traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration, it could be the tastiest spin on the holiday that we know of. 

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

Upper Kirby

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is going big this St. Patrick’s Day with a party that involves two stages—one inside and one outside. Tickets to the event, priced at $30, are on sale now. The celebration includes traditional bagpipers (plus other live music) and a special St. Patrick’s Day food and drink menu.

Monkey’s Tail

Northside

Monkey’s Tail is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year with a bevy of specials. Special frozen drinks include the Lucky Charm featuring Lucky Charms milk, marshmallow vodka, pineapple, lime, and coconut cream; and the Dublin Mule with Teeling Irish Whiskey, ginger syrup, lemon, and ginger beer. For non-frozen cocktails, the It’s Not Easy Being Green features Hornitos Tequila, manzanilla sherry, Midori, kiwi syrup, coconut cream, and lime; and the Pepino Sour with cucumber vodka, lime, simple syrup, chamoy, and tajin. They’ll also have beer specials (including green beer options and, of course, Guinness) as well as a trio of festive shots. 

POST Houston 

Downtown

If you’re looking to celebrate a little early this year, then the 62nd Annual Houston St. Patrick’s Day parade is a great way to get the party started. The parade starts and ends at POST Houston this year, where attendees can enjoy lawn games, eats from POST’s food hall, Irish folk dancers, bagpipe performances, an outdoor flea market, and live music by DJ Forte. This public event is free and open to all ages. 

Saint Arnold Beer Garden & Restaurant

Northside

Saint Arnold’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration returns this year on Friday, March 17. The free event, which starts at 2 p.m., features beer, food, live entertainment, a local market, and more. The brewery will be debuting their Irish Imperial Stout (aged in bourbon barrels) at the festive party, which was originally brewed and bottled in 2020. For live entertainment, they’ll have Pip Fooligan (drums and bagpipes), Jared Gib (pub songs and covers), Clann Keeley (Irish dancing), and Das Ist Slainte (high energy Irish tunes). They’ll also be hosting their annual Donegal Beard Growing Competition at 7 p.m.

Skeeter’s Mesquite Grill 

Bellaire, Kingwood

Skeeter’s Mesquite Grill is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with $4 domestic green beers. Enjoy the emerald-hued brews by throwing back some of the restaurant’s burgers, salads, and Tex-Mex staples. 

Slowpokes 

Kirby Grove, Spring Branch, Garden Oaks, West University

If you’re not one to start your work day with a shot of Irish cream in your coffee (you’re missing out), then have the next best thing at Slowpokes the entire week of St. Patrick’s Day. The coffee shop, with four locations in Houston, will be serving its Pot of Gold Latte all this week. Served iced or hot, the latte is inspired by Lucky Charms cereal.

St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2023

Downtown

Luck’s Pub, Bud Light, and 94.5 The Buzz are throwing their big St. Patrick’s Day festival again this year. Located across the street from Minute Maid Park (1800 Texas Ave.) the festival includes over 100,000 square feet of party space, two stages, green beer, and bagpipes. Food for the 21 and up event will be provided by Burger Joint, El Guajillo, Wokker, and Happy Endings. Doors open at 10 a.m. and tickets range from $10 to $60. 

The Waffle Bus

Heights, Montrose

Both Waffle Bus locations will be serving up their Shamrock Shake on Friday, March 17. The mint chocolate chip shake is priced at $6.99 and comes topped with whipped cream and green sprinkles. 

Watson’s House of Ales

Energy Corridor

Celebrate all things green this St. Patrick’s Day at Watson’s House of Ales. The brew house is throwing a party this year that includes lots of green beer, party favors, and bagpipers. Live music includes JB Barnett, Dead Stereo, and Spicolis. 

Willie’s Grill & Icehouse

Multiple Locations

All locations of Willie’s Grill & Icehouse will offer $2 green domestic beers and $4 small green ritas in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day this year. The special is only available on Friday, March 17.