Raise a Pint: The Best Irish Pubs in Nassau County, Long Island to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

If you’re looking for a good craic (that’s Irish for a great time), head to Nassau County this St. Patrick’s Day. With plenty of pubs pouring perfect pints of Guinness and serving heaping helpings of shepherd’s pie, you don’t need to travel far to experience the spirit of the Emerald Isle. 

Whether you’re raising a pint to the luck of the Irish or just in it for the corned beef and camaraderie, we’ve rounded up eight of the best Irish pubs in Nassau County, Long Island to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day in true Gaelic style. Sláinte!

This low-key, cozy, neighborhood pub doesn’t look flashy on the outside (or on the inside), but it was voted the best Irish bar in Long Island in 2024 by the Long Island Press for good reason. Fibber McGees has a welcoming vibe, authentic Irish décor, and a lack of pretense. So, grab a pint, catch some live music, and play some darts.

Named after one of the Emerald Isle’s favorite folk heroes, the warrior, seer, and poet Fionn mac Cumhaill, this is the spot to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style. The upscale restaurant, with a coastal vibe, dishes up elevated plates like prosciutto-wrapped burrata and power bowl salads along with more traditional Irish fare, such as fish and chips and pot roast served with mashed potatoes, red cabbage, and gravy. Patrons can catch live music every Friday.

It’s hard not to become a regular once you’ve slid into one of the green leather booths, marveled over headshots of old Hollywood legends on the walls, or picked a song from the jukebox at Greens Irish Pub. Grab a giant Bavarian pretzel and a sandwich to wash down your Guinness.

The motto of the Irish Poet is to “Come as a stranger and leave as a friend.” Opened in 2021, this neighborhood pub takes its slogan to heart. Enjoy $1 off your beer and liquor during happy hour, from noon to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. And don’t leave without trying the Irish spring rolls, stuffed with pastrami, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese served with spicy mustard.

What’s luckier than finding a four-leaf clover? Finding an Irish pub with 18 draught beers to choose from. The family-run restaurant (with owners who hail from two hours north of Dublin) specializes in what it calls the “auld Irish favourites,” like chicken pot pie, Irish bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. It also caters to vegetarians with a completely meat-free menu, featuring appetizers like cauliflower wings.

If you’re looking for a party, look no further than the Nutty Irishman. This bar features live music, trivia, and football nights—plus a countdown to St. Patrick’s Day on its website. Those who spend $25 can skip the lines, score free admission, and get a free drink on either the Friday or Saturday night before St. Patrick’s Day. Grab a bite at the gastropub at the front of the bar, stay for a show at the concert venue in the back, and dance all night in the outdoor area.

Get your St. Paddy’s celebration started at the lively Paddy’s Loft. With 13 beers on tap and an extensive food menu to help sober you back up, it’s hard not to have a good time at this wood-paneled bar with a fireplace. Come back on another night for the bar’s paint-and-sip nights or evenings with psychics. Or brush off that hangover and return for Paddy’s Irish Brunch. The Irish breakfast comes with sausage and rashers, black and white pudding, baked beans, a grilled tomato, and home fries.

Billed as a modern Irish pub, the regulars at The St. James still know how to have some old-fashioned fun. So, grab a Guinness and kick back at the bar watching a game on one of the restaurant’s 20 TVs, or snag a spot on the outdoor patio and beer garden. The menu is packed with classics like burgers and sandwiches, favorites like shepherd’s pie, and dishes with an Irish twist, such as Guinness macaroni and cheese. Yum!