Year-round, Milwaukee’s blessed with many Irish pubs and eateries serving up classic fare like what you’d find in the Emerald Isle: shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, a Rueben sandwich, corned beef, and of course a pint of Guinness or Murphy’s.
But for St. Patrick’s Day, and sometimes the weekend prior, is when these places go all out, hosting live music, Irish dancing and more to make the holiday even more special—the perfect pairing to an Irish meal. Here’s where to go if you want to grab the luck of the Irish.
County Clare Irish Inn & Pub
1234 N. ASTOR ST.
This East Side institution debuted in the mid-‘90s and offers Saturday and Sunday brunch with an Irish twist, such as breakfast poutine; corned beef eggs benedict; or a full Irish breakfast featuring fried Irish bangers, Irish “rashers” (bacon) and black-and-white pudding (pork sausage and blood sausage). On the dinner menu are Reuben rolls, a Reuben sandwich, corned beef and cabbage and Irish root soup, with Irish bread pudding among the decadent desserts.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Gingerz Irish Pub & Grill
3915 S. HOWELL AVE.
On Sundays this South Side eatery serves an Irish Breakfast featuring eggs to order, rashers, “spuds” (potatoes), baked beans, grilled tomato, blood sausage and other items. For lunch and dinner, there are fun twists on bar food, including Irish Nachos (topped with potatoes) and a burger slathered with Guinness BBQ sauce. Instead of ketchup, sides of curry sauce are also an option.
Lucky Clover Irish Pub
1048 N. DOCTOR M.L.K. DR.
Celebrating its third St. Patrick’s Day this year since opening in late 2022, the food menu here includes just what you’d expect at an Irish pub—Reuben sandwiches and Reuben rolls—along with typical pub grub like pizzas, nachos and chicken wings.
McBob’s Pub & Grill
4919 W. NORTH AVE.
A staple in the Irish-dining scene for three decades by now, this near-West Side pub’s food menu is a veritable jaunt to Ireland with fresh takes on classic dishes, such as Irish spring rolls (folding in corned beef) and mini Reubens. Classic orders are for corned beef hash, Irish meatloaf, a corned-beef sandwich or a Reuben sandwich.
McGillicuddy’s
1135 N. WATER ST.
A rare watering hole on Water Street that serves the kind of food you’d happily drive across town for, like Reuben rolls, a Reuben sandwich, and onion rings battered and fried with Guinness. But there’s also some fun takes on cuisine, like the Irish burger (a burger stuffed into a bun with corned beef and with melted Swiss cheese and Guinness aioli on top) and Irish tacos (instead of chicken, ground beef or pork, Guinness-braised corn beef is the protein).
McKiernan’s Irish Pub & Grill
2066 S. 37TH ST.
On the “Irish fare” portion of this South Side restaurant’s menu you’ll find hearty sandwiches like McKiernan’s Irish Club, Gene’s Grilled Reuben and corned beef. There’s also McKiernan’s Irish Nachos, topped with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss and cheddar-jack cheeses, and horseradish sour cream.
Mo’s Irish Pub
142 W. WISCONSIN AVE., AND 10842 W. BLUEMOUND RD., WAUWATOSA
In 2003, the downtown-Milwaukee location debuted, followed by Tosa’s in 2006. On the menu are Irish delicacies like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, a Reuben sandwich and pot roast. Owner Johnny Vassallo named both restaurants after his mother, who is Irish.
Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill
8933 S. 27TH ST.
The menu at this Franklin restaurant flaunts quirky twists on Irish classics, such as a Reuben quesadilla, “leprechaun sliders” and Irish nachos, along with Irish poutine. Kilkenny Chicken are chicken breasts slathered with Guinness mushroom gravy while the salmon entrée is brushed with Jameson whiskey glaze. You can also find fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, Reuben and corned-beef sandwiches, Irish lamb stew and Guinness braised beef stew.
O’Brien’s Irish American Pub
4928 W. VLIET ST.
Shepherd’s Pie, a Reuben sandwich and a corned-beef sandwich are true Irish highlights on the menu—ideal to pair with a cup or bowl of the restaurant’s Guinness Onion soup, featuring Jameson prime rib beef stock and Guinness, or Reuben rolls as a starter.
O’Lydia’s Bar & Grill
338 S. 1ST ST.
Tucked into a structure that’s been standing since the late 1800s, this is a Walker’s Point institution with Irish-style nachos (topped with corned beef), shepherd’s pie, Irish potato skins, an Irish dip sandwich, Rueben sandwich, Rueben rolls, and pot roast and meat loaf with Guinness gravy.
The Harp Irish Pub
113 E. JUNEAU AVE.
Perched above the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, this Irish pub has been pouring pints of Guinness since its 1955 opening. In 1965 it moved to the current location. Pair a pint with its Reuben rolls, which is the only Irish food item on the menu, bumping up against a cheeseburger and other American classics.
