March 15, 2010 11:55 am

What Ales You? Our Top 5 Picks for Celebrating St. Patty's (Without the Green Beer)

Now that St. Patrick's Day is two days away, it's time to start staking out the city's best Irish pubs where you can celebrate with a cold pint of Guinness. But if you're not a parade-goer and debaucherous bar crawls aren't for you, try one of these authentic pubs where you can get some real Irish beer (don't worry, we're not referring to green food coloring in Bud Light) and hearty traditional St. Patty's Day fare. It was hard to narrow it down, but after doing some extensive research (hiccup), we finally arrived at our top five picks for the city's best Irish watering holes for drinking and dining.

1. The Wheeltapper Pub: Adjoining the Fitzpatrick Hotel, this traditional pub has an outdoor patio and two bars, which means there is plenty of space to move around and getting a drink is no problem. They offer a solid selection of beers plus authentic Irish foods ranging from bangers 'n mash to a traditional Irish stew. It may be on the pricey side, but as you sip your Guinness in front of the cozy fireplace and gaze out at the unmoving line at the bar next door, you'll know it's worth it. Trick: Although it feels heavy, Guinness actually contains fewer calories than most other beers. Sláinte!

2. McSorley's Old Ale House: This place is a New York City landmark. The oldest Irish pub in the country (in operation since 1854), McSorley's is known for the rugged atmosphere complete with sawdust on the floor, and— you guessed it— ale. They serve only two types: light and dark, both of which are house-made and served in pairs by a server who carries about 20 mugs at a time. Tip, beer spills are likely to happen here so it's best not to wear your favorite shirt. The simple foods here are the best— try the shepherd's pie or the white cheddar cheese plate served with mustard and onion. This place fills up like you wouldn't believe, so get there early, get a table and get ready to go back in time.

3. August: This cozy West Village restaurant is a more low-key option for tasting the true flavors of Ireland. They'll be serving up a special menu for St. Patty's Day complete with traditional items like Crubeens (crispy pig's trotters with sweet onions) and Irish Coddle (pork belly, black pudding, Brussels sprouts and potato). Between the old-style décor, classic cuisine and modestly priced beer selection, you can celebrate St. Patrick like a true Irishman.

4. Puck Fair: A legendary downtown dive, this pub is the place to go if you're in the mood for some good old fashioned whiskey drinkin'. They offer a dizzying selection of Irish whiskey, rye whiskey and single-malt Scotches to choose from as well as traditional Irish and Scottish toddies. As far as noshing goes, they've taken classic bar staples and put an Irish spin on them— go for the Guinness-battered fish n' chips, Irish farmhouse cheese plate or cottage pie.

5. The Quays Pub: If you want friendly atmosphere, this is definitely the bar for you. Located in the heart of Astoria, the Quays hosts live music nights featuring fist-pounding Irish bands, weekly dart tournaments and you can bet that a Gaelic football match will be on their TV. The service couldn't be friendlier— the owner can be seen chatting with the regulars from behind the bar in between pints, and the bartenders always remember your name. Tip: Unfortunately, no food is served here, but they make up for it by buying every third drink for you (which probably explains padding at the base of the stairs to ease the inevitable falls). This is definitely a place where you enter a stranger, leave a friend.

The Wheeltapper Pub
141 E 44th Street
New York, NY 10017

McSorley's Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003-8001

August
359 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014

Puck Fair
298 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012

The Quays Pub
45-02 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11103

Photo credit: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com

— Written by Lisa Curry

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