5 Irish Pubs To Spend St. Patrick's Day Without Leaving The U.S.

No need to travel to Ireland to have a proper St. Paddy's Day celebration

ByABC News
March 15, 2012, 4:22 PM

March 16, 2012— -- intro: If a trip to Ireland isn't in the cards for this St. Patrick's Day, there are plenty of places in the United States that can pull the perfect pint of Guinness and will fool you into thinking you're in the Emerald Isle. Scroll down to see some of the best Irish pubs in the U.S. Erin go bragh!

quicklist: 1title: Paddy Reilly's in New York Citytext: Named for the famed Irish balladeer Paddy Reilly, this authentic Irish pub boasts that it is the "first and only all-draft Guinness bar in the world."

"You can go to any bar and get Guinness on draft but they'll also have Budweiser. We are strictly all Guinness," manager Steve Duggan told ABCNews.com. This Saturday, revelers can expect live Irish music from 1 p.m. "until the wee hours." On the other 364 days of the year, the bar hosts live Irish music.

"We're known for giving bands their start in New York," Duggan said.media: 15928678

quicklist: 2title: Irish Oak in Chicagotext: This Chicago pub takes authenticity to a new level -- almost all of the furnishings are imported from Ireland, including the bar. Irish Oak also has a separate whiskey room.

"You'll find just about every authentic whiskey out there," it promises.media: 15928758

quicklist: 3title: Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Mass.text: This cozy Cambridge staple has been in business for 40 years, attracting a diverse crowd thanks to its atmosphere and whiskey selection. "There are a few places without which you couldn't have Cambridge," former Cambridge mayor Ken Reeves told the Boston Phoenix. "The Plough is one of them. You appreciate them more and more as you see less and less of them. "media:15928836

quicklist: 4title: Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub in Portland, Ore.text: Families are invited to soak up the Irish culture in a three day St. Paddy's Day festival. Irish dancers, face painting and arts and crafts will be on hand to entertain children during the day, while adults can imbibe in the evening.

The restaurant has also given a classic staple, shepherd's pie, an Irish twist. The beef inside the pie is simmered in Guinness.

"If you can't go to Ireland come to Kells!" owners Gerard and Lucille McAleese wrote. There are also Kells locations in San Francisco and Seattle. media: 15928865

quicklist: 5title: Kevin Barry's in Savannah, Ga.text: The beer taps lining this southern gem are all Irish. "Harp, Guinness, you name it," said bartender Shayna Stancil. Kevin Barry's is a popular spot for Irish entertainers touring the pub circuit, Stancil said.

"We have a dedicated listening room for the entertainers to perform. I think we're one of the only pubs in the country." Troubadours take the stage seven nights per week.media: 15929055