St. Patrick's Day in Key West Guide

This March 17, don your kelly green threads for an epic St. Patrick’s Day in Key West. Channel the spirit of the Irish with green beer, Irish whiskey, Celtic music, bar crawls, parties, and more of the best St. Patrick's Day festivities.

Listen to Live Irish Music at the Key West Theater

The hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and high energy of traditional and contemporary Celtic music is set to liven up the Key West Theater on St. Patrick’s Day night. Suzanne Moore will take the stage alongside a host of world-class musicians for a magical musical journey celebrating Irish music. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Order a Locally-Made Irish Red Ale

St. Patrick’s Day is the best day to rub elbows at a local bar and meet a new friend. Visit Waterfront Brewery in Old Town for housemade beers. The brewpub features a variety of craft brews like Kilted Cowboy Irish Ale, which pairs perfectly with the fanfare of St. Patrick's Day. First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery also has a delicious amber dubbed Old Havana Ale, which is both rich and refreshing, with hints of roasted chocolate caramel malts and a mild hoppy finish.

Drink Green Beer

Boozy green drinks will always have a certain allure, with their brilliant color and myriad of flavors like fresh herbs and fruits. Go green this St. Patrick’s Day aboard the Fury Catamaran. The sail is putting a festive spin on its March 17th trip, and the green beer will be flowing. See 24 North Hotel’s Fury Watersports Package and choose from two amazing Key West experiences. If you’re more of a cocktail connoisseur, Conch Republic will be slinging their famous green-tinted Key Lime Martini all day, made with Stoli Vanil Vodka, KeKe Key Lime Liqueur, cream, and a graham cracker crusted rim.

Sip Whiskey

While novelty top hats and green beer may be the campy way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a glass of whiskey keeps it traditional. Celtic Conch Public House carries over 40 Irish whiskeys, and The Roost on Fleming Street has an impressive collection of the spirit, and they even offer an “Irish Flight” featuring four select Irish whiskeys. Republica Bar & Lounge at 24 North Hotel is another cozy cocktail lounge emphasizing the distilled spirit. Try the popular Cigar Smoking Smuggler cocktail, made with Key West Smugglers Whiskey, agave syrup, aromatic and orange bitters, and dark red cherry infused with smoke from a Rodriguez Reserva cigar.

Participate in the 45th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bar Stroll

Join like-minded imbibers for a stroll around Old Town. The annual beer crawl will be held the day after St. Patrick’s Day, on March 18, and begin at noon at Southernmost Beach Café. This year’s hosts include Nine One Five, The Bull, Rick’s, Schooner Wharf Bar, and many more.

Eat at Key West’s Best Irish Pubs

Delicious and hearty food is what defines Irish cuisine, and Key West has quite a few pubs dishing out the traditional fare. Find plates like a Guinness corned beef reuben and Irish burger at Irish Kevin’s; shepherd’s pie, leek and potato soup, liver and onions, meatloaf, and a traditional Irish breakfast at Brady’s Pub (formally Sally O’Brien’s); and potato skins, bangers and mash, fish and chips, and chopped steak with Guinness mushroom gravy at Celtic Conch Public House.

Attend a Key West St. Patrick’s Day Party

Celtic Conch has a stacked musical lineup scheduled from 3 p.m. - midnight on St. Patrick’s Day, plus $2 key lime jello shots, $7 Bombora Vodka cocktails, $9 Irish car bombs, and BOGO Jameson Irish Whiskey drinks. Maybe you’ll even channel the luck of the Irish and win one of their holiday scratch-offs - there’s 50 prizes up for grabs! Brady’s Pub has a huge St. Paddy’s Day celebration planned, with Irish fare, live music from noon until midnight, and pints of Guinness flowing all day.

Run the Shamrock Shuffle

Irish Kevin’s 11th annual 5K/10K walk/run is scheduled for March 18, with custom race shirts and a swag bag given out to all participants. Medals will be awarded to the first 200 finishers, and the post party includes awards for the best dressed (bonus points for wackiest Irish costume) and top finisher, a free breakfast, and free drink. All monies raised go to Kids Come First and Keys AHEC. Irish Kevin’s will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Key West Little Pantry.

Sláinte!

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