In Honor of St. Paddy’s Day: Irish Pubs

When you think Houston the first thing that comes to your mind might not be Irish pubs.   It could be the Astros, or NASA, or down-home barbecue, but Irish pubs?

Come March 17^th, though, everyone here is Irish!  We put on our green, pick up our Guinness, and (if brave) pile our plates high with ham and cabbage to celebrate our Inner Irish.

So where are Houstonians going on the 17^th?  Here are a few of my favorite hot spots — and you should feel free to stop by on any of the other 364 days of the year if you can’t make it for St. Paddy’s.

Brian O’Neill’s Irish Pub:  Not only does O’Neill’s have an amazing beer list but their food is great, too.  There is plenty of seating indoors and a spacious outdoor deck.  To ensure that you have an authentic St. Patrick’s Day experience the bar offers more than 15 Irish Whiskeys, 18 Scotch selections, and of course their draft line includes the requisite – and good for you! – Guinness (plus Harp and Smithwicks for the less traditional reveler.)  Sandwiches with festive names like “County Cork B.L.T.” and the “Dubliner” shaved steak and cheddar make a great beer chaser.

• Location: 5555 Morningside Drive (Rice Village) (map)
• Hours of Operation: O’Neill’s is serving food Sunday-Thursday 11 AM-10 PM; Friday 11 AM-10:30 PM; Weekend brunch Saturday & Sunday 11 AM-3 PM.
• Prices: Menu:  Appetizers start at $5.95; Burgers $8.95 and up; Children’s menu $2.95-$4.95 and kids eat free on Saturdays (11 AM-6 PM).

Kenneally’s Irish Pub: Kenneally’s is the perfect spot when you need to hit the spot for your Irish pub food cravings.  If a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal is on your to-do list you can find it here.  Start with Irish nachos for an appetizer (think nachos but with waffle fries instead of chips) and move on to a classic Reuben, piled with sauerkraut, on real rye bread.  Sit out on the deck or stay inside for a game of darts and Kinneally’s promises to pull “one of the best pints outside of Ireland” for you.

• Location: 2111 S. Shepherd Dr. (map)
• Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Sunday, 3 PM-2 AM; Monday 4 PM-2 AM.  Kitchen hours: Monday-Saturday open to 1 AM; Sunday open to 11 PM.
• Prices: Menu: Appetizers start at under $3; sandwiches under $6; pizzas under $9.

Molly’s Pub: A good Irish girl named Molly once told me that there are no good Irish girls named Molly.  So when I ran across a pub of the same name I knew I’d found a place to be good or to be bad, depending on my mood.  Declared one of the Top Ten Irish Establishments in America 2009 by Tom Horan, Molly’s Pub is a favorite neighborhood stop to have a wee pint and a wee bit more fun.

• Location: 509 Main St. (map)
• Hours of Operation: Molly’s is open 365 days a year and the kitchen, per the menu, is “open late.”
• Prices: Menu: Appetizers start at $3.50, pizzas at $8, and sandwiches under $6.

Remember three things this St. Patrick’s Day: Wear green, secure a designated driver, and take an aspirin before your head hits the pillow.  And as the Irish say, “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish…you’re lucky enough!”

Photo credit: SXC 1, 2

3 places are mentioned in this post!

1. Brian O'Neill's Irish Pub
2. 2111 S Shepherd Dr
3. Molly's Pub

View Details on the Map

Click on the place name to learn more

Close