What to do this St Patrick's Day in Beijing

Bring your shamrock hat and get ready to celebrate St Patrick's Day

Yes, it's that time of the year again. The smog lifts a little, the flowers are about to blossom and we all gather to celebrate a fifth-century Romano-British sheepherder. You know the guy. The one who was kidnapped by raiders, forced into six years of slavery, rescued by the voice of God before going on to convert the heathen Irish. Cheers to you, St Patrick.

Honour the great man by cracking out the green velour, rinsing out that stolen Guinness mug from last year and checking out Time Out Beijing's recommendations for celebrating St Patrick's Day in the capital.

4corners Bake Off

Sat 16. 3-6pm. 80RMB. 

In celebration of St Paddy's this year, 4corners is hosting what could only be described as the best spin-off of a Bake Off, ever. The Shepherd's Pie Championship Bake Off will see nine teams pitted against clocks, ovens and rowdy public judges. For your chance to taste (and vote on) the best pies in Beijing, head to 4corners for some serious Beijing baking. The entrance fee gets you a nibble of all nine pies, a free cocktail and, of course, the right to vote. For more information and introductions to all bakers, click here. 

 27 Dashibei Hutong, (off Gulouxidajie), Xicheng district. 

Blackwater at Modernista

Sat 16. 10pm-1am. Free. 

Fully embrace the St Patrick's Day festivities at Modernista, as Blackwater celebrate ten years of putting together the best of Irish musical tradition for Beijing's audiences. Take your friends, have a few drinks and join the fun.

 44 Baochao Hutong, Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng district.

Caravan

Sat 16. 5pm-late. 60RMB after 9pm. 

Celebrate early at Caravan with two rowdy bands to bring in the cheer: The Reprobates and Three Mosquitoes. With shots and other green stuff on offer, it'll stumble you over to St Paddy's in true style. Head back for the open mic on Sunday for a Paddy's themed shindig. Any folks singing Irish drinking songs get extra complimentary drinks.

 44 Guanghua Lu (across from the Brazilian Embassy), Chaoyang district. 

Eudora Station

Fri 15-Sun 17. 10am-2am. Free. 

Eudora Station is going all out, once again, this 'holiday' season. Head to the Lido club for drink specials and games all weekend long. Go dressed in green: Get a free green beer. Try a home-brewed beer or Irish car bomb at 60RMB per glass or buy two, get one free. Get four 'flag of Ireland' shots for just 100RMB. And finally, join in all the games and shenanigans. Read more here. 

 6 Fangyuan Xi Lu, Lido, Chaoyang district.

Great Leap Brewing

Sun 17. 11am-1am. Free. 

Enjoy four stouts for just 100RMB at all three Great Leap locations (#45, #6 and Lido). Choose from Liu the brave stout, masala stout, mocha stout and their new Monk Imperial stout.

 #45 45-1 Xinyuan Jie, Chaoyang district. 

 #6 6 Doujiao Hutong, off Di'anmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng district. 

 Lido First floor, Nuo Center (northwest gate), 2A Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Hulu

Until Sun 31 March. 11am-11pm. Free.

Head to Hulu for a St Paddy's celebration in collaboration with Paddy O'Shea's. Enjoy a Guinness beef stew for just 98RMB while sipping on a glass of Guinness for 45RMB. Get them both together for 128RMB.

 S4-32, Taikoo Li South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Jing A

Sun 17. 11am-midnight. Free. 

Enjoy buy one, get one free on Back Velvet Vanilla Stout all day long.

 First Floor, Lee World Building, 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang district.

Brunch at The Local

Sun 17. 12-3pm. Free. 

Spend Saturday night drinking at The Local and head back the next morning to recover the Irish way. With (green) drink specials and brunch on offer (with any main getting a free Irish coffee on the side), celebrate St Patrick with a hair-of-the-dog kind of day. For info on all the specials, click here.

 4 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Luga's

Sun 17. 10am-3am. Free. 

Celebrate the day of the Irish with green drink specials, happy hour all day and gifts if you wear green.

 Second Floor, 7 Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang district.

Mosto

Sun 17. 11am-10pm. Free. 

Celebrate St Paddy’s and the glorious weather with brunch on the newly opened Mosto terrace and get half price on their signature green cocktail, the Mosto, made with fresh lime juice, jasmine tea infused rum, Chambord and green tea syrup. Plus, it wouldn’t be St Patrick's Day without pijiu, so enjoy local beer half-off all day.

 Third floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Paddy O'Shea's

Until Sun 17. 11am-late. Free. 

In case you hadn't heard already, Paddy O'Shea's is an Irish bar. Where better to spend the (entire) night drinking to St Patrick? Or, all week, in fact. 

Wednesday 13

Special St Patrick’s Pub Quiz. Have an Irish person in your team or at least know everything about Guinness. 8pm. Free. 

Thursday 14

Special Celtic Jam session. Head out and jam. Lots of instruments for you to borrow, or go along with your own. 9pm. Free.

Friday 15

Aardvarks registration and Just Dance night. Join the Rugby Club's registration night (for both men's and women's teams) and dance the night away. 8pm. Free.

Saturday 16 - Sunday 17

Since the special day falls on a Sunday, Paddy's starts the celebrations a day early (and doesn't close all weekend). Head on down for the true St Paddy's Day party. 

 28 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district. 

Q Mex Bar & Grill

Sun 17. 11am-1am. Free. 

Mexican plus Irish apparently equals Irish nachos and shamrock margaritas. We're into it. Get nachos with 'corned' beef in Guinness gravy and green tortilla chips for 65RMB or a classic margarita with beer and melon liqueur for 50RMB. You should also wear green. For more information, click here. Available all day at Q Mex Bar & Grill in Sanlitun and Shuangjing.

 Sanlitun Gongti Beilu, Courtyard 4, Chaoyang district.

 Shuangjing L1-06, Space 3, Beijing Yuecheng Center, Dongsanbei Zhong Lu Chaoyang District.

Reddog

Sat 16. 7pm-2am. Free. 

The cocktail masters are back at it with another party for the all-inclusive crowd. Head to Reddog for a night of Irish (and we assume, green) cocktails and good fun. 

 B1-538, Tower 12, Sanlitun Soho, 8 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Red Rose

Sun 17. 7-11pm. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale); tickets include one drink. 

Colour yourself green for a photo booth, sip on green drinks and go into the draw for raffle prizes with this Beijing Foodie St Paddy's Day event at Red Rose. For more information and to get tickets, extract the QR code below.

 1 Xingfuyicun 7th Alley, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district.

The Upducky Band and Damhsa

Sat 16. 7.30-9:30pm. Free. 

As part of the Bookworm Literary Festival this year, hear Irish music and watch some classic Irish dance. The Upducky Band is an Irish and contemporary folk group from the border counties of Louth and Armagh that have been touring the world for over ten years. The show will also feature two dancers from Damhsa, who are experts in the field of Irish dance and produce and direct high-end shows in Ireland and across Europe. Brought to you with the kind support of the Embassy of Ireland, Beijing. Although the event is free, registration is required: Extract the QR code below. 

 The Bookworm Inside Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district. 

Xian

Fri 15-Sun 17. 5pm-late. Free. 

Celebrate St Paddy's all weekend at Xian. With live music, green beer, and The Craft Container re-opening, what more could you want? Click here for all the info.

 East Hotel, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district.

For more great things to do in Beijing this weekend, hit 'Read more' below. 

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