Sláinte! How to celebrate this St Patrick's Day weekend in BJ

Paint the town green with our top picks for this St Paddy's Day weekend

The luck of the Irish is with us this year, just maybe (fingers crossed we didn't speak too soon). With St Patrick's Day falling on a Thursday, it's shaping up to be quite an occasion this year, with bars and restaurants in the capital getting into the Celtic spirit (they say everyone's Irish on March 17 right?) and bringing the craic. From food and drink specials, live music, to quiz nights and pub crawls, here's how to celebrate this St Paddy's Day weekend in Beijing. Get ready for a very green weekend. 

Paddy's

Paddy's. Thur 17-Sun 20. Various time and prices.

For a debaucherous St Patrick's day, there's no better place to spend the (entire) night, or week, drinking than Paddy's. After keeping it quiet for two years in a row (we're looking at you, pandemic), the sports pub is finally able to go ahead with the celebrations so expect nothing less as they said there's no harm that you book a four-day weekend.

While you can find drunken revelry any night of the week, join for some good craic on Saturday with Beijing Hash House Harriers who are organising a special Paddy's Day-themed pub crawl (cheekily named Lepre-con) that starts at Four Corners and ends at Paddy's. And on Sunday, wind down with some traditional Irish music, dancing, and more hair of the dog.

Nugget Cafe

Nugget Cafe, Fri 18. 9.30pm-late. FREE
Indie music hangout Nugget Cafe hosts one big welcoming bash, featuring Irish trad band Moga and a Ceilidh dance instructor. There will also be appropriated named cocktails such as dirty fecker, fancy leprechaun, and Dublin donkey to get you in the mood.

Modernista

Modernista. Thur 17-Sat 19. Various time. FREE

Modernista gets into the Paddy’s Day spirit with non-stop live music this weekend. On Thursday, punk bank Gum Bleed gets the festivity going with a special acoustic St. Patrick's Day set, followed by Irish rock band Blackwater playing all things Celtic on Friday. On Saturday, it will culminate in pop-jazz band Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies bringing even more Irish-tinged tunes and dancing.

Beersmith

Beersmith. Thur 17. 9pm-late. FREE 

Beersmith is serving up an Irish-themed lunch menu all week with drink specials like oatmeal stout, jasmine tea Jameson highball and Irish bomb. On Thursday, they're painting the place green with resident band Soul Shake paying tribute to U2 and West Life. Come in green for a complimentary Jameson shot, and a chance to win a bottle of Jameson.

The Local

The Local. Until Sun 20. 11am-2am. FREE 

The Local gets in on the celebration with Irish drink specials all week long. Find green-hued beer, and cocktails such as Guinness float (a pint of Guinness with ice cream, baileys and chocolate floating on top), and lil pots o’ gold (golden cups of vodka and pineapple topped with a rainbow candy garnish). On Thursday, any order of their themed drinks gets a free Paddy's Day party item.

Buddy's

Photo: Buddy's/WeChat

Irish Volunteer at Buddy's. Sat 19. 4pm. TBD
In celebration of Paddy’s Day, the cosy Irish pub in Jiuxianqiao is offering 35RMB guinness and 25RMB carlsberg this weekend, alongside food specials like pork knuckle and corned beef baguette. What’s more, there will be a cornhole tournament on Saturday (to RSVP, add gavinjohnson1980 on WeChat).

Home Plate

Photo: Shutterstock

Home Plate (Sanlitun). Thur 17. 7.30pm-late. FREE

Enjoy buy-one-get-one guinness and all-day happy hour at Home Plate. Plus test your knowledge in beer and the Emerald Isle in a special St Patrick's Day quiz night.

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