17 Wilmington-area places you can drink a pint (or 2) for St. Patrick's Day

Two years after Wilmington went into lockdown just before St. Patrick's Day, scuttling plans for a green-clad celebration, the Port City is primed to have a full-scale St. Patrick's party this year.

But where to go?

Well, that depends. Here are a few ideas, whether you're looking to get rowdy or just want to have a pint in peace. Well, relative peace — it is St. Patrick's Day, after all.

Slainte

In some respects, St. Patrick's Day in downtown Wilmington begins and ends at Slainte (pronounced "slon-cha"). Owner Misha Sobol is closest thing we've got to a Mayor of Downtown, and it's a truly authentic, cozy, occasionally raucous, Irish-style pub.

Lula's

This cozy, underground hole-in-the-wall off Orange Street has been around since the early '90s, making it one of the longest-standing establishments downtown. Belly-up to the low-ceilinged bar, hang with the smokers on the low-ceilinged patio or chill with friends at the low table in the back corner.

A Wilmington classic, for sure.

Related reading: Podcast unearths history of hauntings at underground Lula's pub in Wilmington

Food: Sandwiches — and nomadic brewing — coming to former restaurant in Wilmington’s Northside

The Husk

If you want to be in the midst of the St. Patrick's Day madness, this sports-loving bar at the corner of Dock and Front streets in the heart of downtown should absolutely be your destination. Back patio will be packed-out for sure.

The Pub of Southport

On most any day at this Southport favorite, you have a chance to grab a beer, and have it with a side of about 30 different Irish whiskeys and an order of Reuben egg rolls or Irish nachos.

For St. Patrick's Day, they are adding to the festivities with a 9 a.m. open, bagpipes, live music beginning at 3:30 p.m. and, yes, an ice luge (!) at the outdoor bar.

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Salty Turtle Beer Company

If you're in need of a hearty beer this holiday, check out this always buzzing brewery In Surf City. There are currently three stouts on tap — a milk stout, a Mexican chocolate stout and their signature Swingbridge (a nod to the old swing bridge that, until recently, serviced Topsail Island). On Thursday, they'll have giveaways, beer specials, and the CBT Food Truck serving some Irish themed menu items.

Blue Post

Posting up at downtown staple The Blue Post is always a good idea. Oh, and it's St. Patrick's Day? Even better. Grab a pool table, hang out in the alley or get your video game on in the back room.

A downtown mainstay: As downtown changes, The Blue Post maintains

The Harp

This Irish pub and restaurant at Third and Greenfield streets is always a St. Patrick's Day hotspot. They'll have live Irish tunes, a tent in the parking lot to accommodate the overflow and enough Harp and Guinness to keep the party going till late.

Satellite Bar & Lounge

As if you needed an extra reason to check in on this beloved 120 Greenfield St. outpost, North Carolina music legend Dexter Romweber (of Flat Duo Jets fame) is playing a show there for St. Pat's.

Yes, please.

The Dubliner

You won't find an Irish pub in Wilmington more authentic than The Dubliner on Carolina Beach Road, near where South Third Street ends. They don't just do St. Patrick's Day here, they do St. Patrick's Day week.

On the actual day of March 17, the Dubliner will up the ante a bit, hosting Wilmington jam band Medicated Sunfish and the Grimm Burgers food truck.

Southport Tap & Cellar

This spot on North Howe Street in Southport has become well known for its selection of craft beers — both on tap and in the bottle. On St. Pat's they'll be tapping a keg of Irish Stout from Hi-Wire Brewing and hosting a special trivia night for the holiday. Also on the menu: Irish coffee, hot chocolate and a food truck.

The Copper Penny

True, this Princess Street pub-grub destination is more of a restaurant than bar. And yet, it is the ancestral home of the late, lamented Irish pub and restaurant The Shanakee, which started up in the late 1990s and burned brightly before going under in the mid-2000s. You can get a good pint at the Copper Penny for sure, so swing by and pour a sip or two on the ground for The Shanakee while you're at it.

Paddy's Hollow

Again, more of a restaurant than a bar these days, but there was a time when people would go to Paddy's just to drink and play darts. Celebrating 40 years in business (it opened in 1982), The Cotton Exchange mainstay is one of the very oldest establishments downtown and you can get a decent pint there, guaranteed.

Do it for old time's sake, if nothing else.

The Joyce

If you're in the Leland area, and don't plan on leaving town for the holiday, this Irish pub near Brunswick Forest is your St. Patrick's Day go-to. Full stop.

The festivities begin on Thursday but continue into Friday and Saturday with live music, bagpipers, green beer, and bounce houses.

Celtic Monkey

Formerly the Monkey Junction location of Slainte, this restaurant pub reopened a few months ago with the help of former bartenders at The Irish Rover in Queens, New York. And, well, they aim to be the St. Patrick's Day headquarters in the Wilmington area this year.

Irish breakfast is served 9-11 a.m. and there's a schedule of live music, food and drink until 11 p.m.

More: Irish restaurant has new owners, and a new name, in Wilmington’s Monkey Junction

HopLite

If you haven't checked out this Carolina Beach favorite in a while, St. Patrick's Day may be a good time to do so. New owners recently took over the space and have revamped the pub and restaurant. It's always a place to find Irish beer on tap and Jameson whiskey.

For the holiday, they'll also be serving a special menu with Reubens (as sandwiches or egg rolls), fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage as well as American favorites.

Find out more: Take a look at Hoplite Irish Pub & Restaurant

Red Hare Brewery

This Shallotte outpost of the Georgia-based brewery is celebrating its fourth anniversary in April. If you can't wait until then, they're also ready to party on Thursday with live music from Cat-a-Tonic, a food truck, and green beer (if you're into that sort of thing).

Broomtail Pub & Arcade

For those who only know it as The Sour Barn, Broomtail's owners and staff have renovated and rebranded the Ogden space. It reopened in February. There's a whole week's worth of fun for the holiday, beginning at trivia night on Tuesday, comedy on Wednesday, and (of course) St. Patrick's Day with their classic Rappe stout.

If you miss a chance for a pint then, their official party is Saturday, March 19, with live music from Slick Mahoneys, two food trucks, Broomtail Hay Bale Green Beer, and St. Paddy’s Wine Slushies for the non-beer drinkers.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 17 places in Wilmington to drink a pint for St. Patrick's Day