Where to drink on St Patrick's Day in Melbourne

Opposite Queen Victoria markets on Peel Street, the Drunken Poet is Melbourne’s cosiest little Irish bar. As for all true Éireanns, music is the soul of the Drunken Poet, here six nights a week and always free. On St Patrick's Day, doors will open at 11am on the dot with artist Stephen Kennedy performing at 3pm, Dan Bourke and Cyril Moran at 5:30pm and Pat McKernan at 9pm. Our advice? Get in early. This authentic pub is a much-loved local so you can bet the vibes will be a'flowin' (along with thick, foamy rivers of Guinness, of course).

North Melbourne pub the Last Jar is a very merry place. The pints of Guinness or Kilkenny you get here are among the finest in town: yeasty and sour-sweet rather than bitter and metallic. There’s live Irish traditional music and they'll be cranking it up from 11am on both Sunday 16 and Monday 17 (St Paddy's Day). This year, the pub's doing things differently in that you don't need to buy a ticket for entry on either day. However, there will be a cover charge on the door on Monday 17 from 6pm onwards. For more info, check out the pub's Instagram post.

This classic pub is one of those venues that really crank up the craic on St Patrick's Day. There'll be a full Irish breakfast menu available from 8am until 11:30am, with live bands playing throughout the day. They serve mean beer-battered chips with McDonnells curry sauce, plus a great beef and Guinness pie if you like to eat your Guinness as well as drink it. On a normal day, though, the Irish Times Pub has a quiet atmosphere and a relaxed attitude, often with entertainment such as comedy and live bands. For more info, check out their website.

By day, Buck Mulligan's is a bookshop and café. By night, the bar's Irish whiskeys get a good workout. Instead of celebrating St Paddy's Day, Buck's likes to celebrate St Paddy's month. The festivities will kick off at 7pm on Thursday, March 13 with the All Are Us choir singing Irish ballads. All are welcome. The following night from 8pm, there'll be $10 pints of Guinness from 4pm until 7pm. Saturday night there'll be live music and from 3-6pm on Sunday, you can join in on a live jam with the Irish music band (remember to bring your instrument!). On St Paddy's Day itself, the doors will open at midday with live music from 2pm and a pop-up whiskey and Guinness bar in the courtyard. There'll be plenty of Guiness hats and all the craic you can handle. Visit the website for more details.

The city’s oldest pub has a secret. Loch and Key is hidden up a rickety staircase, behind a bookcase in the Captain Melville bar. It’s a handsome space of rich timbers, mounted deer heads and a broad deck lined with salvaged coffee tables, a beaten peacock-blue sofa and deep wooden banquettes. This St Paddy's Day, the bar will be open from 7pm and slinging booze, banter and loads of drinks specials all night long. Get stuck into Guinness, order a round of Jameson shots, Boilermaker and cocktail specials or sink your teeth into housemade mini steak and guinness pies. 

Our hearts broke when we found out the Quiet Man is about to serve its final drinks. Yes, it's true – one of Melbourne's best-loved Irish clubs is closing its doors. If you want to give the pub a loving send-off, head in on St Patrick's Day – their final day of trade. After 27 years of pints, heartwarming Irish food, roaring good craic and thousands of gigs, we're sad to say goodbye but treasure the memories and friends we've made. 

A little bit of Ireland right here in the heart of Chapel Street, Bridie O'Reilly is a hub for good times and decent beers. This year on March 17, the pub will be serving Irish food specials and fun giveaways with a side of Guinnes from 10am. There'll be live music, and if you've had one too many pints, you'll want to order a plate of cheesy chips slathered in melty cheese and Irish curry sauce. You also might spot Irish stew, sausages, roast pork and other yummy specials alongside its classic pub grub dishes. See you there!

One of Melbourne's premier Irish pubs, PJ O'Brien's is a top spot around town for a good time on St Patrick's Day. While the breakfast and lunch events have sold out, the main bar is open for drinks and live music all day! Doors open from 8:30am until late. You'll find the walls splashed with Irish paraphernalia, suspended TV screens, and huddles of merry folk enjoying the festive spirit of the day.