Santa Cruz, California may not be known for it’s Irish heritage, but it does support some of the best Irish pubs on the central coast. The most amazing of these is Rosie McCanns Irish Pub in the downtown area off of Pacific Avenue. They boast a wide assortment of well drinks, draft beer, and imports to wet your palette this St. Patrick’s Day. The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable and the waitresses and bartenders are mostly Irish giving it that authentic feel. Rosie’s usually has a great selection of specials that are Irish indeed. From Guinness to the Irish Carbomb, you will feel right at home.
During your time at Rosie’s you may have a hankering for some authentic Irish food. Rosie’s has some of the best Corn Beef and Cabbage this side of the Atlantic Ocean. This would be the first stop for any Irish man or woman in the Santa Cruz area.
After you are done at Rosie’s, head down the street to the Poet and the Patriot. While you wont get hard alcohol here, the beers they serve are phenomenal. They host one of the most diverse groups of domestic and imported beers in the Santa Cruz area. On the weekends the Poet as the locals call it, hosts live bands and other events. Get there early though as it does get crowded. You may also want to stop by an ATM before hand as this pub does not accept cash. This pub has nice ambiance and an even better line-up of fresh beers.
While there are only two real Irish pubs in downtown Santa Cruz, for St. Patty’s Day you can’t go wrong with heading to the almost Irish pub, 99 Bottles. This pub boasts 99 selections of beer and gives the person who drinks one of each a place in their hall-of-fame. The hall-of-fame is a rare site, but it is often a celebration when the person is heading for the 99th drink. What better way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day than with a group of friends celebrating a 99 beer achievement?
Whether you are looking for authentic Irish or just some Irish people to hang out with, downtown Santa Cruz is the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day.