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Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco: Best Ways to Celebrate St. Paddy's Day in 2023
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: March 2, 2023
San Francisco is full of fun things to do on Saint Patrick's Day, including the annual parade, pub crawls, and live performances. The city is also home to more than a dozen Irish bars and restaurants.
This year, the holiday is on Friday, March 17 and most festivities will take place the weekend before and after.
Read on to find a list of ways you can celebrate, places with the best Irish dishes, top Irish bars, and other activities planned for the official celebration weekend.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Every year, the United Irish Societies of San Francisco hosts a large Saint Patrick's Day Parade. The 2023 celebration is set for March 11.
The Saint Patrick's Day parade begins at 11:30 am. The parade route begins at 2nd and Market streets and heads straight down Market Street all the way to Civic Center Plaza near San Francisco City Hall.
Their annual block party is set for Sunday, March 12. It's at the United Irish Cultural Center at 2700 45th Avenue.
Learn More: Parade pictures and more details on this year's event
Saint Patrick's Day Parties, Events & Activities
Every year, many of the Irish pubs in SF also celebrate the holiday. Here are a few of the top events scheduled this year.
The Irish Bank
Every year, the Irish Bank celebrates with two fun block parties.
Saturday, 3/11: Saint Patrick's Day Parade Block Party #1
- Doors open at 11am and party starts at 1:30 pm
- Lasts until 11:30 pm, 21 and older only
Friday, 3/17: Saint Patrick's Day Parade Block Party #2
- Doors open at 11am and party starts at 1:30 pm
- 21 and older only, runs until 11:30 pm
The Irish Bank is located at 10 Mark Lane in the Financial District.
St. Paddy's Day Party at Schroeder's
Head over to Schroeder's in downtown SF (240 Front Street) for a St. Patrick's Day Party. All festivities will begin on 3/17 at 3 pm and end at 10 pm.
The party includes green beer, cheers, live music, and fun!
This year's special guest is DJ Jerry Ross.
Pub Crawls
You will find a few pub crawls this year for Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco.
3/17: St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl Party, starts at 6 pm at Mayes, 1233 Polk Street
3/18: St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, starts at 2 pm at Mayes, 1233 Polk Street
Concerts on Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco
You will find several concerts this holiday in SF. Here are just a few of the top shows on 3/17 - 3/19.
- 3/17 & 3/18: John Mellencamp at the Golden Gate Theatre
- 3/17 & 3/18: Parokya Ni Edgar at the Warfield
- 3/18: The Beths at The Fillmore
- 3/18: Andy Frasco & The U.N. at the Chapel
>> Find additional concerts in March
Buena Vista Cafe
Get in the Irish spirit on Saint Patrick's Day at the Buena Vista Cafe. All day long, they will be serving up corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and other Buena Vista favorites.
And...of course, make sure to enjoy at least one of their Irish Coffees during your visit!
They are open from 9 am to 11 pm on Friday, March 17.
Details: More information on what it's like at the Buena Vista Cafe
More Fun Things to Do on Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco
Other Places to Check Out
If you want a traditional Irish meal, or a place to just hang out for St. Paddy's Day, click the link below for information about SF's best Irish pubs and restaurants.
Learn More: Top Irish Pubs & Restaurants
Other Saint Patrick's Day & Weekend Activities for 2023
If you're not into the party scene, or are looking for something to do before heading out to the pubs, here are some additional activities planned for Saint Patrick's Day and the weekend.
San Francisco Theater
You will find a variety of performance on stage this Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco. They range from Broadway hits to off Broadway and local creations at smaller theaters all around town.
This weekend's biggest show is Six, the Musical, at the Orpheum Theater.
>> Full March theater calendar
SF Bay Cruise
Are you looking for something to do during the day on this holiday? If so, head out on the water on this 60-minute SF Bay cruise. This fun adventure will take you past SF's top attractions, including Alcatraz, Angel Island, and Sausalito.
You will also get the chance to cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge - twice! The tour runs all day long.
>> Find tickets for this popular cruise
Twilight Cruise on the SF Bay
Another fun option for Saint Patrick's Day in San Francisco is the Twilight Cruise on the Bay. This 90-minute cruise offers views of the SF Skyline. It's a fun way to relax and soak in the views on this fun annual holiday.
Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.
>> Learn more and find ticket today
More Fun Tours this Weekend
Get Loads of Laughs at Cobb's Comedy Club
Head over to Cobb's Comedy Club to see some of the top comedy talent live on stage. You can be sure that St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco is a perfect day to see the best here.
>> Full schedule of upcoming performances
>> More about seeing a show at Cobb's
Top Hotels for Saint Patrick's Day Weekend
There are several great places in San Francisco to stay on St. Patrick's Day. Since most of the action is in and around the downtown and Union Square areas, I recommend looking for a hotel near one of these districts.
Both of these neighborhoods offer a variety of public transportation options, so you can easily get to the rest of the city from here. Take a look at these recommendations based on budget, amenities, and location.
You can also look for discounts on TripAdvisor or Booking.com before you book your hotel. They offer several discounts on room rates, parking, wifi, and more. Click the links below for details.
Booking: Find great deals all around San Francisco for your upcoming stay!
TripAdvisor: What's the #1 hotel in San Francisco? Read reviews & find hotel deals on TripAdvisor!
VRBO: In addition to hotels, you'll also find some great places to stay locally through VRBO. Book an apartment or a room and feel more like a local. Find some great places to stay on VRBO here.
Where to Watch the NCAA Tournament-First & Second Round Play
St. Patrick's Day always coincides with the NCAA basketball tournament. This year's first and second rounds in the tournament starts on the day before Saint Patrick's Day. Here are some of the places in San Francisco where you can celebrate and also watch the games.
1. Johnny Foley's Irish House: This is a great place to watch the games. I recommend heading toward the back of the bar where there are several TVs. From here, you can watch the game from either the tables or from selected seats right at the bar.
2. Kezar Pub: This small but popular Irish bar is also a great place to watch the basketball tournament. You'll also get to mingle with locals and sample the pub's amazing "bangers & mash." The bar usually opens around 11:30am and is located in the Haight-Ashbury District just steps from Golden Gate Park at 770 Stanyan Street.
3. Nickie's: If you prefer to focus on the basketball tournament rather than the Irish celebrations, then Nickie's is the place for you. This sports bar in the Lower Haight neighborhood offers pub food all day as well as a great selection of beers. They normally open around noon and you will find them at 466 Haight St.
4. Greens Sports Bar: Another place to watch basketball is Greens Sports Bar in the Russian Hill neighborhood. This place is usually really crowded, so plan on standing for a while until a seat opens up. It's a bar only, no food, but a great place to watch the games. Here you'll mainly find locals from the surrounding neighborhood. Greens normally opens around 10am and is at 2239 Polk St.
More Top Holidays in San Francisco
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