St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah isn’t just celebrated on March 17th, down here in the Lowcountry we turn the holiday into a holi-month. With Irish Heritage festivals, music, and tons of green – it’s hard to celebrate in just one day. But for those who wish to only participate on March 17th, we have a full breakdown of THE best places to eat, drink, and be Irish for a day!
Fun fact: The Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in America, right behind New York City and Chicago. Marching bands, dancers, elaborate floats, people come to Savannah from all over the Lowcountry to participate in the parade. Locals and visitors look forward to the parade all year – it’s one of Savannah’s most famous events! So famous, that dedicated locals will camp out along the parade route to ensure they have the best views. Starting at 10:15 am, the parade route begins at Gwinnett Street, marching up Abercorn and eventually making its way down Bay Street. And take it from seasoned locals, with over 500,000 people in attendance this year, it’s best to find your spot as early as possible!
But should you be overwhelmed with where to set up camp, we highly suggest going somewhere on Bay Street. Because, as soon as the parade is over you can easily make your way to River Street, as this is where the festivities really “let loose”.
River street is known for its cobblestone roads, views of the river, and its bars – Over 20 to be exact. Our personal favorite, however, is Rusty Rudders Tap House. With their innate ability to make everyone feel like a local, it’s hard not to have fun at “The Rudd”. Plus, their prices beat out every other bar on River Street, which means more Guinness without breaking the bank.
However, should you fancy a sweeter drink, maybe even something frozen, we know of a pretty great daiquiris bar. And it’s brand new. Recently making its grand entrance into the world of River Street Bars, The Frosty Frog offers an abundance of flavors swirled into the creamiest, thirst-quenching, frozen cocktail you are going to find in all of Savannah!
But that’s probably enough alcohol for one day. Let’s talk food. Not a far walk from the historic steps of River street is Plant Riverside. Take your pick of food. They have Graffito Pizza, Riverside Sushi, District Smokehouse, Stone & Webster’s Chophouse, and Savannah Tequila Co. So whatever you’re in the mood for, Plant Riverside is sure to satisfy with some of the best food selections in downtown Savannah. But, should you wish to explore more of the city, Zuni’s crafts food that is worth the 10-minute walk. A South African-inspired restaurant that will leave you saying “Shit yeah”…we promise!
We can confidently say that Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is something everyone should experience. We’ve got great entertainment. We’ve got great bars. We’ve got great food. We even have green fountains and New York City doesn’t even have that! So when considering St. Patricks Day plans for 2023 remember a good celebration is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have!