If you’re anything like me, as a serial Guinness drinker, knowing the best hidden gems around the city to get your hands on a bit of the good stuff is no mean feat. Your classic Irish pubs are bound to be packed on St Patrick’s Day, so you’ll need some good spots in your roster to dash off to mid-afternoon to grab a decent pint.
Everyone’s experienced their fare share of terrible pours, cloudy glasses and all round bad pub vibes, so we took matters into our own hands to scout out the best of the best of our beloved stout. Liverpool might as well be the second home for Guinness lovers across the country, and some of these boozers certainly live up to the reputations.
So, if you’re searching for some locations for your perfect Paddy’s Day itinerary, look no further than our comprehensive guide to quite frankly, the best pints of Guinness you can find in the city. Every measure must be taken to ensure you won’t end up on #upsettingpints by the end of the night.
Shenanigans
This spot is notoriously known for serving the best pint in Liverpool, and I must agree. It’s not the biggest gaff you’ve ever seen, so if you’re planning on going here for Paddy’s Day, I’d recommend getting there early to make sure you can get a seat and not spend half the afternoon in a queue. It offers up the perfect pint-sinking vibes on their outdoor roof terrace, and everyone knows a good Guinness is enjoyed when the sun is shining right on your face.
Kelly’s Dispensary
This one goes out to all the Smithdown students. If you’re a Guinness drinker you probably already know about this place, because boy do they do an impressive pint of the good stuff. Kelly’s is home to a classic light box tap, which is a tell tale sign that they’ll hand you over a decent pull. It’s got a great atmosphere and has a pool table too, to truly fulfil those old fella pub drinking vibes.
The Monro
Ah, The Monro. It’s the new kid on the block, and even though the students have officially discovered this place, it never fails. It’s a classic pub crawl stop, with a bar upstairs as well as downstairs, to better your chances of getting a pint! The Monro does a fabulous Guinness which is paired with gorgeous shabby chic interior. Just make sure you’re careful on the stairs after you’ve drank your body weight in Guinness – they can be on par with BaaBar at times.
St Peter’s Tavern
This new addition to Seel Street definitely does Guinness some good justice, probably because it’s owned by the same people as The Monro. This place is huge, with plenty of tables to sink your pints on, so it’ll be a perfect addition to your Paddy’s Day route. The best part? St Peter’s stays open until 1:30 on a Monday, ideal for polishing off those last drinks to top off your night. It’s a great place to go if you don’t want to go clubbing, but want to have a couple of pints and chit chat with mates.
Pogue Mahones
A true classic amongst scousers, Pogue Mahones lives up to the name and serves a gorgeous pint of Irish stout. It’s just round the corner from The Monro, and up the road from St Peter’s Tavern, so perfect if you’re planning a bar crawl. There’s something about being served a pint in a proper Irish watering hole that just makes it taste so much better.
The Augustus John
Okay, hear me out on this one. Whilst The AJ might not offer the world’s finest pint of Guinness, I was pleasantly surprised when I went there the other day and ordered one. It’s cheap and cheerful, and perfect pit stop after your morning lectures on a weekday. It might not make its way into your St Patrick’s Day roster, but if you do turn up to your 9am on the Monday and plan to start early, it’s the place to be.
Lanigans Irish Bar
There isn’t anywhere more suited for Paddy’s Day than a classic Irish bar – preferably one that offers up a good Guinness. If you’re in need of some practice when it comes to splitting the G, pints at Lanigans are only £3.90 from Sunday to Thursday, so you won’t break the bank ahead of the big day. It’s right next to The Irish House too, so it would be rude not to pop in really.
Dirty O’Sheas
Let’s be real, where else would you go? From Sunday to Thursday, and before 9pm, you can get yourself a pint of Guinness for just £3. What a bargain! Some of you might say it’s an obvious choice, but it’s a favourite amongst us students for a reason. Yes, you could say Dirty’s is where a night out goes to die, but when you’re ten pints deep, you won’t even think about the quality of your Guinness. At that price, you can’t complain.
We’ll be praying for each other’s hangovers on that Tuesday after Paddy’s Day, but there’s no better excuse to splash your student loan on a pint of the good stuff than that.
