The best weekends usually follow a loose plan, yet still retain enough structure to keep things moving. The best weekends, however, thrive when flexibility is allowed to breathe. 

If Erin’s Express is on your calendar this St. Patty’s season, think of it as the subject matter for your weekend, but not necessarily the whole thing. The real move is building a full itinerary around it, so you’re not scrambling for food, pacing, or next steps once the wristbands come out.

St. Patrick’s Day season in Philadelphia is certainly about green drinks and packed bar crawls. For many people, however, the real celebration starts with live traditional Irish music and fiddles, bodhráns, whistles, and songs that feel like they’ve been passed down for generations.

You can technically order a Guinness most places in Philadelphia.

But drinking Guinness like you mean it? That’s different. That means you care about the pour. You respect the settle. You pick a bar that understands the ritual as opposed to one that treats it like just another tap option between a lager and a seltzer.

And while green beer on St. Patrick’s Day will always exist, a proper Guinness deserves better. Here’s where to go when you want to do it right.

When St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, Philadelphia goes all in. It’s kind of like the Super Bowl of drinking holidays—except with more green, way less coordination, and absolutely zero personal space in any bar within city limits. Walking down any street and you’ll find bars serving up Guinness like it’s water and you’ll hear Dropkick Murphys at least 20 times before midnight. Here’s where to drink in Philadelphia this St. Paddy’s Day.