New Deck Tavern
West Philly's Irish home base since 1993.
New Deck Tavern is the only pub in University City that treats St Patrick's Day as its Super Bowl. Bagpipers at open, corned beef and cabbage on the specials board, and a green-lit bar top that hasn't changed in thirty years — because it doesn't need to.
It's the rare Philly Irish pub that's genuinely popular with both undergrads (Penn, Drexel) and the neighborhood old guard. On the 17th, the line stretches down Sansom past the food carts.
If you're staying west of the Schuylkill, this is the move. If you're not — hop the trolley one stop from 30th Street.
Pipers at open (usually 10am). Full Irish breakfast served all morning. Get there early — capacity is real and the line moves slowly once the Guinness taps back up.
Philadelphia's longest-running St Patrick's Day bar crawl. 30+ bars, free cover, free t-shirts.