The best St Patrick's Day events in Singapore

The St Patrick’s Day Street Festival by Guinness is back and this year, the epic celebrations are set to paint the Singapore River precinct green once again. The boisterous party will be running from March 15 to 17 at Circular Road, Boat Quay. Be sure to arrive in green as you experience all things Irish from music, folk dance performances, food, to festive makeover booths, and of course, pints of Guinness. The event isn’t ticketed and everyone’s welcome to join in the fun. This year’s festival will also showcase The Guinness Experience at the Fountain Square at Clarke Quay. You’ll get to walk through an exhibition on the brand’s history and brewing processes, participate in masterclasses with a beer sommelier ($25 per adult), and hang out at the outdoor bar with a complimentary Guinness in hand. 

Come evening on March 15, the popular Irish gastropub Tilly’s – by Chef Andrew Walsh from the Michelin-starred Cure – will be welcoming guests for its St Patrick’s Day celebration. Come dressed in your best green garb and prepare to soak in the festivities at Tilly’s Paddy’s Party. There will be a lineup of acoustic Irish ballad performances, 80s and 90s rock sets and classic pub songs by Kevin McCabe, as well as electrifying beats by DJ with Tunes later into the night. 1-for-1 Baby Guinnesses – shooters made of coffee liqueur and Irish cream – will also be available all night long for $10. But the great news is that the festivities don’t end there. There’ll also be month-long promotions at Tilly’s, including 50 percent off Tilly’s Wagyu Burger and three pints of Guinness going at $38 among other offers.

Look no further for your Saint Patrick’s Day merrymaking, as Acid Bar is having its very own celebration with beer pong challenges, all-night happy hour prices of $11 exclusively for Guinness pints, along with promotional prices of three glasses of Guinness for just $30. There’s even an opportunity for you to customise a Guinness pint with your picture. If you’re up for a challenge, test your skills in pouring the perfect pint and stand a chance to win exclusive prizes.

As the first Irish pub to open in Singapore way back in 1995, Molly Malone’s is perhaps the cornerstone of everything Irish in Singapore. This place has the honour of being designed and built in Ireland, then shipped to Singapore and re-assembled at Circular Road. You’ll appreciate how everything is so straightforward and simple, from its draughts to its Irish stew ($22) and fish n’ chips (from $18) – no gimmicks to distract you from having a truly Irish experience. This March 15 to 17, the pub will be hosting their annual St Patrick’s Day celebration. Arrive in green and brace yourself for a rowdy evening of pints, Irish grub, laughter, and hearty cheers and jeers from the live screening of the English Premier League. You’ll come for the novelty but stay for everything else.

Muddy Murphy’s caters to every class of drinkers. Its cosmopolitan, West-meets-East clientele is a testament to the pub’s savvy marketing and genuinely friendly ambience. The food here is a major plus: this St Patrick’s season, half a dozen freshly shucked Gallagher Irish Premium Oysters will go at $25 nett, and the signature half-dozen oyster Kilpatrick will fly for just $29 nett. To ensure you stay hydrated throughout the festivities, you can grab two pints of creamy Guinness $28. Engage in a conversation or two, or keep your eyes glued to the big screens for the games that’ll be happening that weekend.

For a simpler and cosier experience this St Patrick’s Day, head on over to The Hidden Pipe in the unassuming NEWest mall. Founded by an ex-sailor with a penchant for the mighty seas, this relatively new Irish pub at the West Coast is indeed a hidden nook. Banter over ice-cold draught beers or sip on artisanal crafted rums from abroad whilst indulging in English and European cuisine. The crowds love the classic fish and chips ($18.90), but you can also get acquainted with The Roasted Iga Babi ($18.90) – tender babyback ribs with a punchy sambal matah. And of course, familiar Irish draughts such as Guinness and Kilkenny will be available.

Here’s another Irish joint in the West. This open-air, cosy Irish cottage-style pub has an outdoor terrace that looks out to the sea, but more importantly, it serves up hearty, home-cooked food like sandwiches, all-day breakfasts and international delights, as well as draught beers on tap. This St Patrick’s month, Scruffy Murphy’s will be offering two pints of Guinness at $27, Gallagher Irish Premium Oysters at $25 nett for six pieces, and the Oyster Kilpatrick at $29 nett. And of course in true Irish pub fashion, a TV which will screen on-demand live sport matches is part of the mise-en-scène.