This St. Patrick’s Day, have a green one—and a corned beef sandwich—at a few of our favorite pubs.
The Blue Anchor
ADDRESS: 804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
VIBE: With its façade and wooden interiors shipped to Delray Beach from 1840s London, this prime-located pub on the Ave also airlifted a ghost, one Bertha Starkey, whose poltergeist activities around the bar are legion. But if it’s a more earthbound spirit you’re seeking, this reliable watering hole has plenty of cocktails to go with its extensive beer and wine pours. It also hosts poker on Thursdays and live music Fridays to Sundays.
SIGNATURE DISHES: Smoked mahi dip, steak Balmoral, Sunday supper roast beef.
ST. PADDY’S PLANS: The Blue Anchor will offer a corned beef and cabbage special, alongside a drink-and-shots special, on March 17.
CONTACT: 561/272-7272; theblueanchorpub.com
HJ O’Connor’s
ADDRESS: 210 N.E. Second St., Delray Beach
VIBE: Entering its 23rd year, HJ O’Connor’s is among the proudly diveiest of Delray’s pubs, an un-glamorous spot for authentic Irish food, drink and music. Like a bagpipe solo, it can be on the brash and loud side, but the service is friendly, and the longtime owners are committed to their customers’ satisfaction, whether a buttoned-down businessperson or tatted biker. Extra perks: O’Connor’s has its own dedicated parking lot; it offers darts and shuffleboard to pass the time; and it stays open until 2 a.m.
ST. PADDY’S PLANS: None as of this writing, but the joint is always popular among St. Paddy’s pub crawlers.
CONTACT: 561/330-0022
O’Brian’s Irish Pub
ADDRESS: 51 S.E. First Ave., Boca Raton
VIBE: Founded by a man who just might have the most Irish name of all time, Brian O’Brian, this local pub touts itself as the No. 1 sports bar in Boca Raton, and it’s got all the sports packages to prove it. Catch any and all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games at O’Brian’s over a tasty selection of bar bites, and enjoy special menu items every football Sunday. Happy hour runs long (11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays), with almost nightly events including ladies’ night on Wednesdays and karaoke night on Fridays.
SIGNATURE DISHES: Mini corned beef, hangover burger, state fair sausage and peppers sandwich
ST. PADDY’S PLANS: Closing down Southeast First Avenue so guests can enjoy ample room for dancing to live DJ music, Irish whiskey and Guinness drink specials, and a special menu that includes corned beef and shepherd’s pie.
CONTACT: 561/338-7565; obrianspub.com
Sheehan’s Corner Pub
ADDRESS: 10114 S. Military Trail, Boynton Beach
VIBE: Nestled in the far corner of Applegate Plaza in Boynton Beach, Sheehan’s is the go-to late-night bar for locals and anyone else who enjoys burning the candle at both ends over a game of darts. While Sheehan’s is one of the rare local bars that are open until 5 a.m., it’s less nightclub and more “Cheers,” offering up a cozy atmosphere with jukebox tunes and friendly locals. As for the menu, corned beef is definitely the star of the show, but other Emerald Isle favorites like shepherd’s pie are also sure to please.
SIGNATURE DISHES: Corned beef quesadilla, Scotch egg, loaded Irish potato skins.
ST. PADDY’S PLANS: Assorted beer, shot and cocktail specials, and Irish fare including corned beef sliders.
CONTACT: 561/752-0511; webpagedepot.com/sheehans-corner-pub
Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub
ADDRESS: 2885 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach
VIBE: Any pub worth its barley in Smithwick’s can claim to be the best pub in North America, but Tim Finnegans—note the lack of apostrophe in its name, in homage to James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake—actually won Best Irish Community Pub on the continent in 2017 from Irish Pubs Global. In evoking a traditional classic public house, its stage, where live musicians perform Thursdays to Saturdays, is fashioned after the famous St. James’s Gate at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Tim Finnegans also features a spacious outdoor patio with ceiling fans, and it even houses a vintage Irish telephone booth for nostalgic photo ops.
SIGNATURE DISHES: Fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, beef and lamb Guinness stew.
ST. PADDY’S PLANS: Irish musicians Kathy Durkin and Richie Hayes at 1 p.m., Irish step dancers at 4:30 p.m., Celtic rock band at 6 p.m.
CONTACT: 561/330-3153; timfinneganspub.com
This article is from the March 2023 issue of Boca magazine. For more like this, click here to subscribe to the magazine.
