Celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Cape Town
St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. If you’ve got your shamrock and green outfit ready, you’ll need to know where to go to down a few pints. We’ve compiled some of the information you’ll need to know to paint the town green.
A little history
St Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious event which takes place every year on March 17. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and Irish heritage and culture. Saint Patrick is the most commonly recognised patron saint of Ireland. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 as this was his death day.
Celebrations usually include parades and festivals, wearing green clothing and shamrocks. In South Africa – as in other places around the world – the day is celebrated by gathering at a pub.
Ireland in Cape Town
There are a number of Irish pubs in Cape Town which would be the perfect spot to kick off St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Dubliner: A Long Street institution known for its vibrant atmosphere. It stocks a wide range of local and international drinks. The kitchen serves a mix of South African and Irish snacks.
The Rocking Shamrock: Situated in Loop Street in the heart of Cape Town, this is a legendary piece of Ireland in Cape Town.
O’Driscolls: Pulling out all the stops for St Paddy’s Day, O’Driscolls is an essential stop on any Irish celebration pub crawl. On the corner of Hout and Burg streets in the city centre, it is centrally located, so be sure not to miss out on this stop.
Where else to celebrate
Scores of bars, pubs and restaurants, while not specifically Irish, make sure to participate in St Patrick’s Day festivities.
The Foreign Exchange: This Observatory pub is affectionately known as the Cape Town headquarters of international mingling. Last year’s St Paddy’s celebration was such a success, with more than 250 patrons, they’ll again be throwing a massive party.
Quay Four Tavern: This V&A Waterfront institution isn’t satisfied with just one day, they’ll be celebrating St Paddy’s for a week. Live bands will be performing Irish songs, beer will be flowing and a prawn special on the day itself will ensure patrons are well fed.
With all of these parties happening in the city centre or surrounds, it may be a good idea to book a room at a hotel in Green Point or Cape Town itself now. That way you’ll be able to party up a storm without worrying about getting home.
Image source: cloudfront.net