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America's Best Irish Bars

It's all those tiny details that contribute to bar feeling as though it has been lived in.
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All things food and drink

All things food and drink
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Defining the qualities that make up a great Irish pub is a bit like trying to map a path to that elusive pot 'o gold -- you can feel it when you're on the right track, but the signs for how you get there are never the same.

Click Here to see the Complete List of America's Best Irish Bars

There are, of course, some obvious touchstones. A great beer list is generally regarded as a must -- with a barkeep that knows how to pull a proper pint -- and bonus points to the place that also boasts a solid list of Irish whiskeys. As for the look of the place, aside from the usual dark wood furnishings, it's all those tiny details that contribute to bar feeling as though it has been lived in -- right down to the regulars and barkeeps, each with their assigned places like pieces on a chessboard. Add to that, in certain cases, touches like TVs screening overseas football and rugby matches, or lives bands playing traditional tunes.

But most importantly, what counts in a great Irish bar is the atmosphere -- those pubs with that more or less intangible quality of a space that is at once cozy and raucous. They're charming and homey, but with a fun-loving spirit and just the slightest ounce of attitude.

So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day this weekend, here are 12 favorite Irish bars around the country.

Fadó (Seattle)
This Seattle pub is more than just a place to grab a well-pulled pint of Guinness, it's also arguably the best spot in town to catch whatever must-see soccer game — sorry, football match — is playing. The bar opens as early as 4:30 a.m. to show important international matches from the World Cup, Euro Cup, and English Premier League.Photo Credit: Yelp/Jackie A.Click Here to See More of America's Best Irish Bars
B.D. Riley’s (Austin, Texas)
This pub was named by Imbibe Magazine as one of the country’s best places to drink Guinness. The secret to their "perfect pint ‘o dark"? Spotless imperial glasses and the patience to allow the beer to settle into its two proper parts. The bar is adamant about not being a "cookie-cutter" pub, and much of the establishment’s design and furnishings were sourced directly from Ireland. And of course, this being Austin, there’s plenty of great music to add to the atmosphere.Photo Credit:Flickr/Patrick Mackin
Rí Rá (Las Vegas)
You're probably thinking: A good Irish bar in Vegas? Really? Yes, really. This establishment is no Vegas mirage, having gone to great lengths to deliver on real-deal Irish pub atmosphere. Although the expansive, four-room venue doesn’t make for as cozy a space as many older pubs, it certainly has the right look — outfitted in dark wood furnishings and antique fixtures salvaged from old Irish buildings. There’s also an impressive selection of Irish whiskeys and international brews on tap and by the bottle, as well as bands flown in from the Emerald Isle.Photo Credit:Yelp/Ri Ra
Clarke’s Irish Pub (Miami)
Another great Irish bar in an unexpected location is Clarke’s Irish Pub, in Miami Beach. Very much a departure from the city’s swanky nightlife scene, this homey bar is, as they say, "all about the craic." (For the uninitiated, that’s Gaelic for a place with a fun, lively, social atmosphere.)Photo Credit:Yelp/Ri RaClick Here to See More of America's Best Irish Bars


Click Here to see the Original Story on The Daily Meal

-Maryse Chevriere,The Daily Meal

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