PATCH PICKS: St. Patty's Day Pubs

On St. Patrick's Day in Bel Air, there's no shortage of Irish hospitality. All year long, these restaurants and bars serve up delicious food in a great atmosphere; but on March 17, they pull out all the stops for festive parties to celebrate the Irish spirit.

1.     Sean Bolan's Irish Pub

I've said it before: Sean Bolan's is the quintessential Irish pub. Authentically Irish all year long, St. Patrick's Day is the most anticipated event of the year at Bolan's. Get there early to take advantage of the breakfast (eggs, potatoes, rashers, toast and fruit) from 8-11 a.m. Traditional favorites such as corn beef and cabbage, Reubens and Irish Stew will be served all day. And if you're looking for entertainment, Bolan's has live music all afternoon and bagpipers in the evening. 

• Specials: $2 Killian's, $2 Irish Coffee, and $3 Guinness until 11 a.m. 
• 12 S. Main St., 410-803-1173

2.    Dark Horse Saloon 

Could corned beef and cabbage get any better? Leave it to Frank Campanella, the executive chef of Dark Horse Saloon and award-winning barbecue champion. He's rolling his smoker up to Dark Horse's outdoor, heated tent to serve up freshly smoked corn beef (and cabbage, of course) all day long. The tent opens at noon with the Jon Maurer trio going onstage at 2 p.m. followed by Drop Dead Sexy at 6 p.m. Inside, listen to bagpipers all day and tunes from the DJ into the evening. And unlike some of the other big St. Patty's parties, there's no cover charge!

• Specials: $4 Irish Car Bombs, $3 Guinness, $2 Shamrock Slushies until 5 p.m
• 119 S. Main St., 443-371-7993

3.     Looney's Pub 

With three locations (and counting) around Maryland, Looney's is quite the Irish empire. According to a radio advertisement I heard today, they've been "lowering standards and rocking St. Patrick's Day since 1993!" I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it sounds like fun. This year's bacchanal features live broadcasting from 98 Rock and bands such as Kristin and the Noise and 3 AM. Cover charge of $5 to $10 will vary throughout the day.

• Specials: Free breakfast buffet, happy hour until 11 a.m. 
• 312 S. Main St., 410-803-7080

4.    Tilted Kilt 

On the 17th of every month, Tilted Kilt celebrates "St. Practice Day" to get ready for the real deal. Well, it's finally here. From 8 a.m. to close, visit the Tilted Kilt's tented beer garden right in the center of the Avenue at White Marsh. Live music? They've got The Reagan Years and a DJ. Entertainment? Irish dancers, and, of course, the lovely ladies of the Tilted Kilt.  

• Specials: Free buffet, "Beat the Clock" drink specials, contests and giveaways
• 8133 Honeygo Blvd., White Marsh, 410-497-0792

5.     Shamrock Coffee Company     

Perhaps coffee is a better choice than beer for your St. Patrick's Day. If so, head to Shamrock to enjoy a decadent, celebratory beverage from the coffee shop that keeps its Irish on display all year round.

• 22 S. Main St., 410-638-0072

TRAVEL PICK: Delia Foley's

New to the neighborhood, Delia Foley's has already become Federal Hill's favorite Irish watering hole. The menu boasts trendy twists on classic Irish favorites (Shepherd's Pie Cupcakes? Yum!) in addition to 25 flavors of smoked wings. On St. Patty's, they open at 9 a.m. with a breakfast buffet including eggs, sausage, bacon and French toast sticks, then they'll serve an Irish buffet all day with favorites like wings, bangers and mash, and corned beef and cabbage. Don't forget to check out the newly-opened upstairs to listen to live bands all day. 

• Specials: $4 house drafts until 4 p.m. 
• 1439 S. Charles St., Baltimore, 443-682-9141