5 Foods to Eat Between Pints on Paddy’s Day
Words: Tobi Ilori
The parade will be chaos, the pubs will be packed, and the pints will be flowing, which is exactly why every Paddy’s Day veteran knows you need a proper feed between rounds.
Paddy’s in Dublin tends to follow a fairly predictable pattern. You start the morning full of good intentions. You promise you’ll “take it easy this year”. You head into town for the parade.
Then someone suggests one pint. After that everything becomes a blur. But before the day gets away from you entirely, there’s one piece of advice worth remembering: you cannot drink pints all day without eating something.
This isn’t wisdom we came up with. It’s something generations of Dubliners have quietly understood. The trick to surviving St. Patrick’s Day isn’t pacing the pints. Its knowing when to line the stomach.
The following foods have been keeping people upright between pints in Dublin for generations. Ignore them at your peril.
If you want the full survival route mapped out, we have pulled together a handy list of the spots mentioned here:
Paddy’s Day Fuel by Char:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/R5WzFx9iQaUBuEJLA
The Breakfast Roll (The Foundation)
Before you see a parade float or hear the first chorus of “Molly Malone” you need a breakfast roll.
Rashers, sausages, pudding, eggs if the deli worker is feeling generous. All crammed into a roll that is half meal, half insurance policy for the day ahead.
You’ll find them all over town on Paddy’s morning. Sunrise Café in the Liberties is a strong start, Declan & Donal’s north of the river rarely lets anyone down, and Mrs. Reid’s on Kevin Street has become a go to for many a morning after situations.
If you’re already stuck in Temple Bar early (God help you), the Gay Spar will sort you out quickly. Around George’s Street, Dunne’s is another reliable stop.
Without this step, the entire day becomes a gamble.
The Pizza Slice (The Midday Stabiliser)
Okay, around midday the parade crowds start drifting towards pubs, and you realise the breakfast roll was several hours ago and the pints have been moving faster than expected. This is where the pizza slice earns its place in Irish cultural history.
Grab one from DiFontaine’s in Temple Bar, which has been fuelling wandering pub-goers for years. Around South William Street, Mani, Bambino, and Doom Slice remain safe bets, while Coke Lane Pizza in the Liberties, Dublin Pizza Company on Camden Street, or Bonobo in Smithfield also know exactly what they’re doing if you’re looking for full pies.
If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial to split with friends rather than a quick slice, it’s worth ducking into a spot where you can sit down and order a full pie.
It’s quick, efficient and restores a small amount of dignity (results may vary) to the afternoon.
the pizza slice enters the equation
The Pub Toastie (The Quiet Hero)
At some point in the mid-afternoon, a voice at the table will say something very sensible:
“Should we get a ham ‘n cheese toastie?”
Do me a favour, and please listen to that voice. This toastie is a staple in Dublin’s greatest unsung heroes. Simple, melted, and exactly what you need when the pints start to catch up with you.
The ham and cheese toastie has rescued more Paddy’s Days than anyone can count. Grogan’s has been doing the lord’s work here for years, but there are plenty of other pubs that understand the assignment.
Swift in the Liberties, The Palace Bar in Temple Bar, and Grand Central north of the river all keep them coming.
Around the Grafton Street area, Kehoe’s, Peter’s Pub and Neary’s are also well versed in the quiet power of a well timed toastie, while The Landmark on Camden Street keeps the tradition going further south.
The Bag of Chips (Late Afternoon)
By late afternoon the parade is a distant memory and town has settled into that slow, cheerful chaos where everyone is drifting between pubs.
That’s when the bag of chips becomes essential.
Something hot, drowned in salt and vinegar and eaten straight from the paper. Fusco’s in the Liberties has saved many afternoons, while Leo Burdock’s in Temple Bar remains a classic stop.
If you head north of the river, Beshoff’s on O’Connell Street is always dependable. Inside George’s Street Arcade, Little Mac is another handy option, while McGuinnesses on Camden Street continues to do strong business on days like this.
The Spice Bag (The Final Act)
Eventually the pubs close and everyone begins the slow migration like a flock of birds towards whatever Chinese takeaways still has its lights on.
This is where the spice bag makes its entrance. Chicken, chips, peppers, onion and enough seasoning to wake you up again.
Peking in the Liberties is a reliable late night option, while East City in Temple Bar continues to feed the post pub crowd. North of the river, X’ian Street Food has long been a go to for spice bags and late night comfort.
Around South William Street, Charlie’s keeps the lights on, while Camden Rotisserie has saved more than a few Paddy’s Nights on Camden Street.
By the end of Paddy’s Day, most people remember the pints. The parade, maybe. The walk home, definitely.
But the real heroes of the day are the food stops along the way. The breakfast rolls that started it all, the pizza slice between pubs, the toastie that rescued the afternoon, the bag of chips in the cold air and the spice bag that finally closed the night.
Pints may get the headlines. But these are what actually get people through the day.
Sláinte.
