Don the green and head to these Irish bars in the Denver area and beyond

By Kristen Kuchar

Whether it’s a St. Patrick’s Day celebration or any other day of the year, Irish pubs always seem to offer a warm and welcoming vibe. While there are several must-see Irish pubs in Denver, the following list features Irish pubs across the state that are worth a visit - keeping in mind the Irish proverb that predicts “the truth comes out when the spirits go in.”

Denver metro area Irish pubs

Photo courtesy of Slattery's Pub & Grill

Slattery's Pub & Grill | Greenwood Village
Slattery’s Pub & Grill offers happy hour deals and daily specials, as well as a good location for catching pro sports. Some Irish-inspired dishes include a corned beef hash skillet topped with eggs during brunch, Irish stew, reuben on rye, and fish and chips.

Clancy’s Irish Pub | Wheat Ridge
At Clancy’s Irish Pub, there are plenty of Irish-inspired dishes: corned beef and cabbage spring rolls with a whiskey mustard sauce, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. Pair it with Guinness, Magners Irish Cider on draft or a traditional Irish Coffee with Jameson Whiskey.

The Burns Pub | Broomfield
The Burns Pub was ranked as one of the best whiskey bars in the U.S. with an impressive selection of Irish, American and World whiskeys. If you can’t decide, there are several flights available, including an Irish Single Pot Stills flight, and an Irish Single Malts flight.

Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub | Littleton
Located in downtown Littleton, Ned Kelly’s offers daily happy hour specials and brunch drink specials. They boast a large spirit selection and an array of cocktails, such as the Mountain Mule and the Irish Mule, made with Irish whiskey, ginger beer and lime juice.

Other Irish pubs on the Front Range

Patrick’s Irish Pub | Greeley
Patrick’s Irish Pub in Greeley is a great spot for live music, including Irish session music, open mic nights and karaoke. The menu is a mix of Irish-inspired specialties and American pub food, such as margherita flatbread, BBQ pork or jackfruit sliders and wings.

Jack Quinn's Irish Pub and Restaurant | Colorado Springs
At Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs, imported drafts from Ireland include Harp’s, Smithwicks, Guinness, Kilkenny and Magners. On Sundays, there is Irish session music along with traditional boxty (savory Irish potato pancake), Irish lamb stew and a full Irish breakfast.

The Irish Pub | Fort Collins
The Irish Pub in Fort Collins offers a selection of Irish whiskey available in a single-malt Irish flight. There’s also twists on classic cocktails – an Irish Old Fashion with Irish whiskey and an Irish Cosmo made with Jameson Orange Whiskey. Of course if you feel the Cosmo making your knees tingle, there’s a reuben on the menu to balance things out.

Shamrock Brewing Co. | Pueblo
Shamrock Brewing Co. is both a craft brewery and Irish pub, with their house-made Irish Red and Irish Porter served on tap along with a full food menu. Other rotating brews include Solar Coffee Stout, PAPA Pueblo American Pale Ale and Steel City Golden Ale.

Irish pubs in the mountains and beyond

Photo courtesy of The Goat and Clover Tavern

The Goat and Clover Tavern | Grand Junction
Every Saturday and Sunday at The Goat and Clover Tavern, guests can enjoy a “proper British Isle brunch menu” with corned beef and eggs with hollandaise sauce, Irish cream liqueur- battered French toast with whiskey toffee sauce and a complete English breakfast. Everyday favorites are pot-o-gold potato soup and a Guinness Irish pot pie.

Cala Pub & Restaurant | Dillon
Cala Pub & Restaurant has a large whiskey selection along with beer and wine. Steak and Guinness Pie, lamb sliders, Irish cream bread pudding and an Irish cheese and apple wheel are just a few of the dishes available.

Burke and Riley’s Irish Pub | Breckenridge
Located on Main Street in downtown Breckenridge, Burke and Riley’s Irish Pub has been a frequent stop for the hungry and thirsty for nearly 20 years. In addition to happy hour specials and plenty of Irish beer, they’ve created a twist on traditional nachos: potatoes topped with beer cheddar, cabbage, slow-cooked corned beef, green onions and gravy.

O’Bannon’s Irish Pub | Telluride
O’Bannon’s Irish Pub is a locally-owned hangout in Telluride that opened in 1987 (the same year the Grateful Dead played a few shows in the town park). They have a variety of beer on tap along with bottles and games, such as pinball, pool and foosball.

Kristen Kuchar is a freelance writer covering food, libations, music and other Colorado gatherings.