Top five bars and restaurants for Irish craic on St Patrick's Day

The main St Patrick’s Day celebrations pass in a flurry of lurid green felt hats, temporary shamrock tattoos and many, many pints of Guinness. But if you’re hoping to celebrate Ireland’s national day with a touch more sophistication, look to London’s Irish-owned restaurants or visit our suggestions for the pubs serving the best stout in town.

The Auld Shillelagh, Stoke Newington

This award-winning North London take on an old-school Irish bar is perfect for acting the maggot and enjoying the craic. Hospitable Roscommon expat staff have been serving pints of well-kept, properly poured black stuff for over 20 years.

Corrigan’s Mayfair (pictured, right)

Larger-than-life chef Richard Corrigan is perhaps London’s best-known Irish export. His much-loved eponymous restaurant serves pitch-perfect plates in comfortable but unstuffy surroundings – and while the dishes themselves aren’t Irish, the soda bread alone is worth a visit. For St Patrick's Day, the restaurant is offering diners a three-course à la carte lunch plus a glass of bubbly upon arrival for £45.

Porterhouse, Covent Garden

This Irish-owned bar brews its own beer and stout and supplements the fruits of its labour with a worldwide selection of top-class imports. Its Covent Garden location and lively atmosphere might mean that things turn rowdy around the big Irish festivals, but it’s worth a visit at quieter periods for a pint of the black stuff.

The Rake, London Bridge (pictured, left)

A 200-strong selection of niche ales (including stout), as well as knowledgeable staff and a location next to one of the city’s best food markets make The Rake the perfect place for a pint and a quick bite to eat. Head down to this out-of-the-way one-off for pure St Patrick’s perfection.

Tipperary, Fleet Street

It’s reckoned that this authentic Irish boozer was the first outside the Emerald Isle. Pop in for pints of well-known real ales, big-name lagers and Guinness (naturally).