Searching for an authentic St. Patrick’s Day experience that doesn’t require a flight into County Cork? It’s as easy as taking a train to the Woodlawn section of the Bronx and crossing the East 238th Street Bridge into Yonkers. The social hub for one of the last Irish enclaves in the New York metropolitan area, McLean Avenue is your destination for a bona fide Irish meal, a pint, a Bono accent, souvenirs, Celtic music, and a soccer match on the big screen.
Get your first taste of the neighborhood over brunch at local favorite Eileen’s Country Kitchen (964 McLean Ave.) or take a seat at the Irish Coffee Shop (948 McLean Ave.) where the specials range from Irish scones to chicken colcannon. If you’d rather just cozy up at the pub of your choice, many establishments on McLean Avenue boast kitchens that inspire devotion. Treat yourself to a traditional Irish breakfast or beef curry at McKeon’s (996 McLean Ave.), ale battered fish and chips at The Heritage (960 McLean Ave.) or the corned beef and cabbage special running at Rory Dolan’s (890 McLean Ave.) this month. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Afternoons are a laid back affair on McLean, with families taking up back booths and televisions broadcasting soccer, horse races and the occasional golf game. For a food, beer and flat screen combo, head to Katie’s Cottage (521 Central Park Ave) for sports games every week. Pull up a stool, order some Guinness or Magners and politely engage the locals. Continue to while away the hours and you’ll witness the crowd surge and brighten with the arrival of DJs, live Celtic or classic-rock infused cover bands and karaoke at nightfall.
Whether you choose to spend St. Patrick’s Day—or any day—on McLean Avenue, it’s an experience worth its weight in leprechaun gold. Just remember to have some cash on you: some of these time-honored establishments won’t accept plastic.
Erin Go Bragh.
Looking for even more ideas for how to spend St. Patrick’s Day? Check out the oM guide on How To Celebrate the Irish in New York: St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond.
How to get to Yonkers from NYC
Take the 2 or 5 trains to Nereid Avenue in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. Walk westward across the East 238th Street Bridge into Yonkers. Nereid Avenue turns into McLean Avenue. Alternatively, Take Metro-North’s Harlem Line train to Woodlawn. Walk westward on E. 233rd Street, and then north on Katonah Avenue until you hit McLean. If you need a car home, speak to your bartender.
Header Photo: Mykl Roventine
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram