Irish Pubs and Restaurants on Long Island

Celtic pride swells year-round in Long Island’s Irish pubs and restaurants. The best serve a long list of traditional dishes (think shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash) and have traditional music sessions, even bagpipes and tap dancers in March. Although neighborhood venues abound, these kinds of festivities are worth visiting. Here are some best bets for celebrating the holidays in a lively atmosphere:

Monaghan’s Bar and Restaurant

48 North Village Avenue, Rockville Center

Warm and funky, Monaghan’s is an Irish restaurant located in the heart of Rockville Centre, one of Long Island’s most Hibernian communities. Owned by the Gunn family from Monaghan, a town equidistant from Dublin and Derry, it serves traditional, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, including favorites such as shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and ‘Dublin Broil’ ( flank steak with mushroom sauce). More info: 516-764-6372, monaghansrvc.com

The Irish poet

1891 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh

Mike McNiff, who grew up in Castlerea, in the west of Ireland, opened the Irish Poet in 2021 with two friends, both former colleagues at the Wantagh Inn. Besides a delicious Irish Dip sandwich, which ditches the roast beef for the corned but leaves the demi-glace cup intact, there are spring rolls filled with pastrami, sauerkraut and shepherd’s pie. Reservations suggested for March 17, which coincides with Wantagh’s St. Patrick’s Day which starts at 2pm this year. More information: 516-588-1891, irishpoetny.com

Belfast Gastro Pub

101 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst

Owner Dave Crowe is considered Long Island’s pooh-bah Irish pub, having opened five Flanagan’s here since 1987 (Lily and others). Crowe was born in a room upstairs above his father’s house in Limerick. As such, he knows what ads can mean and what we stand to lose without them. “When I was young, the pub was the center of the village,” he says. “There was no bowling, it was all around the pubs.” Perched right in the center of the village, Belfast has a lively bar scene with separate dining areas for those who want to enjoy hearty traditional dishes, from corned beef and cabbage to a full Irish breakfast. More information: 631-237-7021, belfastgastropub.com

Buckley Irish Pub

386, rue Main, Center Moriches

With its etched glasses, dark wood, cozy booths and regular live music, Buckley’s hits all the classic Gaelic notes. The extensive menu offers many Irish selections: cream of potato soup, fish and chips, shepherd’s and chicken pies and even an “Irish” style chicken curry. Try coming on Sunday for brunch featuring a real Irish breakfast of eggs, toast, baked beans, tomatoes and three traditional sausages: bangers, black pudding and white pudding. Most customers gravitate toward the bar, where partner Jason Sheridan often serves Guinness. More information: 631-909-8330, Buckleyspub.com

Kitty Mulligan

615 E. Main St., Bay Shore

Dublin native Steve Bermingham named his Irish pub after his grandmother, Kitty, whose black-and-white photo takes pride of place at the bar. “She had 32 grandchildren but remembered each of their birthdays in her head, and it always felt like she knew you. It’s a gift, I think, to be able to know and welcome everyone,” Bermingham said. Barn doors separate the bar from the Trinity Room, a cozy annex that is equally comfortable for hosting speed-dating events, 80s cover bands, televised rugby matches, fierce darts tournaments and other entertainment. St. Patrick’s Day will feature acoustic Irish music starting at 3 p.m. More information: 631-315-3571, kittymulligans.com

Lily Flanagan’s Irish Pub

345 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon

There is always a constant crowd enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of this historic venue, divided into two parts: dining and dancing. If you’re here to eat, try the shepherd’s pie, homemade potato soup, Reuben, corned beef sandwich or their selection of burgers. Live music and entertainment sometimes feature traditional Irish singers, tap dancers and bagpipe players. More information: 631-539-0816, lilyflanaganspub.com

Carney Irish Pub

136 Broadway, Amityville

This family-friendly restaurant offers plenty of space for groups and an eclectic menu ranging from corned beef and cabbage to Irish spring rolls and chicken curry. There’s also shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. A traditional Irish breakfast is a must on March 17 (but still available). Dinner reservations are recommended for preferred party seating. More information: 631-464-4445, carneysamityvillage.com

Irish coffee

131 Carleton Avenue, East Islip

A stylish restaurant that has hosted many wedding parties or baby showers over the decades, Irish Coffee Pub offers traditional Irish cuisine as well as a variety of other menu items. Shepherd’s Pie features beef and fresh vegetables cooked in earthenware dishes and topped with whipped potatoes, while Fitzpatrick’s Black Angus Steak is flambéed in brandy and topped with a brown mushroom gravy. Fish and chips are also an Irish specialty at this pub-style bar. There are 10 lines of draft beer, including Guinness. More information: 631-277-0007, irishcoffeepub.com

Pub Flanagan

451 Hawkins Avenue, Ronkonkoma

Family-owned and operated, this is an authentic Irish gastropub with a double-sided fireplace for a warm and cozy atmosphere. His take on traditional Irish cuisine includes an Irish dream roll, Flanagan’s corned beef sandwich, fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. Live music abounds, sometimes traditional Irish. More information: 631-588-9843, flanaganspub.net

Paddy’s Loft

1286 Hicksville Road, Massapequa

There’s a lively bar and fireplace in the dining room (and one in the pub) at Paddy’s Loft. The restaurant serves beef stew with boiled root vegetables and new red potatoes, bangers and mash, Irish spring rolls with corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, egg pie chicken or shepherd’s pie. More information: 516-798-7660, paddysloft.com

Irish Pub

975B Main Street, Holbrook

This family-friendly pub is also a late-night destination with 15 beers on tap and 70 seats. On the menu: burgers, wraps and sandwiches as well as a special menu throughout the month of March including Reuben Egg Rolls, Guinness Irish Stew and other Irish favorites. More information: 631-467-4330, irishtimespubny.com

that of Mary Caroll

121 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon

Purebred Irishman Conor Hartnett’s gigantic beer garden has grown over two decades to become a major draw on Babylon’s top attraction for its long list of projects, outdoor seating and dancing nocturnal. Although the food draws on Irish tradition, it’s part of the spirit here: there’s Guinness and beef pie among crowd-pleasing burgers and apps. More information: 631-587-6181, marycarrolls.co

Meehan of Huntington

371 New York Avenue, Huntington

Spacious and stylish, this pub offers 20 beers on tap, a friendly team and knowledgeable kitchen staff. Favorites include Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage. There are also two rooms that you can rent for private parties. More information: 631-351-0831, meehansrestaurant.com