St. Patrick’s Day is not only a religious holiday; for Savannahians and tourists alike, it’s one of the most hallowed party days (or weeks) of the year. Unless you have the luck of the Irish, you’ll probably want to do some pre-party planning. South magazine has you covered with our guide to the best places to Play on St. Patrick’s Day!

For the truly authentic St. Paddy’s experience, head to Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub on River Street. This Savannah classic has been serving up traditional Irish fare and live Irish music for almost 30 years! This year they have a great lineup of musicians for the whole week, featuring Irish folk musicians Carroll Brown, Frank Emerson, and Harry O’Donoghue.

Murphy’s Law, located at Congress and Montgomery, is another authentic Irish pub and just happens to be the home bar of the Savannah Shamrocks rugby team. Their St. Patrick’s Day rugby tournament over the weekend hosted over 80 teams from all over the world, and Rugby Magazine has listed them as one of the top rugby bars in America.

Molly MacPherson’s is technically Scottish, but for a pub this great, they can be honorary Irish. With over 100 varieties of single malt whiskey, you’ll feel like you found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. For St. Paddy’s, they’ll be serving up a variety of Irish-themed drinks, from the Shamrocker to the Pot o’ Gold shot, and of course Molly’s Car Bomb and Irish Coffee. Conveniently located on Congress Street, Molly’s is a must for any serious bar-hopper, and a mere block and a half away, you’ll find the Rail Pub, a local favorite with a rowdy, good-natured crowd.

Circa 1875, located at Whitaker and Congress Streets, is a great place for a relaxing drink in a sophisticated, vintage style lounge. This gastro pub features a boutique wine list, hand-crafted martinis, and French-inspired pub grub. Right across the street, you’ll find local favorite Hang Fire. Housed in what used to be a shady strip club, the space has been transformed into a wood-paneled haven for enjoying a drink with friends and strangers alike. Got the munchies? Sweet Melissa’s is right around the corner, offering piping hot pizza to hungry bar patrons late into the night.

A little farther south, but well worth the trek, you’ll find The Distillery. This pub has an awesome selection of craft beers, as well as delicious pub food. They even have a starving artist menu, so you can get a bite to eat and still afford another round. They’re running some great drink specials all week in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, like $3 McSorley’s Black Lagers, $5 Car Bombs, $4 Jameson or Kellan Irish Whiskey shots, and $4 Black and Tans.

Like every year, River Street will be party central. Remember, to drink outside on River Street, you must purchase a $5 wrist band. Revelers caught without one may receive a $90 fine. With 200,000 visitors flooding into the city for the celebration, parking will be hard to come by. Fortunately, the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center will open its parking lot from 7am to 3pm on Wednesday. The $10 parking fee includes a round trip on the water ferry, which will run until midnight.

After all that partying, don’t end up in the paddy wagon! Make sure to have a designated driver, or call Yellow Cab at 912.236.1133.

Photo Courtesy of The Savannah Shamrocks