Study Ranks Best U.S. Cities for a St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl
A new study from Upgraded Points has revealed the best cities in the U.S. for a St. Patrick's Day pub crawl. The analysis ranked cities based on the density of Irish pubs, walkability between bars, and the average cost of a drink.
Boston's top ranking is anchored by a dense concentration of bars, with 17.3 per square mile, which is 233% higher than the study's average. The city also boasts a significant Irish heritage, with 20.5% of its residents claiming Irish ancestry, more than double the average of the cities surveyed. This deep cultural root is reflected in the 1.4 Irish pubs available for every 100,000 people. Providence, Rhode Island, secured the second spot with the highest density of Irish pubs in the nation at 1.8 per 100,000 residents. The city's compact nature is a major advantage for pub crawlers, offering 19.4 bars per square mile, making for exceptionally walkable routes. Furthermore, Providence's pubs are highly rated, averaging 4.49 stars, and the city's crime rate is 53% lower than the study's average. Following closely is Hartford, Connecticut, which stands out for its live music scene. The city has the most pubs with live music per capita of any city in the study, with 2.4 per 100,000 residents. Hartford also features a high concentration of bars, with 12.4 per square mile, and double the average number of Irish pubs per capita. The study's methodology evaluated the 50 largest U.S. cities based on 14 weighted factors. These were grouped into two main categories: "crawl logistics," which included bar density, walkability, and transit access, and "crawl vibes," which considered the number of Irish pubs, average pub ratings, and local Irish heritage. Beyond the top three, the Northeast and Midwest dominate the rankings. Cities like Buffalo, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh all scored high marks, demonstrating a regional strength in the key factors that make for a successful St. Patrick's Day pub crawl. Other high-ranking cities include Philadelphia, which has the second-highest percentage of residents with Irish ancestry after Boston (17.6%), and Chicago, which leverages its strong public transportation system to connect its 0.8 Irish pubs per 100,000 people. Milwaukee's primary advantage is the sheer volume of options, with 38.9 bars per 100,000 residents, the most in the study. Meanwhile, Cincinnati made the top ten by offering a budget-friendly crawl, with the average price of an imported beer at $6 and a domestic beer at $4.75.
