Last Updated on March 8, 2016 by Coppersmith

Irish eyes are smiling — when they look at the calendar, anyway. St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17, with the annual South Boston parade following on Sunday, March 20. Inevitable droves are set to descend on the Hub’s historically Irish-American ‘hood, so, we thought it wise to direct your attention to the area’s hottest spots, restaurants and bars. (We’ll continue to update this list with St. Patrick’s Day and parade-related specials as the joints line up their plans.)

COPPERSMITH:  This South Boston newcomer housed inside a former copper foundry is a multi-faceted operation offering something for pretty much every hour of the day. There’s a 350-seat dining room (with two fixed food trucks serving separate menus), coffee bar and cafe to draw daytime java junkies, and a 100-ft. bar, made of reclaimed wood and ship hull, around which craft beer-imbibing night owls perch. Oh, there’s also a ground-level patio and rooftop deck, soon to spring (get it?) back into action. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, the restaurant will open at 7 PM and serve some Irish classics from the food trucks plus themed drink specials. (It will be closed during the day for a private event.) And on Sunday, March 20, Coppersmith will open at 8 AM for a day-long “Parade Kickoff Party” with brunch specials in the cafe (including a “Hangover Special” with corned beef hash), and Guinness cocktails at the bar.

Source: Zagat Boston