Irish Food and Pubs in Shanghai

Shanghai has quite a few cool Irish options for those looking for a wild, fun place to hang their leprechaun hat this St.Patrick’s Day. First, you’ll want to check out the staple in the Irish community, O’Malley’s, and then the Dublin Exchange, which is where British people go to feel less guilty about what they call “the Ireland problem.” You’ll also find that although there are not many more options than this for Irish chow, the community is quite big and inviting, and you’ll find that the Irish can make their home anywhere with beer. And Shanghai is a city that knows it’s beer.

O’Malley’s Irish Pub, in the French Concession, is one of the top Irish hang outs for St. Patrick’s Day. However, since the 2010 remodel, the place has lost a bit of it’s traditional Irish charm in favor of a wee bit more class. We’re not sure how that’s faring with the Irish population, but most of the rest of Shanghai seems to be responding positively. Still, we miss the old pirate ship motif.

The Dublin Exchange is another decent Irish option, though most Irishmen wouldn’t actually be caught dead in there. It offers a few of the Irish cliches, like dark wood, tile, Guinness and bangers and mash, Sheppard’s Pie and side dishes all made of potato, but it lacks any authenticity past the name and menu. Still, for a holiday like St. Patrick’s Day you can rest assured the joint will be packed with folks in large green hats, shirts and furry feet chanting to Irish songs they barely know and hoping for a better year full of the “Luck of the Irish.”

A quick search of bars with Guinness or Murphey’s, Jameson or Bushmills will prove helpful when locating actual Irishmen in the city.