Boston's Best Bars For Celebrating St. Patrick's Day!

- By Colleen MescallDid you know that Boston is said to be where the American St. Patrick's Day started? Did you know that about 13 million pints of Guinness are served around the world on March 17th? Beware: Did you know that many people who wear the ever-popular "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" pins are actually not Irish? (How dare they!)Now onto the most important question...out of all the Irish bars in Boston, which is the best spot to pick for your St. Patrick's Day celebration? Here are some suggestions that cover Boston, Davis Square, Dorchester and Harvard Square. Whether you're Irish year-round, or just one special day of the year – we've got something for everyone. Erin go bragh!

Read: More of Boston's Best St. Patrick's Day Party Spots

The Black Rose is set right in the heart of Boston, and without being able to take a trip over to Ireland, this is truly as authentic as it gets. How can you tell? Well, one – you'll be greeted by a staff member with a real brogue. Two – you can enjoy your perfectly poured Guinness with their signature (and delicious) corned beef, and three – you can bet your Lucky Charms that they'll have the best live Irish music around.

Insider Tip: they've also been known to hand out free Irish breakfasts on March 17th.

Hours: Daily 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

If you're looking for a rowdier time in Boston – McGreevy's is your spot. Located in the heart of the Back Bay and 'home' to the Dropkick Murphy's, this sports bar means business on St. Patrick's Day. Their history dates all the way back to 1894, and they say they host the "Best St. Patrick's Day parties in Boston"…we're thinking this year might be the year to see if that's true.

Looking for a Somerville spot to celebrate St. Paddy? We're thinking The Burren in Davis Square. With traditional Irish music offered seven nights a week, Guinness and Magners Irish Cider on tap, fish n' chips on the menu, a cozy atmosphere, and Irish accents galore…how can you go wrong? Sláinte!

If you're south of Boston but don't necessarily want to venture into the Southie craziness, give The Banshee in Dorchester a try for a dose of "Irish Boston". They're the number one spot in the area where you can enjoy watching European sports on one of the many flat screens, including Gaelic football and hurling (two amazing Irish sports) – not to mention the traditional Irish folk music they feature and the mean Irish breakfast they serve. We have to say, we trust them for our celebration!

Hours: Sun - Weds open until 12a.m. Thurs - Sat open until 1 a.m.Boston has the traditional St. Patrick's Day parade, step dancers all over the place, and a long-standing Irish history in general. Want to mix traditional with modern this year? Grafton Street in Harvard Square is a classy pub who can do just that. They boast that they're "anything but your typical Irish bar", and that's fine by us. Around since 1996, this spot is named after the lively shopping district in the Temple Bar area of Dublin – they'll give you the traditional Irish hospitality mixed with a contemporary menu and chic décor.Colleen Mescall is the Promotions Manager for a website in the Boston area and holds a special place in her heart for the Celtics. She writes about her love of all things New England over at her blog, the daily craic (catch her on Twitter @thedailycraic).