VIEW THIS PAGE Get out your green outfits — St Patrick’s Day arrives on Tuesday. While legend has it that St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity, revelers in Taipei will find another symbolic trio to mark the celebration: Guinness, Jameson and Bailey’s at their local pub and at reduced prices.
But before rushing off to the usual nightspots, consider a relatively quiet day and a view at Donovan’s Coffee (2F, 10-1, Ln 56, Gongming St, Tamsui Township, Taipei County (台北縣淡水鎮公明街56巷10之1號2樓), www.donovans.com.tw, (02) 2625-6234), located a five-minute walk from Danshui MRT Station (淡水捷運站). This second floor cafe and restaurant, run by Irish expatriate Tim Donovan, has a small balcony overlooking the harbor and Guanyin Mountain (觀音山) — a perfect setting to try one of the house specialties, Irish coffee (NT$110). Tall cans of Guinness normally go for NT$190; on Tuesday, there’s a 15-percent discount on all alcohol and food. Donovan says he will also be there to chat about the story of St Patrick and offer free Gaelic lessons to anyone who’s interested.
Back in town, the parties start tomorrow. Sports bar Tavern Premier (415, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段415號), www.tavern.com.tw, (02) 8780-0892) is throwing its “St Patrick’s Madness” party tomorrow and Saturday, with NT$99 specials on pints of Guinness from 8pm to 9pm, and various cocktails for NT$99 from 10pm to 11pm. On Tuesday, there will be an Irish buffet for NT$299, which includes dishes like Irish lamb stew and fried fish. Purchasing a buffet dinner allows you two pints of Guinness for NT$99 each.
Get your jig on at the Brass Monkey (3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓), www.brassmonkeytaipei.com, (02) 2547-5050), which is holding an Irish dancing contest tomorrow at 9pm followed by a party hosted by the Taiwan Celts, an expatriate Gaelic football team. Guinness pints are NT$199 for all of this month. For tomorrow’s party, receive a free “green” shot (Bailey’s and creme de menthe) by either wearing green underwear, providing proof of Irish nationality, wielding an Irish flag, sporting green hair, or proving it’s your birthday.
Free beer, who can resist? The Cosmopolitan Grill (218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號), www.cosmo.com.tw, (02) 2508-0304) thinks you can’t. From tomorrow until Tuesday, wear green clothing or green make-up or carry an Irish flag to get one free bottle of Miller Chill beer. If that’s not Irish enough for you, then go for tall cans of Guinness for NT$100, Jameson whiskey for NT$90 and Bailey’s for NT$75.
Free Guinness, need we say more? Carnegie’s (100, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段100號), www.carnegies.net, (02) 2325-4433) follows its own St Patrick’s Day tradition of offering free Guinness pints, from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday. The rest of the day pints will cost NT$150. Other drink specials include Bailey’s and Jameson’s shots for NT$99 all day, while lunch and dinner menus offer corned beef and cabbage (NT$360) and lamb stew (NT$390).
For those who want an authentic Irish pub experience but can do without the crowds, Hell’s Kitchen (1, Civil Blvd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市市民大道五段1號), (02) 2748-6407) may be the ticket. One of the proprietors, Irishman Niall Clinton, says he and his partners are trying to run their latest establishment “more like an Irish bar,” by adorning their smallish space with “Irish bits and pieces.”
If Hell’s Kitchen remains anything like Clinton’s previous ventures at Spaceman or On Tap, expect to celebrate until the wee hours of the morning.
And it’s one of the nicer deals in town: tomorrow, Saturday and Tuesday, the bar offers Guinness pints for NT$150 from 8pm to midnight, and Jameson and Baileys for NT$50 each, all night.
Leave your vehicles at home when celebrating, and let taxis and public transport be your chariots. Happy jigging. VIEW THIS PAGE
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