6 St. Patrick's Day Restaurant Promotions for 2024

/ Holiday, Restaurant Tips / February 15

Glittery Shamrock Ornament- St. Patrick's Day Restaurant Promotions & Menu Ideas

Mid-March is nearly here, so it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at your bar or restaurant. Many people will be looking for a night out on the town, so it’s a great opportunity to bring in both new and returning customers. If you’re searching for ideas on how to make the most of the holiday, these 6 St. Patrick’s Day restaurant promotions will help make it a great night for both you and your guests.

Host an Irish Trivia Night

Having a trivia night is a great way to get your guests in the St. Paddy’s Day spirit, and a fun promotion to run so you can get those seats filled. You can have your trivia night the weekend before the holiday, or on the day itself, and ask questions about Ireland, Irish folklore, Irish music or a combination of all three.

For your winners, award festive prizes and vouchers to your restaurant, with the grand prize being the elusive pot of gold full of goodies. Trivia night is going to lead to a lot of laughs and smiles, so remember to take photos and videos and upload them to social media so you can advertise your business for free.  

Bring in Live Music

Live traditional (or trad) music is a huge part of Irish culture, so booking a local band for St. Patrick’s Day will not only help authenticity, but also get your guests in the festive spirit. If you live in an area where you can book an Irish trad music group to play, that’ll make the day even more authentic; if you cannot locate such a band, Irish rock or general rock music will be just as fun. For an added touch, try locating a bagpipe player for that extra Celtic flare. 

Offer Your Customers Perks for Wearing Green

Wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is a must, so why not reward your clientele for doing so? Offering your green-clad patrons a small discount or free drink encourages others to join in on the fun and will certainly garner a lot of attention. 

Prior to St. Patrick’s Day, promote this deal on your social media channels and in your email campaigns, set the rules for your customers to follow in order to receive this special (i.e. wear head-to-toe green or wear seven shamrocks, etc.) and then wait for the green invasion! 

Whatever discount or offer you promote, make sure it’s within your means, as you’ll more than likely have a large crowd of customers wearing green for the day. 

Serve a Special St. Patrick’s Day Menu

There’s nothing better than having some hearty Irish cuisine on St. Patrick’s Day, so why not serve some up to your customers? Curate a special St. Paddy’s Day menu for the day, the entire week or even the full month of March. From corned beef and cabbage to soda bread, traditional Irish foods are sure to draw people to your restaurant.

The holiday is just as much about the food as it is the drinks, so don’t forget about your St. Patrick’s Day drink menu. Although Guinness and apple cider are full of old-fashioned flavors, other festive drinks like green beer or even mint milkshakes would be fun additions to your restaurant or bar’s offerings as well.

Leprechaun Costume Contest

What’s St. Patrick’s Day without a visit from a leprechaun? This is a great event to host at any bar or restaurant, as it can be adapted for any age group. Advertise the leprechaun costume contest on social media and in email campaigns, and hold the event on the day or during St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

You can break down prizes by Most Creative, Funniest, Best-in-Show and so on. The grand prize winner can win, what else, but a pot of gold! You can also include vouchers or gift cards to your restaurant for prizes, and you can even team up with other local businesses to include donated prizes and vouchers.

Create an Irish Whiskey Flight Experience

Perfect for restaurants or bars that carry a wide variety of Irish whiskeys, offering a whiskey flight during St. Patrick’s Day gives guests a taste of the Emerald Isle. This is also a great way to get customers to try your stock of whiskeys or to showcase the breadth of your whiskey selection. 

If you want to make things fun, you can serve the whiskey tastings on a green board, categorize them by what county in Ireland they hail from or go by distillation. For an added bonus, serve a whiskey flight in a package deal as a fun promotion that’ll include a traditional Irish dinner from your limited edition St. Patrick’s Day menu. 

No matter what type of promotion you set up this St. Patrick’s Day, make sure you encourage your customers to get home safe either with a designated driver, a cab service or a ride sharing service.


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