Data

Which city goes the most Irish on St. Paddy’s Day?

Sarah Conlisk - Mar 11, 2024

Lyft riders know: It’s easy to stay home, but it’s more fun to experience the world with friends and family. Rev uses aggregated rideshare data to find the restaurants, bars, and other destinations that Lyft customers love — and inspire your next trip out.

Ah, St. Paddy’s, a day to wear green, find the good craic, and, as per tradition, drink. (Only if you are over the age of 21 and have a ride home, of course.) It’s also a great day for rideshare. In fact, March 17 was the most popular day last spring, with Lyft rides 23% higher than usual. 

It’s no surprise that Boston goes hard on St. Patrick’s Day — it named its NBA team the Celtics, after all. But Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco are also among the “most Irish cities in America” and take their celebrations seriously. Which city goes the most Irish on St. Patrick’s Day? 

#1 Percentage of change in rides: Chicago

Sorry, Beantown. According to Lyft data, Chicagoans are the most active on St. Paddy’s, taking 16.4% more Lyft rides than normal.

Percentage of change in rides on St. Paddy’s Day last year, by city, relative to other Fridays in the first half of 2023.

#2 Percentage of change in rides to bars: Boston

But when it comes to the St. Patrick’s tradition of getting scuttered (i.e., drunk), Bostonians truly shine. They took 58.5% more Lyft rides to bars on St. Paddy’s Day last year than average. The most popular spot? The Black Rose, nicknamed the “Fenway Park of Irish pubs,” offers up pints of Guinness beer and Irish music every night of the week, all year long. Other bars that saw a big St. Paddy’s bump in rideshare include Mayes Oyster House (San Francisco), Chief O’Neils (Chicago), Mcgillin’s Olde Ale House (Philadelphia), and Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar (New York).

Percentage of change in rides to/from bars on St. Paddy’s Day last year, by city, relative to other Fridays in the first half of 2023.

#3 Percentage of change in rides to “Irish” places: San Francisco

The hangover-averse may skip the pubs and instead visit places that offer traditional Irish food and culture. San Franciscans, in particular, were 1,066% more likely to take Lyft rides to destinations with “Irish” in the name — most notably ​​Kells Irish Restaurant and Bar and the United Irish Cultural Center, which hosts a day-long celebration featuring Celtic jazz and a corned beef supper.

Percentage of change in rides to/from destinations with “Irish” in their name on St. Paddy’s Day last year, by city, relative to other Fridays in the first half of 2023.

#4 Percentage of change in rides tipped: Boston

But perhaps the most Irish thing you can do on St. Paddy’s Day is to spread a little luck to those around you. And indeed, while all five cities tipped more than usual on March 17, Boston drivers were the luckiest of all, receiving 7.8% more tips than usual.

Percentage of change in share of drivers tipped on St. Paddy’s Day last year, by city, relative to other Fridays in the first half of 2023.