Seeing Green in 2025: Restaurant Guide to a Profitable St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just a celebration of Irish culture; it's also a golden opportunity for restaurants to cash in on the festivities. With the right planning, eateries can tap into the holiday’s excitement by offering special menus, themed drinks, and unique experiences that draw in crowds eager to celebrate. 

But, it takes more than luck to see green on St. Patrick’s Day. And with just two weeks until the holiday, now is the time to start devising a strategy to reach that pot-’o-gold. 

Stats to Consider

• Total US consumer spending on St. Patrick's Day is about $4.4 billion

• Average spend per person: $35

• About half of all Americans plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 

• Irish Americans make up about 10% of the US population.

• 20% plan to attend a private party

• 29% plan to go to a bar or restaurant

• Most Irish-Americans live in the northeast.

• 29% of Americans go to bars and restaurants. 

• Spending on St Patrick’s Day is estimated to be $43.84 per person.

• Men spend $10 more than women on St. Patrick’s Day festivities.  

Fun Fact: Alcohol sales were banned in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day from 1927 to 1961 due to the religious significance of the day However, in 1961, the ban was lifted, and alcohol sales were allowed again on St. Patrick’s Day, likely because of changing social attitudes, both in Ireland and around the world.

10 Ways to Cash in on St. Patrick’s Day Gold

St. Patrick’s Day is all fun and games – literally! Hosting a competition or tournament with Irish themes will make winners feel as lucky as a leprechaun.

1. Four Leaf Clover Hunt

According to Irish lore, four leaf clovers are incredibly lucky. Bring a little of that good fortune to your St. Patrick’s Day promotions with a four leaf clover hunt. Keep things simple by taping a paper clover to the bottom of one of your bar stools. The guest sitting in the lucky seat gets a free drink, appetizer or dessert.

2. Pot 'o Gold Trivia

Test your patrons’ knowledge with trivia-themed St. Patrick’s Day promotions. Hold your own live trivia event and offer a “pot-of-gold” gift card to the winner.

3. Gold Hunt

Host a seek 'n find competition involving chocolate gold coins hidden all around the restaurant, with the customer with the most coins winning a free dinner for two. Announce a start and finish time on social media, letting customers know that the winner must be present to win to encourage guests to stay longer.

4. Gold Coin Toss

For this game, you’ll need plastic gold coins and a few leprechaun pots. Divide groups of guests into teams and have them throw coins into a pot. For every successful toss, a player gets a point. The team with the most points gets a round of free green beer.

5. Irish Dancing

Hire an Irish dance instructor to teach your guests some basic moves and throw an Irish dancing competition.  Not only will participants enjoy the experience, but it’s a great opportunity to offer other guests some free and funny entertainment.

6. Pet Parade

Host a "Leprechaun Pet Parade," inviting guests to bring their pets dressed in St. Patrick's Day-themed costumes. Offer prizes for the cutest and most original costume.

7. Temprary Tattoo Station 

Set up a temporary tattoo station offering festive designs like shamrocks, rainbows, or pots of gold.

8. Green Initiatives 

Combine St. Patrick's Day with eco-friendly fun by hi=osting  a “Green Event” where customers can bring in recyclables and exchange them for a discount or small freebie.

9. Irish Brunch

Before guests begin a long day of drinking, they’ll need a big breakfast. Offer an Irish spin on some of your popular brunch items that will leave them full and ready for the events to follow. Recreate some of your restaurant’s most well-loved breakfast items.

• Green eggs and ham. A simple yet ever-so-popular super popular dish, green eggs and ham are a delicious and Instagram-worthy dish.  

• Irish Eggs Benedicts: Eggs Benedict is a popular brunch dish and can easily be adapted for your St. Patrick’s Day promotions by replacing ham with corn beef and hash.  

• Loaded Irish Breakfast Bowl: Add an Irish touch to your regular breakfast bowl by adding some Irish gravy, sausage and potatoes.

• Shepherd’s pie: A mix of ground meat, potato, and vegetables baked into a bready crust.  

10. Pour on the Green

It’s tradition to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day for good luck, but why not dress up your drinks too?  Here are a few St. Patrick’s Day-inspired spirits to help you rake in the green. 

• Green Beer: Go with the flow and include green beer and pints of Guinness on your menu.

• Green Drink Specials: Don’t let beer steal all the glory! For your cocktail lovers, offer a variety of festive mixed drinks.

  • Midori Sours

  • Sour Apple Green  Martinis

  • Green Margaritas

  • Grasshoppers

• Green-Themed Mocktails: Sober customers will appreciate a non-alcoholic cocktail menu.

  • Shamrock Shake

  • Limeade Fizz

  • Green Smoothie

  • Green Punch

Take Away

St. Patrick’s Day presents a prime opportunity for restaurants to boost profits, engage with guests, and generate excitement for the spring season ahead. By embracing the festive spirit with special menus, drink specials, and themed-events, restaurants can attract both regulars and new faces looking to celebrate.

With the right combination of humor, creativity, and marketing savvy, St. Patrick’s Day can not only be a day to bring in lots of green, but it can help your restaurant become the go-to spot for holidays to come.

By Eileen Strauss