Detroit is Officially One of the Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, According to New Study

Photo by RDNE Stock project

Article courtesy of Shuffly.com

• With St. Patrick’s Day approaching on March 17^th, new research has unveiled the best American cities to celebrate Paddy’s weekend.
• According to the data, Detroit, Michigan, is one of the best U.S. cities for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The study found that the city has some of the lowest beer and hotel prices in the nation, making it an ideal destination for a St. Paddy’s weekend getaway. 
• New Orleans, Louisiana, tops the ranking, with Las Vegas following in second place. 

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up on March 17^th, it’s safe to say that many Americans will have started planning their Paddy’s weekend festivities.

In light of this, new research has unveiled the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in 2026.

The shuffleboard manufacturer, Shuffly.com, examined 13 different factors to determine the best cities for a night out.

These factors included the average drink price, the number of bars and hotels in the area, the average taxi cost, and the average bar rating.

Based on these factors, each city was awarded a final score out of 100. The cities with the highest scores were then deemed the best locations to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Detroit’s Findings: 

The data found that Detroit, Michigan, ranks within the top 35 best U.S. cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in, with an overall score of 57.82 out of 100. The data found that the average price for a pint of beer in Detroit is $9.48, which is notably below the national average cost of $10.26.

The city’s bars also have some of the highest customer reviews in the nation. Detroit’s bar selection received an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.27 out of 5, which is notably higher than the national average rating of 3.89.

Detroit is also home to some of the lowest hotel prices in the nation, charging an average of $237.90 for a Friday or Saturday night stay, which is significantly lower than the national average of $293.53, highlighting the city as a hotspot for Paddy’s weekend getaways.

The rest of the study: 

According to the data, New Orleans is crowned the best city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2026. For those looking to take their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations into the early hours, the data found that the city in Louisiana has 96 nightclubs per 100,000 residents, which is over four times the national average of 23 and more than any other U.S. city.

New Orleans is also home to some of the lowest beer prices in the U.S., with an average cost of $9.63 per pint. This is almost 7% cheaper than the national average cost of $10.26 per pint.

For those looking to participate in a St. Paddy’s Day bar crawl around the city, New Orleans has an average bar rating of 4.16 out of 5, which is notably higher than the national average rating of 3.89. Based on these factors, New Orleans received an impressive final score of 73.04 out of 100.

Las Vegas is identified as the second-best city for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in 2026. Known for its party reputation, the city in Nevada received a final score of 72.30 out of 100 in the study. The average price for a pint of beer in Las Vegas is $9.58, which is over 7% cheaper than the national average price of $10.26.

The city has an average of 13 bars per 100,000 residents, which is over three times higher than the national average of 4. This means that there’s a great selection of bars scattered around the city for those looking to celebrate St. Paddy’s weekend.

Bars in Las Vegas also have a high average rating of 4.09 out of 5, which is higher than the national average score of 3.89 out of 5, showcasing the city’s nightlife scene as a favorite among visitors. Home to an average of 78 nightclubs per 100,000 people, Las Vegas’ party scene is a fantastic option for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

With a score of 72.20 out of 100, St. Louis is unveiled as the third-best city for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The city in Missouri is home to 964 restaurants per 100,000 people, a huge 214% higher than the average of 307 across all cities included in the analysis. The average price of a beer in St. Louis is also much lower than average, at $9.32.

The data found that St. Louis is also home to a large selection of nightlife venues, with a total of 13 bars per 100,000 people. This is over three times higher than the national average of just four bars per 100,000 residents and is one of the highest figures in the ranking, showcasing the city as a hotspot for St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls.

Bars in St. Louis also have an average rating of 4.09 out of 5, which is notably higher than the national average rating of 3.89.

The data found that Scottsdale, Arizona, is the fourth-best location to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, with an overall score of 68.78 out of 100. The average restaurant rating in Scottsdale is an impressive 4.26 on Tripadvisor, while the median hotel price is $198.99 for Friday and Saturday night stays. This is 32% less than the national average of $293.53, highlighting the city as a great option for those looking to book a city break for St. Paddy’s weekend.

The top 10 cities in America to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: 

With a final score of 68.72 out of 100, Atlanta, Georgia, is unveiled as the fifth-best city for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. There are 48 hotels per 100,000 residents in this city, compared to the national average of 30. The average price of a hotel in Atlanta on a Friday or Saturday night is $253.06, 14% lower than the average across all cities included in the analysis.

Atlanta is also home to one of the largest restaurant selections in the study, with a total of 942 restaurants per 100,000 residents, which is over three times higher than the national average of 307 restaurants. This showcases Atlanta as a strong option for those looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day alongside a sought-after food and drink selection.

Orlando, Florida, takes the sixth spot in the ranking, with a score of 68.72 out of 100. There are an impressive 942 restaurants per 100,000 residents in Orlando, more than triple the national average of 307. There are also 79 hotels per 100,000 people, over double the U.S. average of 30, which is perfect for those looking to book a St. Paddy’s weekend getaway.

The data reveals that Orlando is also home to an average of 13 bars per 100,000 residents, which is three times higher than the national average of four, showcasing the city as a great spot for those looking to get involved with a St. Patrick’s Day celebratory bar crawl.

San Francisco, California, takes seventh place, with a final score of 67.50 out of 100. The city has 79 nightclubs per 100,000 people, 243% higher than the national average, making the city a great option for late-night St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. San Francisco also has an impressive public transport performance score of 9.3 out of 10, the second highest in the U.S.

Miami, Florida, is identified as the eighth-best city for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, with an overall score of 67.49 out of 100. The data found that bars in Miami are a favorite among visitors, with an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.24 out of 5, which is notably higher than the U.S. average of 3.89. Taxis in the city also have an average cost of $1.30 per kilometer, the fifth lowest nationally, making Miami a great option for those looking to spend St. Paddy’s weekend barhopping across the city.

Portland, Oregon, takes the ninth spot in the ranking, with a score of 65.96 out of 100. Portland’s restaurants have an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.27 out of 5, while its hotels have an average rating of 8.05 out of ten, both significantly higher than the average in the U.S.

The data reveals that Portland is also home to a sought-after bar selection, averaging a total of 12 bars per 100,000 residents. The city’s bars also have an average Tripadvisor score of 4.14, showcasing the city as a popular nightlife destination.

Salt Lake City, Utah, rounds out the top ten, with an overall score of 64.81 out of 100. A beer in this city costs roughly $9.82, notably lower than the national average of $10.26. The average cost of a taxi here is $1.43 per kilometer, which is one of the lowest figures in the ranking, making Salt Lake City a fantastic option for a St. Paddy’s weekend bar crawl.

Other great locations for a St. Patrick’s Day night out include Minneapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, and Austin, Texas.

Surprisingly, New York City is identified among some of the worst locations for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, despite being home to a popular selection of Irish pubs and the infamous St. Patrick’s Day parade.

New York City’s low rating is mainly due to the city’s high prices, with an average beer costing $10.36, which is one of the highest prices in the study.

Meanwhile, enjoying a glass of wine in the city can set visitors back by an average of $13.73, which is the highest figure in the ranking. Hotels in New York City also charge a staggering average of $646.83 for Friday or Saturday night stays, which is over double the national average cost of $293.53.

Micky Verhaeg, the CEO and Founder of Shuffly.com, commented on the study:

“With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, it can be difficult to choose the right city to celebrate in. This study highlights the importance of considering various factors when choosing the best location for a night out on St. Paddy’s weekend.

“This research highlights that it’s not always about which cities have the highest number of St. Patrick’s Day events, but which ones offer the most reasonable and affordable options to ensure that you really get the most out of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“This study highlights how St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are no longer about spending the night in one Irish pub but are actually shifting toward bigger celebrations. Instead of people just opting for a traditional night out on St. Patrick’s Day itself, we’re seeing a rising trend in people choosing to turn the celebration into longer weekend getaways. This is where affordability really makes an impact when it comes to choosing a city break destination.

“The demand for more interactive bar experiences is also becoming increasingly popular in connection with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. People are wanting to immerse themselves in social activities while on a night out, particularly when it comes to participating in a group game like shuffleboard or darts.

“As bar crawls continue to rise in popularity, social games are becoming just as much a part of St. Patrick’s Day traditions as the pints of Guinness themselves.”

Methodology:

• The study examined 13 different factors to determine the ranking, which can be found below.
• The raw data for each factor was cleaned, checked, and standardized on the same scale from 0 to 10, where 0 and 10 represent the worst and best values present in the data, to allow for accurate comparison between factors.
• Based on these factors, each city was then awarded a score out of 100. The cities with the highest scores represent the best locations for a night out.
• Please note that only cities with a population of at least 200,000 were included in the study.

Factors and sources: 

The complete ranking: