MICHAEL RAWSON
SPORTS EDITOR

Of all the Irish-style pubs in San Diego County that do their best to imitate authentic Irish haunts, Hooley’s Pub and Grill comes closest. The all-wood décor really helps create the Irish ambiance. And it isn’t just the decoration that helps you feel like you are in Ireland.

Hooley’s offers a plethora of traditional Irish dishes on their menu like corned beef and cabbage and boxtys (a stuffed potato pancake topped with cheese), but what really makes this place special is their Guinness-infused meals: Guinness onion soup, Guinness BBQ beef, even Guinness ice cream, not to mention pints upon pints of the delicious beer itself. They also have a wide range of beer on tap, from the Irish red Smithwicks, the unfiltered Blue Moon and the all- American Coors Light. Feeling especially festive? Try a Black and Tan (a pint layered with Bass then Guinness) or a Snake Bite (half Guinness and half cider). Beer not your thing? The bar pours over a dozen different types of whisky. Hooley’s offers something for everyone to help them get into the party mood.

On Mondays, Hooley’s runs an all-day happy hour, as well as a nightly late night happy hour with $1 off draught beers, wine and spirits, $2 off appetizers and $3 off all bottles of wine. But the deals don’t end there – stop in for $2 taco Tuesday, $10 Boxtys Wednesdays and all you can eat fish ‘n chips on Sundays. So there is no bad day to stop in for a pint.

Hooley’s seems to cover all its bases in satisfying different types of personalities and taste buds. They also show all major sports events, including soccer, and they offer live music – even a free ride home on nights with big gigs (within a five mile radius, of course – they have to draw the line somewhere).

This St. Patrick’s Day, throw on your greenest of garb or most Irish of outfits and saunter down to one of Hooley’s two locations, Rancho San Diego (2955 Jamacha Rd.) and La Mesa (5500 Grossmont Center Dr.).

Photos courtesy of kokoscornerblog.com and stayclassy.org