Top places to watch the Chicago River green scene for St. Patrick's Day

Flatwater, nestled river-level on Clark Street, offers one of the best views of the river turning green in the city.  Stop in and take advantage of their extensive brunch menu, which includes Brioche French Toast and Spanish Omelettes.Flatwater321 N Clark St (river level)Chicago, IL(312) 644-0283Great Street Restaurant, located within the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, is a contemporary restaurant that overlooks the river.  Step in for an Irish-focused lunch menu that will include classics such as Chef Joe's Ultimate Reuben and Lamb Shepherd's Pie, the perfect entrees to wash down with a hand-crafted Irish Fig Cocktail or a Guinness Cupcake.Great Street1 West Wacker DriveChicago, Illinois 60601312-795-3333On Saturday, March 16, watch the Chicago River turn green in style at Cityscape Bar while enjoying beautiful views of the skyline. After the famous Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade, guests will enjoy a special Irish dance performance by the Sheila Tully Dancers.Cityscape Bar will offer special St. Patrick's Day cocktails and Guinness drafts all day as well as complimentary appetizers like mini corned beef sandwiches, Guinness BBQ wings and vegetable crudite from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Guinness drafts and classic Irish Coffees are available for $7 each. Cocktails are $8 each and include the following:Green Dublin Apple Martini - Jameson Irish Whiskey, Sour Apple Pucker, white cranberry juice and green apple sliceIrish Tea Party Cocktail - Jameson Irish Whiskey, sweet green tea, Pernod Absinthe and lime juiceSkyy Shamrock Smoothie - Skyy Vodka, Midori Melon, Triple Sec, lime juice and limeCityscape Bar350 W Mart Center Dr Chicago, IL 60654(312) 836-5000View the list »
On Saturday, March 16th, Bridge Bar, at 315 North LaSalle along the Chicago River, invites you to the fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day bash, “Dye One On.” Celebrate the Chicago tradition of dying the river green with friends and refreshments on Bridge Bar’s open-air riverfront veranda.From 9-11am, Bridge Bar will feature a ticketed breakfast buffet overlooking the Chicago River for $30/person. Executive Chef Kevin Schulz is whipping up gourmet scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, corned beef hash, Potatoes O'Brien, baked beans and buttermilk biscuits. The package includes two complimentary drinks to kick-off the day’s libations. Choose from Green Beer ($4), Guinness ($6), Bloody Mary ($7), Magners Cider ($6) and Jameson Jello Shots (2 for $5). To make reservations, call 312.822.0100.

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St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for warbling "Danny Boy" and bad Irish brogue impersonations, and in Chicago, the ceremonial dying of the river has become a long-standing tradition. If you’re looking for a place to take part in this half-century-old festivity, here are five riverfront restaurants that offer a prime view of Chicago ’s green scene.

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  • On Saturday, March 16th, Bridge Bar, at 315 North LaSalle along the Chicago River, invites you to the fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day bash, “Dye One On.” Celebrate the Chicago tradition of dying the river green with friends and refreshments on Bridge Bar’s open-air riverfront veranda.From 9-11am, Bridge Bar will feature a ticketed breakfast buffet overlooking the Chicago River for $30/person. Executive Chef Kevin Schulz is whipping up gourmet scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, corned beef hash, Potatoes O'Brien, baked beans and buttermilk biscuits. The package includes two complimentary drinks to kick-off the day’s libations. Choose from Green Beer ($4), Guinness ($6), Bloody Mary ($7), Magners Cider ($6) and Jameson Jello Shots (2 for $5). To make reservations, call 312.822.0100.
  • On Saturday, March 16, watch the Chicago River turn green in style at Cityscape Bar while enjoying beautiful views of the skyline. After the famous Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade, guests will enjoy a special Irish dance performance by the Sheila Tully Dancers.Cityscape Bar will offer special St. Patrick's Day cocktails and Guinness drafts all day as well as complimentary appetizers like mini corned beef sandwiches, Guinness BBQ wings and vegetable crudite from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Guinness drafts and classic Irish Coffees are available for $7 each. Cocktails are $8 each and include the following:Green Dublin Apple Martini - Jameson Irish Whiskey, Sour Apple Pucker, white cranberry juice and green apple sliceIrish Tea Party Cocktail - Jameson Irish Whiskey, sweet green tea, Pernod Absinthe and lime juiceSkyy Shamrock Smoothie - Skyy Vodka, Midori Melon, Triple Sec, lime juice and limeCityscape Bar350 W Mart Center Dr Chicago, IL 60654(312) 836-5000
  • Great Street Restaurant, located within the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, is a contemporary restaurant that overlooks the river.  Step in for an Irish-focused lunch menu that will include classics such as Chef Joe's Ultimate Reuben and Lamb Shepherd's Pie, the perfect entrees to wash down with a hand-crafted Irish Fig Cocktail or a Guinness Cupcake.Great Street1 West Wacker DriveChicago, Illinois 60601312-795-3333
  • Flatwater, nestled river-level on Clark Street, offers one of the best views of the river turning green in the city.  Stop in and take advantage of their extensive brunch menu, which includes Brioche French Toast and Spanish Omelettes.Flatwater321 N Clark St (river level)Chicago, IL(312) 644-0283
  • Located in the lobby of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Building at 30 South Wacker Dr., Rivers is one of the busiest lunch places in the Loop . Try one of its signature seafood dishes, like Beer Battered Fish & Chips.
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, Chicago Dining Examiner

A lifelong Chicagoan, born in Bucktown and raised on pierogi, pizza and panuchos, Jacky has been a Chicago radio host, syndicated columnist, magazine travel editor and feature writer for Dining Out Magazine, AOL City Guide and the Daily Herald Chicago. Contact her: jacky@jackyrunice.com.

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