Victoria's top five Irish pubs for a pint on St Patrick's Day (and beyond)

When St Patrick's Day rolls around every year it seems to be the responsibility of anyone with even the faintest hint of Irish ancestry to give unsolicited advice on where the best Irish pubs are. I shamelessly fall into this category.

Given the 20th-century Irish family's penchant for both reproduction and relocation, this is a lot of people, and a lot of pubs. A few have morphed into nightclubs with an Irish-themed interior, but there's a handful that do the subtle idiosyncrasies so well, that after a couple of pints, will have you believing you were in Dublin.

A warm sanctuary of lively nooks and crannies. An adroitly poured Guinness and hearty fare. Impossibly small spaces crammed with talented musicians and good craic

When it comes to Irish pubs in Victoria, these are the best places to pull up a stool at.

The Drunken Poet, West Melbourne

When I told an Irish arborist and flute player named Sean that the Drunken Poet had been named among the best Irish pubs outside of Ireland, he was critical: "No mate. This place is better than most of the pubs at home." Owner Siobhan Dooley's pub is a humble institution that hosts live music six nights a week, and reflects the understated and hard-working personality of Dooley herself: a slight, Guinness-pouring machine who seems to know every single one of her customers. Dooley says the key to pouring a good Guinness is to keep the lines clean, and to keep them flowing.

65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797

Buck Mulligan's Whiskey Bar, Northcote

Buck Mulligan's is a quieter, specialised bar and bookshop boasting an exceptional range of 160 whiskies (including some of their own making) and a modern take on Irish bar architecture that doesn't feel kitschy. The likes of Rooney, Yeats and Wilde line the bookshelves alongside local talent and some Japanese authors, in an effort to mirror the origins of the whiskey line-up. Buck's feels like a great place for lengthy deep and meaningful conversations you won't remember the next day, but you'd also be just as comfortable by yourself, in a comfy armchair next to the fire, curled up with a proper dram and a proper read.

217 High Street, Northcote, 9077 7915

Mickey Bourke's Koroit Hotel

Evidence of Irish spirit is not difficult to track down in this tiny town in Victoria's far west, where every second house seems to have the tricolours flying proudly in its front yard. The pub was built in 1853, with the Bourke family of considerable local lore taking over in 1920. There are the classic interior hallmarks – dark timber furnishings, wooden benches and a couple of cosy snugs with stained glass windows – and it's hard to go past the classic beef and Guinness pie from the menu. Koroit's Irish Festival every April celebrates all things Celtic, complete with a parade of redheads down the main street.

101 Commercial Road, Koroit, 5565 8201

The Quiet Man, Kensington

If you're looking for a party on St Patrick's Day, don't be put off by the name – it gets pretty lively at the Quiet Man, and Thursday's early kick-off (festivities start at 9am) suggests this is the place to be if you're in the market for an Irish rager. There's a decent range of whiskies, and craft beers on tap, if Mother's Milk tastes less like the Elixir of Life and more like liquid tarmac to you, and meals are probably the best of any Irish pub in Melbourne (go for the rib-eye and spuds).

271 Racecourse Road, Kensington, 9376 6232

The Brothers Public House, Fitzroy

Walking into The Brothers Public House feels like a big, warm hug from a friend you haven't seen since before COVID. There is a camaraderie between bar staff, newcomers and rusted-on regulars at this Johnston Street bar that makes it feel as if you know everyone there straight away, even if it's your first time through the all-black facade. The owners are the McKernan brothers, Pat and Eamonn, are just as likely to be found on either side of the bar, pulling pints or espousing their brand of "musical drinking" – singalong folk tunes and razor sharp tongues – in front of a crowd.

42 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, 9037 4933