It doesn’t need to be St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy a pint of Guinness. The beer has been brewed in Ireland since the 1700s and is now served in 150 countries. For fans of good Irish beer, splitting the G, or good craic (i.e. a good time) there are plenty of local Irish pubs that serve a great pint. It took some taste testing, but we put together a list of the best to sit and enjoy a Guinness in the Hudson County area. Read on to see where to get the best Guinness in Hoboken + Jersey City.

What Makes a Pint of Guinness Great?

There are some factors that go into a proper pint. For starters, according to the Guinness Storehouse, Guinness should always be served cold, never at room temperature. The glass should be clean, and ideally have a Guinness logo so the person drinking has a fair attempt to split the G. That’s when someone tries to get the foam of the beer to line up with the middle of the G in Guinness on the pint glass in one big sip.

When the bartender pours the Guinness, it needs to be held at a 45-degree angle. The bartender should pour the beer up to the Harp on the glass, then let it settle for 119 seconds. After a long 119 seconds, the bartender tops off the pint. There should be a crisp, white head. Once the beer is served, you could say cheers in Irish with a quick, “sláinte!”

Read More: A Guide to Sports Bars in Hoboken, New Jersey

Erin's Top 5

1. Finnegan's | 734 Willow Avenue, Hoboken

One of the many Irish pubs in Hoboken, Finnegan's serves up great Guinness. It was cold and creamy and the live music was a ton of fun. Plus, this Hoboken Girl split the G, which makes any pint taste great. This spot also has plenty of TVs to catch live sports.

2. Morans | 501 Garden Street, Hoboken

Right off the corner of Chuck Square Park is Morans. This bar serves plenty of Guinness, each pint for $8. HG's experience was great. We received the perfect pour from the bartender. It was cold and rich and drinking it in this cozy pub felt like it was ordered in Dublin. Don’t miss The Morans special: a pint and a shot of Irish whiskey that costs $10 during happy hour on weekdays until 7PM and $12 during regular hours.

3. Grace O' Malleys | 140 Newark Avenue, Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bringing the Irish spirit of the Chieftain Grace O’Malley to Jersey City, this pub serves both Irish beers and food. Grace O’Malley is known as the most famous pirate queen and one of the greatest warriors in Irish history. Diners can enjoy their pint with the same enthusiasm Grace O’Malley had for her country. The 20-ounce Guinness ‘pint’ costs $9 and it is cold and smooth. Plus, tall pints pair well with the friendly staff and cozy Irish decor.

4. Ed + Mary’s | 174 Coles Street, Jersey City

This Hamilton Park neighborhood pub serves Guinness for $8 a pint. The bar recently hosted a Split the G contest and crowned a winner who was able to accurately split the G on the pint glass several times. The staff is always friendly and it creates a welcoming environment to sip and enjoy a pint with a good crowd. The cold pints from this spot are served quickly (but not too quickly) and taste smooth and rich.

5. McSwiggans | 110 1st Street, Hoboken

McSwiggans has a good mix of Irish pub fare and late-night fun. The pints, which are consistently served cold, are $9 each and the bar staff is friendly and knows how to pour a good pint. The fireplace in the corner gives each pint an extra cozy vibe during the winter and the fun music makes for good craic.

18 Other Great Spots to Get Guinness Locally

10th + Willow | 935 Willow Avenue, Hoboken

A pint is the ideal drink for this cozy sports bar in Hoboken. A Guinness is $9 a pint and served in the traditional Guinness pint glass, setting guests up for a friendly competition of who can split the G the best.

Cork City | 239 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken

This bar has plenty of beer options for whatever pint people are in the mood for. The Guinness is poured beautifully. When the weather is nice, it’s fun to enjoy a couple of pints outside sitting on the patio space.

Corkscrew Bar | 61 Congress Street, Jersey City

For many Jersey City residents, this bar is their home away from home. It makes sense why — people love to enjoy a Guinness with friends at this welcoming bar. The food menu has tons of burgers and fries to pair with a pint. It’s located just a block away from Washington Park in The Heights.

Court Street Restaurant + Bar | 61 6th Street, Hoboken

For date nights that require some stout, Court Street is a good place to go. The dinner menu has so many tasty options, including Fish and Chips to pair with a Guinness. The pint will cost $9 at this welcoming restaurant.

Elysian Cafe | 1001 Washington Street, Hoboken

The elegance of this restaurant elevates the enjoyment of a Guinness. For a cozy, comfy winter meal, pair a pint of stout with the French Onion Soup. It may require a nap after, but it will make for a great dinner.

Farside Tavern | 531 Washington Street, Hoboken

Photo Credit: Farside Tavern

Guinness is one of 12 beers on tap at Farside. The pint costs $10 and can accompany much of the bar food on the menu, like burgers and wings. The bar has dozens of TVs so fans of Guinness and sports won’t miss a minute of their favorite teams playing.

Ferryman | 94 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken

Right off of 1st Street is the Ferryman, a favorite for game day during football season. For warmer weather days, sitting outside could be the move while sipping on a Guinness. The pints are served cold and for $8.

Hamilton Inn | 708 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City

This cute restaurant in Hamilton Park is especially cozy during the winter. It makes for a Hallmark Channel-esque setting to grab a cold Guinness at the bar for $8 a pint. It’s especially festive around Christmas time when the bar is decorated in reds, greens, and dozens of twinkling lights.

Hudson Hound | 8 Erie Street A, Jersey City

Just a short walk from the Grove Street Path is Hudson Hound. The pints of Guinness at this upscale Irish pub are $9 each. The menu also has Irish food, like the "Irish Style" Chicken Curry and Beef and Guinness, in case having a pint itself isn’t enough beer.

The Hutton | 225 Hutton Street, Jersey City

Sundays are the best days to grab a pint of Guinness at the Hutton. This spot has traditional Irish music with a live band on Sundays from 5PM-8PM. Guests can get a pint for $9 while soaking good trad tunes, like Galway Girl, The Auld Triangle, and plenty of other songs.

Louise + Jerry’s | 329 Washington Street, Hoboken

This spot is an institution on Washington Street because it’s been around since 1959. Guinness is served on draft. It’s also a pet-friendly bar, so guests can bring their dogs to hang out while enjoying their pints.

Mulligan's | 159 1st Street, Hoboken

Mulligans is known for being a fun sports bar. It caters to fans of all sports, especially soccer and football. The bar serves cold pints for $9 each. The bar blends the spirit of Hoboken with Irish hospitality making sure to open early to show all sports games live to diehard fans. If a breakfast beer is needed when the soccer game starts before noon, a Guinness at Mulligans is the way to go.

O’Haras Downtown | 172 1st Street, Jersey City

This sports bar off of Marin Boulevard in Jersey City serves Guinness for $8 a pint. The bar has TVs on almost every wall, giving all tables good angles to watch whatever live sports game is on. It’s a great environment for sharing a pint with a friend or two.

Onieals | 343 Park Avenue, Hoboken

This is the spot to enjoy a Guinness with a disco ball. Onieals has a full menu of delicious food to share while nursing a pint of stout. Stick around for live music; the bar has different live acts performing throughout the week. Check out the bar’s Instagram to find out who’s playing and when.

Schmitty’s | 359 1st Street, Hoboken

Schmitty’s has been serving beer for a couple of years. While the bar serves a lot of local beers, it also serves Guinness to those looking for an Irish stout. Stop by on Tuesdays for a stout and play Trivia with friends.

The Shannon | 106 1st Street, Hoboken

Just like the River Shannon in Ireland, the good times keep flowing at The Shannon. The pints are $8 each. The Shannon is not only an Irish pub, but also a Bills bar. The walls are covered in sports memorabilia, but what sticks out the most are the big Buffalo Bills flags supporting the football team up north.

Willie McBride's | 616 Grand Street, Hoboken

At Willie’s, people can enjoy a pint for $10, then catch the free limo home (as long as home is in Hoboken). Stepping into Willie McBride's feels like stepping into a local pub in Ireland with tons of Irish signs and decor. Of course, the live music on weekends adds to the Irish pub core, with great live acts curating good vibes for good pints.

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Zeppelin Beer Hall | 88 Liberty View Drive, Jersey City

While it may be a German beer hall, it has good beer. For $9, guests can enjoy a fresh, cold pint of Guinness at Zeppelin. Once the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is a great spot to chill out with friends, some soft German pretzels, and a couple of pints.