Paddy’s is the creation of Irish-born Seamas Hunt and former Pittsburgh resident Gary Humphrey. The idea for the pub was the result of a trip to Ireland in 1998, when Gary and his wife accompanied Seamas back to Ireland to celebrate the wedding of Seamas’ twin brother.
The dream took root as Seamas took Gary on a tour of Irish pubs, and they both came to the realization that they needed to introduce the citizens of Pensacola to an authentic Irish pub experience. Nearly 20 years since it’s birth, the Guinness is still flowing strong in Paddy’s.
When you first enter the premises, the neighborhood bar vibe is palatable. You get the sense that everyone knows everyone else here, and if they don’t, the regulars will take care of that in short order.
It’s a friendly, casual place with no trace of pretense or stuffiness. You’ll find darts, a jukebox, vintage arcade games such as Pacman, and something fun going on every night of the week. Football fans flock to Paddy’s during the season, and live music happens every Friday and Saturday night.
Wednesdays feature Open Mic nights, Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for Karaoke, Sundays are for sports, and every Thursday is Irish Night and features a free jukebox. Sometimes, customers even get to enjoy a class on Guinness glass engraving.
Besides Guinness and the hundred other types of beers they’ve got in bottles, cans, and on tap, Paddy O’Leary’s offers the usual variety of cocktails and a small selection of wine. This isn’t a dining establishment, but pizza is sometimes available whole or by the slice, and the pub offers a buffet dinner on Thanksgiving and a non-hold-barred Irish feast on St. Patrick’s Day.
As an added bonus, Paddy’s isn’t just an Irish pub — it’s a beach bar, too. Casual attire is almost required here. Paddys is within convenient walking distance of several major Pensacola Beach hotels, making it an excellent option for a pit stop during an afternoon or evening stroll. Pensacola Beach features sand that’s the color and texture of pure white sugar, and the waters shimmers with ever-changing variations of turquoise and azure hues.
Paddy’s most popular drinks include:
Guinness
Guinness is served in 20 ounce glasses just like in Ireland, and it’s poured in proper, Old World fashion to ensure a perfect pint every time. It’s poured into a glass at a 45 degree angle until the glass is three quarters of the way full. The contents are allowed to settle before the glass is filled to the brim, with a creamy white head
Irish Car Bomb
Paddy’s signature cocktail, the Irish Car Bomb, is actually at the root of an exclusive club that anyone who cares to join is welcomed in with open arms. Customers who achieve milestones with this drink are given rewards such as printed T-shirts that announce to the world that you’re a member of Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub’s Irish Car Bomb Drinking Club. If you drink enough of these, you’ll be inducted into the Irish Car Bomb Hall of Fame. It’s Baileys and Jamison’s in a shot glass dropped into a pint of Guinness and chugged down fast.
Paddywhacker
A Paddywhacker is equal parts of sweet vermouth and Irish whiskey touched with a dash of bitters and shake up together with ice before being strained into a glass. As its name implies, this cocktail has a lot of punch.
Paddy’s bartenders are skilled in making a variety of drinks and the huge beer selection has something for everyone.
Insider Tip:
Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub is a tobacco friendly establishment, so come prepared for a smoky environment. Also, you’ll be considered family after your first visit, so you’ll have an open invitation to Thanksgiving and St. Patrick’s day functions.