Your ultimate guide to Butte bars for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day is almost here and with it falling on a Sunday, you can bet that the revelry here in the Mining City will start well before the Sabbath.  Are you looking for a place to tip back a pint or two before heading into the madness near Park and Main?  Or are you going straight for the Uptown?  Here are a couple of places Uptown you should consider checking out.

M&M, 17 N MAIN

The M&M, regardless of the form it's building takes, is a Butte icon and was one of the first bars in history to use a webcam to show the world the madness of Uptown.  It is still not a true Butte St. Patrick's Day until you make your way through the M&M.

METALS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL, 8 W. PARK

Butte's finest sports bar is also a great place to start your St. Patrick's Day celebration with comfortable seating and a delicious menu.  Metal's Sports Bar and Grill is right in the heart of Butte's St. Patrick's Day party.

THE AXE BAR, 37 W. PARK ST.

The Axe Bar and Throwing Company is right in the middle of party central and will testify that one of the ways St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland was by throwing axes at them.  Seriously though, the Axe Bar is one of Butte's newer establishments and is a great place for a cold beverage.

HELSINKI BAR, 402 E. BROADWAY

One of the last remnants of Finntown, the Helsinki Bar will be hopping on Saturday as new owner Derek Ackerman and crew hold the annual Crowning of St. Uhro ceremony which is regarded as the unofficial start to St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Butte.  Get there early.

SAM'S PLACE, 905 N. EXCELSIOR

On North Excelsior, Sam's Place was once one of many proud establishments in the Big Butte area.  Now, it stands alone but is still a great place to gather that is going to be away from the big St. Patrick's Day crowd, but not too far away.

CINZ BAR, 301 E. MERCURY

Just a few blocks away from the heart of the celebrations, Cinz Bar is a great place to start your party with a great jukebox and frequent karaoke.

RICHEST HILL CASINO AND LOUNGE, 22 W. GALENA

The Richest Hill is a great place for St. Patrick's Day because they have lots of space, great drink prices and they will live music with John Montoya, Check Engine Light and King Friday.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL, 224 W. PARK

The KC, while a bit cramped in the bar area, is a great place because of the sheer size of it's reception hall, particularly if the weather turns.  The KC is also a place to get a St. Patrick's Day meal as they will be serving corned beef and cabbage, kielbasa dogs and pasties.

VU VILLA, 521 W. PARK

A favorite of the college crowd, the Vu Villa is expecting a double-whammy this weekend with not only St. Patrick's Day celebrations but the Oredigger basketball team in action in the NAIA National Tournament.

CAVALIER LOUNGE, 100 E. BROADWAY

Nestled inside the posh confines of Butte's historic Finlen Hotel, the Cavalier Lounge is right at the end of the St. Patrick's Day Uptown "crazy zone" but still a very comfortable place with an incredibly friendly staff.

PARTY PALACE, 1 W. PARK

The Party Palace prides itself on giving you exactly what you would expect on St. Patrick's Day, and that's one big party.  Ted and Julie Deshner work hard on bringing in  live music and entertainment, they have the town's best karaoke system, and they are up for anything else that will bring a good time.  The Party Palace also has the highest-quality pool tables in the state.

SHAWN O'DONNELL'S, 123 N. MAIN

Brand new to the Mining City but a well-known franchise in the Northwest, Shawn O'Donnell's American Grill and Irish Pub has quickly woven itself into the fabric of the community.  Early scuttlebutt says that the food is delicious, the Guinness is on point and that Irish Johnny has quickly become a beloved Butte character.

MALONEY'S BAR, 112 N. MAIN

Maloney's is a Butte Irish pub through and through.  From the leprechaun that serves as a gargoyle up top to the shamrock embedded into the sidewalk, Maloney's is a great place to get the party started and a place you have to get to before the bagpipes stop playing.