You may be wondering… sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day? Bear with me. 

SOPHISTICATED ST. PATRICKS DAY

Yes, St. Patrick’s Day, for many of my Irish and/or Catholic friends, is a day devoted to celebrating the saint himself. But for many non-Catholics, Saint Patrick’s Day has a reputation for being a party holiday, with green beer and revelers draped party beads reminiscent of Mardi Gras. I know my beautiful Chicago (read my guide to visiting Chicago here) sure knows how to celebrate when it comes to this holiday. We are famous for dying Chicago River green! 

The wonderful thing about holidays is that you can make them into whatever you want. Why not make Saint Patrick’s Day into an excuse to host a few friends and have a slightly more sophisticated event?

Here are some ideas for classy cocktails, updated mocktails, and sophisticated eats for St. Patrick’s Day.

SOPHISTICATED ST. PATRICK’S DAY COCKTAILS

Basil Limoncello Spritz

Step one of creating a sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day event? Bring on the bubbly.

Lemony limoncello with bubbly sweet prosecco, topped with club soda and paired with muddled basil. Light, herbaceous and refreshing. This Limoncello Spritz is the perfect simple spring cocktail! Get the recipe at Elise Tries to Cook.

Mojito

This next cocktail recipe is for a classic mojito. This one is naturally sweetened with honey (instead of sugar) and SO fresh and delicious. Find the recipe over at Gimme Some Oven.

SOPHISTICATED ST. PATRICK’S DAY MOCKTAILS

Frozen Virgin Margarita

The tasty, tangy classic cocktail gets the virgin treatment. Find the recipe at Savor the Flavour.

Cucumber Mint Agua Fresca

The next mocktail for a sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day affair is an agua fresca. Cool and refreshing, this agua fresca made with cucumbers, lime, and mint. This mocktail won’t weigh you down. Find the recipe at Simply Recipes.

Bartending Set

Shake up and step up your mocktail and cocktail game with the professional bartending set. Find this one here on Amazon.

SOPHISTICATED SAINT PATRICK’S DAY APPETIZERS

Spring Veggie Board

Remember, it’s your holiday and you can serve anything you like. If you’re going for a sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day affair, this lovely, vibrant spring arrangement of vegetables will fit the bill nicely.

These veggies pair beautifully with homemade spring dip recipes: Roasted Beet Hummus, Basil Pistachio Goat Cheese Spread, and Lemon Herb Yogurt Dip. Find the recipes on My Moonstone Kitchen.

Blackberry, Avocado, and Arugula Salad

The following recipe I found to bring sophistication to your St. Patrick’s Day affair is a stunning salad. Nobody said St. Patrick’s Day food had to be fried or even Irish. But it could be fun to stick to a green theme and serve something like this gorgeous salad. Find the recipe on Crowded Kitchen.

Natural Wood Serving Tray and Platter Set For a Sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day Table

 

This serving set will elevate the look of your dishes with simple sophistication. Find it this serving set here on Amazon.

Now, do you see how your next St. Patrick’s Day gathering can step up its sophistication game? It can be as wild or elegant as you choose. I hope this post inspires you to think outside of the box.

Need more ideas? Why not serve a sophisticated cheese platter? You might like reading about how I liken aging with grace with fine French cheese in this story.

In case you were looking for a reason to host a cocktail hour or brunch, why not look to St. Patrick’s Day? I hope you will!