Erin Lanahan 
A new concept coming to Jersey City is sure to please fans of Mexican food and pints of Guinness. The team behind The Dead Rabbit in New York City is opening San Patricios, a mix of a pub and cantina, on Friday, September 19th at 8 Erie Street. The bar was inspired not only by the high, celebratory spirits of Irish and Mexican cultures, but also by a historical connection between Ireland and Mexico during the mid-1800s. Read on to learn more about San Patricios, a new Mexican-Irish pub coming to Jersey City, New Jersey.
What We Know About San Patricios
Jack McGarry, managing partner of The Dead Rabbit Group, told The Hoboken Girl earlier this summer that as a New Jersey resident, he’s delighted to open his new bar in Jersey City.
In an Instagram post, Jack writes the pub is “A love letter to the rebel spirit that binds Ireland and Mexico through resistance, resilience, and the joy of food, drink, music, art, and community.”
^ HG got a sneak peek at San Patricios this week
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For those curious about what a Mexican-Irish menu looks like, you can expect classic cantina drinks, modern Irish pub cocktails, and other classic Mexican and Irish dishes for brunch through dinner. Some of those signature drinks include Irish Coffees and Carajillos, Guinness, and Pacifico. The team plans to stock the shelves with Irish whiskey, Poitín, tequila, mezcal, and Mexican agave spirits such as Raicilla, Bacanora, and Sotol.
“At The Dead Rabbit Group, we believe that Irish hospitality is for everyone. San Patricios is our chance to show that spirit through a different lens, one that honours the shared struggles and celebrations of the Irish and Mexican people. This is more than a concept, it’s a statement about solidarity, community, and cultural pride,” Jack McGarry said in a statement online.
The History Of The San Patricios
The name comes from the Batallón de San Patricio, or the St. Patrick’s Battalion. This was a group of mostly Irish immigrants who fled Ireland during An Gorta Mór, or The Great Famine, in search of a safer, happier life. When they made it to America, they found themselves facing similar discrimination they received under British rule. Many were forced to join the US Army during the Mexican-American War, only to be back under the boot of Protestant Anglo-Saxons for being Catholic, poor, and Irish.
When they looked to the south, they found similarities with Mexico. The US was trying to take Mexico like Britain was trying to take Ireland. A crew of Irish soldiers then defected from the US to fight alongside Mexico, led by Irishman John Riley. They did not have strong odds, but they fought on, together, to the very end.
For some, the San Patricios were heroes for helping Mexico during the Mexican-American War. For others, they were seen as traitors for helping an unjust attempt by Mexico to take back Texas.
Jack writes in an Instagram post, “They may have been forgotten by history, but not by us. We stand to shine a light on their fight, to stand for the silenced, the punished, the erased. For the underdog.”
About The Dead Rabbit
When fans of Irish beers talk about the best pint in Manhattan, The Dead Rabbit is often mentioned as a favorite. Jack McGarry co-founded the pub, first opening its doors in 2013. Since then, the group has expanded to include locations in Austin, Texas, Washington, D.C., and soon Jersey City, New Jersey.
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With these pubs, the Dead Rabbit group aims to “authentically share our passion for Irish Pubs and Ireland by delivering an unparalleled hospitality experience while challenging paddywhackery representations of Irish culture,” according to the website.
The pub in Manhattan has won several Tales of The Cocktail Spirited Awards, including Best International Bartender, Best Bartending Book, World’s Best Cocktail Menu, World’s Best Bar, and more.
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Being inspired by Irish history is a common theme for The Dead Rabbit group. The name comes from the notorious Dead Rabbit gang in lower Manhattan in the 1800s.
The Dead Rabbit group continues to pull pints at all their locations and looks to bring the tenacity to Jersey City. San Patricios will officially make its debut in Chilltown on Friday, September 19th.
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