The Old Shillelagh

The Old Shillelagh’s Monroe Street address places it at the edge of Detroit’s Greektown, a downtown entertainment area where games and concerts shape the rhythm of many evenings. The business has presented itself as an Irish pub since 1975, but its current offer goes beyond a beer counter: a full scratch kitchen, weekend brunch, plant-based choices, live music, and sports gatherings. Irish pub identity meets local regulars and visitors arriving before or after an event.

The menu includes pub staples such as fish and chips, corned beef, and Reuben egg rolls alongside burgers, salads, and a substantial plant-based section. The business says it sources meat, eggs, dairy, bread, and produce from Michigan suppliers, giving local context to its breakfast dishes and listed ingredients. Saturday and Sunday brunch, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., adds savory bowls, oatmeal, smoothies, and coffee drinks. The offer can change, so check the day’s menu before deciding between a quick pint and a full meal. The plant-based menu is not a separate vegan kitchen: the pub says its fryers and grill top are not cross-used with animal products for those items, while advising guests to ask staff about ingredients and dietary needs.

The room also operates as an event venue: the website offers group reservations, private parties, event planning, and on- and off-site catering, and says its food truck can be rented. Official programming lists weekend live music and Detroit Lions watch parties; on major event days, the pub may open earlier and run a complimentary shuttle to downtown venues, subject to driver availability and the posted schedule. Reviews for this location describe an energetic setting and mention service, plant-based dishes, and game-day atmosphere, while the pace naturally varies by event and time.

At 349 Monroe Street, the pub sits near Greektown and downtown venues. On game nights, the earlier opening and event shuttle advertised for selected events can help with planning, subject to the pub’s posted schedule. Its defining mix is a full kitchen, Michigan-sourced ingredients, plant-based Irish-inspired dishes, weekend brunch, and live music under one roof.