Oktoberfest may put you in the mood for German beer and pretzels, but when touring the U.S. in search of a great pub, you’ll have a better chance finding a good Irish tavern.

So, here are five of the best Irish pubs in the country where you’ll find the right atmosphere and the best beer and authentic food.

1. Paddy Reilly’s – New York, NY

When the only beer on tap is Guinness, you know you are stepping into a real Irish pub. Paddy Reilly’s has what you need to wake up the next morning with fond memories of the night before – open mic nights , a house band and plenty of weekly live entertainment. And yes, if you really can’t stand Guinness, they will gladly serve something else, as long as you don’t mind it coming out of a bottle instead of a tap.

Website: Paddy Reilly’s

Closest Homewood Suites: Edgewater/NYC Area

2. Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub, Seattle WA and Portland, OR

Kells is more than just a pub; the place is a legend in the Northwest and beyond. With an amazing selection of single malts, cigars, beer and, of course, pub grub, Kells’ locations have earned many awards.

The bar menu covers all the traditional Irish food – from Shepherd’s pie to chicken curry & chips – and you are bound to find something good to go with your Guinness here. The Seattle location is a few steps from Pike Place Market, making Kells the ideal place to hang out after playing tourist for the day.

Website: Kells Irish

Closest Homewood Suites (Portland): Vancouver/Portland

Closest Homewood Suites (Seattle): Pike Street

3. The Kinsale, Boston, MA

Authenticity is the utmost priority for Kinsale. In addition to having 10 different beers on tap and 31 in bottles, this pub actually had its interior designed and built in Ireland – and if that doesn’t show a dedication to being authentic, I don’t know what does. Live entertainment is on three nights a week, and (drunken) karaoke is available on Thursdays. In keeping with pub fun tradition, Wednesday nights is pub trivia night.

Of course, the first dish on their menu is New England clam chowder (this is Boston after all), but the rest of the menu has a good selection of traditional Irish food, including Gaelic soups and corned beef sandwiches.

Website: The Kinsale

Closest Homewood Suites:  Cambridge-Arlington

4. D4 Irish Pub & Café, Chicago, IL

There is no denying that the name “D4” doesn’t immediately sound like it belongs to an Irish pub, but this Chicago joint is one of the best rated in the city. Their menu has the usual mix of Irish and American food, but they’re best known for their Irish breakfast. Start your weekend morning with a traditional Irish platter of eggs, sausages, rashers, Irish beans, grilled tomato and toast, and wash it all down with a pint of your favorite beer.

The place has 14 beers on tap and almost 90 different bottled beers, including a good selection of ciders. Ten bucks gets you a flight of four draft beers, which is perfect if you have a hard time picking a new favorite beer. There are specials every day of the week, with a late night happy hour ready to serve those planning to stay up late.

Web site: D4 Pub

Closest Homewood Suites: Downtown Chicago

5. Nine Fine Irishmen, Las Vegas, NV

New York has a fine Irish heritage. The New York New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas clearly understands that rich history, because they built a pub in Ireland and had it all boxed up and shipped to the strip. The end result is the Nine Fine Irishmen located right inside New York New York. Forget yard long Margaritas and tacky cocktails. This is a place where you immerse yourself in Irish pub culture, right in the middle of the desert. Their beer list covers all continents, but revolves around Irish beers and ciders.

The real specialty on their beverage menu is their assortment of Irish Whiskeys: 20 different ones are offered with enough variety to keep you coming back for several nights – and you’ll still stick to a new drink.

Food is actually quite diverse (for a Vegas hotel) and offers everything from cheese dip to Colcannon potato and leek soup topped with Irish bacon.

Every night, live performances of Irish music and dance start at 10 p.m., and Irish rock music is performed on Sundays and Mondays.

Web site: Nine Fine Irishmen

Closest Homewood Suites: Las Vegas Airport