Kee’S Irish Pub

If you want to understand the epicenter of North Wildwood’s “Entertainment District,” you have to stand in the middle of Keenan’s Irish Pub. This is not just a bar; it is a 25,000-square-foot behemoth of summer energy that has defined the North Wildwood experience since Scott Keenan and his family opened the doors in 1999. Taking over the legendary “Dick’s Bar” location, Keenan’s transformed a local spot into a multi-venue powerhouse where, according to their motto, “all neighborhoods meet.”

Be prepared: a visit to Keenan’s is a full-sensory experience. It is loud, it is sprawling, and during the height of summer—especially Memorial Day or Irish Fall Festival—it is packed to the gills with thousands of patrons. The vibe is unapologetically high-octane. If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate pint of Guinness, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for the heart of the party, live bands that make the floor move, and the feeling that the entire city of Philadelphia has migrated to one city block, you’re in the right place.

The Experience

Keenan’s is effectively four different venues under one roof. You have the main bar area, the massive outdoor venue for sun-soaked drinking, and Peggy’s Crab Shack, where the seafood is the main event.

The menu is classic shore-pub fare. The Reduced Price Burgers and Buffalo Wings are the standard fuel for long summer afternoons, and the crabs at Peggy’s are widely praised for being fresh and “mouth-watering.” However, patrons should walk in with their eyes open: because of the massive volume, the staff can be “all-business” and the security is strictly focused on crowd control and enforcing a dress code (men, don’t wear sleeveless shirts). It is a high-volume operation, and the service reflects that speed. It’s gritty, authentic, and perfectly captures the “work hard, play harder” spirit of the Jersey Shore.

Details can change — check the site or socials for the latest menus, hours, and events.