You’re driving through the Tipperary Hill neighborhood in Syracuse, minding your own business, when you hit an intersection that feels... off. You look up. The traffic light is green. But it’s at the top. The red is on the bottom. Your brain glitches for a second because, honestly, that shouldn't be legal.
Welcome to the "Tipp Hill" gravity. Specifically, you're standing near the doorstep of Coleman's Irish Pub Syracuse, a place that basically functions as the spiritual embassy for Central New York’s Irish-American soul.
Most people come here for a pint of Guinness and a look at the "upside-down" light. They think it's just a quirky marketing stunt or a weird municipal mistake. It isn't. It’s actually a decades-old act of defiance that involves a bunch of rowdy kids, some well-aimed rocks, and a refusal to let "British" red sit on top of "Irish" green.
The Stonethrowers and the Light That Won't Quit
You can't talk about Coleman's without talking about the intersection of Tompkins Street and Milton Avenue. Back in the 1920s, when the city first installed a traffic signal there, the local Irish youths weren't having it. To them, the red light symbolized the British, and the green symbolized Ireland. Seeing the red on top was a literal and figurative insult.
So, they did what any self-respecting 1920s teenager would do: they broke it.
They used "Irish confetti"—which is just a fancy local term for rocks—to smash the lenses. The city would fix it. The kids would smash it again. This went on for years until the city finally surrendered in 1928 and just flipped the damn thing over. It remains the only intersection in the world where green sits on top.
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If you walk into Coleman's Irish Pub Syracuse, you'll see a second upside-down light inside. It’s a constant reminder that around here, history isn't something you read in a book; it’s something you maintain with a bit of stubbornness and maybe a Jameson.
More Than Just a Bar: The Leprechaun Factor
Step outside the main entrance and look down. No, lower than that.
There is a 15-inch-tall door built into the exterior wall. It’s the "Leprechaun Door." It’s not just for show, either. Peter Coleman, the legendary owner, actually applied to trademark it. There’s a tiny "Leprechaun Telefon" booth outside and a "Leprechaun Taxi Stand" inside.
Is it a bit kitschy? Sure. But in a world of sanitized, corporate "Irish-themed" chain restaurants, Coleman’s feels authentic because it is authentic. It started as a working man's saloon in 1933, right as Prohibition was gasping its last breath. It has tripled in size since then, but it still has that dark wood, slightly-cramped-in-a-good-way vibe of a pub in Galway.
What to Actually Eat (Don't Just Order a Burger)
While the menu has your standard pub fare, there are a few things you’d be a fool to miss.
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- Irish Soda Bread ($7.50): It comes with whipped honey cinnamon butter. It’s dense, warm, and basically a hug in carbohydrate form.
- Guinness Beef Stew ($21.00): This isn't a watery soup. It’s thick, dark, and served in a bread bowl that soaks up every drop of the stout-infused gravy.
- Beef O’Flaherty ($15.50): This is a local deep-cut. It’s hot roast beef served over crusty bread, smothered in blue cheese dressing, and broiled. It sounds weird. It tastes like heaven.
- Corned Beef and Cabbage ($17.50): Available year-round, not just in March. The brisket is braised until it basically falls apart if you look at it too hard.
The prices aren't dive-bar cheap, but the portions are massive. You're paying for the atmosphere, which, on a Tuesday night during Trivia or a Sunday afternoon, is worth the extra few bucks.
Green Beer Sunday and the St. Patrick’s Chaos
If you’re planning to visit in March, God help you.
Syracuse takes St. Patrick’s Day more seriously than some parts of Ireland. The whole season kicks off with Green Beer Sunday, which is usually the last Sunday in February (scheduled for February 22, 2026). A tanker truck—yes, a full-sized semi—pulls up to the pub to "deliver" the green beer. Thousands of people show up. It’s loud, it’s cold, and it’s arguably the biggest party in Central New York.
The Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade, which is one of the largest in the Northeast, actually traces its roots back to a meeting held inside Coleman’s. Nancy Duffy, the parade's founder, sat in one of these booths and decided the city needed a proper celebration.
The Logistics of a Visit
Coleman's Irish Pub Syracuse is located at 100 South Lowell Avenue.
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If you're visiting for the first time, here is the reality: parking on Tipp Hill is a nightmare. The streets are narrow, steep, and usually lined with cars. If you can’t find a spot in their small lot, be prepared to walk a block or two.
Also, keep in mind that while it’s a pub, it’s very family-friendly during the day and early evening. You’ll see toddlers eating fries next to old-timers who have been sitting on the same barstool since the 70s. By 10:00 PM, the demographic shifts toward the college crowd and younger locals, especially when there’s live music.
Actionable Insights for Your Trip
Don't just drive by. To get the real experience, you need to do more than take a selfie with the traffic light.
- Check the Countdown: Their website has a live countdown to St. Patrick's Day. If it’s under 30 days, expect crowds every single night.
- Look for the Hidden Details: Find the Stonethrowers Monument in the park across the street. It depicts a 1920s family, and if you look closely at the boy’s back pocket, you’ll see the slingshot used for the "confetti."
- Trivia Tuesdays: If you want to see the "local" side of the pub without the holiday madness, go on a Tuesday. It’s the longest-running trivia night in the city.
- The "Backwards" Light: Take a moment to actually watch the traffic light change. It’s a weird sensory experience to see the bottom light turn yellow and then red.
Ultimately, Coleman’s isn't just a place to grab a drink. It’s a monument to a neighborhood that refused to be told which way was up. Whether you’re there for the leprechaun lore or the Guinness, you’re stepping into a piece of living history that shows no signs of slowing down.
To make the most of your visit, head to the intersection of Tompkins and Milton first to see the monument, then walk the half-block to the pub for a loaf of that soda bread—it's the best way to soak up the local history.