Great neighborhood bars in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a city of many neighborhoods and even more bars.  The best local taverns are where you can decompress with friends over a few drinks while feeling at home in the congenial atmosphere.  Some places have had the same clientele (and beer advertisements, and bar tenders, and dusty sports memorabilia) for several decades.  Some are constantly reinventing themselves.  And just like every neighborhood in Pittsburgh, each local tavern will be, and should be, distinguished from the rest.

Pop City offers this guide to great, authentic neighborhood bars throughout the city. Returning home for the holidays? Stop in. You can't miss with any of these.

South Side
If you want to avoid rambunctious East Carson Street, walk just one block south to Dish Osteria And Bar and step into a more subtle scene. Although Dish is recognized as one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants, you’re welcome just to stop in for a drink, like the locals do.

A copper-plated bar is lit by soft lamps and candles, and overseen by bartenders who are capable of pouring even the most obscure concoction.  Dish opened in 2000, transforming a former Irish pub into a charming setting--a wall of exposed brick and large windows overlook quaint, narrow streets and row houses, and plenty of South Side character.

A chalkboard menu lists the evenings special--recently, a Pear Rosemary Martini with Bluecoat gin, pear juice, and rosemary simple syrup.  Local, domestic, and imported beers, all reasonably priced, are available, along with a quality wine selection.

The menu has several items perfect for bar snacking, like grilled calamari, mussels, miniature meatballs, imported cheeses, and cured meats.

Also on the South Side, Piper’s Pub is beloved by locals for its friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, and high-quality pub food.  It’s also a  great spot for watching soccer, and draws a futbol-loving crowd from all over.  Often open as early as 8:30 a.m. to broadcast matches from across the pond, so yes, you can have beer for breakfast.  (As Norm in Cheers said, "Float a cornflake in it!") Or go for Sunday brunch and enjoy traditional dishes like Irish Boxty and bangers and mash.

The Scottish-style pub’s menu is heavily influenced by the British Isles, so try the Scotch Eggs (hardboiled eggs wrapped in sausage, breaded and deep fried), lamb and smoked chestnut Sheppard’s Pie, or Guinness stew. 
 
Regent Square
In Regent Square, D’s Sixpax and Dogz is used as a neighborhood selling point.  There’s a quality about D’s that sets it apart from anywhere else in Pittsburgh.
 
First, the dogs: Vienna all-beef, veggie, and turkey dogs; Chicago style, chili cheese, bacon, cheddar, Chihuahua (avocados, salsa, jalapenos), corn dog, and more.
 
And the six packs.  Walk through D’s bottle room, called the Beer Cave, and mix-and-match from the city’s best beer selection.  They're aiming to offer over 1000 different kinds. You’re welcome to bring them to your table, or take it to-go (and enjoy a reduced price).

A few on tap: Southern Tier Pumpkin, 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Boulder Fresh Tracks

Bloomfield
Sonny’s Tavern, near the Millvale Street Bridge in Bloomfield, is a portal to and from Oakland. Just behind the painted orange brick building, a steep drop leads to the East-West Busway, a natural dividing line between neighborhoods. Very little signage marks the bar, but with just enough neon glow in the windows, Sonny’s warmly announces your arrival in Bloomfield, and beckons you in.

A dart league meets here every Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesdays are also Pickle Day, when plates of pickles line the bar.  A Ukrainian tradition of chasing a shot of vodka with pickle juice found its way to Sonny’s several years ago, and can be had any day, but tastes especially good on Tuesdays.
 
Craft beers are available, too, along with big-name domestics, and a limited bar menu. 

The Beagle Brothers, one of Pittsburgh’s best country bands, got their start at Sonny’s, and play at least one show a year here (usually in December).  And when they’re not performing, it’s still a gathering spot for the band members, as well as other Pittsburgh musicians, young and old.
 
Deutschtown
The first bar to get a liquor license in post-prohibition Pittsburgh was the Park House. Built in 1889, this Northside bar has changed a bit over the years, but one thing stays the same—free peanuts and popcorn.

Walk in, and history greets you—from the red tin ceiling and original light fixtures, the handsome wooden bar, to antique coat hooks. And then more modern features, like tables made of bowling alley wood, the region’s best microbrews on draft (such as East End, Rustbelt, and many others), and an updated menu that reflects owner Zamir Zahavi’s multicultural roots.

Keep walking, and you’ll notice something else—crunching peanut shells underfoot. As part of the tradition, all shells must be tossed to the floor.

Jane Branicky, an Art Institute graduate, moved to Pittsburgh from Buffalo, New York, in 2006. For several years she was a regular at the bar, but over the past year she’s begun tending bar as well.

“This was the first bar I went in in Pittsburgh, and I’ve never left,” Branicky says.

Behind the bar, a gallery of mugs lists the names of Park House die-hards and longtime supporters, as Zahavi calls them.

Menu items include hummus, falafel, sweet potato fries, and an array of hamburgers, served on a challah roll.

A weekly Wednesday Bluegrass Jam is held at the Park House, hosted by Joe Dep and the Shelf Life String Band.  Fridays also feature live music, which is always free, like the peanuts and popcorn.

Central Northside
The menu at Monterey Pub is bar food done right.  The hamburgers are some of the best in the city, and the Irish-Cuban Sandwich (roasted pork loin with guacamole, bacon and onions) should not be missed. 

Nestled among meticulously restored Victorian homes in the Mexican War Streets, the Pub reflects the village-like character of the neighborhood: everyone seems to know each other, and all the villagers-- newspaper reporters, TV news anchors, artists, and urban gardeners, among all other folk--can be found here.

Like its neighborhood, the Pub is cozy.  In winter, a lit fireplace adds warmth to this community gathering spot.
 
Oakland
Legume Bistro recently moved to North Oakland to great fanfare and their new space features a full-service bar, reincarnated from the one that has been around for decades in the former Moré restaurant.  

At least one regular from the old days has adapted to the change.  Bruce Wilder, of Oakland, had been a patron of Moré’s for over 40 years.  Although he misses some of the old things, he appreciates the change.  “I love this place,” he says. 
 
The back bar of handcrafted black walnut panels was created by artist Miki Szabo, and is unlike any other in the city.  Back lit bottles of premium liquors line the handsome shelves, framed like works of art, and a diverse list of drafts stand up to the restaurant's reputation for quality. 

Polish Hill
Polish Hill has become a magnet for young artists, musicians, and creativity of all types.  That energy is apparent at Gooski’s, a classic Pittsburgh bar that has been infused with craft beers, a hip jukebox, and a venue for some of the city’s most interesting live music.  But it’s also just a great place to shoot some pool or for eating a plate of pierogis.

A few beers you'll find this week include East End Big Hop, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and Franziskaner, a German wheat beer.  
 
Squirrel Hill
The Squirrel Hill Cafe (also known as the Squirrel Cage) is always packed, smoky, and loud, all of which intended here as compliments. It's a favorite among locals, students from nearby CMU and Pitt, and big groups of friends. You'll also see dedicated academics pouring over textbooks amidst the good-time haze.

The Cage offers a wide selection of beers, and food, including burgers, fries, onion rings, salads, and more.
 
East Liberty
In East Liberty, Kelly’s Bar and Lounge, best known for its classic cocktails and delicious mac n’ cheese, is a 1940’s retro-style lounge that brings a heavy dose of neon and class to the neighborhood bar concept. 
 
And Kelly's doesn't just look the part.  Rather than devising new drinks, bartenders work closely with LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) and feature mixed drinks belonging to a bygone era.  Try the Paloma, which combines tequila, lemon juice, and grapefruit soda; the South Side: bourbon, sugar, fresh lemon juice, and mint; or the Rusty Nail: scotch, drambuie, and lemon twist.  

But drink revival aside, there's nothing stuffy or museum-like about Kelly's.  Grab a booth and enjoy a drink. You won't feel like you've stepped back in time; instead, you'll know you've come to the right place at the right time.
 
There are other great neighborhood bars around town but space doesn't permit. Got a favorite? Email us.

Andrew Moore is the development news editor of Pop City.


Pictured, top to bottom: Park House; Sonny's; Legume; Squirrel Hill Cafe.

Photographs copyright Brian Cohen