Best Places To Go Out In Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh doesn’t go out quietly. It goes out like a Steelers fan at a tailgate: loud, friendly, and slightly convinced it can fight a parking meter. The city has 90 neighbor...
Pittsburgh doesn’t go out quietly. It goes out like a Steelers fan at a tailgate: loud, friendly, and slightly convinced it can fight a parking meter. The city has 90 neighborhoods, 446 bridges, and enough bars to make your GPS sigh.
So grab a primanti sandwich, loosen your belt, and let’s wander through the best places to go out. You’ll laugh, you’ll drink, and you’ll probably end up arguing about whether fries belong inside the sandwich. (They do—stop it.)
South Side: The Marathon You Didn’t Train For
East Carson Street is the unofficial runway of Pittsburgh nightlife. It’s roughly a mile of bars, clubs, and pizza shops that stay open later than your regrets.
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Start at Jack’s Bar if you want cheap drinks and the vibe of a basement party that somehow got a liquor license. Then bounce to Diesel or Lucky’s if you enjoy loud music and questionable dance moves.
Surprising fact: South Side used to be a steelworking hub, which explains why the buildings look like they could bench-press you. Now they just serve you shots.
Lawrenceville: Buttons, Brunch, and Slightly Fancy Beer
Lawrenceville is what happens when artists, chefs, and bearded brewers share a rowhouse. Butler Street is the main artery, and it’s packed with places that make you want to update your resume to “professional snacker.”
Hit Church Brew Works, a brewery inside a former Catholic church. Yes, you can drink a beer where people once prayed for salvation from lukewarm communion wine.
For a cozier night, try Thunderbird Café for live music or Spirit for pizza and DJs.
North Shore: Sports, Skulls, and River Views
The North Shore is where you go before a Steelers or Pirates game, and where you stay after because traffic is a myth and your parking spot is a hostage situation.
Southern Tier Brewing and Rivers Casino are the big draws, but don’t sleep on The Foundry for a giant table, giant pretzel, and giant regret.
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Nearby, the Carnegie Science Center has a submarine and a model railroad.
Strip District: Pierogies, Polkas, and Power Shopping
The Strip District is a beautiful chaos of food stalls, old-school delis, and bars that don’t care what year it is. By day, you buy Steelers gear and suspiciously large sausages. By night, you drink where the ceilings are low and the stories are tall.
Go to Primanti Bros for the legendary sandwich with fries and coleslaw stuffed inside. It’s not a meal; it’s a structural engineering project.
Then wander to Smallman Galley or Bar Marco for cocktails that taste like someone’s art degree paid off. The Strip is also where you’ll find Wholey’s, a market so old it probably remembers when fish were currency.
Mount Washington: Drink With a View, Cry With a View
You haven’t truly experienced Pittsburgh until you’ve looked down at the skyline from Mount Washington and whispered, “Wow, that’s pretty.”
Take the Duquesne Incline, a wooden cable car from 1877 that creaks like it’s telling you a secret. At the top, Altius and LeMont offer fancy views, while Shiloh Street bars offer cheaper ones.
Surprising fact: The incline was built for workers commuting to steel mills. Now it’s for tourists and couples who want a romantic photo before arguing about where to eat.
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East Liberty and Shadyside: Cocktails With a Side of “I Have a Guy”
East Liberty and Shadyside are where Pittsburgh puts on its nice jeans. You’ll find craft cocktails, small plates, and people who say “I know a guy” about everything from wine to tax law.
Try Hidden Harbor for tiki drinks that come with tiny umbrellas and large consequences. Or Butcher and the Rye for whiskey and a menu that makes you want to quit your job and become a line cook.
In Shadyside, William Penn Tavern is a solid dive, while Walnut Street is for window shopping and pretending you can afford things.
Oakland: College Chaos, Cheap Eats, and Late-Night Wisdom
Oakland is home to Pitt and Carnegie Mellon, which means the bars are cheap and the conversations are loud.
Hit Hemingway’s for a classic college bar vibe, or The Porch for something slightly more grown-up. Then get fries at Primanti Bros again.
Final Call: Don’t Overthink It
Pittsburgh’s best night out isn’t one place. It’s a zigzag: South Side, Lawrenceville, an incline ride, and a conversation with a stranger.
Just remember: the city is hilly, the drinks are strong, and the parking chairs are sacred. If you see a lawn chair saving a spot, do not move it.
So go out, be friendly, and tip well. In Pittsburgh, you’re only a stranger until someone hands you a beer and asks if you’re hungry.
