Pittsburgh’s drinking culture is defined by its neighborhoods — and this city has 90 of them. Each hilltop, river bend, and former steel town has its own watering holes with their own regulars. The Iron City and shot-and-a-beer tradition persists, but Pittsburgh’s cocktail and craft beer scenes have exploded in the last decade, especially in Lawrenceville and the Strip District.
Butterjoint
Oakland — Attached to the acclaimed Legume restaurant, Butterjoint is a cocktail bar that treats drinks with the same seriousness the kitchen treats food. The menu changes seasonally and leans into unusual ingredients. Order: whatever seasonal cocktail features their house-made bitters — the bartenders love explaining their process.
Gooski’s
Polish Hill — A punk dive bar on the hill with cheap drinks, a legendary jukebox, and pierogies on the menu. The crowd is a mix of old-timers and younger creative types who’ve discovered the neighborhood. Order: an IC Light and a shot of whatever’s cheapest. Eat the pierogies.
Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery
Strip District — A craft rum distillery with a tasting room that serves cocktails made exclusively from their spirits. The rum is exceptional — they’ve won national awards — and the industrial Strip District setting fits the vibe. Order: a daiquiri made with their white rum. Simple, perfect.
Spirits & Tales
East Liberty — The rooftop bar at the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, offering panoramic views of the city skyline. Craft cocktails, a curated beer list, and a design-forward space that feels more Brooklyn than Steel City. Order: a gin-based cocktail while watching the sunset paint the skyline orange.
Wigle Whiskey
Strip District — Named after Philip Wigle of the Whiskey Rebellion, this distillery produces small-batch whiskeys, gins, and bitters in the Strip. The barrelhouse tasting room is gorgeous. Order: a flight of their whiskeys or a cocktail featuring their organic rye.
Roundabout Brewery
Lawrenceville — A neighborhood brewery with a laid-back taproom that feels like drinking in someone’s very cool garage. They focus on English and American styles without chasing trends. Order: their English mild or whatever small-batch experiment is on tap.
Hidden Harbor
Squirrel Hill — A tiki bar that takes the craft seriously, with house-made syrups, fresh juices, and a rum list that would make a Caribbean bartender nod in respect. The theming is immersive without being cheesy. Order: the Jet Pilot or their seasonal punch bowl (meant for sharing, but no judgment).
Brillobox
Bloomfield — A two-story bar in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy — dive bar downstairs, live music and DJs upstairs. It’s been a Bloomfield anchor for years, drawing an eclectic crowd that reflects the neighborhood. Order: a local craft beer downstairs before heading up for whatever’s playing.
The Warren Bar & Burrow
Downtown — A subterranean cocktail bar beneath the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. The dark, intimate space and serious cocktail program make it feel like a secret worth keeping. Order: their Manhattan variation — they do stirred, spirit-forward drinks exceptionally well.
Lawrenceville (Butler Street) is the epicenter of new Pittsburgh nightlife — walkable and packed with options. Bloomfield and Polish Hill deliver more neighborhood character. The Strip District is great for distillery visits, and South Side (Carson Street) is the classic Pittsburgh party strip — rowdy and relentless on weekends. Explore our Pittsburgh venue directory and Pittsburgh city page for more.