When apartment hunting in Pittsburgh, the typical advice is to live where you’ll want to eat, hang out, and play because people pretty much stick to their neighborhood. This list is a small nudge to get out of your routine and venture elsewhere. We all love our local bar, but set loyalties aside for a nigh and try something new in the ‘Burgh.
The Independent Brewing Company
1704 Shady Avenue | (412) 422-5040
This is a bar, not a brewery. The Independent’s name dates back to pre-prohibition and refers to a group of brewers who “represented the interests of small, local breweries from the Pittsburgh region.” This, too, is the core principle of The Independent in its current incarnation. A tavern dedicated to the region, the draft list is comprised entirely of beer that’s brewed in western Pennsylvania.
Smallman Galley
54 21st Street | (412) 281-0949
Located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, Smallman Galley features both a beer and cocktail bar, as well as a coffee bar and four restaurant concepts. The restaurants change every eighteen months and the bar features a rotating themed drink menu, plus an all-Pennsylvania beer list — plenty of reasons to keep you coming back.
Piper’s Pub
1828 E Carson Street | (412) 381-3977
Established in 1999, Piper’s Pub is the place to go for “a taste of the British Isles.” Pop in for a soccer match, a Scotch egg, and a 20 oz draft of London Pride. Or, if you prefer something stateside, the draft list is huge and highlights over a dozen different Pennsylvania brewers.
Hough’s
563 Greenfield Avenue | (412) 586-5944
Penguins, fries on your salad, homemade perogies, over 70 different drafts — Hough’s meets all of Pittsburgh’s needs. To further entice you, they offer $4 pints during happy hour, daily specials, and Brewery of the Month tap takeovers.
The Ace Hotel
120 S Whitfield Street | (412) 361-3300
Relaxed, inspired, and atmospheric, the Lobby Bar at Ace Hotel is cooler than your hippest friend’s living room. Couches, coffee tables, and bookshelves will make you feel right at home. The perfect space to gather, The Ace offers daily Happy Hour from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and is open until 2 a.m. This is a place you’ll want to show off to out-of-towners or enjoy on your own for a cozy night out.
