Upscale in Pittsburgh

Morcilla ★ 4.8

lawrenceville · 3519 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Morcilla in Lawrenceville pours sherry and Spanish tapas in Pittsburgh. Justin Severino's charcuterie-driven room and a James Beard semifinalist.

Tip: Reservations on Resy go fast for weekends. The standing bar holds space for walk-ins early in the evening.

Fet-Fisk ★ 4.7

bloomfield · 4786 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Fet-Fisk in Bloomfield serves Nordic seafood and oysters in Pittsburgh; a 2025 Bon Appetit best-new-restaurant pick and the year's James Beard finalist.

Tip: Open Thursday to Monday, dinner from 17:00. Book on Resy; the bar stays open later than the kitchen.

Pusadee's Garden ★ 4.6

lawrenceville · 5319 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Pusadee's Garden in Upper Lawrenceville plates traditional Thai in a courtyard garden in Pittsburgh. A family-run room with a James Beard semifinalist nod.

Tip: Reservations open one day at a time, thirty days ahead at 07:00 on Resy. The garden patio is the seat to get.

DiAnoia's Eatery ★ 4.5

strip-district · 2549 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

DiAnoia's Eatery in the Strip District serves house-made pasta and Italian breakfast in Pittsburgh. A corner room often voted the city's best Italian.

Tip: Open early for breakfast and lunch; dinner books up on weekends. The bakery counter runs separately at the front.

The Vandal ★ 4.5

lawrenceville · 4306 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

The Vandal in Lawrenceville serves a tight seasonal menu and a five-seat wine bar in Pittsburgh. A small room the Post-Gazette named one of the city's best.

Tip: The dining room and the five-seat wine bar take different bookings. Reserve ahead on Resy for weekends.

Hidden Harbor ★ 4.5

squirrel-hill · 1708 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Hidden Harbor on Shady Avenue in Squirrel Hill is a nationally-ranked tiki bar in Pittsburgh. Over 600 rums and house-made tropical cocktails.

Tip: One of the country's best tiki bars. Go for the rum list and the elaborate exotic drinks.

Balvanera ★ 4.4

strip-district · 1660 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Balvanera in the Strip District serves Argentine asado in Pittsburgh. Chef Fernando Navas runs the wood-fired grill in a converted 1920s terminal warehouse.

Tip: The dining room takes reservations; the bar and bodega area are first-come walk-ins. Parking lots sit behind the Terminal.

Dish Osteria and Bar ★ 4.4

south-side · 128 S 17th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Dish Osteria on the South Side serves Sicilian-leaning Italian in Pittsburgh. A small candlelit room locals have booked for special nights since 2000.

Tip: Dinner only, no lunch. The room is small and books up; reserve ahead for weekends.

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina ★ 4.4

downtown · 146 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina on 6th Street downtown grills Argentine meats over a wood fire in Pittsburgh. A counter-order room with a citywide following.

Tip: Order at the counter; lines form at lunch. The room moved to 6th Street downtown from the Strip.

Fet-Fisk Bar ★ 4.4

bloomfield · 4786 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

The horseshoe bar at Fet-Fisk on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield is one of Pittsburgh's best perches. Snaps, low-intervention wine and oysters at the counter.

Tip: The bar stays open later than the kitchen. A great spot for oysters and a glass solo.

Bar Marco ★ 4.4

strip-district · 2216 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Bar Marco on Penn Avenue in the Strip District is a natural-wine bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh. A high-ceilinged room with a downstairs tasting room.

Morcilla (sherry bar) ★ 4.4

lawrenceville · 3519 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

The standing bar at Morcilla on Butler Street in Lawrenceville pours sherry, vermouth and Spanish wine in Pittsburgh. Justin Severino's charcuterie alongside.

Casbah ★ 4.3

shadyside · 229 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Casbah in Shadyside serves Mediterranean wood-grilled cooking in Pittsburgh. A long-running big Burrito Group room with a serious wine list.

Tip: The patio is the seat in warm weather. Reserve ahead; Shadyside fills on weekend evenings.

Hey Babe ★ 4.3

east-liberty · 120 S Whitfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Hey Babe in East Liberty serves seasonal small plates and a serious cocktail list in Pittsburgh. A bar-forward room ranked among the city's best.

Tip: Bar seats hold space for walk-ins. The cocktail program is the draw as much as the kitchen.

Poulet Bleu ★ 4.3

lawrenceville · 3517 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Poulet Bleu in Lawrenceville serves a Parisian bistro menu in Pittsburgh. Richard DeShantz's French room sits next door to Morcilla on Butler Street.

Tip: The room runs full-on belle-epoque French. Reserve ahead; the bar takes a few walk-ins.

Siempre Algo ★ 4.3

north-side · 414 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Siempre Algo in Deutschtown serves a New American tasting menu and cocktails in Pittsburgh. A small North Side room ranked among the city's best.

Tip: Small and reservation-driven. Book ahead on Resy for the counter and dining room.

Lilith ★ 4.3

shadyside · 238 Spahr St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Lilith in Shadyside serves contemporary cooking with Sicilian and Puerto Rican accents in Pittsburgh. A women-led room ranked among the city's best.

Tip: A short walk off Walnut Street. Reserve ahead; the cocktails are as much a draw as the kitchen.

Acacia ★ 4.3

south-side · 2108 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Acacia on East Carson Street in the South Side is a low-lit cocktail bar in Pittsburgh. A calmer corner of the bar strip built for conversation.

Tip: A quieter spot on a rowdy strip. Tell the bartender what you like and let them build it.

Tina's ★ 4.3

bloomfield · 4114 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Tina's on Main Street in Bloomfield is a retro cocktail bar and bottle shop in Pittsburgh. Inventive drinks, a jukebox and board games in a compact room.

Tip: A cocktail bar and bottle shop in one. The retro room and jukebox are the draw.

Butterjoint ★ 4.3

oakland · 208 N Craig St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Butterjoint on North Craig Street in Oakland is a bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh. Classic cocktails, a strong burger and house pierogi near Pitt.

Tip: Come for the burger and pierogi as much as the drinks. Happy hour is the value play.

Bridges & Bourbon ★ 4.3

downtown · 930 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Bridges & Bourbon on Penn Avenue downtown is a high-end cocktail bar in Pittsburgh. A long bourbon list and serious cocktails in the Cultural District.

Tip: One of downtown's best cocktail programs. Handy before a Cultural District show.

The Vandal Wine Bar ★ 4.3

lawrenceville · 4306 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

The five-seat wine bar at The Vandal on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is a fine perch in Pittsburgh. Low-intervention pours and snacks beside the kitchen.

Fig & Ash ★ 4.2

north-side · 514 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Fig & Ash in Deutschtown serves wood-fired American comfort food in Pittsburgh. A North Side room built around an open hearth and a strong weekend brunch.

Tip: Brunch is the locals' pick. Reserve for weekend evenings; the bar takes walk-ins.

Girasole ★ 4.2

shadyside · 733 Copeland St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Girasole on Copeland Street in Shadyside serves regional Italian cooking in Pittsburgh. A below-street room locals have booked for handmade pasta for years.

Tip: Tucked below street level off Walnut. Reserve ahead; the room is intimate and fills.

Meat & Potatoes ★ 4.2

downtown · 649 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Meat & Potatoes on Penn Avenue downtown serves a chef-driven American gastropub menu in Pittsburgh. Richard DeShantz's first room and a brunch staple.

Tip: Handy before a show in the Cultural District. Reserve for weekend brunch and pre-theatre dinner.

Alta Via ★ 4.2

east-liberty · 46 Fox Chapel Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Alta Via in Fox Chapel serves Northern Italian cooking from big Burrito in Pittsburgh. Wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta and a strong by-the-glass list.

Tip: There is also a downtown Alta Via location. Reserve ahead for the Fox Chapel original.

Spirits & Tales ★ 4.2

oakland · 5130 Bigelow Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Spirits & Tales atop the Oaklander Hotel serves New American plates with a rooftop view in Pittsburgh. Seasonal cooking above the university district.

Tip: The rooftop is the draw in warm weather. Reserve a terrace table ahead.

Bar Botanico ★ 4.2

lawrenceville · 4325 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Bar Botanico on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is a plant-filled cocktail bar in Pittsburgh. Botanical drinks and small plates in a greenhouse-style room.

Tip: The greenhouse room is the seat. Good for a date; the cocktails lean herbal and floral.

Space Bar ★ 4.2

downtown · 22 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Space Bar on Market Square downtown is a small cocktail bar in Pittsburgh. A tight, design-forward room mixing seasonal drinks in the Golden Triangle.

Tip: Small and intimate; get there early on weekends. A reliable downtown cocktail stop.

Wigle Whiskey ★ 4.2

strip-district · 2401 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Wigle Whiskey on Smallman Street in the Strip District is a distillery and tasting room in Pittsburgh. Grain-to-glass whiskey and cocktails.

Tip: Take a distillery tour, then drink cocktails in the tasting room. A Strip District original.

Grapperia ★ 4.2

lawrenceville · 3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Grapperia on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is an Italian aperitivo bar in Pittsburgh. Amaro, grappa and aperitivo cocktails above Piccolo Forno.

Tip: An Italian amaro-focused bar from the Piccolo Forno team. Good for a pre-dinner aperitivo.

Hey Babe ★ 4.2

east-liberty · 120 S Whitfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Hey Babe on South Whitfield Street in East Liberty is a cocktail-driven lounge in Pittsburgh. Seasonal drinks and bites in the old YMCA hotel building.

Tip: Bar seats hold space for walk-ins. The cocktail card changes with the season.

The Allegheny Wine Mixer ★ 4.2

lawrenceville · 5326 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

The Allegheny Wine Mixer on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is a wine bar and taproom in Pittsburgh. An eclectic glass list with cheese, charcuterie.

Solera Wine Co ★ 4.2

lawrenceville · 4839 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Solera Wine Co on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is a wine bar and bottle shop in Pittsburgh. Bottles to drink in or take away, with a small-plates menu.

Lilith ★ 4.2

shadyside · 238 Spahr St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Lilith on Spahr Street in Shadyside pours a contemporary wine list beside its kitchen in Pittsburgh. A women-led room with Sicilian and Puerto Rican plates.

Muddy Waters Oyster Bar ★ 4.1

east-liberty · 130 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Muddy Waters Oyster Bar in East Liberty serves a raw bar and Gulf-leaning seafood in Pittsburgh. Oysters, po'boys and one of the city's long happy hours.

Tip: The oyster happy hour is the value play. Walk-in friendly; bar seats face the shuckers.

Senti ★ 4.1

lawrenceville · 3473 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Senti on Butler Street in Lower Lawrenceville serves seasonal Italian cooking in Pittsburgh. Handmade pasta and a garden patio on the renaissance strip.

Tip: The garden patio is the seat in summer. Reserve for weekend dinner.

The Summit ★ 4.1

mount-washington · 200 Shiloh St, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

The Summit on Shiloh Street in Mount Washington is a cocktail bar with a skyline view in Pittsburgh. Drinks and small plates above the Grandview overlooks.

Tip: Go at dusk for the skyline. A more relaxed alternative to the big Grandview rooms.

Brillobox ★ 4.1

bloomfield · 4104 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Brillobox on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield is a bar and music venue in Pittsburgh. An art-filled corner room with cocktails downstairs and live shows upstairs.

Tip: Check the upstairs music calendar. The downstairs bar runs late on weekends.

The Finch ★ 4.1

south-side · 59 S 2nd St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

The Finch on South 2nd Street in the South Side is a cocktail bar in Pittsburgh. Drinks and small plates in the old Duquesne Brewery distillery complex.

Tip: Set in the historic distillery complex. A more grown-up South Side option.