The Best Bars for Foodies in Pittsburgh

by The OpenTable Team

Updated February 26, 2020

The city of Pittsburgh sits right at the point where the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River. Formerly a center of industry in the state of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is no longer just a coal and steel town of yesteryear. The city has a very unique layout and character and has grown into a scenic metropolis with plenty of things to see and do. The Golden Triangle forms the city center, named for the point where the three rivers meet. Here, you’ll find the historic Point State Park and the lively Strip District with its many markets, boutiques and eateries. Pittsburgh has a bustling downtown and Cultural District with spots like the Carnegie Museums, the Museum of Natural History and more. And when it comes to nightlife, Pittsburgh has you covered. If you’re wondering where the locals go in the evening hours, check out our Tastemaker List of the best bars in Pittsburgh!

The Harmony Inn

4.3

4.3 (576)

$30 and under

German

Cranberry

About the restaurant

The Harmony Inn, located about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh in the small town of Harmony, is a German Style Restaurant and Craft Beer destination. Locals swear it’s worth the drive to hang out in this beautifully historic part of Pittsburgh and indulge in the selection of over 50 taps! The beers come from local Craft brewers and make a perfect pairing with their excellent German food. The venue offers gorgeous outdoor patio seating with an additional bar so you can order food and drinks to your heart’s content. Plus, rumors have it it's a haunted space, so you can hear all the famous ghost stories from the staff!

Top review

Michelle

Dined 5 days ago

Beautiful historic tavern in downtown Harmony PA. Ambiance and atmosphere is a 10. I ordered the Vienna Schnitzel with potato pancake appetizer. Amazing food and very high quality. However, I give the service a 3 out of 10. Young woman working the front desk was extremely overwhelmed and confused between reservations and people walking in waiting for tables. Was openly communicating how stressed she was. Waitress came to our table quickly after we were seated outside but took an extremely long time to get us our drinks and food. I watched her stand at the bar with our drinks in hand for over 10 minutes while she had a casual conversation with another customer. This happened twice. My husband ordered an entree with a side salad and she never brought the salad to our table. She was very nice, but super slow and appeared to be easily distracted by other people's conversations which slowed her down considerably. She would disappear for 20+ minutes at a time and would never see her. Would definitely go back there again but a lot of attention needs to be paid on wait staff not socializing while serving tables which is slowing them down. Also girl at front desk cannot handle that position was extremely overwhelmed and confused. People appeared to be very frustrated with her openly verbailizing her stress.

City Works - Pittsburgh

4.5

4.5 (966)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

City Works is a massive gastropub in Pittsburgh, perfectly situated in PPG Place for after-work happy hours and watching sports games on one of the 15 TVs. Usually bustling with groups of people during happy hour, it’s a giant space with several different areas to cater to different experiences. Choose one of the high top tables near the bar and TVs to be close to the action or one of the comfier booths and tables for more privacy. The bar has 90 beers on tap! And they always feature at least 25% local beers from breweries in the area. Choose your favorites and indulge in tasty food, like fried cheese curds, pretzel bites and crab fondue!

Top review

Nakimera

Dined on Sep 11, 2024

Service was excellent! The restaurant was very patient and considerate when we were running late.

Siempre Algo

4.9

4.9 (626)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Siempre Algo, located on the North Side of Pittsburgh, is a fantastic neighborhood retreat for dining and drinking. The setting features a bustling dining room, low lighting and an open kitchen. Their menu offers a take on tapas-style dining with delicious sharable places like ceviche, homemade pretzels, sweetbreads and more. Siempro Algo means “always something” in Spanish and that is what the restaurant is all about - making sure your experience here is always something!

Top review

Judyvip

Dined 2 days ago

What a special dinner! Erin was so welcoming and enthusiastic as she shared information about the menu. She carefully tracked down information to confirm what met my dietary needs. And the food was delicious!

Cioppino Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (1628)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Downtown

About the restaurant

Cioppino Restaurant and Cigar Bar offers a seasonal dinner menu featuring fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks and chops. They also have a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options for choosier diners. And it is definitely one of the best bars in Pittsburgh, offering a wine list with over 250 domestic and international labels and an onsite luxury Cigar Bar with a collection of over 300 whiskeys and a premium cigar selection! Happy Hour is the best time to go, with specials on draft beers, cocktails and bar food selections every day!

Top review

Paulavip

Dined on Sep 10, 2024

Wonderful evening at cioppino We ordered several appetizers, two steaks and the CioppinoFood was delicious — Perfectly seasoned not too salty. Very fresh very enjoyable meal. Wine pairings were great. The service was absolutely impeccable, which we greatly appreciated. It was a special celebration and we could not have felt more welcomed or spoiled a very special night.

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Popular dish

Cioppino Burger

Popular dish

Chilean Sea Bass Oscar

Carmella's Plates and Pints

4.6

4.6 (680)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Carmella’s Plates and Pints is a lovely place to dine and drink in the heart of the Historic Southside. The first restaurant for co-owners Carmella Salem and Michael Alberter, it’s already a local favorite! The interior is warm and cozy with a wood-beamed cathedral ceiling, open fireplace, taxidermy and stained glass windows that adorn the dining room. They serve up hearty meals like a Bison Burger and Smoked Wild Boar Meatballs. The expansive whiskey bar boasts over 500 selections of whiskey and they also offer 11 wines on tap, 27 craft beers and 11 cocktails ready-made!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

Spectacular from start to finish! I had to modify my reservation at the last minute on a busy evening and it was no trouble at all! Food had a unique twist on traditional dishes. A little pricer than my typical college student and friends meal but happy to pay extra for this experience!! Top notch.

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Popular dish

Mushroom Risotto

The Foundry Table & Tap

4.3

4.3 (773)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Foundry Table & Tap is one of the best bars in Pittsburgh dor amazing food. It’s an award-winning gastropub on Pittsburgh’s booming North Shore and is perfect for a date night, weekend hang or a business dinner. The Foundry features farm-fresh local and seasonal cuisine as well as an extensive selection of craft and creative cocktails. During warmer months, you can sit outside on the river-side patio to enjoy amazing views of the Alleghany River and the downtown skyline. They also have an awesome happy hour with specials on beer, wine, cocktails and small plates.

Top review

Christy

Dined 6 days ago

Every person who works there is wonderful! Food was good, drinks were great. Service was the best part of the evening though!

Atria's - Pleasant Hills

4.4

4.4 (1471)

$30 and under

American

Pleasant Hills

About the restaurant

Atria’s, located on Clairton Road in the Pleasant Hills neighborhood, is a true staple in the Pittsburgh community. For over half a century, people have made Atria’s their very own neighborhood restaurant and one visit here will have you hooked. They pride themselves on offering a unique combo of entrees prepared fresh daily using the freshest ingredients from local farms. They offer huge menu of delicious bits to soak up the drinks, including their famous Pot Roast Nachos, Pork Filet Gorgonzola, Hickory Smoked BBQ Ribs and more.

Top review

Judy

Dined on Aug 26, 2024

Always a delightful experience to dine there, super friendlyvl and attentive staff, excellent food and welcoming atmosphere.

Napa Prime Chophouse

4.9

4.9 (2253)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Warrendale

About the restaurant

Locally owned and operated, Napa Prime offers chef-inspired gourmet burgers, fresh seafood, small plates, and more. It’s a traditional steakhouse setting with innovative cuisine added into the mix. The setting has a rustic-chic ambiance with an open oyster bar, outdoor dining and a chef’s table inside the kitchen! The bar features an ultra Premium Wine by the Glass list and they also have an adjoining Cigar and luxury spirits lounge! Indulge in a cocktail or whiskey along with a cut of 1855 ranch’s prime beef.

Top review

Ignacio

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing experience. Amazing food. Everything was perfect.

Jacksons - Southpointe

4.4

4.4 (553)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Canonsburg

About the restaurant

Jacksons is the classy but casual restaurant and bar on Southpointe Drive next to the Hilton Garden Inn. Established in 2001, it is a longtime favorite gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. They have a unique open kitchen with a brick oven and wood fire grill and the cuisine features artfully-prepared new American food. The menu changes as the seasons change and dishes include Crab Cakes, steaks and the freshest seafood. The bar is a great place to relax with a signature martini and watch the game on one of the big-screen TVs.

Top review

Vinod

Dined on Aug 13, 2024

Excellent as always. Had the Brussels sprouts appetizer and ny strip. My girlfriend had the filet which was undercooked to her liking and had to be sent back to cook a little longer. Overall though great would definitely be back.

Off The Hook

4.8

4.8 (4886)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Warrendale

About the restaurant

Off The Hook, located on Warrendale Village Drive in Pittsburgh, is the town’s seafood authority! They feature the bounty of American fishermen with fresh fish offerings flown in daily. Choose a seat at the custom raw bar and enjoy watching the culinary staff hard at work on your feast! In addition to the very best seafood, they also offer USDA Prime steaks, vegetarian and gluten-free options. The bar also features an awesome Happy Hour with mixed cocktails, house wines and beer on special.

Top review

ChristiaZ

Dined 2 days ago

As always, our dining experience at Off the Hook was fabulous ! Mary was professional, attentive, made great recommendations, and provided us with outstanding service! Our meals never disappoint. They we’re beyond delicious!!! Looking forward to dining there again soon!

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North Country Brew Pub

4.6

4.6 (539)

$30 and under

Brewery

Cranberry

About the restaurant

North Country Brewing Co. is one of the most popular bars in Pittsburgh. Located on Main Street in the Cranberry neighborhood, it’s a rustic English-style family pub and restaurant. The decor features whimsical wood carvings and country charm and the vibe is old-fashioned and charming. A long-time destination for great beer, the pub offers signature craft beers alongside a full menu of farm-to-table comfort fare. It is a pillar of the community and locals love the wild selection of experimental brews, like the bacon-flavored beer and chai tea infused ales!

Top review

Williamvip

Dined 5 days ago

Food was great but a smallish table. On my bill they offered recommended tips, 20,22 and 25 percent BUT they included the tax in the calculation. Do they expect a customer to pay a tip on the tax????

Kaya

4.7

4.7 (2654)

$30 and under

Caribbean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Strip District, Kaya is a casually elegant place for drinks and delicious, exotic food. The cuisine melds fresh, ingredients with bold flavor and preparation. Executive Chef Marty Sons incorporates the culinary customs of the Caribbean Islands, South America, the Pacific and beyond. Come in to sample some of their best creations, like the Conch Fritters, Tropical Guacamole and Yucatan Hot Bean Dip. They also have a diverse selection of festive, tropical drinks to enjoy.

Top review

Alanvip

Dined 1 day ago

Kaya has been awesome for years. Still is. The food is well prepared, the craft beer selection is very good.

The Commoner

4.7

4.7 (2349)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Commoner, a stylish gastropub located inside Kimpton Hotel Monaco, is anything but common. This downtown Pittsburgh restaurant features American classics with a touch of the unexpected. The vibrant design recalls the city’s industrial past and it offers a warm and inviting retreat for a drink or two. The kitchen is all about adding a modern flourish to classic comfort foods and they serve authentic, locally-focused dishes that showcase the huge wood-fired oven in the open kitchen. The bar is always hopping and features a robust selection of local beers and craft spirits to round out the American Tavern feel.

Top review

Jack

Dined 2 days ago

Business lunch. Limited menu but well prepared. Service attentive but not intrusive. A bit pricey.

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Bonfire Food and Drink

4.6

4.6 (491)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Bonfire Food and Drink is a welcome addition to the south side of Pittsburgh! The Upstairs offers a curated, contemporary American dining experience for locals and visitors. Located on the corner of 21st and East Carson Street, it has a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere and features a menu of delectable cuisine along with great wine and cocktails. Menu items include Mussels, mushroom veloute, Root Vegetable Pot Pie, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and more.

Top review

Keithvip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

We went to Bonfire for my son’s 21st birthday. We asked to be seated where we would have room for the presents. They were very accommodating. The food was fantastic. The desserts were to die for. They put a candle in the dessert. Highly recommend Bonfire.

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