Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Apteka

    4.4 (531 reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Apteka Photos

    Business Info

    APTEKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Apteka

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Merengue apple cake
    Goose R.

    Extensive menus. Beautiful plates. Great service. Delicious There was an hour wait. It's a little noisy for an old fart like me but it's a cool vibe for the young kids. No parking. Still. One of the best restaurants I have been and I will totally come back again.

    Olivia S.

    An amazing restaurant. We went at 8 on Friday and had a 20 minute wait for two people. You order at the counter and then the food is brought to your table. This was incredible polish food and all vegan. Ambiance was cozy moody yet light.

    Rye cake
    Elizabeth X.

    Innovative and delicious vegan food. The fried pierogies and spaetzle were my favorite, but the schnitzel was also very good. The bean soup was also good. I thought the potato dumplings were okay--the dumplings didn't really absorb the sauce and just tasted kinda like bland mochi or gnocchi. The desserts (carrot tart and rye cake) were not that good--I recognize that it's probably quite difficult to make those desserts without butter or milk. I also got the gin cocktail, which was fantastic--the puree really made it delicious. We had a reservation for Saturday 6 PM but the restaurant was accommodating when we called day of to push it back 30 minutes. Interesting format where they seat you, but you have to go up to the bar to order and "close out" your tab, but we didn't mind and were able to order quickly. The food also came out really quick. There's a cute outdoor space/garden in the back too, with some candles.

    Sujal M.

    Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh was not one I explored much when I lived there many years ago. But there was one place I went to there that I had to return to when I returned for a visit. Apteka. This was perfect for my wife, who is vegan. An all vegan Eastern-European eatery. Great weather added to the ambience. Plenty of plants in the background. We had a foursome with my friend and his husband. Apteka offers a service where you place your orders at the bar, and they come bring the food to you when it's ready. We started off with Hungarian fried bread (Langos) and then followed it with Salatka ziemniaczana. Potato salad with greens. Entree we had the pierogis. I mean, we Had to, back in Pittsburgh. Only thing missing was the cookie table but the dessert was great as well. Everything was comforting and filling. Plenty for us two. They had a special collab beer with 2 Frays, a brewery that is really solid. Was just starting off when I was leaving Pittsburgh 5 years ago and now has been pretty popular in Bloomfield. Overall, Apteka offers fine dining, inspired dishes with a vegan twist, and is a must. Reservations are a must as dining is limited to the weekend.

    Tea
    Ulyana K.

    I haven't been to an all vegan restaurant in a very long time, so this was a super cool place to be. Fantastic vibe in there as well, cool lighting (although something from up above kept falling). It's a highly acclaimed place for a reason. I got to try their beet soup (borscht), tea, potato pancake, and rice pudding dessert. The menu changes decently consistently I believe, and I did visit a little while ago, for notice. The food was very tasty. Huge potato pancake that was cooked perfectly with a nice topping of what I can only describe as vegan sour cream and some sort of very flavorful vegetables. I quite liked it, surprisingly tasty and creamy topping. Now the borscht, which I tend to be picky with, was just okay. The number one detractor for the borscht was the salt level. The food is just far, far too salty (the pancake was pretty salty too). Other than that, quite good. Love the side of rye. The dessert was very good. Surprisingly light. Came with a little caramelized baked fruit on top (apple/pear, something like that). Rice was reasonably creamy and very flavorful. So good! All in all, a nice spot for a nice dinner. Especially great for vegans. However, the food did taste too salty for my liking.

    Kotlet Selerowy
    Della S.

    On a short visit to Pittsburgh my friend insisted that we come here at least once. Even though there are still so many other restaurants I want to try in the city, I plan to come back every time I find myself in Pittsburgh again. I was so impressed by how delicious everything was (and trust me-- we ordered a lot), even as a non-vegan! The menu changes seasonally and I visited in mid-November, so I'm not sure how many of these items will still be around. We started with the Barszcz Ukrainski ($9)/borscht, which was smoky, savory, and comforting at the same time. Admittedly I haven't had a lot of borscht in my life, but I hope that every bowl I have in the future will be this good. We also got the Smazona Dynia w Ciescie ($11)/battered fried squash. This was a massive portion and the batter was so delicious that I did not miss having meat at all! I loved the nutty, almost bitter flavor that the charred pumpkin seeds added to the dish, and it balanced so nicely with the sweet plum sauce. Even though we had other dishes coming, I couldn't stop snacking on this dish (and probably ate too much). I couldn't come here without getting an order of their pierogi, so we went for the fried Smazone Pierogi ($20). The filling was so delicious and I also loved the slaw that came on the side. The vegan double fat added a lot of creaminess! The final dish we ordered was the Kotlet Selerowy ($22)/celeriac schnitzel. Again, I was super impressed! Every slaw it came with had a separate flavor profile and the celeriac was fried to the perfect crisp. The slaw added a lot of freshness to the overall dish so that it did not feel too heavy even though I was eating a fried dish. We chased the dishes with a pot of their wild tea ($6). I can't remember which one we picked (not the black tea), but honestly it just tasted like green tea to me. It kept us warm since we sat in the outdoor covered patio, but definitely did not stand out to me the way the rest of the dishes did! I hope it's clear that I really enjoyed my experience here. The wait is totally worth it, and I highly recommend anybody to check this place out!

    Kebab sandwich - yuba kebab with garlic yogurt, tahini cabbage + thyme salad, fresh cucumber, shaved jalapeño
    Karen H.

    We caught the last weekend of Apteka's annual vegan junk food pop up, Crapteka, this past weekend and it's something I look forward to every year! People line up ahead of time but it moves quickly and they give you a time to come back so you don't have to wait in line the whole time. The inside has a bar area, some smaller tables in the front section, and some larger tables in the back section. They do take Apple Pay. The fries with the fantasy mayo were a must, the burgers were so flavorful, and I dream about their sunflower seed milk shakes. The cocktails were perfectly balanced and delightful and I expected nothing less. Their burnt almond torte is my new favorite in Pittsburgh!

    Vinnie R.

    Apteka was such an interesting and enjoyable experience. One of my girlfriends invited me to dinner and I am so glad she did. It is a Central and Eastern European restaurant that serves all vegetarian food, which made it even more fun to try something different. When you first walk in, the ambience immediately stands out. It almost smells like wood burning or pinecones, which sounds random but was actually really cool and added to the whole vibe of the place. Once we sat down, it took us a little while to go through the menu and really understand everything, but after that we went up to the front and ordered multiple plates to share. I honestly think that is the best way to do it here so you can try a variety of dishes. Everything we ordered was really good and it made for such a fun group experience. Our servers were super sweet and kind. They answered all our questions and even took pictures of us so we could have memories from the night, which was really thoughtful. We were seated toward the back near the door and it got a little stuffy, so we asked if we could crack the door for some air. Our waiter was totally understanding and agreed it was warm back there, which we really appreciated. Overall, we had a great time and I definitely plan on coming back. It was a unique dining experience and we already talked about returning together as a group.

    Tammy L.

    Apteka is one of the more unique restaurants in Pittsburgh because everything is vegan and made with uncommon ingredients. The cuisine is eastern European and they source a lot of their ingredients locally/regionally. You order upon walking in and get seated afterwards. Such a great vibe when you walk in and it's definitely a place you need to lineup for in advance or make a reservation. I've never had the same thing twice (except for Crapteka!) because they rotate their menu so often and have such unique offerings. Probably my favorite time of the year is when they have flowers in stock to make a variety of fun dishes, like sunflower, ice cream, or grilled sunflower head. Their most popular dishes include their pierogies, which they are very well known for. All of their salads are incredible and the flavors are just unreal. They have amazing cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks made in house. Also a super family friendly restaurant which I love and they have an outdoor space in the warmer months that is just gorgeous and blooming with flowers in the spring/summer.

    Ikra i Lepinja

    I visited Apteka on a busy Friday evening around 8pm with 3 others and was almost immediately seated without a wait! They have an interesting way of ordering where you order your dishes before sitting down at the table so come prepared with what you want to eat. Since most of their dishes are meant to be eaten family style, they recommend that you order a couple dishes to share. We ordered the fried pierogis, Faszerowane Pomidory, sour pickle soup, and the Ikra i Lepinja. For dessert, we got the Szarlotka. I rate fried pierogis a 4.5/5 because they were really good but definitely not better than other pierogis I have tried. The tomato dish and the soup were 4.8/5. The bread paired so well the creamy tomato and the soup was just incredibly hearty. I would definitely reorder these items! The eggplant dish was also really yummy so I rate it a 4.7/5 but I don't think I would reorder it. Finally their dessert was a 4/5 for me! For some reason the texture of the meringue was just a little off for me. Overall, the food was good and just super warm and comforting. I imagine their food would tasty even better in the winter time with the snow! One thing I would recommend is to sit inside the restaurant and not outside. Outside there is hardly any lighting to the point that we were using our phones as flashlights to see the meals in front of us. However all in all, I think everyone should try Apteka, they put a lot of love in their food!

    Kluski Slaskie, Smazone Pierogi
    Brenda Y.

    This is my first time having this kind of European cuisine and it was definitely a great experience! I have never tried any dishes that were like these and it is crazy that it is all vegan. It is definitely worth trying out and getting a bunch of dishes to share and sample with friends or family. There's also a great indoor and outdoor seating area with great decor. The kitchen works very fast and the food almost came instantly.

    Line at 5:30
    Theresa W.

    We had an amazing meal at Apteka, in celebration of Mother's Day. The food is worth 5 stars but the unnecessarily long wait gets 4 stars. I don't see why one of the many online check in or reservation systems couldn't be used. Our wait totaled 2.5 hours. That said, the food is pretty amazing. We were seated outdoors in a candlelight tent which was pretty cool. Staff were friendly and the food came quickly. I'd go back but only if I can lineup before everyone else ;)

    Austin G.

    Apteka is worth the wait and there's usually a wait because it's that good. Growing up in Eastern Europe, I was intrigued by a vegan Eastern European restaurant, but Apteka nailed it. Walking up on a Saturday in May around 5:15pm, there was a line, but we only waited for 20-25 minutes before snagging a table for three. Here's our experience. 1) Experience: Their system is a little different than other restaurants. Once you get to the front of the line, you'll order at the register. You can either close out right away or start a tab. You're given a table number and escorted to an open table inside or on their back patio. Whenever you want to add to your tab, you go up to the register again. 2) Food: The menu changes and is written on a massive parchment paper as you walk into the restaurant. Everything is vegan and inspired by Eastern European cuisine. Once seated, the food comes out as it's ready. To feed three of us, we ordered the potato and sunflower dumplings in carrot and sunchoke sauces, potato salad, potato dumplings with creamy mushrooms, stuffed cabbage, and chocolate cake. Every single dish was full of flavor and executed well. Dishes we'll crave are the potato salad, dumplings in carrot and sunchoke sauces, and the chocolate cake. The only dish we didn't love was the cabbage roll, but it was still executed well. 3) Drinks: Don't sleep on their wine list. They also have drinks like kompot and housemade sodas with unique flavors like poppyseed and black pepper. 4) Space: It's a simple restaurant with appealing design. The tables are the right size. The bar seating is also recommended. 5) Service: Everyone was helpful and attentive.

    Beet soup

    See all

    3 years ago

    Food was alright but ordering was very confusing. Was underwhelming for the amount of hype surrounding it

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken L.
    4990
    1155
    21133

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tomasz S.

    Tomasz S.

    Helpful 38
    Thanks 0
    Love this 29
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cate J.
    0
    98
    71

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of - -.
    0
    13
    1

    2 years ago

    Super hyped for an establishment only open on Saturday and Sunday Expected more in terms of food choices. Service was ok

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andre S.
    412
    24
    88

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Laura S.
    89
    55
    37

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lindsey C.
    112
    31
    61

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vicky Z.
    469
    80
    101

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ginger P.
    90
    17
    44

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lena T.
    149
    10
    0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 5 of 14

    Apteka Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Apteka

    Do they have gluten free pereogies?

    I'm not sure, but they do have GF options. Also, on their website, it says they can make some items GF if requested. Its an awesome place! They're very proud of the food they serve (and should be), and I'm sure that would trickle over to… 

    Fernet scotch & apple cider? Sounds awesome! Feedback pls? TIA.

    I had this as a post-dinner drink and it was truly awesome! I love Fernet, but I'm not much of a one for Scotch but this was delicious, very well balanced. Highly recommend.

    View All 3 Questions

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Vegan 3,030 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Space Bar - MoonChata - Cantaloupe Infused Reposado Zumbador, Cantaloupe Juice, Lime, Vanilla Tamarind, Horchata Foam

    Space Bar

    4.7(89 reviews)
    3.3 mi•Downtown
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    LGBTQ friendly

    It's weird to review a place I haven't visited in person. But Space Bar took some of their staff to…read morethe 2026 World Science Fiction Convention in Anaheim, and hosted a party in the convention hotel (on August 28). The staff they had at the convention were all super-cool people. They served great drinks. I haven't seen their drink menu, so I just said a few words about what I like, and they mixed up good stuff -- at reduced alcohol per my request. Perfect! Best of all, they had the acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author Mary Robinette Kowal as their special guest. (But she lives in North Carolina, so don't expect her as a regular in the Pittsburgh location.) Space Bar is obviously LGBT+ friendly, but it's an everyone bar. OK, maybe not everyone: it will be more fun if you're interested in science fiction and fantasy, and don't upset the vibe. I'll be sure to visit the in-person location next time I'm in Pittsburgh.

    Loved this bar--the space-themed atmosphere, great energy, and kind staff. Funny enough, while we…read morewere getting coffee earlier that morning, one of the bartenders invited us to stop by later, not knowing it was already on our post-dinner itinerary. The cocktails were creative, playful, and impressively strong without sacrificing quality. I had the Seoular Flare, which had a noticeable kick but was still very drinkable. It came with BBQ chips, and when our bartender--the same guy from that morning--noticed how much I loved them, he brought me extra. Such a thoughtful touch. The rest of our drinks were equally inventive and well-crafted. I admittedly had some doubts about whether the creativity would translate into cocktails that actually tasted good, but they completely proved me wrong. A fun concept backed by genuinely great drinks and hospitality.

    Photos
    Space Bar - The Starlight

    The Starlight

    Space Bar - The Aztec Portal - a riff on a Mezcal Old Fashioned

    The Aztec Portal - a riff on a Mezcal Old Fashioned

    Space Bar

    See all

    Cocktails From The Crypt - Bucket Of Blood - Skyy Vodka, Hibiscus Tea, Chase Elderflower, Cinnamon/Clove Syrup, Lemon, Cherry Bark Bitters

    Cocktails From The Crypt

    4.4(9 reviews)
    3.1 mi•Downtown

    This appears to be a duplicate for the business but, I'll bite and write another review here…read more Spencer & his team do it again and again every year. This Halloween pop-up bar is hands down one of the best in the country. Themed, creepy, spooky, & ghoulish craft cocktails beyond your wildest imagination. Always spot on. Always delicious. And as always, a portion of sales are donated locally. Serving cocktails & the community. Bar staff and mixologists are some of the best in the business. Service is always stellar. Always. A lot of the drinks come in super fun themed cups & glasses. Don't be a D & steal them. This is a small business giving back.

    I have an end of October birthday so I'm a sucker for all things Halloween…read more This place is so much fun. Every square inch is covered theme Halloween/spooky decor. Thankfully nothing is overly gory or too creepy. To avoid a line, it is best to go right at opening or about an hour before it closes. There is a list of fun themed drinks served in quirky glasses that match the theme of the drink (a mummy, for example). I visited three times and tried a different drink each time. One thing is that they can (and often do) search your bag to make sure you don't steal the glassware. Sad that they need to so that, but I guess I understand why they need to check. If you are looking for a quirky, fun experience while downtown, definitely check it out.

    Photos
    Cocktails From The Crypt - Jeffery Doll-mer - Apple Cider, Pear, Wine, Lime, Brandy, Cinnamon - It comes in a doll head

    Jeffery Doll-mer - Apple Cider, Pear, Wine, Lime, Brandy, Cinnamon - It comes in a doll head

    Cocktails From The Crypt - Screaming Skull - Reposado Tequila, Lime, Passionfruit, Honey - Served in a SKULL!

    Screaming Skull - Reposado Tequila, Lime, Passionfruit, Honey - Served in a SKULL!

    Cocktails From The Crypt - CFTC Old Fashioned - Old Grandad Bonded Whiskey, Pumpkin Spice, Bitters

    See all

    CFTC Old Fashioned - Old Grandad Bonded Whiskey, Pumpkin Spice, Bitters

    Unspeakable - Entrance to the bar!

    Unspeakable

    4.9(20 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Lawrenceville

    We've been here 4+ times now. Unspeakable has such an incredible vibe--cozy, intimate, and dimly…read morelit in a way that feels perfect for a date night or catching up with a close friend. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit. The drinks are definitely crafted with care and have a lot of complexity, but with only two bartenders working, it took quite a while to get ours. Not the place to go if you want quick service or are grabbing a drink before another event. My biggest downside is the price point--most cocktails are around $17. They're good, but at that price I can really only justify having one. Note: They do not have food, just snacks like peanuts. Overall, amazing ambiance and well-made drinks, just expect slower service and a higher bill.

    I hadn't been to Unspeakable in a while, so I decided to go have a cocktail. The ambiance is still…read morethe same which is nice. In addition to indoor seating on the first and second floor, they also have a fenced in patio outside for sitting. As we sat outside, we saw groups of people who could not figure out how to get into the speakeasy. Another thing that happened was that they closed early the night that I went because of the lack of customers. A group was trying to come in as we were leaving but we told them they were closing for the night. So be aware of that, if you're planning to go late night (past 11 pm). However, the drinks were amazing as always! They now added a couple of small bites so we tried the cucumbers. They were delicious and packed with flavor! Our drinks were great as always. They have even more options than the last time I was there which was nice! I still really enjoy this little space!

    Photos
    Unspeakable - Upstairs fireplace

    Upstairs fireplace

    Unspeakable - Violet desert

    Violet desert

    Unspeakable

    See all

    Apteka - vegan - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...