I love Gooski's. I love it so hard. Sadly, it's been about three years since I've paid a visit -- unwisely moved out of the state -- but as soon as this blizzard clears up and I can get on a bus, I plan to remedy that. Best jukebox in town, great beers for cheap, awesome bartenders, and a giant Oriental carpet that has "F*** YOU" chalked onto it back by the pool tables; what more could you want? They used to have the best wings I've ever eaten anywhere, and that particularly includes at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo (those sucked). But I see below that someone said they've stopped serving food so they can still allow smoking. Can this be true? I might cry, or at the least have a moment of silence for the Old Bay wings. Many are the nights when a Straub and a basket of those wings served as dinner after a too-long shift at work followed by a too-long bus ride and walk up the hill. At least the last time I was there, it was cash only, but they have a convenient ATM located near the bar. The bathroom graffiti is legendary. read more

Awesome dive bar in polish hill. Tim is an awesome nordic ice warrior prince who slays the bar. Food is above par for bar food. They have great weekly specials and it's a nice place to see a show. The atmosphere, like most dive bars, depends on how packed it is; you can go have a quite drink and smoke with a few friends at a booth, or be packed and wait a few for a drinks. Love this place. read more

Gooski's is my favorite dive bar in Pittsburgh though I tend not to go there when it's snowy or icy since it requires negotiating very steep hills. They do have a surprisingly good beer selection and the bartenders are nice. If you ask, they will give you candy if they have it. They do have perogies that are decent, but pretty expensive for perogies. You can get a pizza delivered there if the kitchen is closed. It is pretty smokey, which is typical for Pittsburgh despite their attempts to pass no smoking laws. Fridays is a good night if you want to see live music(there is a cover). Sometimes the music is good and sometimes it's a strange hair metal band, which is also pretty awesome in it's own way. read more

It has been a looooonnnnngggg time since I have been to Gooski's. I am talking 1996/1997 back in my earlier years of college. Not much has changed :) I still love the place. Since moving to the Polish Hill area, my husband and I have been meaning to get to Gooski's and we finally made it there this past Sunday. We were out watching some football and were looking to go out for a bit closer to home, and the choice of a place could not be better. When we got there, it was not busy and we took a few seats at the end of the bar. We were greeted promptly by Tim. We ordered some nicely poured drinks and got chatting with him. Very nice guy. They got busier while we were there and he always remained attentive. Whether we were getting food or drinks, he was awesome. Quite the pleasure after my horrifying experience at the Primanti's in Mt Lebanon earlier in the day. Some great things about Gooski's... the wings! You can get a bucket of 50 and split the flavors even (most places would not allow this in my experience). They were amazing. Plump and yummy wings. I got the Honey BBQ and they were some of the best that I have ever had. Ever. They also bread their own provolone sticks... they were huge and scrumptious as well! I am also in love with their french fries. They have a huge selection of craft beers, and a pretty well stocked bar (they have the Macallan 12 and 18... pretty impressive) and their drinks are priced great! I love Gooski's.... this is now one of my favorite places to go in the new 'hood. Good service, cheap prices and yummy food... you cannot go wrong here. read more

While the place is smoke filled I enjoy the atmosphere. It's not pretentious and I don't feel like I have to be remotely concerned with what I look like here. Mostly because it's also rather dark. It has a nice section in the back to play pool and just to relax however, it's not the most appealing bar that I have seen or would like to frequent. It is however, nice enough. Cheap drinks and cheap atmosphere read more

Probably my favorite Pgh bar, started going here 10 years ago and it was an instant attraction. I leave reality outside the door, it's a total escape. Great beer selection, never ate food other than potato chips, fireplace working in the back room in the winter, pool tables, great juke box selection, it's your fantasy rock n roll basement. Downside - they need a smoke eater, when I leave there, get home and strip down and hang my clothes outside, go straight to the shower, the smoke is out of control. read more

Gooski's is the best bar in Pittsburgh for several reasons: 1. Best jukebox in Pittsburgh. 2. Cheap drinks, with a wide selection of beers and liquor. 3. Awesome staff - people who are friendly, love their job and do it well. 4. The crowd is usually a mix of fun, nice, and interesting people. 5. 75 cent pool table, free ping-pong. 6. Great wings (the cajun wings are fantastic). 7. They have HDTVs for sports, 8. A backroom that doubles as venue for shows. read more

Can you get more of a dive bar than Gooski's? Admittedly I've only done some day drinking here on a few occasions so I can't comment on the night crowd, but it's a good place to relax and have a few beers if you're passing through Polish Hill. They have a good selection of beers on tap with some quality brews, and their prices are lower than average for most. If you enter during the day, you have to wait a few minutes for your eyes to adjust. Gooski's keeps it Dark inside. The first time I entered I wasn't sure they were open. But give it 5 minutes and you get used to it. There's also a pool table in the back room and I've even seen the room used to show some very odd movie scenes, which tells you they like to mix it up there too. Gooski's won't dress up for you, but it's the right place for good beer and some good people if you're in Polish Hill. read more

Exploring Pittsburgh and found this neighborhood bar. It had just opened on a Saturday Afternoon so there was not much going on. The bartender was prepping the bar so he was not as friendly but I was able to make some notes for my friends in other areas. This bar reminded me of a Mt Adams (Cincy) / Short North (Columbus). The place had great Craft Beers (what place in Pittsburgh does not). They had a chalkboard with all the beer listings and food listings. I will go back one evening and hope to provide more of a review on the night life and food. I am sure this place rocks. read more

Best bar in Pittsburgh. Don't expect frills but do expect great food and good beer and drinks delivered fast and with class(if Timmy is working). read more

Gooski's - Timmy is the best bartender of all time - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of the best nights of my life was spent in that decrepid, dark, odorous, and generally wonderful back room. The Modey Lemon was loud, the Iron City was cold, and the smoke was so thick my contacts dried every 10 minutes. Damnit this place rules....if it didn't have the unfortunate location that requires a member of your party to DUI, I'd adorn it the best bar on earth. Added note: Ping Pong tables where ping pong is played read more

This place has a lot of character, from the bar itself, the patrons and not to mention the decorative graffiti on the bathroom walls. Awesome for shows, pool, or just to hang out and drink beers. Defiantly one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh, this place is a gem. Prices are extremely reasonable for drinks and shots. One thing to be aware of- this place is cash only and smoking is allowed! This doesn't bother me but could defiantly bother some people. Overall, this place is awesome for a hang out and you won't break the bank doing so either. read more

I love Gooski's. I always felt like I would since several people I know and trust have suggested it to me, but one thing or another kept getting in the way of me actually trying it out. On Friday after a disastrous foray into a newer establishment that hasn't quite found its feet yet, my friend and I decided to hit up this place instead. We walked in and were greeted by reddish lighting that provided just the right amount of illumination and music that was loud but not so much that it inhibited conversation. The atmosphere was decidedly no-nonsense and very chill. It's the sort of place where you're left alone to socialize and drink...imagine that! As a young woman it's refreshing to say the least. At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, Gooski's is just right. The selection, prices, and service are all on par with what you would expect from a high-quality Pittsburgh dive. They even have some more rare beers, one of which I immediately ordered. The bartender was rough on the surface, but warmed up after I sassed him and ended up giving us free snacks. I love it when bartenders take care of you but then hang back without trying too hard...nothing worse than when a bartender tries to be your best friend and/or insists you "try" beers you don't like. The bartender was pretty much the best part of the evening. I will be back soon. read more

One of my favorite bars in the country! Kick ass jukebox and Tim slings drinks with the best of em.. Food is good and the bands ive seen play have all been pretty sweet! They also have a great beer selection and carry Great Lakes from Cleveland (hell yeah)! I wish there were more bars like this... read more

I love this place. Started hanging out there on what would become the first date with my now wife. Introduced to the place by a fellow musician.. the place has a great vibe for all types of people. It's dark, not pretentious, they have a great (cheap) selection of beers, killer tunes on the jukebox, and the most amazing honey BBQ wings ever. read more

Gooski's - Pierogies from Gooski's - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Best wings in town!!!! Great bands there on the weekend (sound could be better though, needs to upgrade sound system as technical difficulties are often). The Pixies and other cool music on the jukebox. Decently priced drinks and the very attentive bartender Tim Q. (The female bartender is not good though, April). At any rate, very cozy, and it's like walking into your own den. Another improvement could be the lighting. Some people like sitting in the super dark, I do not. Parking can be rough, but ride your bike or somethin'. read more

I've been going to Gooski's for two decades or more. Old school punk rock shows, stiff drinks without stiff pricing. A place I can walk into and know at least ten people at any given time. Cheers to Gooski's!! read more

It's hard to not be biased when you've grown up with this bar as a part of your life: this was my parent's watering hole and the bar i chose to turn 21 at. Pure nostalgia. But i've got to say, whenever i visit my hometown from New York, this place takes the cake for the best example of a good-ole American dive bar. Even better than nyc bars! And here's a good secret: They have the BEST juke box in the city. Lastly, the neighborhood is so cool...for such a hidden bar, they sure do get a lot of customers!! If you've ever watched the film, The Deer Hunter, this is Welch's. Not literally but the closest thing to it...Look it up! read more

Coolest bar in Iron City, Tim is a hell of a bartender and a stand up guy. Highly recommended if you're not a []]] (square).... read more

Gooski's - Drink it up!!!!! - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A super cool bar with really nice bartenders! And on top of that they have ping pong tables, which was awesome for me because I get bored at bars easily but still want to have fun. I would go back here in a heartbeat! read more

Gooski's - No band tonight but there were plenty of ping pong tables. - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I have been to this place to see live bands a few times now and have left annoyed every time. It's 2017 and this place is still cash only. It's crowded, smelly, dirty, and not at all charming like people would lead you to believe. The bartenders are abrasive, which is cool for about 15 seconds. The beer is cheap, but it's not at all worth it. Nothing about this place makes me want to go back. read more

Gooski's is a great bar. One of my favorites and the best for what it is. A small, dark, smokey bar lit with red lights and filled with people who are chilling and doing their own thing. On weeknights it can be quiet conversations but it can get loud if someone turns on the jukebox. There's also a backroom that's well lit and has more space and 2 pool tables and pingpong. On weekends bands play back there and the place is packed! Finally, if you're a beer lover then there's a lot of microbrews for very cheap prices (ie, dfh 90 min ipa pints for $4). I highly recommend this bar. Check it out on Monday or Tuesday when it's not packed to see if you dig it. read more

Terrible bar. Don't go here. The jukebox has a bunch of music that isn't on the radio. The bands that play here aren't even popular enough to play the regatta or a rib cook off. I would never dream of pooping in the bathroom. read more

Best onion rings and pierogies in Pittsburgh.Really good beer selection, too! Not to mention my award for best local dive bar and best bartenders. Know what you want to order and don't stand there looking stupid. Yeah, it's smoky, but what can you do? You either put up with it or don't come in. I put up with it because Gooski's really is the best in my opinion. read more

Gooski's - Best onion rings in the city. - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I have been to dive bars in many cities and was excited to check out such a hyped up one in my hometown, but was very disappointed. It is like what people who have never been to a dive bar in New York think is a cool dive bar. Okay drinks and a great jukebox, but a situation with an insanely rude staff person sealed the deal as being absolutely not worth it. The other bartenders were really nice and apologized for him though. It's definitely laughably pretentious, but okay. There are better dive bars, in almost any area. read more

all the "hype" left me wanting a little more from this place, but you can't deny it's classic dive appeal. ample space, cheap drinks and fast service is about all you can ask for in a dive. the fact is, you know what you're getting with this place, and the quasi-isolated location keeps those who aren't into the scene out of your face. read more

I really enjoy this place. It's always a good time, with a great juke box and surprisingly skilled bartenders for what most would consider a dive bar. If you like bloody marys, I'd recommend them. This is an excellent place to meet up with people to chat, and it's usually pretty low key. I think all neighborhood bar owners should have to visit here to see what they should be doing. The crowd is usually so varied that people watching is excellent and it's never so loud that you need to shout. It can get incredibly smoky towards the end of the night, almost uncomfortably so, but it suits the atmosphere. read more

Previous posters have done a lot to explain why this place rocks. HOWEVER, in spite of its crucialness, I found myself going there less and less often, and I say this knowing that it sounds totally weak, because I couldn't deal with the smoke. (I know I am not the only one.) Sure, it's a dive bar, but we all know that it was pretty next-level here. But this has all changed with the implementation of a new ventilation system that actually led to my going home on Friday night wondering whether they had banned smoking there, because I hadn't noticed any smoke. They did not ban smoking. All Hail Gooski's! read more

Want to go to a dive bar in Pittsburgh? Gooski's is the place for you! This quickly became my go-to place after the first time I visited. I was going to a live show in Polish Hill with a cover, and Gooski's was the closest place with an ATM. I walked into the bar, and it was so dark I couldn't even find the ATM! And when I finally got there I couldn't find where to slip my card in. Ironically, I love the feel of this place. It's a dark neighborhood dive bar, cheap drinks with cool bartenders, cool Polish Hill residents with no hangups about superficiality. The bar is also equipped with a good juke box, ping pong and pool tables, and a stage in the back for pretty good live music. It's pretty smokey inside, so beware if that's not your thing. The food is actually pretty good too. Overall, I love this place and am usually there about once a week. read more

Perfect dive bar. Cheap drinks. Cheap food. Great variety in both. Good live music. Friendly bartender. Smoking is allowed so it's like it's 1998 with the ash tray smell leaving the place. Go swirly for what it is you really couldn't ask for more. read more

good: it's cheap, loud, every now and then a good band will play, good drink selection. bad: the parking and the crowd. it's fun to watch the young kids marvel in this new bar they've just discovered and is totally the coolest place, like, ever. funny stuff. read more

Went there with a friend. The bar is pretty cool and the drinks were cheap, but nothing special that stands out about this place.

Take an awesome dive bar with cheap drinks, dim lighting, incredible jukebox, great staff, and good location and you've got Gooski's. The best of the best. Everyone loves this bar. People from out of the city want to go there because they've heard about it. They have a great menu, the food is awesome, and did I mention the jukebox is sublime? Oh, and on sundays... bloody mary specials. Who could ask for more? read more

I love a good dive bar but so incredibly smokey. I'll be spending the next three days washing the cigarette smell from my hair and clothes. How is this still a thing? Smoking in bars? Anyways I would have been totally on board with the atmosphere and beer menu if I would have been able to see it through the thick clouds of smoke. read more

No frills, no crap, good 'ol honest bar. I love the ping pong and pool table. Bartender with the beard and baseball cap is cool. Great beer selection, good prices. Nice people hang out here. Good fries. Amazing juke box. read more

10/10 wings. Awesome atmosphere. Not for the faint of heart. Amazing jukebox that will allow you to time travel to ~20 years ago - it has physical CDs inside. A new favorite for bar food and unwinding during the week! read more

As you approach Gooski's for the first time, surrounded by nothing else commercial at all, you're probably thinking "wow, this place is nestled DEEP in the neighborhood." As you walk in, the good time vibe greets you, as does an utterly solid beer selection, including plenty of interesting picks from good cans to upscale bottles. It can be a little hard to see the selections available on the mirror menu, so take your time deciding - just approach the bar with your order after you've chosen. Saw a live show in the back here recently and dug the acoustics both in the back room and flowing into the pass-through to the bar. The jukebox selections were dyn-o-mite, too. Be prepared for indoor smoking, which almost feels like a throwback now. The crowd can be hit or miss, but more likely to be an agreeable mix, and if you're able to get a seat, they're comfortable. Really, if you make your way to Brereton, you're going to be rewarded with a good time and an enjoyable drink. PS - if you drove over, just remember to disengage the parking brake at the end of the night before moseying home. read more

Loved the vibe in this place. Great service, great music, and cool people. 100% recommend this place if you like dive bars.

Suitable for anyone who enjoys avoiding sunlight. Red light bulbs, black walls, cheap drinks, great posters, jukebox and possibly Viking or Norse bartender. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would be a regular. This place is great and also is the only place I've ever seen the INSIDE of a toilet tagged. Perfect for drinking whiskey and beer. read more

This place has a sign indicating their disdain for Yelp, which only makes me want to hop on and write them a nice review about my pleasant experience here. Gooski's is a divey punk bar somewhat in the likes of NYC's Lower East Side/ East Village. It's dark and grungy and smells appropriately like cheap beer. On the other hand, their restroom is rather clean for this type of establishment and smelled nothing of poorly-aimed urine when I was there. And, for a smoking bar, they seem to have a first-rate ventilation system to suck away the cigarette clouds. Cheers to 24 oz. cans of a variety of beers (including better ones like Heineken) for $5 or less, and cheers to the bartender who gave me a free t-shirt. read more