J Gough's Tavern

My husband and I felt very welcomed and comfortable at this quaint Scottish pub. The service was…read moregreat and the food was excellent; very delicious. For starters, we ordered curry and chips, which were a hit. The corn beef, cabbage and mashed potatoes were the best I've ever had and my husband's bangers and mash were delicious. (Clean, comfortable, clean restrooms ) We love to try new places to enjoy a meal at when we're in Pittsburgh. Piper's Pub was a very pleasant surprise. We found it on line and we were not disappointed. We highly recommend this pub when dinning out in Pittsburgh.

This is a great spot. We missed Happy Hour by a few minutes so we settled for an appetizer and a…read moremeal. Service was quick and we have zero complaints. The Scotch Egg was great; a lot of substance for around $10. We liked the dipping sauce a lot. I got the Fish and Chips: among the best I've had. I couldn't give five stars as it got a little soggy as I ate it but the portion was massive, and the chips were great, etc. If they could get the filet a bit crunchier it would earn five stars. Inside was busy with most tables full but the service remained really good.

Vibe

Chicken & Waffles w/ sausage gravy -- excellent flavors & moist

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Cute assortment coffee mugs

Cork Harbour Pub

4.3(25 reviews)

3.8 mi•Lawrenceville

Stopped by for a pint after dining at another spot on a lark. It was trivia night and the place was…read morePacked! We went through the entire pub and were able to just squeeze in at the bar near the front. This is an authentic Irish pub - cozy, woody with old Irish decor. We will definitely stop in again another time when it is not so busy. Despite the crowd, the bartenders were quick with drinks and kept the crowd happy. There is a popcorn machine where you could grab a free bag of popcorn, which is nice and you just don't see anymore.

Who doesn't love a neighborhood Irish bar? The vibes are good and cozy in here. They have a good…read moreselection of beers and cocktails and casual drinks. Staff is pleasant and I love that they have specials on weeknights, like $1 hot dogs on Mondays. The space is pretty big depending on how busy it is, but it can accommodate big groups easily on a casual weeknight.

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Trivia

Forbes Tavern

4.4(241 reviews)

4.0 mi•Downtown

BEST PITTSBURGH WING…read more We were absolutely not expecting this and still can't believe it. We didn't have major expectations but hoped it would be at least a top 5 wing and average meal. It was beyond that The French onion soup we saw online and everyone seemed to enjoy that. We're whores for it so had to get. I like mine a tad bit salty which this was and PACKED with onion chunks and breaded leeks on top. It was impossible to get a spoon fully without any inclusions. My new favorite The Tavern Burger. I'm coming fresh off 9 years without 5 Guys (elite) and this rocked me harder than that. This isn't a stupid smash burger. We got a juicy COOKED PERFECT RARE 8oz patty, topped with sautéed onions, and bacon that isn't crisped to smithereens. I like my bacon medium rare and that's exactly what I got. Then covered in one of the craziest sauces I have ever had, their gorgonzola cream. I could drink that by the gallon The wings.... I have never had a wing itself cooked more perfect in my life. The smoke and meatiness on them was so nailed that I could get 2 dozen plain and still have the same reaction. We got the Buffalo Garlic and Dry Cajun Ranch. These wings don't need drenched in sauce by any means or it would honestly ruin it. The buffalo doesn't ned to be creamy either. Perfect amount of sauce to cheese ration. The dry cajun ranch was a fucking knockout. For how great the wing is I would love to see more dry season options with them Cam got a Tavern Dip. I hate dips. I loved the shaved ribeye on it and horseradish, but I have never been an Au Jus man. Would 100000% eat it without the au jus Then the fries. Always team psoriasis through and through. Not sure if I'm coming off the Five Guys high but their cajun boardwalk style are even better. Get some spicy honey aioli to dip them in. Truly just shocked at how amazing this place is. Right over the bridge and cannot recommend enough going here before a game and walking over. Great spot right before, after and during sports. Very high Pittsburgh atmosphere going on I will be back so many times and absolutely worth going Downtown for

Fun little place with good atmosphere and great food! Leah was fun and really helpful with picking…read moresome great food choices. I went with the recommendation of the wings and got the Cajun seasoning. They were so good that I regretted asking for blue cheese for dipping. Then I added a side of Brussels sprouts and no hyperbole; these were the best I've ever had! I practically licked the bowl after.

Interior bar and seating

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The Pub in the Park

4.5(70 reviews)

1.6 mi

This a good neighborhood bar. We've had good food there and the portions are good. Good beer list…read more Had the gyro platter and cheese steak. Both were very good. Ate outside on the patio. Ambiance is that of a dark bar inside and it gets a little loud in there, but it's a fun place. Service was good too.

Good. It's a neighborhood bar with a lot of character and good beer options. The menu is somewhat…read moremore creative and interesting than you might expect, but they are ultimately specializing in bar food. That's not intended as a dig, it's just what they're serving. We showed up for a Saturday lunch ahead of a snow storm, and the overall experience was good. The staff were friendly. There were clearly some number of regulars around. The space is a bit old and drafty, but that just adds a level of character. In terms of the food, we ordered a few salads and a half reuben (part of the lunch special), plus an Italian flatbread. Nothing was exceptional, but everything was nicely prepared and presented. The vegetables in the salad were fresh and crisp. The flatbread was good but not particularly noteworthy. My partner liked the rueben, but thought it could use a little more sauerkraut. The Guinness was fresh and nicely poured. All told, this was a good experience. Understand that this is more of a neighborhood hang than a destination, but it excels at filling that role.

Inside

French onion soup

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Soup flight

The Yard

3.8(604 reviews)

4.1 mi•Downtown

It was really hot the day I went but it felt like there was no AC in here. The staff is super nice…read moreand accommodating. Food and drinks came out fast. They have amazing waffle fries here and the weekday specials are awesome. It's half off wine bottles on Wednesdays. We got a bottle of bubbly wine for $13?? It's unheard of. We didn't love the fan that spun over the light at one of the tables but the server let us move so that was nice. Decent spot for dinner in market square.

A true bummer. This place has a prime time location on the square, good set up for sports and a…read moregood idea behind the menu, Gourmet Grilled Cheeses. Unfortunately that's were the good ends. First and always foremost, how was the food? An absolutely mess. Impossible to enjoy bc the sandwich falls apart immediately, simply can not pick up without losing everything inside, and greasy as all get out. I should have expected this to an extent, but a nearly $20 grilled cheese at a place that "specializes" in them, I would hope could do better than this. Service was very, very slow despite many open seats. The part that probably sent it over the top was the plate runner constantly spilling the tomato soups everytime they brought out someone's meal. Mine dripped all of the ground as he sat it down, my wife's got on her tray so the bread was just mushy on the bottom, and we saw it constantly as he walked by delivering others. Cool idea, cool location, but the rest was just bad.

Gourmet grilled cheese with two beef patties. Sorry I don't remember the name.

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Marshmallow fluff

The Commoner

4.0(998 reviews)

3.8 mi•Downtown

Great food! Awesome service and the ambiance is best described as the neighborhood's common ground…read morewhere everyone knows everyone. The tartare provides the perfect balance of fresh and savory. Pistachio cake dessert is a must try.

LOVED our dinner at this place…read more We came here for dinner while visiting Pittsburgh. The first thing that struck me was the interior decor. Very industrial and moody with an open kitchen/preparation area that adds some intrigue. I do like to see the happenings of what's going on as someone with zero attention span. Service was excellent. George was fantastic. He kept a close eye on us without being overbearing. He anticipated what we might need so we didn't spend one second waiting to order anything. The menu is not endless or overwhelming which, presumably, allows them to focus on the items that are listed. I have decision panic so it was kinda nice to have less things to choose from. They asked if there were any allergies or dietary restrictions so I mentioned my vegetarianism. George went through the menu and pointed out the vegetarian options including what seems like it is vegetarian but isn't. They had TWO vegetarian entree options and fortunately the non-mushroom one was something I probably would have ordered anyway: pesto with walnuts, arugula, and a very generous amount of grated cheese. To start, I ordered the Brussels sprouts whichc I was warned had fish sauce. This was fine but nothing that blew me away. GF, on the other hand, loved this. GF ordered the wedge which was brought to our attention as vegetarian with the bacon on the side, which was her request. We ended up sharing both, a large part of that was because hers came out first and I couldn't wait but I'm so glad because the wege was FANTASTIC. The dressing? holy fuck pure ecastasy. The wedge was more like a filet shape which was much easier to eat. Who decided on the wedge shape anyway? The lettuce was so fresh and crisp and went wonderfully with that orgasmic dressing and breadcrumbs. Back to my pasta. Also delectable. Noodles were al dente. The sauce was creamy and packed that pesto umami flavor. The walnuts were a really nice contrast in texture. Everything about it absolutely fucking slapped. GF ordered the mushroom entree which came served on a bed of barley which, don't mind if I do, had a few forkfuls to "sample" for "my review". Again, so fucking good. Because it was my birthday, George provided a dessert (yuzu maybe?) that was served inside a meringue-esque igloo, creamy perfect balance of sweet and tart custard with some berry business underneath. Wonderful. I almost forgot their spectacular cocktails! Holy shit, literally they have a CORN CHIP cocktail that I could not pass up. It comes with two massive cornchips on top of a flavored foam. When you bring the glass up to sip, the cornchips are right in front of your nose and their aroma sets the stage for the drink which was STRONG. It wasn't as corn chip forward as I expected but I understand that flavor is probaly hard to create. For my second drink, I ordered the blue one which was refreshing, light, and really good. GF ordered a spritz which was gorgeous "it was good". For second round, I picked out some uranium thing that was very cucumbery, GF says, "it was good". I just read it outloud to her. "it's true!" Fantastic meal at a great place.

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Lefty's

4.0(75 reviews)

5.1 mi•North Side

One of the most authentic old school Pittsburgh natives and Steelers bars on the strip! The drinks…read moreare cheap, strong....and the bar is full of good vibes and great people. Not to mention, they offer semi-strong long islands for $4 all day, It's sort of a premixed concoction that's just okay in my opinion. Nothing to rave about...but enough to lure you in for price and continue to get you in for more libation. lol Lefty's is a nice and fun hangout spot for friends for sure.and a great way to get into the mix of Pittsburgh natives (people from the surrounding area). The bar is a pretty narrow space and gets packed pretty quickly, but it is a great space to watch sports and chat with people. There is not a lot of seating space as the space is relatively small, but it is still comfortable while standing. Although crowded, the bartenders are quick and efficient with drink orders. If only they sold food, this spot would be perfect. However, there are several shops and restaurants along the strip to grab a bite to eat. In all, cool little dive bar in the heart of the Strip District of Pittsburgh. Also a great vibe and place to meet up with friends for a few drinks or a pit stop while site seeing the downtown area. Stop by, get in and fit into the vibe of this place. It's fun and good times.

Found this place during the NFL draft! Dive bar, good drinks and very economical. Service is cool…read more After a certain time they card and do a safety check. Thursday was a mixed crowd, good music, and you can order food near by and bring it in. Friday evening, came the regulars. Which means those who don't prefer out of towners. So I'm good on Lefty's on Friday night. I need good energy around me always. TV's with the games, upstairs and downstairs seating area. Small patio. If you go, go early, when the old heads are there.

Inside Vibe!

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Lefties in july nineteen twenty one

The Pub Chip Shop

4.4(367 reviews)

2.7 mi•South Side

The fish and chips was so delicious I unfortunately didn't even grab a picture of it before it was…read moredevoured. I am a fish and chips connoisseur, and this is definitely a top 2 fish and chips of all time. The fish was fresh, flaky, and the batter on the outside was perfectly golden and crispy. The chips were also perfectly cooked. I also got the chicken pot pie and it was delicious, it had a perfect buttery flaky crust and the filling was well-seasoned. My only complaints were that the tartar sauce could have had more pickles/acidity in it, and they forgot my hot sauce which costed extra. This meal made me want to click my heels together and say pip pip cheerio. Highly recommend.

I've only been here for donuts. We came twice; the first time we got around 1/2 dozen donuts late…read morein the day. We stopped by last Saturday and they had no donuts left (it was around 10 AM!). From all I understand donuts are made daily and they sell out fast. If you want donuts get here early!

Inside restaurant

Chicken and chips to go

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Fish and chips

Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room

4.3(1.1k reviews)

4.0 mi•Downtown

Great place, great food! Super friendly staff, not a long wait for food. Casual and trendy but not…read morestuffy!

Great vibe! We sat and watched the pizza made- the staff was friendly and lively. Food and drink…read moreselection is great - we will be back!

Lots of drink selections.

Brisket Mac and Cheese

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Appetizers

McMinn's Irish Pub

3.8(13 reviews)

6.6 mi

It was my first time being in the area and decided to stop by McMinn's, wasn't disappointed. Very…read moreaffordable drinks and we got two sliders which had nothing to complain about. It was quiet at the bar and it seems to be when it's not karaoke, so its a nice place to sit down and talk, but it's not "dead" quiet, I liked it. The bartender was very nice and attentive and made us feel very welcome, when she heard I never had ranch before because I'm not from here I had the pleasure of a nice plate of fries (really good fries by the way) and some ranch lol. Too many bartenders at other places aren't very talkative (understandable when it's busy), and the woman behind the bar made us feel like we were actually welcome that day. Five Stars to her!!

This is the best bar food in the South Hills. My wife and I used to live down the street from it…read moreand got food from there almost once a week. They have the best beer cheese that I've ever had. Our go-to order was pretzels with beer cheese, honey jalapeno wings, and loaded fries but everything on their menu is a good choice. We still make the hour long drive to get their food every once in a while.

Hot wings

Build Your Own Burger Thursdays!

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Hot cheese balls

J Gough's Tavern - pubs - Updated October 2026

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Monterey Pub

4.3

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I will still rate this as 5 stars however on our second visit we brought our son and his fiancé…read more Two of us ordered fish and chips. I was expecting the large pieces we got last time. This time they were more nugget size. Shepherd's Pie still good but less meat. And those cocktails on the back of the menu without prices are $11.48. So the food was tasty but dont exoect the exact same thing even if you order the same thing. Still when we are in town, I am coming here.

Great little pub in the Mexican war street area. Food is always delicious and drinks are great…read more Guinness is always a classic to get. Bartenders are always walking around to check on folks in the seated areas. Love to come here to watch games!

Park Place Pub

3.4

(43 reviews)

Rotating draft selection, with one deal draft per day! There's a small restaurant in the back of…read morethe bar and the menu is pretty big! Wings, burgers, salads, there's something for everyone. They also have a smash burger on special right now that's pretty good! Good for families during the day, especially with the outdoor patio seating in the back! It's such a nice summer vibe, with ample seating.

Park Place Pub is a great spot on lovely Bryant Street in Highland Park area. We enjoyed the deck,…read moredraft beers, and regatta ginger beer. And the food!! Yum! Big menu ok the chalkboards! Pictured- The Dust smashburger and fries - excellent- very spicy as described

The BeerHive

3.8

(212 reviews)

Super laid back neighborhood bar. Staff were friendly, and prompt service. Stopped in for a late…read morenight drink and food, menu was perfect with plenty of options. I enjoyed that it wasn't overwhelming. Dart board and music were available. I ordered soft pretzels and they were out of the dill salsa but bartender suggested dill/jalapeño ranch instead. Really yummy. The only thing I didn't like was the bathroom door lock was broken. I hope it gets fixed soon.

The food here is standard bar fare. They have some vegan options, which is always appreciated. On…read moremy last visit, I ordered the impossible burger but they had run out. Instead, the chef offered to make a lentil patty. It was decent, but not spectacular. The fried pretzel logs were really good.

Bar 3 Millvale

3.9

(72 reviews)

What a nice surprise! Our first visit to Bar 3 was to hear an acoustic set on Friday night. I had…read morelooked at the menu in advance, and thought it looked promising - a variety of selections somewhat elevated from typical bar food, and some healthy choices as well. As we had already eaten dinner, we opted for a less healthy spinach dip, but it was tasty! The beer selection was very good, too, with a variety of beers, not just IPAs or Miller Lites. We saw that they had the Lambic Framboise and the bartender was happy to mix it with some Hoegarden, to allow us to share (try it if you haven't done so - really a nice combination). Service and the overall ambience of the bar were also a step well above average. This makes Bar 3 competitive with nearby brew pubs, which are fun, but often overcrowded. I would recommend for anyone who might be planning to see a show at Mr. Smalls, etc., as a nice pre-/post- stop.

We popped in for a quick dinner before a show at Mr. Smalls. The bar area was pretty crowded and…read morethe dining room gradually filled up while we were there. The first thing that hits you, literally, is the strong smell of air freshener when you walk in. It was so overpowering that I almost had to leave. We gradually got used to it but it is not pleasant. The second thing that we noticed was how untrained and stretched thin our waitress was. There was a bartender and our waitress and one cook working that night. When we asked what beers were on tap and if they had any IPAs, she wasn't sure what beers they served or what an IPA was, really. I have to say she was as pleasant as pie but dressed in a sparkly half shirt with bare midriff and tight pants with high heels, the outfit was just sort of odd for a waitress. I had to go to the bar to order another beer because she was just too busy to even notice. The California burger I ordered was cooked to the perfect medium temp and the fries were fresh and nicely salted. We could see the cook using a bowl to gently toss them in salt when they came out of the fryer. He was hustling and got the food out fairly fast considering it was just him. The avocado on the burger was fresh and perfectly ripe too. I hope the chef is paid well because he deserves every penny. Times are tough for small business owners these days. I get that. The food was good and our server was very nice. She just needs trained on the menu and the drinks/beers. And they need to get rid of that overpowering air freshener and fix the root cause of whatever smell they are trying to mask. There is real potential here with some minor tweaks.

Snappy’s Taphouse

4.4

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Came here on a random night to try some drinks and read a little. Found the spot after a quick…read morelittle Google map search and was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Shout-out to who I believe was Angela. She was working bartender, waitress, and busser. She was wonderful despite being insanely busy. House made ciders were excellent. Pretzels were solid. Atmosphere was wonderful. Will definitely be back with some friends.

Over a year later and I still love coming to Snappy's! Whether it's for a drink with friends, or…read moredinner with family, the vibes are always welcoming and the staff is very friendly. My sister and I dined on a Tuesday, which they are now opened from 4pm-9pm, and ordered a cider each and the Sampler Platter. She ordered the Blood Orange cider and I went with the 6 More Sips. The Blood Orange tasted sour just like the fruit while the 6 More Sips had notes of cherry and cinnamon. Both very different but equally as delicious. We ordered the Sampler Platter with Truffle Fries, Boneless Buffalo Wings, and Pretzels with Beer Cheese. I did not love the cheese, but the fries, wings, and pretzels were tasty. It was the perfect amount for two people as an appetizer. Snappy's is always very clean and the service is quick. Can not wait to be back!

Mullaneys Harp and Fiddle

3.7

(111 reviews)

The place inside is not the biggest and it was crowded for everyone watching college football games…read morewhich they even had the sound on for the notre dame one. I got the Guinness and it is definitely a higher tier pour so if you need to find a great pour of Guinness this is definitely one of the best places to go in Pittsburgh.

Tucked inside a very unassuming building along the strip district is a wonderful hidden gem of an…read moreIrish pub! The service is great, and it really does feel like you've been transported... I got the spinach Antar dip along with the Reuben. The spinach and artichoke dip is OK, a little overly creamy and under flavored, but tasty nonetheless. I loved the fried pita chips that it came with. The Reuben was wonderful! Flavored and season through everywhere, it was deliciously messy, and perfect! Don't forget to book a reservation if you're planning on stopping in Friday or Saturday night for live music!

Piper's Pub

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Howard's Tavern

4.4

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The food is okay here. It's a family owned bar and the owner is really nice. If you like dive…read morebars, this is your place. It's very much a local crowd. They were watching Jaws together and making a few comments. It has a real community feel, and everyone is facing the bar and joining in the conversation. People seemed to be drinking mostly beer. I didn't fit in at all, but maybe if I gave it some time. There are several skill games off to the side. I'm sure people watch the sports together. It's a small, traditional dive bar with good food, and locals come here to make conversation and see their friends.

The decor is a little dated and the food is typical bar food. But this is probably the best…read morerestaurant experience I've had in quite some time! The server/bartender/owner, rachel, made us feel so welcome that I will absolutely return!

MJ's Steel City Saloon

3.7

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they are rude and the food isn't very good. The worst coleslaw on the planet! Stay far away from…read morethere

Great vibes here and the BEST staff in the city. Food is delicious and we certainly consider this a…read morehidden gem. Good local spot to watch a Steelers game, but also has an awesome patio for the warmer months!

The Vandal

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