When the clouds over Pittsburgh part and the sun shines on the Steel City, we drink outdoors.
And since the weather’s warming up, we didn’t want to get caught standing around on a sunny day with nowhere to (responsibly) enjoy an adult beverage (or five). So here are 50-some spots to consider. Now a lack of options isn’t the issue, deciding where you’ll go is your new problem. But hey, it could be worse.
Tako
Is there anything more perfect than a taco and cold brew on a hot day? We didn’t think so either. You can get both at Tako with their outdoor seating area. Plus, they keep the outdoor seating open to walk-ins, because we know how hard it is to get a reservation inside.
Butcher and the Rye
Like Tako, if you’re looking for dinner and a drink (okay, or just a drink) without a wait or fighting for a seat at the bar, Butcher and the Rye offers an outdoor seating area just for that reason. In the cooler months, they keep outdoor heaters near the seats, so even if it’s a little chilly, you can still get your Old Fashioned.
Il Tetto @ Sienna Mercato
The third-floor beer garden at Downtown’s Sienna Mercato is one of Pittsburgh’s premier rooftop bars. How’s that, you ask? Well, for one, the retractable roof is pretty sweet. So is the upscale bar food, as well as the 30 some draft beers, wine list and craft cocktails.
Meat and Potatoes
Located in the heart of the Cultural District, Meat and Potatoes always delivers on creative and classic cocktails. The only thing that can make these exceptional libations better is if you’re able to land a spot on their outdoor patio on a perfect summer day.
Pork and Beans
Like its neighbors (and sister restaurants) Meat & Potatoes and Tako, Pork and Beans has a few tables outside. They open their garage doors on warm days too, making it a mini-patio where you can enjoy one of their trashed-up 20s-themed cocktails. You might want to make a note of their Happy Hour too — $2 off drafts and the bar menu.
Biergarten @ Hotel Monaco
As if we weren’t already stoked on the opening of the Commoner at Hotel Monaco, the news of a rooftop beer garden really puts our excitement over the edge. This 88-seat open-air Biergarten on the 9th-floor rooftop offers 16 drafts and eats from The Commoner, as well as pub games like corn-hole and garden chess.
Pizzaiolo Primo
At Pizzaiolo Primo in Market Square, you can never go wrong with a fresh pie. But you can further elevate your experience by requesting a seat on the outdoor patio. This way you can enjoy your wine or cocktail while looking out onto the
Square.
Six Penn Kitchen
This is the original rooftop drinking spot in Pittsburgh. It’s situated among the skyline and surrounded by epic sights making it a great group hangout. So call your friends and reserve a cabana for a stellar rooftop lounge experience.
Sienna Sulla
We’ve already told you about the rooftop of Sienna Mercato but don’t forget about the sidewalk tables at the Mercato’s sister restaurant, Sienna Sulla, in Market Square.
NOLA
Sitting alongside Market Square, sipping a hurricane, listening to jazz music outside. Does it get any better than this? Why, yes it does. NOLA offers valet. Bonus.
Seviche
No this ain’t South Beach, you’re still in da’ Burgh you silly yinzer you. It’s okay, you can pretend it’s South Beach. We won’t judge. All you need to do is snag a sidewalk table outside and ordering up a refreshing Key Lime Mojito. This downtown spot hosts a happy hour from 5-7pm on weekdays and a late night happy hour from 10pm to 12am on Saturdays.
Bar Marco
Cocktails in the Strip District? If that sounds like something you could get into, then head to Bar Marco. In addition to award-winning eats and a no gratuity policy, you can enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine on their outside chillin’ area (our technical term for it).
Kaya
More cocktails in the Strip District? Absolutely! Count us in too. After your visit to Bar Marco head down to Kaya for a Caribbean-themed concoction at one of their sidewalk tables.
Harp and Fiddle
After you spend Saturday morning shopping in the Strip, scoot around back at Mullany’s Harp and Fiddle Irish Pub. That’s where you’ll find a deck for sitting. Grab a seat on their deck and order a Black and Tan, a Guinness, or heck, a shot of whiskey.
Roland’s
If cocktails aren’t your style and you’re not feeling the Irish Pub vibe, head to Roland’s for a brew on the balcony or patio. Roland’s has a solid draft and bottle selection combined with a prime view of the always-bustling Penn Ave.
The Abbey on Butler
Maybe the best part of The Abbey is the sheer size of their outdoor patio. There’s also couches for lounging around, which is good for big groups. The other nice part about The Abbey is they have an extensive coffee bar, which is great if you’re with people who aren’t imbibing (or your DD!).
Spirit
We might be giving up one of the best-kept secrets in Pittsburgh — Spirit’s cool, artsy, outdoor garden and patio area. There’s a bonfire and a cool old school bus to chill in. Would you expect less from Spirit?
New Amsterdam
On a nice night, you’re bound to run into someone you know on New Amsterdam’s rooftop bar — and for good reason. It’s super chill, there’s always great music, and the people-watching on Butler Street is always a good time.
Round Corner Cantina
The Cantina’s cocktails are uniquely flavored with freshly squeezed juices and ingredients. If you’re in search of a laid back vibe, look to land a sidewalk table out front. If it’s a party you’re after, head out to the patio out back.
Arsenal Cider
This place is truly a hidden gem. It’s one of those places in Pittsburgh you have to get to if you’ve never been. Because in addition to a civil war inspired cider house, there’s a backyard-style space complete with picnic tables and the occasional food truck round-up.
Double Wide Grill
If you’re craving a backyard BBQ vibe with the eats to match, then make your way over to Double Wide Grill. The dog-friendly patio is packed with picnic tables and their draft list features over 40 craft choices.
The Library
When was the last time you went to happy hour at a library? Yeah, that’s what we thought. This is your chance to feel like you’re breaking all the rules from your school-age years, while having a drink in a spot with the decor, and menu items, to match the library namesake. Plus the patio provides the perfect warm weather escape.
Local Bar and Kitchen
If you’re feeling a little rambunctious, the rooftop bar at Local is right in your wheelhouse. Be on the lookout for the infamous yinzeritas, a fish bowl size margarita with an upside-down bottle of I.C. Light Mango stuck in the top.
Hofbrauhaus
When you’re finished dancing the polka and standing on the tables, or if you want to avoid that scene altogether, head around back at Hofbrauhaus. That’s where a much more chill crowd is kicking it riverside. Views of the Hot Metal Bridge and the Mon River make for a pretty stellar night.
Church Brew Works
As if the atmosphere at Church Brew Works weren’t enough to convince you to come by. And the pierogies didn’t put it over the edge. The two-story outdoor patio covered in hop vines is the last hope for you. Get your hands on their original ales and lagers in an outdoor setting as epic as their interior aesthetics.
Silky’s Pub
Head to Silky’s Pub on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield for neighborhood-corner-bar-kind-of-outdoor-drinking. No fuss no muss at Silky’s – good bar food, solid beer selection, chill crowd and outside sidewalk seating available.
Wigle Whiskey
Whether it’s the Strip District Distillery or the North Side Barrelhouse you can’t go wrong at Wigle. The Whiskey Garden on the North Side is a killer spot for cocktail lovers. Especially if you also happen to love supporting purveyors of products made in Pittsburgh.
BeerHead Bar and Eatery
The former Beer Market has a new life as BeerHead Bar and Eatery. The best part? Everything is mostly the same, including their patio. The menu is 25-pages long, so you can come back again and again and all summer and not have the same beer twice.
Mullen’s
Looking for somewhere to enjoy a drink outdoors before or after a Pirates game? Well, Mullen’s is that place. Just across the street from PNC Park is where you’ll find this bar, complete with sidewalk seating, huge food portions, 16 drafts and even more bottles.
Bettis Grille 36
Listen, around these parts there are few things we love more than outdoor drinking. One of those things happens to be sports. The other is local sports celebrities. Roll them all together, and there you have Bettis Grille 36.
Rivertowne
A big beer selection, big televisions and an even bigger patio make Rivertowne in the North Shore an ideal spot for sipping a drink while soaking up the sun and while relaxing, riverside. Stop by for happy hour, featuring $1 off drafts and mixed drinks 5-7pm Monday thru Thursday and 4-7pm on Friday.
Souther Tier Brewing
A newcomer to Pittsburghers brewing scene, Souther Tier set up its first satellite brewpub on the North Shore. Stop in to sample one (or all) of the 30 beers they have on tap or some eats from a single-page menu featuring Snacks & Apps, Sandwiches, and Burgers. Coming this summer, garage doors will open up into a 10,000 square foot beer garden!
East End Brewing Company
Not only does East End Brewing Company have a patio at their East Liberty location — it’s dog-friendly, too! There’s always a rotation of food trucks parked outside too so you can grab your brew, grab a bite, and hang with your best bud (your dog, of course).
Tipsy Cow
If you don’t feel like fighting the masses for one of the few outdoor tables at a spot downtown, head to Shadyside — Tipsy Cow has plenty of room for all. You can often find us there on a sunny afternoon, drinking a pitcher of sangria with our friends.
Mad Mex
You’re not a Pittsburgher unless you’ve booze outside on the sidewalk at Mad Mex on a summer day. You obviously should go for their Happy Hora which has draft beer and margarita specials. Pro tip: order their margarita of the month.
Shady Grove
Score a sidewalk table off Walnut Street in Shadyside where outdoor sipping of the day drinking variety is encouraged. Champaign is just $4 a glass all day Thursday, and all wine bottles are half-price on Friday.
Social at Bakery Square
Here’s one really easy way to get over a case of the Mondays. Indulging in “Martini Monday” on the patio outside at Social. Why, you ask? Well, it’s Monday, there are tables outside and there are martinis. Anything else we can do for you?
Rooftop at BRGR
There’s one surefire way to ruin a perfectly good outdoor drinking day. We’ll give you a hint: rain, rain, go away. Listen up, don’t let gray skies get you do. When the clouds roll in, head to the covered rooftop deck at BRGR. Why yes, spiked milkshakes in the rain do sound delightful.
Kelly’s Bar & Lounge
Happy hour drink specials are always a good idea. And Kelly’s totally has that covered. But their happy hour snack specials are absolutely out of this world. As is the mac and cheese. But whatever you choose – eats, drinks or both – they’re best enjoyed on the outdoor patio.
Harris Grill
Around these parts, Harris Grill is synonymous with a couple things: outdoor seating and baskets of bacon. Yes, baskets of bacon. It’s really hard to argue with a place that makes you feel like, not matter where you look, there’s outdoor seating, alcohol, and bacon.
The Porch at Schenley
After you’re through museum hopping in Oakland, and right before you get pop into Phipps Conservatory, make a stop at The Porch. It’s a primetime spot to sip and snack while looking out onto Schenley Plaza.
Shiloh Grill
In the event that you find yourself on Mt. Washington, as opposed to the East Side, you’ll want to make Shiloh Grill, sister spot to Harris Grill, your outdoor drinking deck of choice. Sights of the city combine with copious amounts of booze, and yes, bacon too makes for one heck of a way to spend your evening.
Grandview Saloon
The best place in Pittsburgh to sit outside and see the entire city? Um, that would be the Grandview Saloon. The outdoor terrace provided a panoramic view of Pittsburgh that you can’t get anywhere other than high atop Mt. Washington. 
Draai Laag
It’s worth the Uber ride out to Millvale to spend an evening drinking at Draai Laag. The outdoor patio is an Instagrammer’s dream with delicate string lights and they also serve food if you start to get peckish.
Redfin Blues
A couple of massive outdoor seating areas make Redfin Blues the perfect place to experience river living at its finest. Kick back and enjoy a beer on the dockside deck or river view patio while you watch the boaters go by on the Allegheny.
Grist House Brewing
You’ve never been, but you’re wondering what’s going on at Grist? Oh, nothing much. Just a couple of buddies, and brothers-in-law, who decided to open a brewery. Then, they put a deck on the brew pub and invite their food truck friends over. So, yeah, we’ll see you there.
OTB Bicycle Café North Park
On the patio at Over the Bar Bicycle Café in North Park, you can look out onto the lake, as you sip your drink, while you relax in a lounge chairs, around a fire pit. You could say it’s kind of like camping, but with running water, electricity, bathrooms and servers, too. Okay, it’s nothing like camping, but you get the point.
Narcisi Winery
A winery in the city? No, not quite. But it’s not far off. It’s not far away either. This little gem is situated just North of the city, making for a perfect afternoon getaway. Once you arrive you can sip on some vino and enjoy some live music. You can even pack a picnic if you’d like.
Double Wide Grill – Mars
Just like its counterpoint in the South Side, the North Hills version of the Double Wide offers a great beer selection and an abundance of outdoor seating. One stop is all it takes to make this your favorite summer spot if you’re living or hanging out, north of the city.
Hal’s Bar and Grill
Friendly service and a welcome-to-the-neighborhood kind of feel make Hal’s a great spot for happy hour specials. Stop in Monday thru Friday from 5-7pm include $1 Off Drafts, $2 Domestics, $5 Martinis, and $5 House Wines.
Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Any place with two patios has got to make the list of outdoor drinking spots. Of course, that’s not the only thing Jergel’s has going for itself. It’s also a happening music spot, featuring live music to go along with the drink list and outdoor seating.
Spoonwood Brewing
You might not have thought about the South Hills being a weekend destination but then you haven’t thought about checking out Spoonwood Brewing. Sundays may be *the* day to make the trip out to Bethel Park — they serve an awesome boozy brunch on their patio.
Il Pizzaiolo
The back patio of Il Pizzaiolo in Mount Lebanon promises to become your favorite spots to share a bottle of wine with a group of friends. The rustic atmosphere comes complete with lemon trees and a water fountain to go along with your piping hot pizza pie.
Hitchhiker Brewing
Here’s another suburban brewery supplying their own blend of beer and plenty of outdoor seating. The deck accommodates up to 50 folks who will find a menu full of small plates, local wines, hard ciders, house-made ginger ale, root beer and craft beer, of course.
Rumfish Grille
You know you’re in the right place for outdoor drinks when there’s “over 15,000 square feet of open-air seating, bars, and tropical vibes.” The tropical vibe thing is a bit of a stretch since this place is in a strip mall. But Rumfish is as close to the tropics as Bridgeville will ever get.
Sharp Edge Creekhouse
With multiple locations all around town, the Sharp Edge is always a smart choice for beer connoisseurs. At the Creekhouse in Crafton, you can choose from 46 taps and over 250 bottles, all of which can be enjoyed on their outdoor deck.
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