Not to be confused with its next door neighbor, the North Shore, the North Side is a historic Pittsburgh community that also has a wealth of bars, pubs, and restaurants. Let’s stop by seven local watering holes!
Bier’s Pub
The Deal: 4-6PM, Tuesday-Friday, $2 off all draft beers, $5 house red and white wine, $4 Red Sangria, ½ off select appetizers, pus daily specials on select food and drinks
What to Expect: Bier’s is a sleek, modern version of a pub. There are lots of seats at the bar and a handful of tables, where you can gaze at artwork featuring Albert Einstein and Mister Rogers, among other historical figures. They are known for their burgers (which are offered as part of a special on Tuesdays), but their cocktails, beer, and wine are also specialty items. War Streets Brewery Taproom operates a nanobrewery in the basement of Bier’s, so be sure to order one of their beers while you’re there!
Federal Galley
The Deal: 4:30-6:30PM, Monday-Friday, ½ off beer, wine, and cocktails
What to Expect: Federal Galley is known for its rotation of four chefs and their micro-restaurants, as well as its communal cafeteria style seating. But did you know that they also have an extensive bar with incredible handcrafted cocktails? Hop on down for happy hour and enjoy half-priced drinks while you sample cuisine from the aspiring restauranteurs. Federal Galley also has tons of outdoor seating and often offers live music on their lawn, so it’s one of the best spots for an after-work summer outing.
Max’s Allegheny Tavern
The Deal: 5-7PM, Monday-Friday, ½ priced appetizers and $1 off drafts in the bar area
What to Expect: Max’s is an old school tavern with traditional German fare. The décor inside is reminiscent of Grandma and Grandpa’s basement in the best possible way, with stained glass lampshades hanging overhead and black and white photos lining the walls. Transport yourself to Germany with the Herring in Sour Cream or the Bavarian Stuffed Pretzels, which are both half off at happy hour in the bar area!
The Modern Cafe
The Deal: 5-7PM, Monday-Thursday, 430PM-7PM, Friday-Saturday, ½ off drafts
What to Expect: This snug little family-owned bar focuses on friendly service and craft beer, along with a massive menu of munchies, sandwiches, and burgers. The Modern Cafe keeps it simple with half off drafts at happy hour, where you can find a nicely balanced rotation on tap, including several local options from Hitchhiker, Grist House, and Arsenal Cider. Their food is always affordable and filling, so don’t shy away from ordering a bite with your brew. They also have outdoor tables lining their sidewalk for summer!
Monterey Pub
The Deal: 5-7PM, Monday-Friday, $1 off drinks
What to Expect: Monterey Pub, located in the historic Mexican War Streets, offers several dishes with both Mexican and Irish influences. It’s the only bar that we know of where you can find Guinness Shredded Beef Quesadillas alongside more common pub fare like Shephard’s Pie and Fish & Chips. The atmosphere will also remind you of an old Irish pub, so sit back in a wood-paneled booth and enjoy a glass of Guinness poured just right!
The Park House
The Deal: 5-7PM, Tuesday-Sunday, micro draft beers and wines are $5 each
What to Expect: The Park House is a favorite among locals and those from other parts of the city alike. They offer frequent live music, with Bluegrass Night on Wednesdays being one of their most popular events. The popcorn machine is free, but if you’re looking for drinks too, you should take advance of their happy hour special before the show: $5 each for micro draft beers and wines. This classic bar never disappoints if you’re looking for a fun evening out on the North Side.
Penn Brewery
The Deal: 4-6PM, Monday-Friday, $2 off beers, select appetizers are $5
What to Expect: Penn Brewery was one of the pioneers of the craft beer boom in our region. There’s ample space inside and outside their location on Vinial Street to hang out for a beer, and you can even rent out private rooms for group happy hours. Some of their food is Pittsburgh-themed, like the Yinzer Salad, but you can find hearty Polish and Bavarian cuisine too. Penn Brewery is adjacent to the bike trails, so it’s a convenient place to fuel up on appetizers and cool off with a drink if you’re out for a ride!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.