Located near downtown and the Allegheny River, The Strip District boasts an eclectic mix of shops, cultural amenities, restaurants, and bars, including several spots with happy hour specials.
The BeerHive
The Deal: 5-7PM, Monday-Friday, $1 off all drinks & ½ price appetizers, plus different food and drink specials each night of the week
What to Expect: The BeerHive is on one of the busiest blocks of the Strip District, between 21st and 22nd street on Penn Avenue. While we wouldn’t necessarily call this a dive bar, it is definitely a more casual spot alongside some of the trendier establishments in the Strip District, and a welcome respite for those who are hungry and thirsty during their quest to find the best Terrible Towels and fresh produce in the neighborhood’s outdoor market. The Beerhive has more than 100 beers in the form of bottles, growlers, and taps. The drinks are $1 off at happy hour, and half price appetizers like beer battered banana peppers, deep fried pickles, and sweet potato fries, all taste perfect with an ice cold beer.
Kaya
The Deal: 4:30-6:30PM, Monday-Friday, ½ all single serving drinks and craft draft beers
What to Expect: Head to Kaya for a festive atmosphere and a summer drink! Kaya serves up island cuisine with a mix of influences from the Caribbean Islands, South America, and the Pacific. Several of their drinks are similarly inspired; the Tropical Refreshers will transport you to paradise with flavors like Grapefruit-Basil Margarita and Tropic Thunder (Pearl Cucumber vodka, pineapple, lemon, cucumber, soda). Mojitos are a crowd pleaser at Kaya, and there are plenty of other unique cocktails and craft beers to choose from that are all half off at happy hour.
Savoy
The Deal: 5-8PM, Thursday-Saturday, a selection of food and beverages ranging from $3 to $8
What to Expect: Savoy will win you over with their premier dining experience and award-winning kitchen. If you’re looking for trendy décor with a welcoming atmosphere, stop by for their happy hour on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evenings. The menu includes delicious summer cocktails like the Peach on Peach or the Tropical Cosmo, domestic beers for just $3, and savory bites like mac n’ cheese, calamari, fries, and wings. You may even spot a celebrity here, so throw on your fancy clothes and head over to Savoy for an affordable but upscale happy hour.
Smallman Galley
The Deal: 5-7PM, Monday-Friday, ½ off beer, wine, and cocktails
What to Expect: Smallman Galley has four rotating chefs, communal seating, and a bar area. The bar at Smallman Galley gets a bustling happy hour crowd, with plenty of seating and standing room, and you can also take your drinks out to the restaurant tables. The handcrafted cocktails are creatively named—Contemporary Craft, Temporary Raft is certainly one that’s worth trying. There’s also a small but tasty wine selection, and a larger rotation of craft beer taps. Each month, there are even “Charity Cocktails,” where $1 from each of drink is donated to a deserving nonprofit organization, giving you all the more reason to plan your next happy hour at Smallman Galley!
Roland’s
The Deal: 3-6PM, Monday-Friday, $.75 clams, oysters, and shrimp, or 5 wings for just $3.75
What to Expect: Roland’s Penn avenue establishment may just remind you a bit of New Orleans, with an upstairs balcony overlooking the street, tons of outdoor seating, and big open windows. It’s a traditional Pittsburgh spot, having been open for over 60 years, and the focus of the menu is on using The Strip District’s freshest seafood, produce, and baked goods. Their “Sinfully Shelfish Happy Hour” includes shrimp, oysters, and clams for just 75 cents each!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.