Wondering where to find the best music venues around town?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top music venues in Pittsburgh, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture next time you're in the market for music venues.
1. Ppg Paints Arena
Topping the list is PPG Paints Arena, a center for sports events, headliner concerts and more. Located at 1001 Fifth Ave. downtown, this is the highest-rated music venue in Pittsburgh, boasting four stars out of 148 reviews on Yelp.
In addition to hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins' home hockey games, the stadium has opened its doors to big-name artists like Maroon 5, Paul Simon, Fall Out Boy, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Fleetwood Mac and more.
2. The Smiling Moose
Next up is Southside Flats's The Smiling Moose, situated at 1306 E. Carson St. With four stars out of 129 reviews on Yelp, the spot has proven to be a local favorite.
Now in its thirteenth year of operation, the space offers critically acclaimed cuisine, live entertainment in the upstairs venue, and a 170-inch high definition projection screen downstairs. Weekly events include karaoke, trivia, various theme nights, DJ sets and more.
3. Rex Theater
Southside Flats' Rex Theater, located at 1602 E. Carson St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the music venue four stars out of 40 reviews.
Visitors can expect a full bar, offering cocktails, draft beers and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a full lineup of music acts and quirky events, like Aug. 28's Star Trek podcast show, and Sept. 11's Moth StorySlam open-mic storytelling competition. (You can find this location's calendar here.)
4. The Goldmark
The Goldmark, a cocktail bar and music venue in Central Lawrenceville, is another go-to, with four stars out of 23 Yelp reviews. The DJ-owned spot was voted "Best New Bar of 2016" and "Best Bar of East Pittsburgh of 2017" by the Pittsburgh City Paper, according to its website.
Visitors can expect a variety of cocktails, including the Gold Fashioned (bourbon mixed with black walnut bitters, muddled cherry and orange and soda) and the Pimmsburgh (made with Pimm's, cucumber and ginger beer). Head over to 4517 Butler St. to sample the goods for yourself.
