Wondering where to find the best cocktail bars near you?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top cocktail bars in Pittsburgh, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're on the hunt.
1. Butcher And The Rye
Topping the list is Butcher and the Rye. Located at 212 Sixth St. in the Central Business District, this is the highest-rated cocktail bar in Pittsburgh, boasting 4.5 stars out of 777 reviews on Yelp. The spot was the first Pittsburgh bar to be nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Bar Program since the category was created in 2012.
When you walk in the door, look for the Whiskey Wall, boasting more than 600 varieties of whiskey. In addition to three custom and locally sourced beers on tap, 12 cocktails on draft, more than 30 wines and 15 featured cocktails, the bartenders and mixologists also whip up custom drinks. The cocktail menu includes Forgive and Fernet, a drink made with Tanqueray gin, Vermouth di Torino, Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino and Fernet Branca; and Wild Kind, Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon mixed with smoked honey, ginger, lemon, habanero and Peychauds Bitters.
2. Muddy Waters Oyster Bar
Next up is East Liberty's Muddy Waters Oyster Bar, situated at 130 S. Highland Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 363 reviews on Yelp, the cocktail bar and Cajun/Creole spot has proven to be a local favorite. The cocktail menu includes Ain't Got No Thyme, made with root tea, bourbon, lavender, lemon and thyme; and Clyde May's Sour, featuring an Alabama bourbon mixed with lemon, Cointreau, ginger, basil, egg white and Myer lemon bitters. Or, check out the Sazerac, made with rye whiskey, bitters, absinthe and lemon peel.
3. The Commoner
Central Business District's The Commoner, located at 458 Strawberry Way, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the cocktail bar and brunch spot four stars out of 498 reviews. Located adjacent to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, the venue is designed by New York's Mark Zeff Design Company and showcases Pennsylvania ingredients, like PA Noble cave-aged cheddar, Castle Valley Mills cornmeal and locally ranched meats from Starr Valley Farms and Elysian Fields.
Signature cocktails include Drink Gin, Eat Yoghurt, a drink made with lemon balm infused with organic ginever, Domaine de Canton, spearmint reduction, Icelandic Skyr Yoghert and green chartreuse rinse. Or, check out Livin' La Vida Loca, with Siembra Azul Blanco Tequila mixed with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Detroit dark red beets, a Espellete-white chocolate-cinnamon reduction, pink lemon and agave nectar.
4. Burgatory
Burgatory, a cocktail bar that offers burgers and other quick bites, is another go-to, with four stars out of 445 Yelp reviews. The chain offers cocktails like Mike's Scratch Margarita, mixed with Espolón Silver Tequila, Grand Marnier and fresh citrus juices with a splash of pomegranate and agave nectar. Or, check out the Bacon Mary, a housemade bloody mary with candied bacon, cucumber, citrus, olives and an Old Bay salt-and-pepper rim. Head over to the Waterworks Mall at 932 Freeport Road to see for yourself.
5. Hidden Harbor
Over in Squirrel Hill South, check out Hidden Harbor, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 130 reviews on Yelp. You can find the cocktail bar and Hawaiian spot at 1708 Shady Ave. Menu items include the Golden Girl, made with Maggie's Farm White Rum, Lillet, Aperol, lemon, grapefruit and passion fruit. Or, look for the Puerto Escondido, made with tequila, lime, jalapeño, curaçao, lychee, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, pineapple and bitters.
