Hey Babe, the cocktail lounge tucked inside The Maverick Hotel in East Liberty, has quietly leveled up. The ground-floor hangout has added a 50-seat dining room that stretches the space beyond its bar-focused roots, giving guests a proper sit-down option while keeping the original lounge open for anyone who prefers to wander in for a drink. For neighbors, the upgrade makes the spot feel closer to a full-service restaurant without sacrificing the moody lounge vibe regulars already claim as their own.
According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, the added dining room brings about 50 more seats into play and introduces reservations. The report notes that the original lounge, which seats roughly 70, will stay dedicated to walk-ins so the bar keeps its casual, drop-in energy.
Hey Babe is the brainchild of hospitality veterans Danielle Cain and Rob Hirst, who opened the lounge last year inside the former YMCA building that now houses The Maverick. Their intention to eventually build out a full-service dining area was part of the plan from the start, as outlined when the spot debuted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
What the change means for East Liberty
The dining-room launch lands at a busy moment for East Liberty's restaurant scene, which keeps stacking up new reasons for locals to stick around after that first round of cocktails. Pittsburgh Magazine already praised Hey Babe's design and menu when it opened, and the extra seating should make it less of a scramble for date nights or group dinners hunting for a table.
Reservations, hours and what to expect
Hey Babe's website now offers a limited number of reservations for the dining room, while reminding guests that the lounge side stays walk-in only, with current hours and specials posted online. For bookings and the most up-to-date details on when the lights are on and the kitchen is firing, check Hey Babe. The restaurant remains on The Maverick's ground floor in East Liberty and is now taking reservations through its site.
For hotel guests upstairs and neighborhood regulars down the block, the expansion turns Hey Babe into more of an all-evening destination: cocktails, small plates, and now a guaranteed seat if you plan. Expect the new dining room to be the toughest to snag on weekend nights, while the lounge keeps its loose, spontaneous, walk-in feel.
