Sharpsburg is one of Pittsburgh’s underdogs. Across the river from trendy Lawrenceville, this former mill town has a charming, friendly atmosphere and unique local businesses. Curious? Here’s a list of what to do in Sharpsburg. For dining, beverages, and arts and culture, take these recommendations for a fun night out.
What To Do for a Night Out in Sharpsburg
Where to Eat in Sharpsburg
Polska Laska
1100 N Canal Street
Polish food beyond the pierogi, owned and operated by local chef and entrepreneur Olive Visco. Visco brings both Polish and Sicilian influences to this Polska Laska’s eclectic menu, which you can get at their brick and mortar location in Sharpsburg or their frequent popups.
Gino Bros Pizza Bar
713 Main Street
An underrated Pittsburgh pizza spot for its diversity of pies, bang for your buck affordability, and friendly service. Order the Mediterranean pie with artichoke hearts, red onions, mushrooms, tomato, and feta to feel like you’re eating healthy while still indulging in pizza.
Senza
372 Butler Street
It’s not everywhere you can get baked goods, happy hour, and a full-service custom dinner club. Senza, just up Butler Street in neighboring Etna, does it all. It has a robust Italian-inspired menu as well as house wines and cocktails all served by a caring staff. It embraces “sin reglas” (no rules) and focuses on quality over convention.
The Brinery
914 Main Street
The Brinery is a chef-driven, fast-casual restaurant headed by Chef Joe Bardakos, who describes himself as having grow up “in a kitchen gracefully and chaotically run by the most imposing 4’11” Greek and Italian women the world has to offer.” The Brinery is a family business that offers BYOB with no corkage fee, too!
Where to Drink in Sharpsburg
Love, Katie Distilling
816 Main Street
For a date night, you can’t beat Love, Katie Distilling. Katie Sirianni is proud to be at the helm of Sharpsburg’s first LGBT-owned distillery. The whole project is a love letter to her girlfriend, Jen Procanina. Each cocktail comes with its own love letter attached! Order drinks like the Kinda an Old-Fashioned but New Fashioned, Love Potion, or Cozy Créme Brulée at this Sharpsburg gem.
Dancing Gnome Beer
1025 Main Street
This brewery started in 2014 with their house pale ale, Lustra, and has now expanded to a huge array of beers. They offer German Kölsch-style service and have a great Dunkel dark lager. The Airstream trailer behind the taproom also hosts a number of local food trucks with rotating menus, so you can snack while you sip.
The Bitter End
409 Butler Street
Ok, we know this is technically in nearby Etna, but The Bitter End is so good it warrants including for a night out on the town along the Allegheny. It’s a speakeasy-style cocktail bar that gives you an intimate experience with both classic and inventive drink options. Put on your Prohibition-Era best and indulge.
Arts and Culture in Sharpsburg
ZYNKA Gallery
904 Main Street
Jeffrey Jarzynka shows a rotating series of solo and group contemporary art exhibitions at his breezy, white-walled gallery on Main Street. ZYNKA also offers live figure drawing on the third Tuesday of the month. For anyone looking for artwork for their home, Jarzynka has a wide roster of art available from the creatives he represents. Some highlights are John Burt Sanders, Michael Lotenero, and Linda Price-Sneddon.
Ketchup City Creative
612 Main Street
Ketchup City Creative hosts a wide variety of local artists, film screenings, and craft workshops. Owner Nanci Goldberg also runs a nonprofit that supports local creators in Sharpsburg, as well as being a key voice in the Sharpsburg Business Group. In 2024, Goldberg had Kenyan arts group Mukuru Collective visit Pittsburgh and host talks and workshops at her space. That’s just one of the variety of eclectic programming this small gallery has to offer.
Atithi Studios
1020 N Canal Street
Atithi Studios serves as both a studio space and an exhibition center. A handful of local artists make work on the upper floors of this charming refurbished old hotel. An exhibition space, often programmed with art shows, occupies the first floor. The building also hosts art therapists, a photography studio, and a small library. Owner Sukanta Nag also throws events for South Asian cultural festivals like Holi and Diwali in honor of his Bengali heritage.
Story by Emma Riva
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