There’s so much to do on the East End, we couldn’t fit it all in one post. Bloomfield, Garfield, and Highland Park, on the northern end of the neighborhood, are a combination of Bohemian industrial chic and cozy, old school Pittsburgh charm. This area has some of the city’s trendiest new restaurants as well as classic favorites.
Don’t just take our word for it. Adam Arthur, a federal government worker and resident of Garfield, told TABLE he enjoys living there because of the “strong sense of community and the opportunities for expressing yourself and being creative that come from being near First Friday, and knowing a lot of small business owners and art gallery owners.” He added that “There are phenomenal restaurants virtually in my backyard. My nearest local cafés feel like a real life version of Cheers. The staff aren’t just people serving a cup of coffee, they’re friends and neighbors. There are a lot of opportunities in the neighborhood to really be part of everything that’s going on and for it to be a daily part of your life.”
One of the things we notice is that this pocket of the East End, there’s an abundance of great restaurants that also have really good bar seating and beverage programs, so while we’ve separated things out into eating and drinking, consider most of these options for both.
A Night Out on the East End, Part 1 (Bloomfield, Garfield, Highland Park)
Eat
Apteka
4605 Penn Avenue
Tomasz Skowronski and Kate Lasky’s ambitious Eastern European plant-based restaurant has become one of Pittsburgh’s best. Every time you go in, the experience is a little bit different, with additions for seasonal produce and inventive new dishes. They also have one of the city’s most unique wine lists, with bottles from Georgia, Slovakia, Austria, and Croatia. During the week, it functions as a bottle shop, so you can take one home. I recommend Refošk from Slovakian winemaker Uroš Rojac to get a taste of Apteka’s vibe and see if their natural wine menu is for you.
Fet-Fisk
4768 Liberty Avenue
Chef Nik Forsberg’s Nordic restaurant gets some of its charm from its location, an old-school Bloomfield building that was once home to Lombardozzi’s. Fet-Fisk preserved the old architecture, and has quickly risen to the top of Pittsburgh’s dining scene. Try some Danish sea trout caviar for only $30 for 1oz—Forsberg’s grandmother said her one regret in life was not eating as much caviar as she wanted. With its mood lighting and oyster specials, one of the best date night spots out there that’s also one of the few restaurants open on a Monday.
Fish Nor Fowl
5523 Penn Avenue
Fish Nor Fowl is a guaranteed good time. The menu, from Richard Deshantz of the Deshantz restaurant group, is a line up of spins on classic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients and modern takes on “rustic” cuisine. Their wine and cocktails are no joke, either, with sommelier Alexander Riola at the helm of a varied Italian-inspired beverage program.
Brothmonger
4770 Liberty Avenue
A new face on Liberty Avenue, Sarah Coppolo’s soups have made quite the splash in the city. Prior to her brick-and-mortar store, Coppolo had her broths at nearby Linea Verde and a number of pop-up locations. She infuses everything with care and love, from Italian wedding soup to beef stock and farro. She’s open 10am-4pm, so it isn’t a Bloomfield night out spot, but stop in for lunch or buy a quart to go and enjoy any time of day!
Smiling Banana Leaf
5901 Bryant Street
Those “in the know” have told me this is the best Thai food in the city and something of a hidden gem in Highland Park. There’s a BYOB opportunity and vegetarian options, at affordable prices in a cozy, comforting space with Thai classics like pad see ew, pumpkin curry, and pineapple fried rice.
Joseph Tambellini’s
5701 Bryant Street
Tambellini’s is the kind of restaurant that feels like you’re going back in time. Pittsburghers’ great-grandparents ate here at their original location. Try their famous fried zucchini or calamari for an appetizer, or their “Vitello Pollo” menu with savory chicken dishes to delight the senses.
Drink
Cobra
4305 Main Street
Karaoke night at Cobra is a must for a Bloomfield night out, plus the myriad of soju, sake, and omakase food options on their menu. Sometimes, they open up the dance floor in their purple-lit space for nighttime programming from local DJ’s. Grab your soju shots and a plate of japchae for an epic night out.
Trace Brewing
4312 Main Street
Ever wondered what’s behind the graffiti and street art covered wall as you crest the hill of Main Street? Trace Brewing, which has both café service and beer on tap, created the colorful “permission wall” that’s become an iconic fixture of Bloomfield. They have delicious food, fun parties, and a great outdoor patio.
Tina’s
4114 Main Street
Tina’s is a “cool girl” bar, with a chic aesthetic, varied cocktails, and a focus on biodynamic, environmentally sourced wine. It’s cool without feeling exclusive, though, and a great spot for a girls’ night. If Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City lived in Pittsburgh, I feel like she and her friends would hang out at Tina’s and gossip over glasses of wine and cheese plates.
Nico’s Recovery Room
178 Pearl Street
If you’re looking for a dive with a little bit less of rowdiness, Nico’s has bar food, cheap drinks, and tons of seating, either at the horseshoe bar itself or in classic diner-style booths. Like nearby Cobra, they also host karaoke nights, plus trivia, poetry readings, and more. Nothing fancy, but a wonderfully laid-back night out spot.
Culture/Going Out
Penn Avenue Arts District
Penn between Mathilda and Negley
The monthly “Unblurred” art crawl, on the first Friday of every month, has made the stretch of Penn Avenue between Negley and Mathilda into a hub for small galleries including Silver Eye Center for Photography, Bunker Projects, Irma Freeman Center for the Imagination, and more. A walk down Penn on a Friday night is an enjoyable survey of the arts in Pittsburgh, with live music, crafts, and open hours at most of the galleries.
Tomayko Foundation
5173 Liberty Avenue
Opened in 2023, the Tomayko Foundation is a contemporary art gallery that combines collector Jack Tomayko’s holdings with curator Nina Friedman’s selection of juried shows. Insider tip: The snack plate and wine selection at the Tomayko openings are always great. So, one of their openings is a fun start to a night out in Bloomfield with a little culture and some on-the-house appetizers.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
7470 Baker Street
You won’t see elephants, lions, and gorillas in most other parts of Pittsburgh, unless something has gone very wrong. But you can find them at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in Highland Park, a year-round destination with something for all ages to enjoy.
Highland Park
1467 N Highland Avenue
The park that gives this neighborhood its name, home in the summertime to the Highland Park Pool, has a bucolic, European-style feeling. It makes for a great after-dinner walk or daytime stroll along the reservoir. The park is also home to a brand new sculpture by Marlana Adele Vassar in the welcome garden, the first permanent installation of a sculpture by a woman of color in the city.
Story by Emma Riva / Photo by Sarah Laponte, courtesy of Fet-Fisk
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