Article Updated April 10, 2026 by Lauri Gravina
Any lover of Pittsburgh must, in turn, also be a fan of its East End, with streets lined with restaurants, bars, and locally owned shops, and people strolling, no matter the weather. Part of what makes going out in this pocket of the East End so much fun is that much of it is ax extremely pleasant place to stroll.
Says Grant Catton, a painter who lives and works in Shadyside, “Within an easy walk, I can reach the business districts on Walnut, Highland, and Ellsworth. And within a mile are some of the greatest neighborhoods in the city.”
The neighborhoods of Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, East Liberty, and Point Breeze have such rich night life options, with countless restaurants, clubs, breweries, and attractions, it is hard to list them all. Here’s are just a few to get you started — and feel free to let us know your faves so we can add them to the list!
A Night Out on the East End, Part Two (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, East Liberty)
Restaurants in the East End
Lilith
238 Spahr Street
The reputation of Lilith has grown far beyond their inviting Spahr Street digs, with co-owner Jamilka Borges’ having recently received James Beard’s semi-finalist nomination for Best Chef, Mid Atlantic. Co-owner and pastry chef Dianne DeStefano draws from a rich knowledge of the pastry arts, baking breads, making pastas, and plating desserts that are as visually enticing as their taste. Together, they celebrate their Puerto Rican and Sicilian heritages plate by plate, with dishes such as whole snapper, set over a taro root puree with a lobster and kumquat broth and a root slaw. Beet lovers, rejoice with a salad made with gold, red, and chiogga beets.
An all-star cocktail program from Landon Frame sets the mood, with drinks such as the Botanist, a blend of Stateside vodka, lychee, lemongrass, rose water, and sparkling wine, or the NA-friendly Responsible Citizen made with pineapple juice, guava, and ginger beer. Simply put, Lilith is a must-try eating experience in Pittsburgh.
Point Brugge
401 Hastings Street
Point Brugge is a much-loved restaurant, having presided over the corners of Renyolds and Hastings streets in Point Breeze for more than 20 years. Meals start with mezze or cheese boards, and diners routinely come back for their moules-frites — which is served with the option of three different broths — and steaks frites.
Point Brugge also has some excellent vegetarian dishes, like spring pea and basil fritters or Dijon crusted salmon. Also a winner is the Belgian dip layers house-roasted beef, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, horseradish sour crema, with Chimay au jus. Point Brugge feels a little upscale, but not overly so, The patio is also a quiet space to watch over the quiet downtown of Point Breeze.
Coriander
2201 Murray Avenue
Visiting Coriander, on the south end of Squirrel Hill, is one of Pittsburgh’s greatest pleasures. The Malai kofta sizzles with spices, the naan breaks apart delectably, and the chai is warm and not-too-sweet. A buffet spread is available at both lunch and dinner, allowing tastings of many Indian favorites, including Tandoor chicken curries like butter chicken, and chana masala, soups, and many vegetarian choices, like chana masala and veggie korma. The diner-style seating also adds to the coziness of the space, making Coriander a true comfort food restaurant.
Garbarino’s
5925 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh has a lot of good Italian food, from DiAnoia’s and Vallozzi’s to Dish Osteria on the South Side. If Garbarino’s harkens back to an old-school Italian vibe, they come by it naturally, as it’s a fourth generation, family-owned Southern Italian restaurant, The vibe is mellow but upscale, and they have a dedicated following of regulars that appreciate Garbarino’s friendly service and hefty pasta dishes. Pastas are made in house, and there’s parmesans in eggplant, chicken, or veal chop varieties. They also sell rigatoni and spaghetti and marinara or Bolognese sauces to cook at home.
Bars and More for a Drink
Margaux
5947 Penn Avenue
A European style café bar, Margaux is a great “starting out the night” bar if you’re planning to hop to nearby Kelly’s or want to grab an aperitivo before going out to eat on Baum Boulevard or further up Penn Avenue. It’s just the right amount of classy and chic while not feeling sterile or unapproachable. They have happy hour specials with featured cocktail, like The Butter, a bright blend of pear, apricot, elderflower and citrus; plus, they feature wine pour of the day. To pair with your drinks, choose from cheese and charcuterie boards, chorizo croquettes, conservas (tinned fish) served with baguettes, capers, and lemon — and you can also nibble on smoked salt and sumac popcorn.
Squirrel Hill Café
5802 Forbes Avenue
Regulars at the café better known as “the Squirrel Cage” certainly know Jan Cravak, who has worked at the Squirrel Hill mainstay since 1980; she’s even written a memoir about her days at the once smoky haunt that serves memorable bacon cheeseburgers, and where, you’ll sit shoulder to shoulder with lawyers and laborers, with college kids and old timers. Prices remain low — burgers, hoagies, and sandwiches clock in at less than $10. If you haven’t been there before, or it’s been a decade or two since you’ve stopped by, it’s time to make you way there. It’s refreshingly the same as it’s ever been, minus the smoke.
5801
5801 Ellsworth Avenue
A cornerstone of LGBTQ+ nightlife since 2005, 5801 is also open to all wanting to hang out and enjoy cocktails and snacks like artichoke spinach dip, a variety of wings, and handmade white pizza with a garlic parm sauce, five cheeses, and cherry tomatoes. There’s a generous happy hour every day from 5 to 7 pm. 5801 offers a full menu of bar food staples, also featuring specials of the day, like Taco-ish Tuesday, Burger and Beer Thursday, and Snacks and Suds Saturday, with chips and dips. There are two floors of fun, with a downstairs bar and a dance floor on the second story, plus there’s a place to chill outside on the heated deck.
Arts/Culture
Romance
5429 Howe Street
Margaret Kross, a writer and curator who formerly worked for the Whitney Museum of American Art, moved back to Pittsburgh to start her own gallery in 2022. For both a combination of contemporary work from artists around the country and a sense of local flair, Kross’s space is one not to miss for anyone interested in expanding their creative horizons.
Bottom Feeder Books
415 Gettysburg Street
A used bookstore focused on artbooks… that’s also an art gallery…that’s also a performance space, that’s Bottom Feeder Books. It’s an intimate space to hear local and national authors read their work, as well as it’s the spot to find rare and esoteric books. Beware, though—it’s difficult to leave without seeing something you want to take home.
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Avenue
Bearing the names of Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly, this non-profit performing arts space in East Liberty always has something interesting going on. The calendar is chock full of local and global dance, music, and theater performances, classes like drumming or West African dance, and symposiums that examines important issues. KST focuses on social action through theater, while also being a whole lot of fun.
Manor Theater
1729 Murray Avenue
Going to the Manor Theater is a deeply enjoyable theater experience — and the ‘movie night’ equivalent of shopping local. The Squirrel Hill icon is the oldest operating movie theater in Pittsburgh, having opened in 1922. After changing hands, the theater is back under the ownership of the original family. There are four movies on the screens each day, and they also happen to have a great bar, saving you the trouble of having to go to a separate establishment for a cocktail on a night out. Seeing a movie there is always extra-fun because of the East End ephemera on display in the front foyer—the building is a historic landmark and was once a ballroom!
Take a look at the rest of our Night Out Series…
- A Night Out on the South Side Beyond the Dive Bars
- A Night Out on the East End Part One (Highland Park, Bloomfield, Garfield)
- A Night Out on the North Side, Not Just Stadium Food
- A Night Out in Lawrenceville Is Never Boring
- Saturday Night on the Hilltop
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Margaux
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