Lawrenceville or “Larryville,” as some call it, is a neighborhood in flux. Butler Street winds along the river and is home to both fancy dining and great late-night dives. It’s got quirky, homey holes in the wall and upscale dining in equal measure. Part of what makes the neighborhood unique is that it has upper, lower, and central regions, all of which have their own character. Off of Butler, the rolling hills up to Penn Ave are lined with historic homes. And towards the river, you can get picturesque views of the far shore of the Allegheny.Lawrenceville was, in many ways, my first Pittsburgh love. It introduced me to the city’s nightlife. I met new friends at Butler Street bars and indulged in late night Turkish coffee at Dijlah.
Pria Dahiya, a playwright who lives close to the center of the nightlife scene and moved to the area in 2024, told TABLE that “I love the proximity to the waterfront and the Allegheny Cemetery gate. While living off Butler has a host of material pleasures like proximity to movie theaters, delis, and about 6,000 different places you can get drunk, it’s these places you can go to sit in solitude and contemplation on a sunny day that make a neighborhood truly special. I love being able to walk to the water and look out over the river, see folks fishing and driving boats. It’s so unique to this place and brings me great peace. And the cemetery makes me feel like I’m in a medieval fortress.”
Longtime residents love it too. “I’ve been an artist here for 38 years and have watched a lot happen,” plein air painter Ron Donoughe, who lives in central Lawrenceville, told TABLE. “It’s got a lot of creative energy which has helped it thrive. It’s never been a boring place to live.”
A Night Out in Lawrenceville Is Never Boring
Food
The Abbey
For anyone looking for Pittsburgh history trivia, The Abbey will be a delight. It’s in a building that was once a brass foundry, then a funeral home, and now a restaurant. Pieces of Pittsburgh ephemera adorn the space, including reclaimed stained glass windows from old churches and wrought iron elevator doors from an old Pittsburgh arcade. Even if you just stop in for a cup of coffee, the restaurant is a visual delight.
Pusadee’s Garden
5319 Butler Street
A favorite among local chefs, Pusadee’s Garden takes you out of Pittsburgh and into a culinary wonderland. They change up their menu with seasonal produce, plus classics like tom yum soup and green mango salad. This is a place to go not just for the food but for the dining experience. The outdoor seating, located in a gorgeous garden in an entirely enclosed courtyard, is a must while temperatures are warm. Inside, you will enjoy the very well-designed space by MossArchitects.
The Vandal
4306 Butler Street
Chef-owner Joey Hilty calls his restaurant “a place for pleasure.” Though the restaurant is upscale and the food is some of Pittsburgh’s best, Hilty is a dyed-in-the-wool Pittsburgher who infuses every dish with care. If you’re into natural wine, his wine list focuses on that, but if you’re not, craft cocktails abound. Hilty also shared some of his at-home recipes with us, so you can get inspired by his cooking techniques in your own home.
Morcilla
3519 Butler Street
Morcilla is a long-standing classic for a reason. This Spanish family-style restaurant founded by Chef Justin Severino and now helmed by Chef Nate Hobart has something for everyone to enjoy. Small plates and large plates alike focus on quality, with delicious warm bread and fried artichoke starters and seafood like octopus a la plancha, mussels escabeche and scallop crudo. The bar program is wonderful, and the wine list offers many Spanish wines to choose from.
Umami
202 38th Street
From Chef Roger Li, Umami is one of Pittsburgh’s best of the best. It’s an izakaya, or Japanese style pub where you order small plates to share and get to look into an open kitchen while the magic happens. The sushi is delicious, the fish is always fresh, and when the sake gets flowing at Umami, you know the night has really begun.
The Parlor
4401 Butler Street
Further north, you can sample another one of Roger Li’s restaurants, proving his versatility as a chef. The Parlor serves modern takes on Cantonese-style dim sum. The atmospheric lighting and diverse menu of hand-made dumplings, noodles, barbecue, and tea by the pot make it one of the city’s best dinner spots.
Butterwood Bake Consortium
5222 Butler Street
This bakery is the rare food spot in Pittsburgh open past 10PM, letting the Butler bar crowd satisfy their sweet tooth. Butterwood creates cakes which you can buy whole or by the slice, to-go pies, and a variety of vegan options for plant-based people that still want to indulge in baked goods. And you can get it until 11PM!
Drinks
Grapperia
3801 Butler Street
Anyone and everyone in the know is ready to hype up Grapperia, including me. When I stop talking about their grappa camomilla, you can assume I’ve died or been replaced by an imposter. It’s that good! Plus, what other American city has its own curated grappa bar? Another favorite of mine is the Ferrari cocktail, made of Fernet and Campari. They also have a well-curated wine list and wonderfully unique amari. If you’re hungry, order in delicious food from Piccolo Forno.
Lawrenceville Distilling
5410 Harrison Street
Owner Joe DeGroot makes his own absinthe (red, green, and clear) in this post-industrial garage space off of the commotion on Butler Street. Due to their earlier opening hours, Lawrenceville Distilling makes for a good start to a night out. Try an absinthe “louche” or the ever-popular cocktail program, or stay for one of the many comedy and music events that DeGroot hosts at his space. True to absinthe’s history, Lawrenceville Distilling sees itself as a place for lively conversations with Bohemian crowds.
Allegheny Wine Mixer
5326 Butler Street
This is mostly one for the wine aficionados, but one of the misconceptions about it is that it’s a tasting room. Allegheny Wine Mixer has full bar service with craft beer, cocktails, and cheese plates. Something I love about it is that its menu encourages curiosity about wine and spirits. There’s always something new. I recently tried an Australian Shiraz (the same grape as Syrah, but a different climate) that was wonderfully complex. Bartenders and chefs also love it there.
Bar Botanico
4325 Butler Street
Bar Botanico is one of Pittsburgh’s prime cocktail destinations. Their bar program has spirits from around the world and a rotating “feature of the month” cocktail, as well as the “bartender’s choice” option where you pick your favorite spirits, and their team surprises you. This is a solid date spot if you want to impress someone. It’s also open on Mondays when nothing else is!
Cork Harbour
181 43rd Street
Down the street from the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh building, Cork Harbour makes for a fun “after party” stop if you’re attending one of their shows. It’s a classic, no-frills Irish pub to enjoy Guinness or a shot of vodka and talk to friends at one of their large tables.
Culture and Shopping
Redfishbowl
4327 Butler Street
Just next to delicious Bar Botanico on Butler Street, this artist-run studio and gallery space offers classes and nighttime gatherings for Pittsburgh creatives. They also have a rotating program of group shows from both their studio residents and local artists around the city. (Insider tip: They also throw fun parties for Halloween).
Otto Finn
Artist Rona Chang runs this sustainability-focused closing store. She makes her work entirely from repurposed materials, but the styles she comes up with are anything but recyclable. When you visit her store, you’re met with a wave of color from clothing items that will last a lifetime with the care Chang puts into them.
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
100 43rd Street
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) is the longest-running associated artists group in the country. Their headquarters is just off of Butler Street at Ice House, a large warehouse where they hold shows several times a year by and for members.
Thunderbird Cafe
4053 Butler Street
In Pittsburgh, it’s important to keep an eye on the smaller music venues to see when your favorite bands are coming to town. Stage AE is such a headliner venue, and if you’re an indie band, Thunderbird in Lawrenceville might be where you’ll find them. They recently hosted national acts like Kishi Bashi and will throw parties like Slappers ‘N Bangers in their multilevel concert space.
Spirit Lounge
242 51st Street
Spirit is one of Pittsburgh’s premier dance destinations, particularly if you’re not looking for a full-on nightclub and want something a little more lowkey, but still want to party. It has an outdoor patio to enjoy the pizza and vegan/vegetarian bites on the menu. Evens there are always lively, included the Title Town Soul/Funk Party they’ve been throwing for years
Contemporary Craft
5645 Butler Street
Contemporary Craft is one of those great galleries dedicated to serving both art-lovers and artists themselves. The gallery’s focus is on craft—meaning maker-focused disciplines like fiber art or ceramics as opposed to solely painting—but that doesn’t mean it’s any lower quality than fine art. For its exhibitions, it often brings in out-of-town talent from its national artists in residence program. This is a real gem in Pittsburgh’s cultural scene, whether you’re looking to buy a small gift from their gift shop or simply admire the art.
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of Grapperia
