Article Updated April 10, 2026 by Amanda Reed
Most Pittsburghers have told me, “You must not like living on the South Side, right?” at some point. Indeed, when I first moved to the city, I was an East End resident, living on a quiet side street in Squirrel Hill. But I was not destined for the bucolic East End. When my living arrangement fell through, I moved to the heart of the action on East Carson Street.
I soon learned why living on the South Side can be a hard sell to some. The Flats are known for its dive bars and nightclubs; The Slopes are known for steep hills that make cars quiver in their wake. But the South Side is more than its stereotype as a haven for college-aged youngsters to let loose on the weekend. The neighborhood’s rich and deep history includes its beginning as a haven for immigrant workers in the late 1800s, and a 1990s bohemian transformation thanks to the Beehive, Pittsburgh’s very first coffeeshop, which walked so similar spots could run.
“I’ve lived in South Side since 2011. I find the residents there have a gallows humor about the neighborhood as a whole. We laugh off most of the drunken shenanigans, but we don’t put up with serious crimes,” one resident told TABLE. “It’s almost like a badge of courage or honor to live there and listen to outsiders worry about us.”
So for your next South Side night out, skip Jack’s, Dee’s, or Smokin’ Joe’s Saloon and try some of these suggestions. There’s nothing wrong with these establishments, but sometimes you want more than a shot-and-beer combo deal!
A Night Out on the South Side Beyond the Dive Bars
South Side Restaurants
Dish Osteria
128 South 17th Street
This osteria makes the perfect date night and is also a piece of neighborhood history. The building on South 17th Street was once a saloon owned by a local immigrant family, then an Irish pub; now, it’s a wonderful Italian restaurant run by Michael and Cindy Savoia. Dish Osteria is one of the most intimate and high-quality dining experiences in the city, with a carefully curated menu and bar offering. Enjoy some pappardelle ai funghi or spaghetti ai frutti di mare, and perfectly pair your dinner with a glass of Italian wine from Dish’s 40-plus bottle list.
La Palapa
2224 East Carson Street
The South Side secretly has some of the best Latino food in Pittsburgh (Shoutout to Cilantro & Ajo and The Colombian Spot). La Palapa is just one of these hidden gems you’ll find in the neighborhood. Hefty portions meet delightful daily drink specials during happy hour. Their birria is unmatched, and the mojitos and margaritas pair well with everything. The happy staff provides friendly service and is always glad to offer recommendations if you’re not sure what you want.
Alla Famiglia
804 East Warrington Avenue
Just up the hill from the South Side Flats in Allentown, Alla Famiglia is a romantic, upscale Italian restaurant that makes for an outstanding night. For those who want to indulge, it also has an old-school cigar room off to the side. Plus, Allentown is nestled adjacent to the South Side Slopes overlooking the neighborhood, so take a nice after-dinner walk with an idyllic view down Arlington Avenue.
The Library On Carson
2302 East Carson Street
When The Library closed in 2021, new ownership purchased it and gave the establishment a grown-up glow-up without sacrificing coziness. Choose from your choice of clawfoot sofas after admiring the new serif signage and ordering, or mosey over to the pool table and dart machines if you’re really, really craving a dive bar feel. Cocktail names and even decor take inspiration from famous authors and classic novels. Choose from traditional bar food like burgers, paninis, salads, and pizzas, or reach toward fancier fare like hamachi crudo, raw oysters, or beef carpaccio.
South Side Bars
Tiki Lounge
2003 East Carson Street
This is not a place for fans of minimalism, restraint, and anyone who believes water fixtures shouldn’t be inside, let alone in a bathroom. Like its name implies, you’ll find classic tiki drinks like the Zombie, Painkiller, and Mai Tai, and even the chance to purchase a tiki mug to take home. If you’re looking for a laid-back vibe, choose a weekday night; weekends are for DJs and dancing. Bingo, two-step nights, and karaoke fill out the bar’s programming. And remember: the wafts of chlorine are part of the charm.
Carmella’s Plates and Pints
1908 East Carson Street
Carmella’s is one of those bars that can be pretty much anything you want it to be. Glass of wine for a girls’ night early in the evening? Check. Craft cocktails on a rotating menu? Check. Shots? Check. Hearty meal with a digestivo to wash it down? Check. It’s open until midnight, offering robust dinner fare alongside light bites to keep your stomach full while you drink. Their bread is also locally sourced from Mediterra, one of our favorite bakeries. Carmella herself is often on hand to give guests a warm welcome. Talk about good service! You can even try their selections of Scotch like we recently did with at a special tasting.
Streets on Carson
1120 East Carson Street
Serving street food from around the world and a wide variety of cocktails, Streets on Carson is a unique experience. Try their vampiro tacos, arancini, steamed buns, and loaded fries while surrounded by local art. The owners, who live in the neighborhood and operate a food truck, host theme nights like Lifetime Movie bingo, which are a great happy-hour social event.
Acacia
2108 East Carson Street
You can’t tell Acacia is there from the outside: It’s styled like an old-school speakeasy with newspaper over the windows. Open the nondescript door and you’ll find moody lighting, a wall of bottles, and a warm ambiance that makes it one of the South Side’s best bars. Their ever-changing cocktail menu means new sips to savor, but a one-of-a-kind experience and a quality night out remains a constant.
Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Avenue
Bottlerocket Social Hall combines 70s pastiche with cool, must-attend events, velvet wallpaper, and a seemingly infinite supply of hot dogs. There truly is something for everyone here: Pop in to catch a touring band or laugh so hard your stomach hurts during its comedy and standup nights (Upright Citizens Brigade, the Amy Poehler-founded improv theater, teamed up with Bottlerocket almost a year ago to open the first full-scale UCB Training Center outside of New York or Los Angeles; the theater often brings national acts and Saturday Night Live vets). Film screenings and Sunday Steelers watch parties round out its bar programming. Plus, if you really love the space, you can become a member and get discounts and three free shows a month, just like the social clubs of yore! All that’s missing is a thick blanket of smog and a hopeful, optimistic town aura that comes with a World Series-winning baseball team.
Piper’s Pub
1828 E Carson Street
Get a taste of the British Isles right in Pittsburgh. Nosh on Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, or enjoy a Sunday supper of prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, gravy, brussel sprouts, and bacon. Sip on whisky or beers and ciders from Scotland, Ireland, and England. Bonus points if you head over to watch a football match.
Birmingham Bridge Tavern
2901 Sarah Street
Offering tried-and-true bar food like nachos, pretzels, sandwiches, wings, wraps, burgers, and a dizzingly large beer menu (choose from 22 taps and over 80 bottles), the Birmingham Bridge Tavern is a classic pub lover’s paradise, brick exterior and all. Reviews say it’s a hidden gem that’s pleasant on the taste buds and easy on the wallet. If you’re looking for a new place to become a South Side regular, Birmingham Bridge Tavern is a top choice.
Culture
Club Café
56 South 12th Street
Catch this classic neighborhood music venue near the historic South Side Market. Both local bands and nationally touring acts have frequented it, and it makes for a great destination for any music aficionados in your life. They’ve hosted everything from folk music to punk rock. And the drinks are great, too!
Brew House Arts
711 South 21st Street
Once a distillery and brewery, Brew House is now where artists in Pittsburgh let their skills ferment. It has studio space, hosts a residency, and allows local curators to participate in “Prospectus,” a mentorship program to help develop exhibitions. The spacious main gallery hosts an array of programming throughout the year and is open during the day.
City Theatre
1300 Bingham Street
One of Pittsburgh’s coolest independent theaters is right off East Carson on Bingham Street. Since 1975, it has hosted productions by renowned playwrights with innovative set design and winning casts, including Pittsburgh native Tamara Tunie, who made a memorable turn with fellow local icon Laurie Klatscher in the theater’s 2019 production of The Roommate.
Color Park
1 South 6th Street
Most people think of New York, Los Angeles, or Paris as being hotbeds for street art. But Pittsburgh has its own thriving community of muralists, and many of them come to paint at Color Park by the Monongahela. The wall-to-wall colorful graffiti and murals are vibrant and lively, just like the neighborhood around them.
Highmark Stadium
510 W Station Square Drive
Located on the edge of the South Side, Highmark Stadium is home to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC professional team (2025 USL Championship title winners) and the Pittsburgh Riveters SC pre-professional women’s soccer club. It rivals other sports venues in city views, ticket and concession prices, and energy; the Riverhounds have sold out almost three quarters of their home matches since 2023 and the Riverhounds’ average attendance has exceeded capacity in the last two years. Plenty of play areas and post-game autograph sessions make kids feel welcome when tagging along.
Take a look at the rest of our night out series…
- A Night Out on the East End Part One (Highland Park, Bloomfield, Garfield)
- A Night Out on the East End Part Two (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, East Liberty)
- A Night Out in Lawrenceville is Never Boring
- A Night Out on the North Side, Not Just Stadium Food
- Saturday Night on the Hilltop
Story by Emma Riva
Photo Courtesy of Carmella’s Plates and Pints
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