The Lion Review – Craft Cocktail Infusions in the North Side

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Vodka Infusions and Craft Creations at Leo

Within seconds of walking into The Lion, you'll feel quite welcomed. The bar is located on the first floor of a converted house in Manchester, and the layout retains much of its residential charm.

Your first view is of the bar and its wrap-around seating, and two additional seating areas plus an outdoor patio that feel a bit like cozy nooks in a friend's house over a traditional bar- perfect for a few rounds of cocktails.

The menu here is cocktail-forward (with some wine and draft beer available), and upwards of two dozen creations grace the menu. The vast majority contain house-made spirit infusions ranging from the conventional (say, strawberry thyme) to a bit more out-there (we've seen porcini, black cherry pecan, lemon sage, and more over the years).

In our original review, we shared a bit more about some of the cocktails we had, but given how frequently this one rotates through infusions, it feels a bit like doing a disservice to focus on any given cocktail.

You never know what you're going to get here.

Instead, we wanted to talk more about the model at large to prepare you for your visit, because going in and being surprised by what infusions are available on any given day is part of the fun!

When you arrive to The Lion, simply look for a sign hanging above the bar with the infusions that are available during your visit. If a flavor catches your eye, order it from your server and within moments you'll receive a bartender select creation showcasing the spirit- often a riff off of a classic style that highlights the infusion's flavors (don't worry, you can ask what they'd prepare before you order if you like- we often do this because of Angie's allergy).

From sweet to savory, fruity to umami, conventional to out-there, we've had cocktails that have truly run the spectrum here. Some are winners we could order again and again, others we're glad to have only tried once, and that is part of the fun- you really can do a lot with simply infusing a base spirit with one or two unique flavors and playing around with the classics, especially at their reasonable price point!

Beyond the cocktails and other beverages at the bar, be on the lookout for frequent events, periodic beef on weck popups from Poor Richards (quite the popular one we're told- on our list for a return visit), and, perhaps most important of all, delightful conversation with the bartenders. It wouldn't be a great neighborhood bar without that!

Overall, we're always happy for more cocktail bars in the city, especially in unique spots like this one. With a long infusion list, attractive price points, and novel creations, we look forward to returning to more soon!

Leo is located at 1207 Allegheny Avenue in Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood.

Looking for more cocktail bars in Pittsburgh? Check out Acacia, The Warren, Commerce Bar, or Bridges & Bourbon!