Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on August 7, 2026.
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Pittsburgh really is becoming a space city, and the molecular mixology cocktail bar, Space Bar, will help everyone explore the universe- with tasty libation in hand.
Located right in the heart of Market Square (aptly referred to as the holodeck when onboard), the cocktail lounge is the resident bar of the SS Oasis ship which travels distant worlds and services locals of the various systems visited with tasty cocktails- some familiar, some simply other-worldly.
We were fortunate enough to visit this one many times since they opened in the fall of 2023, and share some updated thoughts of what you can expect in this one!
Disclaimer: We are friends with the owners of Space Bar, provided consulting during start-up, and attended a preview event at opening. We have also purchased the cocktails discussed below outside of these instances. As always, all opinions are our own.
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Space Bar is a Cocktail Lounge in the Cosmos
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If you've watched a lot of sci-fi movies or television, odds are good you've seen a number of cocktail lounges aboard a ship. In many cases, there is one overarching theme- beautiful views over whatever world the ship is orbiting, and of course, unreal beverages.
You get just that at Space Bar.
The ambiance at Space Bar itself feels familiar, with plays off sci-fi designs abound but not tied to any universe specifically. Is it Star Trek? Star Wars? Guardians of the Galaxy? The answer is yes, and no. It is its own thing, but also feels a bit like everything in its own weird way.
Although the vibe is sleek and cozy, the star of the lounge is the ship's windows- a roughly 20-foot wide viewing screen opposite the bar looking out into the cosmos, custom-designed for the bar itself.
One scene you may be orbiting a black hole, another close to a yellow supergiant star, or in another scene above a distant world with starship and space station traffic visible in the foreground. Each scene cycles about 10-15 minutes before taking a leap through hyperspace to the next world (they have to drop off all the passengers they picked up for a round, after all), and you'll be finding yourself swiveling in your chair to catch the next scene again and again in between sips
Although we personally have seen most of the worlds that Space Bar visits (perks of seeing the space before opening), we have to admit that our jaws still drop every time we see them- they're simply that good, and we can't wait to hear what systems they will be adding to their rotation in the future.
While there are many more sci-fi nods for you to discover at Space Bar, we don't want to give away anymore here. Instead, let's talk about the drinks!
A Taste of the Universe and of Home
On a recent visit to Space Bar, we sampled our way through a new iteration of the menu, titled “Memories of Earth”.
This menu features an array of cocktails designed to provide, as the name implies, flavors of home for passengers exploring deep into the cosmos- either be it due to unique flavors from a specific country or region, or other popular cocktails from Earth that make a space explorer pine for home.
In addition, a few of the bar's most popular cocktails from menu's past, like the Espresso Mars-Tini and Fifth Ele-mint (our favorite), are also found on a Classics side of the menu as well.
During a recent visit, we started off with an order of the Kaiju Negroni and the Seoular Flare.
The Kaiju Negroni is a take off of a Japanese-style white Negroni with Nikka Coffey gin, pandan infused bitter bianco, dolin, blanc vermouth, Vietnamese coconut liqueur, suze, and is coconut fat washed and clarified for good measure. This one hits you with a nice bitterness that you would expect from a Negroni, while the pandan and coconut provides a unique mouthfeel to help the drink be fuller and more rounded that we appreciate.
The Seoular Flare is inspired by the flavors of Korea, and is made with Haku vodka, Tokki soju, Yakju makgeolli, St George Basil, lime, and strawberry gochujang and is served in a soup bowl- giving vibes of a kimchi soup just as much as a cocktail.
This one is perhaps the most out-there on the menu as it is also served with a side of kimchi and turtle chips meant to pair, and has one of the most complex and integrated cocktails out there in Pittsburgh right now. The strawberry gochujang really brings this one altogether for a fruity and savory cocktail that we love, and the flavors really pop when you take alternating bites with the food served on the side.
More bars really should have a snack pairing to showcase flavors in a drink like this one!
We traveled over to norhtern Mexico for another taste of Earth with the Al Past-Orbit, inspired by our favorite- tacos al pastor. This one was made with St. George green chili vodka, pechuga mezcal, Ancho Reyes barrica, Giffard pineapple, al pastor sauce, lime, and simple syrup and is served with a side of seasoned tortilla chips.
On the surface, this one is has a balance of savory and fruity characteristics due to the chili vodka and pineapple liqueur, but it really pops in flavor when paired with the chips. My first time having this one I drank most of the cocktail before sampling the chips, and realized later these were a more integral part in the drink than you'd otherwise imagine as the seasonings on the chips really help highlight the pastor characteristics overall (so be sure to alternate bites!).
Finally, no visit to Space Bar is complete without an order of the Fifth Ele-Mint- a staple on their menu since almost day one with Askur dry gin, yuzu sake, acid-adjusted cucumber, mint, and mint oil, served over dry ice with a beautiful, futuristic presentation.
This one is an improved and, dare we say, perfected gimlet, with prominent cucumber and mint undertones that do not overpower the drink. It is simply a perfect balance of acid and citrus that works perfectly with the drink itself.
Ultimately, Space Bar is really changing the game with modern cocktails and has had many unique creations that we can safely say not only have we never seen in Pittsburgh before, but, if we're honest, anywhere else in the world, either.
So while the cocktails here could be a little too out-there for some, we are excited to see a bar take a different look at the cocktail scene to re-imagine just how delicious libations have the potential to be.
If we know the crew on this starship well (which we do), they are only just getting started, and the future is going to be very delicious.
Space Bar is located at 22 Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh. While we did consult during the start-up of the bar, we were not requested nor paid for this review in any capacity. As always, all opinions are our own.
