Alcohol

8 Oktoberfests in Pittsburgh to Celebrate Fall with a Beer

We have a soft spot for all things Oktoberfest, and after getting to enjoy the celebration in Munich for its wild party, we love checking out all of the Pittsburgh Oktoberfest celebrations that take place throughout September (with some spilling into August and October).

As there are no shortage of events taking place in breweries and other public places, we thought we would share a few of the top Oktoberfest events you may want to consider. Prost!

Note: This article features a mix of Oktoberfest celebrations that have been announced in 2026 as well as celebrations that were regulars in previous years that we hope will return. These will be noted in each section and we will continue to update this article as more event dates are announced.

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Space Bar Review – Exploring the Cosmos with a Cocktail

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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Spork Island Trading Company Brings Tiki Vibes Downtown

We love tiki drinks, and when we heard that Spork Island Trading Company was opening up as an immersive tiki bar in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, we had to go right away.

This one combines a beautiful ambiance with a robust tiki menu and is helping convert Penn Avenue downtown into quite the cocktail hub.

So, let's dive in and share a bit of our experience from opening night in this one!

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Vieux Carre Brings Prohibition Vibes to the Strip District

We always have to give a hand to the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group, because when they go big for a project, they really lean into it.

After opening their club/lounge Strip District venue, Sea Monkey, we caught wind that they were also transforming a backroom space into a high-end speakeasy, aptly named Vieux Carre.

As we are always delighted to take a trip back in time to an appropriately themed speakeasy, we knew we had to get into this one right away and were not disappointed.

Vieux Carre is a darn fine cocktail bar in Pittsburgh, albeit at a price to match!

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Park House Review – Historic Bar Returns to the North Side

Park House in Pittsburgh's North Side is a historic bar in the city as it is often thought to have received one of the first licenses to serve alcohol after Prohibition ended.

For many years, Park House was a favorite neighborhood bar of many thanks to having food, regular live music, and more. But, sadly, like many businesses, this one closed in 2020 and only reopened in late 2025 after a several-year hiatus.

Naturally, we were thrilled that this staple bar has returned, and have visited a few times since reopening.

Park House is back and better than ever!

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9 Spots Great to Enjoy Dry January in Pittsburgh in 2026

Oh dry January, you are always fun.

This annual celebration has become something of a global phenomenon, as many of us look to use the somewhat slow month as a chance to detox and get a break from indulgences (especially after the holidays).

Whatever your reason for participating in dry January is your own. But if you are looking to enjoy the flavors of your favorite beverages without alcohol, a number of restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries are starting to offer great options for dry January in Pittsburgh!

In this one, we thought we'd share some of the spots with the finest assortment of products. While this one is not comprehensive, we wanted to include places that have larger menus, share a variety of products, and more to give you a great cross-section of alcohol-free beverages in the city to consider if you are abstaining.

Please note: This article focuses on offerings for Dry January specifically and may not necessarily be accurate year-round. While many of the bars, restaurants, and breweries featured have great non-alcoholic products at all times, some increase their offerings for January. Likewise, cocktails, beers on draft, and other beverages are always liable to change. Please reconfirm directly with any business prior to visiting. Finally, some drink photos in this article may be alcoholic and are for illustration only.

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Union Brothers Brewing Review – Brews and Food

We've been fans of Union Brothers Brewing since they first opened in Harmony. Since then, they've gained quite the popularity, expanded into a new location down the road, all while offering the same great food and beer since day one.

We recently revisited this one for a night out, with beer and food all around, and had quite the great time. So if you're north of the city looking for food, beer, or perhaps both, this one is a great stop!

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Bitter End Review – Speakeasy Vibes in Etna

We love a good speakeasy, and when we heard about Bitter End in Etna serving classic cocktails in a speakeasy ambiance (complete with green light above the front door), we made our way over as quickly as we could.

Although we had some concerns over the balance of our drinks, we always welcome more cocktail programs in the Pittsburgh region.

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The Monks’ Bar Review – The Smallest Bar in PA Packs a Punch

In many cases, we often overlook that Pittsburgh hotels often have on-site cocktail bars. Some of these may be your conventional hotel bar, while others may be a bit more.

At The Priory Hotel in the North Side, you get what is perhaps the most interesting hotel bar experience in the city, for one unique reason- it is said to be the smallest bar in the state of Pennsylvania.

Yes, The Monks' Bar is tiny, and according to The Priory's website, it seats just 14 customers. So cozy up with your fellow patrons, get to know your bartender, and grab a drink from this limited, albeit expertly curated, bar menu!

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Nine Two Five Review – Cocktails and More by Dancing Gnome

Ever since Dancing Gnome opened their massive new brewery in Sharpsburg, we always wondered what would happen to their original, more intimate location along Main Street.

In late 2025, Dancing Gnome announced that the original bar would be opened, renamed Nine Two Five (sometimes written Nine T(w)o Five- perhaps the most appropriate street-address-turned-bar-name you could ask for), and would be a welcoming, all-around bar with beer, cocktails, wine, food, and more.

Naturally, we visited this one on the first soft open, and while we would fully argue this one is a cocktail bar first that also has great local brews and PA wines, this one really has something for everyone- including a new food menu from Blue Sparrow!

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