The Most Delicious Music Venues in Pittsburgh

Westside Bowl

★★★★☆ 4.2 (25)

"This place is amazing! The pizza is phenomenal, the staff are so friendly, and the vibe is perfect. Bowling, arcade, pinball, live bands, old school Nintendo, great bar, you really can't lose. I love this place. Can't wait to come back, highly recommend."

Mr Smalls Fun House

★★★★☆ 4 (93) • $$

"Mr. Smalls is a great place for live music! I have been going here regularly for the last 15 years (wow, that makes me feel old). Mr. Smalls has gone through many renovations and updates over the years, and it is a really nice venue now! This old church turned music venue(s) and cafe is located in Millvale. Parking is always tricky in this small town so I usually uber. The security check, ticket taker, and ID check are all quick to get through. Once inside you can stand in the general admission pit, or upgrade your tickets to sit on the balcony above. I always stand close to the stage. I love that big names have played this intimate venue. I've been here for everything from heavy metal bands with mosh pits and crowd surfing to acoustic acts like Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers to comedians like Fred Armisen. We are so lucky to have this intimate venue so close to the city. The drinks are reasonably priced, but I have never tried food from their cafe. Pro tip - go down the steps in the back of the venue near the bar to use their downstairs bathroom (it's always empty and clean). I look forward to many more years of great live music here!"

The Goldmark

★★★★☆ 3.7 (38) • $$

"Good food in Lawrenceville isn't hard to find. There's a new amazing place, all the way down past the hubbub of central Lawrenceville that caught my attention; The GoldMark. For a "bar" that is trying to make a name for themselves in the food world, they sure have made their mark. (pun totally intended) My date and I stopped in on the very first day that the kitchen was open. We decided to order a few things and fight amongst ourselves for dinner. The order came to one Chicken & Waffles sandwich, one GoldMark Cuban, (I love the play on words) and the Mac & Cheese. Yowza. All the food! For $26, it was quite the steal. The Chicken & Waffles sandwich is made with a perfectly fluffy waffle; just a little sweet. The chicken thigh was fried and crisp, and the jalapeño/honey drizzle goodness was just right to top. It wouldn't be Pittsburgh if they didn't put coleslaw on it. This was just the right addition to pull the whole sandwich together. I'd like to go on record and say that I've never had a Cuban. However, this was a great first experience!! They use local rolls, and press braised pork, honey ham, house made pickles, swiss cheese, and a lemon aioli between them for an amazing first-bite (and every bite thereafter) experience. I'm not a pickle fan; but I loved these! I can't forget the Mac & Cheese. They make their cheese sauce in house (no cutting corners here), and then top it with Fritos. FRITOS. Yes, you read that right. It was a little slice/pile of heaven. I can't speak to the bar; because we were just here for the noms tonight, but their Beer & Shot tiers seemed pretty popular at the bar. They have a DJ every night that they're open, good old-school guys spinning on vinyl, hence the name The GoldMark. I'll totally be back to eat the other half of the menu and more! Happy Eating!"

The Trailside

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (147) • $$

"After riding 20 miles on the Great Allegheny Passage a cold brew and lunch was just what we wanted. The Trailside is truly on the trail. The trail head parking is just steps away from the pub. Nothing fancy about this place but it is clean and the service is friendly. We sat at the bar on a Thursday afternoon, it wasn't very crowded. The bar had a lot of TV Screens with sports playing. Quite a few brews on tap. The lunch menu offered salads, wraps, sandwiches and some starters. The larger entree's aren't available until 4pm. We enjoyed the Megalodon fish sandwich. Big enough to share. This place is a convenient stop."

Pennington's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (11) • $$

"Stopped in for dinner the other day. Had the special which was spaghetti and meatballs and a salad. Great place for being in the middle of nowhere. I'll be back if I'm ever in the area again."

Cattivo

★★★★☆ 3.6 (34) • $$

"You want comedy? Flea market? Drag queens? Karaoke? Goth and Industrial nights? Cattivo offers everything. Decent drink prices, great staff. I've been here for so many different events and they're always packed."

Howl at the Moon Pittsburgh

★★★★☆ 3.6 (123) • $$

"I needed something to do after weeks of being quarantined and then overworked!Howl at the Moon is always a great place to go listen to some really good live music with dueling pianos and extremely gifted , creative, and talented performers! I even met some new people I can now call friends. The atmosphere is always happy, and the servers are really nice. All of the servers I've had have always been accommodating, pleasant and outgoing and I like that. I ordered a Moscow Mule and, as usual, it was delicous. I then, along with my new friends, ordered a Green Tea Shot and it was delicous!!!! I loved it. I haven't had food here because I don't think they accommodated Vegans, but that's OK because you can order food and have it delivered to the bar!!!! Awesomenesssssss! I did just that and was able to have my friends, food and great music!!!!!"

Essential Fermentation

★★★★☆ 3.7 (6)

"We had steak wrap and steak hoagie french fries with chili also a flight of beers. onion rings are in house. Beer and good food what can I say worth a stop."

Carnegie Music Hall

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (6)

"The answer to "How does one get to Carnegie Hall?" The one in New York was built in 1891, 4 years before this gem in Pittsburgh. Locals pronounce "Carnegie" differently, just so yinz knows.With marvelous acoustics, the theater holds 1,928 with 22 accessible seats.Home to the Chamber Music Pittsburgh series, which hosts string quartets and other chamber groups. The Carnegie Mellon University Philharmonic performs here as well.The foyer is absolutely exquisite, with 50 foot ceilings, marble columns and Baroque decor. An ornate balcony overlooks this elegant room, which is often booked for wedding receptions and gala fundraisers. There are 3 tiers of seats. Experts rave about the acoustics upstairs, so don't be afraid to sit up top."

Brillobox

★★★★☆ 3.7 (182) • $$

"Yay they're open again!But more so, I should have updated this long ago.Service improved by leaps and bounds since my initial review.It's a great neighborhood spot and you can't go wrong with Prosecco on tap!"

Tall Trees Amphitheater

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Great music venue. The shows are always free. Located in Monroeville Park West. Lots of room for seating. Folding chairs and coolers are allowed. Usually during shows food trucks and stand are there to enjoy a meal in the park. Well kept grounds. Nice paths for walking or biking. Ample parking is available. A playground is close by for the kids. Always a fun time for our family. Great local venue with many fun activities. We visit often and look forward to seeing the next show!"

Porchvue Winery

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"We came across this diamond in the country while winery-hopping. A beautiful and welcoming venue. Eileen made us feel at home immediately. Most importantly, the wines are just incredible. Especially if you're looking for some medium-to-dry varietals that are NOT regional. We will be back!"

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall

★★★★☆ 3.8 (76) • $

"A great venue for a show! If you see any artists pop up on their upcoming shows list, don't hesitate. Buy a ticket and go! I drove here from Buffalo for a show and it was amazing. All of the staff (bartenders, security, stagehands, box office, etc.) was kind and professional. The space itself is accommodating to every concert goer. If you want to be up front, there is a good amount of rail space for you at the stage and it juts out into the GA space like a half circle, so if you're standing at either end, you get a unique view of the performance. If you're looking to avoid the floor, there are two balcony areas with seats and tables. The best part is that the first balcony (bigger of the two) isn't far back from the stage at all. I didn't partake in the food offerings but my buddy had some of the empanadas and they looked great! Without question I will be returning to Thunderbird Music Hall. I should also mention that it's located on a main street with a fair amount of bars, coffee shops, and places to grab a bite. I went on Easter Sunday so I wasn't really able to explore those establishments, but I definitely will on my next visit."

Bottlerocket Social Hall

★★★★★ 4.7 (19)

"I love love love this place!!70s throwback vibe that's so welcoming and comfortable. They've only been open since June 2022 and already have a great following. Lots of my friends bands play here, they have movie nights, standup comedy and so much more. The staff are the coolest people too. Genuinely friendly and fun to talk with, like old friends or family.Cocktails are insanely delicious and super affordable...especially during happy hour when they're only five bucks. Can you believe that?I'm seriously in love.Fun bar food too. Hot dogs and snacks. Cheap and good. My only complaint is that they aren't located in my neighborhood. That's not too terrible though because there's a bus almost right from my doorstep here. Win-win."

Spirit

★★★★☆ 4 (134) • $$

"I've been here several times and had consistently great experiences! The first time I was here was for the monthly In Bed by Ten Dance Party on a Friday on the top floor and then came back for a funk band event on the bottom floor.The vibe here is relaxed and low-key, with a creative energy, that I very much enjoy! Recommend checking it out"

Reservoir of Jazz

★★★★★ 4.5 (2) • $

"This is is a free Jazz concert in the park and I attend every year. Kenia often performs her Brazilian Jazz here, but whatever the performers, it's always a good show. You should plan on arriving early, it's well attended, so think about bringing chairs or a blanket and picking a good spot in advance. The sound is very good. The musicians play in the Cityparks portable stage. We sometimes hike around the Reservoir afterwards or enjoy the line dancing that happens afterwards at the fountain."

Vinoski Winery

★★★★☆ 3.7 (43) • $$

"I visited Vinoski Winery for the first time on Saturday. I tried calling 3 different times the morning of to see if we could bring food and how tastings/reservations worked. The automated message never let me speak to a real person. I couldn't find much info on the website or Facebook either, so we decided to wing it! The drive was about 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, but with all the red lights it felt like it took forever to get there! All of a sudden you make a turn into the beautiful entrance to the castle. Once we got up the hill we were told to park in the grass. There wasn't anyone directing people where to go for wine tasting or the concert, but we followed the music. We arrived at 3:30 PM knowing the concert started at 5 oclock. We thought we could tour the house and taste some wines before the show started outside. We kept trying to walk in different doors, but they said wristbands only. We definitely looked lost. The volunteer outside with blonde hair was so sweet and tried to help us. We couldn't find any actual employees outside.She let us in the door that said wrist bands only and showed us where the tasting bar was. We ordered 2 dry tastings, which were $20 each. I thought that was steep for 5 samples. The cashier gave us a ticket which we then took over to the wine bar. She was not friendly at all when I paid or when I asked about where to purchase a bottle.The wine concierge Doug was great. He was super knowledgeable and fun. We each picked out 5 wines from the list to taste. He informed us that they were sold out of about 4 different wines, but the list usually stays the same. I tried the Petite Sirah, Symphonia, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and Reserve blend.The wines were really good, but lighter than what I expected from a West Coast wine. The grapes come from Washington, Oregon, and California. I wish they would have had their Lodi ZIn because I usually love those! Doug informed us that instead of pressing the grapes, they use free run juice which is the juice that flows from freshly picked grapes during the destemming and crushing process, prior to the pressing process. "When winemakers put the grapes into the winepress, the grapes are stacked on top of each other and the weight of the fruit causes the release of some juice." I have read about this process, but never had wine from somewhere that did this before. The Reserve was a California Bordeaux blend and it was definitely the best wine. I loved how smooth and well balanced it was. They gave us oyster crackers in a little cup at the tasting bar.The house is 12,000 square feet and is now used for bridal showers and special events. We got a table outside and set up all the snacks I brought. Once more people started arriving, they brought full charcuterie plates, and now we know that outside food is allowed. They also make homemade wood fired pizza outside. We got a half plain, half pepperoni pizza and it was really good! The bottom was charred and it was delicious. I would go back for a show or one of their special wine dinners. The sound and lights for the concert was great! It was a fun little day trip."

Steamworks Creative

★★★★★ 5 (6) • $

"Small, intimate venue which is both BYOB & BYOF. Not a bad seat in the entire place, and the sound system is great. Cups & napkins available for your food & beverage items you bring inside. You can purchase beer & soda on the honor system for a small fee from a fridge in the back of the room. Showcases great local bands & talent and music performances supporting those with special needs and/or on autism spectrum. Definitely worth checking out. It's hard to see from Rt 8 & easy to miss the turn in. Located in small plaza just before Bruster's Ice Cream."

Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (279) • $$

"Stopped by here after the Pirates game. We really enjoyed the outdoor patio and our service was prompt and quick. The drinks were solid and it was nice to get in and out of here quickly based on our plans."

Country Hammer

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Friday night we visited Country Hammer moonshine's newest location in Ruffs Dale. They have done a great job on the building, property, and seating area to make it a really nice place to sit and enjoy a few drinks. It is a very different business model than their usual retail spots in shopping centers. We ordered some of their usual slushees: the adult orange push-up and adult chocolate milk. Just like at their other locations they can add an additional shot to these for additional flavors beyond just the base flavor (and a little extra kick). A new drink that some of our group ordered was the hammered duck. It is a combination of lemonade and snozzberry moonshine with a rubber duck floating on top. It is a nice summer drink and very photogenic!As far as food goes, the only thing we ordered was the salmon dip. It was also very good and served with warm pitas and tortilla chips. We look forward to returning and enjoying more of what Country Hammer has to offer."

Kingfly Spirits

★★★★☆ 4.4 (120) • $$

"First and foremost I have to say- the atmosphere here is immaculate. The staff was amazing and not only gave us an incredible drink suggestion which changed my fiancée's whole view on tequila cocktails for the better (the de manzana was incredible), but they also were so personable and kind that we ended up staying long past the one drink we planned to come by for. We had never been in before but plan to come back soon! They also constantly have super cool and unique events going on."

Riverside Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 3.7 (86)

"My wife & I dined at Riverside Brewery Co. for the first time on Sun., 01/12/2025. Arriving around 4:30 p.m., the restaurant was not as busy as I expected but more patrons came in during the time we were there.I loved the decor & atmosphere. Something I particularly liked was the venue was relatively quiet despite all the hard surfaces. You could actually have a conversation without shouting.Our server was excellent. We had asked for recommendations being this was our first visit. Though the chili sounded appealing, it is a dish I often have elsewhere. I decided on the beef vegetable rice soup which was delicious. However, our server brought me a sample of the chili should I want it next time. Five stars for both the chili sample & customer service to provide it!For an entrée, I had the Butcher's Cut sandwich with fresh cut fries. The fries were very good. The sandwich tasted good but was lackluster in its portions. My wife had gluten free pasta with marinara sauce which she also found to be very good but, despite the price, was not accompanied by any kind of salad.Price cost Riverside Brewing Company one star in my recommendation. In our opinion, pricing was 20% too high. I know food costs have soared & Riverside Brewing Company prides itself on farm-to-table fare. I will not take issue with others who may disagree with me. My opinion is only meant to prepare those giving consideration to dining here.I am not including in my review the beverage menu or outside seating area. I seldom drink but saw several adult beverages which looked appealing. January dining in northwestern Pennsylvania typically doesn't accommodate dining alfresco but the patio area appears it would be awesome come summer!_______Fellow Yelpers! If you found my review to be the least bit helpful, please take a moment to comment on it. Thank you!"

Moondogs Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (14) • $

"Down to earth blues club. Moondogs keeps it simple and stays true to itself. One side of the room is a stage and tables for listening. The other side is a bar.I would prefer more options for beer on tap, and I feel like Moondogs has been left behind, but perhaps that is intentional."

Tipsy Teeze

★★★★★ 4.6 (5)

"Just had the best pulled pork wrap of my life. Bartender Jen made our experience so much better by being so personable and friendly. 10/10 would recommend."

1700 Penn Ave Helltown Brewing

★★★★☆ 3.9 (39) • $$

"I went with a large group and there was plenty of space for us to mix and mingle. The bar tenders were friendly. I enjoyed my season mule. I didn't eat any food there as it was snacks like chips and pretzels."

Dead Head Winery

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"Staff is so great, you can tell they put their heart and souls into this place. Wine is delicious but the bands they book there are really great, many national acts. The decor and bonfires with a bottle of wine and great music are a great experience always!"

MCG Jazz

★★★★★ 4.8 (6) • $$

"The number one Jazz venue in Pittsburgh. It's also a wonderful gallery space and an arts enrichment studio for high school students. I've seen many Jazz performances here, and the artistry, acoustics, and production values all add up to a spectacular evening. There's also a recording studio that produced the Grammy Award winning Nancy Wilson's "Turned to Blue.,""

Carnegie Library Music Hall

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (58) • $$

"I have attended probably 25+ concerts/comedy shows at Carnegie Music Hall in Homestead. The building itself is so huge and beautiful. Street parking is always pretty easy (if you are good at parallel parking ;)), and you don't hit crazy traffic on the way there/back from the city. I think most of the staff are volunteers, and they are always so friendly. They sell candy, chips, and snacks in the lobby for only a few dollars. If you walk through the actual library, there is a bar where you can purchase drinks to take in the theater in sippy cups. It doesn't feel right drinking red wine out of a sippy cup, but it's a cute idea. People definitely take advantage of the bar at the shows! The sound in the theater is always solid!The negatives of this place are 1. Walking up the big flight of steps/steep ramp to get there. I feel like I always wear heels and then instantly regret it when I get there. I am assuming that handicap people can get dropped off on the side of the building where the tour buses load in. 2. The chairs in this theater are awful. They are old and it's a historic venue, so what do you expect? The couple in front of us brought their own seat cushions. Genius! I am absolutely doing this next time! (Does this mean I'm officially getting older?! lol!) I am 5' 8" and my legs literally did not fit in the chair at all. I had on a dress so I couldn't sit with my legs wide open like the man next to me did. He had to sit with his arms crossed the whole show because he literally had nowhere to put his arms. 3. Where is the air conditioning?! They closed for renovations and said they would be putting in air conditioning. We were so excited, because my boyfriend and I have sat through so many unbearably hot concerts there. It is always a fun time, and we can't complain since this is a beautiful venue that brings incredible live music and comedy shows to Pittsburgh. Just a heads up if you are attending a show here to dress light, bring a seat cushion, and bring small bills for snacks/water!"

The Smiling Moose

★★★★☆ 4.2 (183) • $$

"Solid service. Excellent variety in taps and cans. Football game on TVs. Good food. Friendly staff and patrons."

Enclave

★★☆☆☆ 2 (7)

"Came here with a group for a friends birthday, the place was absolutely packed. It took a little while to get in but I had fun. We did not try any of their food. But the waitresses were very sweet!"

Preserving Underground

★★★★☆ 3.6 (5)

"I'm kind of surprised to see folks referring to this as the best venue in Pittsburgh. I did not receive that impression. I attended the Four Chord pre-show earlier this summer, featuring Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, 408, and some other performers. They didn't start the show on time and had us waiting outside. It was hot inside the venue too, which I didn't love. But the worst part about the experience was the sound. It was SO echoey. Maybe they were having an off night, but I was really regretting not having earplugs with me. The sets were good regardless, and it was nice that they had pew seating along the sides, but I wasn't otherwise super impressed with the venue itself."

Roboto

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (7) • $

"Music venue that often hosts open mic and other events during Unblurred.Primarily punk club.Basic building roomy. Decent place for a show."

Jergel's Rhythm Grille

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (149) • $$

"I have only been here one other time before in the Cigar section. This time, I was attending a concert. The concert began around 8:00pm. My friend and I arrived at 6:45pm and were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar on the main floor. We sat there and ordered food and drinks. Each of the bartenders were very sweet and were sure to keep us satisfied. The food did take a while to come out. One of the bartenders apologized for the wait, but we did not mind! We ordered a Chicken Quesadilla with a side of Sweet Potato Fries as well as Pretzel Sticks with house made beer cheese. My friend said the quesadilla and fries were very good. I really annoyed the pretzels, but the cheese was a little flavorless. The vibes here were amazing. It is such a great spot to have concerts. There are also fire pits outside near the bar side. There is an upstairs section as well. There is another bar and more seating. I would love to watch a concert from this floor one time. If you have a chance, I suggest you try Jergels out. I will 110% be back for a concert in the future!"

Mountain View Ampitheater

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Nice outdoor venue for concerts. You may not find A list performers here (we were here for a Led Zeppelin tribute band) but the stage set up is solid, the music plays well, and the surrounding view is very nice - countryside and green hills. The drinks and food are very reasonably priced. I had comped tickets so I can't comment on performance prices. The parking in an adjacent field was $10.Overall - weather permitting, a nice place to bring a lawn chair, sit and listen to some tunes!"