Moondogs Pub

Moondogs run by Ronny "Moondog" Esser is Pittsburgh's last true blues club. Pittsburgh's best music clubs are closing by the minute with Club Cafe & the Hard Rock Cafe both gone as of early 2025. Moondogs has had & continues to have the best of local, regional & national acts. Covers are reasonable. There is a full bar (no food, but you can order at the Starlite next door & bring food in). The club gets hot both musically & in temperature when it's packed (and it often is). There are a few low tables, a rectangular bar, & a couple high tops near the side of the stage. The stage is small, & low so performances are intimate. Arrive early if you want a seat. Parking in small lot next to club or free on the street. Brew pub & restaurants walkable for pre & post shows.

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.

Definitely visit Moondog's for a good time . My husband thanked me over and over for suggesting this for last night'a date. Cutest little spot for music and the acoustics were great. The cover price was nothing for all the music we got! . Mark Demeno's band was really good,with exceptional guitar players and bongos. Loved the sax girl, and they added Austin, a local young guy who really has a future in sight! Then the headliners, CATS, short for Curtis and the Shakers! WOW. Raspy voice blues- exceptional music. I will be looking forward to hearing them again. Only downfall, one bartender was definitely on her toes, thank you Diane. Would have been fantastic if we could have enjoyed next door's Starlight's pierogis after good music, but unfortunately kitchen was closed

This is Pittsburgh's only remaining blues bar. Currently being remodeled for a new season of music. It's all about the music opening soon!

The music and atmosphere were great! However, the bartenders were extremely unpleasant and had unpleasant attitudes to match. As the night went on they charged more and more money for the same drinks.Had it not been for the band we would have left sooner.

Four of us bought tickets to the Nov 30 Cracker show several weeks in advance. We showed up last night around 8:45 (during the warm-up act) and couldn't even walk in the door! They apparently oversold tickets and the place was an obvious fire code violation. When a few people went outside to smoke, we were able to squeeze in an attempt to buy some beers from the understaffed and unfriendly bartenders. We could barely see Cracker playing and left after a few song. They should change their motto to "We Believe in Music...and packing people in like sardines." I hadn't been to Moondog's in many years...now I remember why. Hey Ron Esser, I want a partial refund since I couldn't really see the show.

My girlfriends and I (the Girl Posse) were looking for something to do on a Saturday Night. Being that we're all married 30-something(some with kids) music fans, we don't always get a chance to get together and head out to a show. But somehow the planets were aligned and the whole bunch went out to Moondog's for some great live music.This is another one of those places in which I can't believe I'm the first to review. Moondog's is a local institution, people! It's been around here ever since I can remember. Rusted Root played here in their pre-"Send Me On My Way" days.It's everything you want in a small music venue. Although does mean a slightly cramped seating area and the requisite long lines for the restrooms, it's a great intimate venue to see live music. And Moondog's brings in the music! It has everything from rock to blues to folk music. The Starlite Lounge Restaurant is next door and you can order food from there and bring it into the club. It's local music folks. Come out and support it!

EDITED 2015 January 18Been back several times for various groups. Sound system remains the same and is thus variable depending on who sits (or not) at the board. Improvements could be made in the lighting to off-set from the direct overheads on the stage. Best seats are often to the left of the band area; directly in front gets loud. Always bring ear plugs as some groups finese their art by sheer decibles. Still, it remains understaffed for the volume of business that is done at the bar. Perhaps that is the ambience.... f8 and be there.EDITED 2014 November 9thThe event I went to this evening, veteran's benefit, had a fully managed sound system. And the sound engineer was having a birthday. Lights on stage are now replaced, but ceiling lights remained burned out or missing giving the feeling of not fully managed. Two people behind the bar when three would have been much better for the packed house. The bartenders manage the bar, clear tables, set up tables, reset tables, move the bar supplies, manage the till.... two is insufficient; 3 would be better and my guess is the revenue/tips would be better with increased orders. But the sound system was nicely managed and balanced. Hopefully this is the trend on all future events.f8 and be there.-------------------------------------------------------------------------My last time at Moondog's was for an open mic night.So, this was a change up from my previous experience. The sound system was not working and there was NO internal support for it so the band had to trouble shoot cables that were bad and do the replacements, then rebalance the sound inputs/outputs. really? This is the best venue as advertised for the blues in the region? Theoretically, music is about the sound.Moondog's is clearly unique, and the management is able to book in some seriously great acts. And it comes together well in this small, crude, funky space. Now that they are non-smoking, all is better. The men's restroom is seriously improved over a few years ago (not that anyone wants to know that). They do not have food, but that is available up the street (though it is not particularly interesting).But, the issue for me is becoming that "blues divey" doesn't necessarily make a good performance venue for artists. Specially when the sound system is broken and not managed. Or when lights on the stage are burned out and there is no immediate remedy by the on-site staff? In fairness, the bartender had to run the entire shop by herself -- bar, tables, cleaning, stocking, helping the band.... one person does not make up good "staffing." While the "cover" for access is reasonable, the layout of the place is not up to modern standards for artists. Moondog's is apparently a regional icon. But I have experienced many venues that are better. Go to Beale Street in Memphis and you'll experience much better --- all packed together in a few city blocks.f8 and be there.

Love this place it's one of my favorites!!! Sure it's considered a dive!!! But that's moondogs!!! Wonderful acts! Bartenders bust their ass! Management and staff are friendly!!! Best part?....NO GRUSHECKY that I've ever seen!!! It's holds dear memories for me!! Have met some wonderful and dear people there!!! Give it a try if you aren't a pretentious, uptight idiot!!

Quaint personal , crowded but great place to listen to music. Staff was very accommodating.. patrons were very nice also.. love what the owner does to help Autistic kids too..