Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Pittsburgh / Western PA

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Pittsburgh / Western PA? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The PA Market

4.8

4.8 (206)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

The PA Market is Pittsburgh's unique European inspired restaurant in the Strip District. Two floors filled with cocktail bars, food vendors, and a Wine Library - there are endless selections to explore, and taste, during your visit. In classic European fashion, The PA Market is counter-style service. Choose your own adventure from our various food and drink menus and enjoy it anywhere, for a relaxed dining experience.

Top review

Julia

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing atmosphere, great service and awesome brunch menu! Definitely plan to go back many more!

Emerson’s

4.7

4.7 (398)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Emerson's is an intimate restaurant and bar with good vibes, located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Blending the charm of a European café with a cozy, modern ambiance—complete with a welcoming fireplace—it's a warm escape in the vibrant Market Square area. Our full dinner menu pairs with a curated selection of wines and craft cocktails, perfect for casual nights or special occasions.

We're on the second floor, up one flight of stairs. Elevator access is available upon request. Our entrance is just left of The Aperitivo Club.

If you can’t find a reservation or are booking for a party of 8+, please email info@marketstreetgrocery.com.

Please note that reservations are held for a 15-minute grace period. If you anticipate being late, we appreciate a quick call so we can do our best to accommodate you.

Top review

Kaitlyn

Dined 7 days ago

Burger and chicken sandwich were great! We came in late on a Friday + the service was fantastic. Nice chill vibe with delicious food

Wigle Whiskey Distillery

4.7

4.7 (255)

$30 and under

Distillery

Downtown

About the restaurant

Wigle Whiskey is a small-batch, craft whiskey distillery founded in the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Wigle Whiskey is the most awarded craft distillery by the American Craft Spirits Association for the past decade. Established in 2012, Wigle Whiskey strives to produce high-quality grain-to-glass spirits with a reverence to history. Our namesake Philip Wigle, a key figure in the Whiskey Rebellion, inspires us to continue the legacy of Whiskey production in Western, PA. Our spirits are a true expression and quintessential experience in the City of Champions.

Best-sellers like City of Champion’s Bourbon can’t be beat and pair perfectly with fried cheese curds or a Smash Burger!

After a meal from the Wigle Bar & Kitchen, don't forget to take home a bottle of your favorite Wigle spirit!

Top review

Nick

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

Food and drinks were great! I will be going here again.

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Experience

Wigle Whiskey Distillery Tour and Tasting

Bahama Breeze - Pittsburgh - Robinson Township

4.6

4.6 (637)

$30 and under

Caribbean

Downtown

About the restaurant

When you're at Bahama Breeze Island Grille, life's one big party. It's an escape from the ordinary and a much-needed excuse for you to let loose. Famous since 1996 for tropical cocktails, live music, and more, the vibe here is always as amazing as that Caribbean-inspired food we're known for. Bahama Breeze offers your favorites: seafood, salads, chicken--all with island flair. From Jerk Chicken Pasta to Seafood Paella, you can enjoy the islands one taste at a time, discovering new flavors along the way. Naturally, we're the perfect spot for all the sunniest moments in life: happy hours with friends, anniversaries, birthdays, date nights and unique culinary experiences. So, when you're ready to raise your glass and move your feet, the party's in full swing and the islands are waiting for you or if you'd rather bring the Island party home, online ordering is a Breeze too!

Top review

Bryan

Dined on Mar 29, 2025

The service was wonderful and the food was amazing as usual.

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Popular dish

Coconut Shrimp Tacos (2)

Rear End Gastropub & Garage

4.6

4.6 (111)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Etna

About the restaurant

We are a modern restaurant housed in an automotive garage that dates back to the 1940s. During the pre-interstate period of America, people and families often traveled across storied highways such as Route 40, Lincoln Highway or Route 66, encountering regional foods and a variety of cultural influences along the way.

In that spirit, our seasonal menu will be a ‘road trip’ that explores some of those mid-western, southern, south-western, and western dishes and techniques. Just like a garage, we will tinker with and adjust them to put together something that will make your trip to see us memorable.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 21, 2025

Such a great experience every time Our waitress Brittney so great, pleasant and love her smile. So attentive and never needed to ask for anything always there with refills and asking if we needed anything. Such a great time.

Bella Terra Vineyards- Hunker

4.6

4.6 (34)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hunker

About the restaurant

Bella Terra Vineyards-Hunker is our main location nestled among beautiful grounds, vineyards, and tranquil lake. Come enjoy our fresh, award winning wine and dishes like our jumbo lump crab cakes. Have a seat inside our spacious tasting room, in one of our lakeside cabanas, or outdoor igloos. BTV has live enternainment inside and outside on our garden stage several days a week. We'd love to have you at one of our exciting events like trivia night, bingo, paint and sip, country wine dancing, and charcuterie board making classes. Don't miss out on our happy hours with half price select appetizers and glasses of wine Wednesday through Friday and BOGO half off wine flights every Thursday!

Top review

Virginia

Dined on Feb 13, 2025

Had a great experience @ Bella Terra for their line dancing with Carol Drum instructing on February 13. We followed up & did a beginners line dancing @ 6 pm @ Yukon Firehall with Stacey on February 17. It was much slower instruction & very helpful for beginners. As always… Bella Terra service was very good & all staff are very friendly.

The Foundry Table & Tap

4.4

4.4 (789)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Foundry offers a unique assortment of delicious and seasonal new American fare and fresh takes on pub favorites sourced from the finest local purveyors and prepared from scratch.

Top review

Lindsey

Dined 6 days ago

Great for gluten free options, they have a seperate fryer and the server was very attentive to allergies! Food was delicious!

Eliza Hot Metal Bistro

4.4

4.4 (20)

$30 and under

American

Oakland

About the restaurant

A contemporary, American Style Bistro serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with an impressive selection of local libations. Check out our website or social media for special events!

Top review

Nicholle

Dined on Feb 8, 2025

Mich better experience this second time regarding the service. The first time we went to see Tony Campbell at Eliza they had limited service and the place was packed. We had a good time but not having enough waiting staff was chaotic. This time there was plenty of waiting staff and we were able to focus on the entertainment..seeing Tony Campbell his performance was awesome!

Shoreline Bar & Grille

4.3

4.3 (252)

$30 and under

American

Erie

About the restaurant

Nestled inside the Courtyard Erie Bayfront, Shoreline Bar & Grille offers a vibrant waterfront dining experience overlooking the serene Presque Isle Bay. A proud recipient of the 2025 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award, our restaurant celebrates the flavors of the Great Lakes region with menus crafted from locally sourced ingredients and a curated selection of signature cocktails. Whether you're enjoying a relaxed lunch, a sunset dinner, or drinks on the patio, Shoreline delivers a memorable taste of Erie in every bite and sip.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined on Apr 11, 2025

We had dinner here for our anniversary and the food and staff were absolutely amazing! We had never been here and it far exceeded our expectations and cannot wait to return!

The Yard Gastropub Robinson

4.3

4.3 (179)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Robinson Township

About the restaurant

We at The Yard believe in using local, sustainable food from across the region.

Top review

Laurel

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

This is a great place to go for brunch. The food was good and the service was excellent.