What it is: This bright, bustling, no-frills beer bar is bang across from PNC Park—easy to hit if you’re hitting a Pirates game, or a quick walk across Roberto Clemente Bridge if you’re staying downtown. There are no nooks for hiding here; everything is out in the open. A zig-zagging bar and long, high tables facilitate the making of new friends—Yinz from around here?—while the sports-mad decor and TVs remind you of local priorities.
Why it’s great: There is enough quantity here to find your quality, with more than 80 taps and 500-plus cans and bottles. Despite those numbers, this is about hyper-local depth, not global width—the faucets and fridges embrace the breweries of Pittsburgh and nearby areas, including all kinds of obscurities to make it work while virtually eschewing national names. Plus, while the super-casual atmosphere suggests hot dogs and chips, the menu in fact specializes in sizzling steaks served on hot stones, supplementing those with street tacos, smashburgers, or “PB&J”—that is, a pork-belly sandwich with walnut butter and strawberry jam. Tons of local beers, sports, and calories—it’s hard to get more Pittsburgh than this.
DETAILS
Hours: 11 a.m.–midnight, Sunday–Thursday; 11 a.m.–12:30 a.m., Friday & Saturday
Address: 110 Federal St., Pittsburgh
Web: mikesbeerbar.com