If you are looking for new safe places to unwind as an LGBTQ woman in Pittsburgh, here is a comprehensive list of the best restaurants, bars, or hangouts within a bus ride from our campus.
Cattivo
Home of drag pageants and Mr. Gay Pittsburgh, Cattivo is a relaxed restaurant and bar in Lawrenceville. “It’s really easy to get to,” Rachel, steering committee officer of Pitt Rainbow Alliance, says, “and they have karaoke!” Late at night, Cattivo even turns into a dance club sometimes.
Spin
With deep red lighting and cool cocktails, Spin is a great place to hang out at the end of a long week. It is also right across the street from 5801 and Harris Grill, making this part of Shadyside perfect for barhopping.
5801
5801, if you have ever passed its east Shadyside location, typically it smells amazing. That is enough incentive for me to go in. It has a very relaxed feel and is a great place to go with a friend.
Harris Grill
Harris Grill is a restaurant and bar on Ellsworth Ave in Shadyside that is open until late at night. It is frequented by a mostly queer crowd. “It’s got a very sports-bar vibe. There’s a really fun outside bar – like a deck patio with a bar and it’s super chill,” Rachel says.
Pitt Rainbow Lounge
Room 611 of William Pitt Union, on the Cultural Studies floor, houses the Rainbow Alliance of University of Pittsburgh. When you aren’t at the events two or three times a week, the office can serve as a lounge for straight or LGBTQ students alike. It is a great place to get homework done and to meet your peers.
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