Where to Eat & Drink: NFL Draft Pittsburgh

It's a chain, not going to pretend otherwise. But the location is hard to beat - right between Acrisure and PNC Park with TVs on every wall. You'll see every pick without fighting for a spot.

On Federal Street across from PNC Park. Nothing fancy, just a solid neighborhood bar with decent food. It's going to be wall-to-wall people draft weekend because of the location.

Country-themed with big video walls and outdoor seating. Food is fine, not the reason to go. The vibe is. Aldean is performing at Rivers Casino draft eve, so expect this place to ride that energy all weekend.

Retro-gaming bar on the North Shore. Right next to The Plaza at North Shore, which is hosting ticketed concerts: Nelly on Wednesday (Opening Party), Steve Aoki on Thursday (midday tailgate), and 2 Chainz on Saturday (Closing Party). Tickets at gofevo.com. Expect lines. Get there early or don't bother.

Now open at the Plaza at North Shore (grand opening April 2). Chicken fingers, soft-serve ice cream, donuts, and a full bar. The Plaza is a brand new 30,000 sq ft outdoor venue right next to PNC Park with live music and food. It's going to be packed during the draft, but it's worth the visit.

4-minute walk to PNC Park. Good beer, decent food, dogs allowed on the patio. Not the most exciting spot on this list, but reliable and less chaotic than anything on Federal Street.

Four different restaurants under one roof. This is where you go when your group can't agree on anything. Happy hour Tue-Fri 4:30-6:30pm, half-off drafts and cocktails. Underrated.

80 rotating taps and 500+ beers. I've lost count of how many times I've been here before Pirates games. It's a beer nerd's paradise next to PNC Park. Open 11am-midnight daily.

90 craft beers on tap with an actual full menu (not just bar food). Good for a sit-down meal without making a reservation weeks in advance.

The original North Shore restaurant. Been around forever. Reliable spot across from PNC Park.

Gourmet burgers with creative toppings. Always a wait, especially game days. Draft weekend will be no different.

Multiple dining concepts under one roof. Good for groups who want options.

Upscale steakhouse on the North Shore. Make a reservation now or forget it during draft weekend.

Casual gastrobar with a big menu. Staffing up for draft week.

Bowling lanes, craft drinks, 0.25 miles from Acrisure Stadium. Good for killing time before picks start.

Ask anyone in Pittsburgh for their top 3 restaurants and Gaucho comes up every time. Argentine grill in the Strip District, technically a 10-min walk from Point State Park. There will be a wait. Go anyway.

Good brick oven pizza and a solid beer list. Not trying to be fancy, just trying to be good. Close to Point State Park. You can do a lot worse for $15-20.

The whiskey menu is overwhelming (in a good way). New American food, cocktails that actually taste like someone cared. Pricier side. Good date spot if you're dragging a partner to the draft. Note: Reopening April 1 after renovation. Confirm before visiting.

Upscale cocktail bar downtown. Feels more grown-up than most of Carson Street. Full menu, not just drinks. If you want a nice night out without the frat energy, this is it.

On 6th Street. Strong cocktails, nice atmosphere. They're hosting the YinzerMOB Draft Party on Saturday ($100, 2nd floor). Call ahead because some draft nights may be event-only.

Oldest restaurant in Pittsburgh, right on Market Square. Tourists love it. Locals have opinions about it. The fish sandwiches are good though, no argument there. Cash only last I checked.

Build-your-own tacos on Market Square. It's a chain, but the tacos are $5 each and the margaritas do their job. Quick, cheap, and good for groups who don't want to wait 45 minutes for a table.

Steakhouse. Expensive. They're actively marketing draft-weekend dining on their website, so they clearly want your business. If someone else is paying, go for it.

Craft cocktails in an intimate setting. Cultural District location.

Italian at PPG Place. Good pasta, nice atmosphere. Market Square location.

Asian fusion between Liberty and Penn. Creative menu, solid cocktails.

Italian restaurant downtown. Reliable, good portions.

Mini-golf bar in the Strip District. Fun for groups who want to do something besides sit at a bar.

Coffee by day, cocktails by night. Inside the Union Trust Building near the Omni William Penn.

Cocktail spot on Market Square with a molecular mixology menu. Open to the public all three days of the draft. Worth a stop if you want something more creative than a standard draft-weekend beer.

Two floors of food vendors, cocktail bars, and a wine garden. 14,000 square feet. It feels more European market than American food court. Best food hall in the city, and it's not close.

The thin, crispy pancakes are famous for a reason. Get here early Saturday before Day 3 of the draft. The line will be insane but it moves fast. Cash is helpful.

Handmade pasta and sandwiches on Penn Ave. This is where Pittsburghers take out-of-town guests when they want to show off. 1,200+ Yelp reviews and they're almost all 5 stars. Go for lunch - dinner waits are brutal.

Local craft whiskey with a tasting room in the Strip. Do the tasting flight, buy a bottle to bring home. It's the kind of thing you can't do in most cities.

Small, intimate, bartenders who actually know what they're doing. Not cheap, not a sports bar, not a tourist trap. If you want a quiet cocktail away from draft chaos, this is your spot.

Sushi, pho, spring rolls from multiple vendors at 1931 Smallman Street. Good variety if your group wants different things. Nothing mindblowing but solid and quick.

Another breakfast legend in the Strip. Competes with Pamela's for best pancakes in Pittsburgh.

Cheese and pasta since 1902. Imported Italian goods. A Strip District institution.

Artisan bakery with European-style breads and pastries. Worth a stop.

Caribbean-inspired food and cocktails. Creative menu, fun vibe.

Authentic Latin food in the Strip District. Local favorite for real-deal cuisine.

German beer hall on the waterfront. Big space, live music, liter steins. Touristy? Yeah. Fun? Also yeah. If you've never been to one, go. If you have, you know what you're getting.

Pinball, duckpin bowling, craft drinks. Good for groups who want to actually do something instead of just sit at a bar. Gets loud and crowded late night.

Local favorite on Carson Street. Good food, good drinks, good atmosphere. Not trying to be anything it's not. The kind of bar where you end up staying longer than you planned.

If you want actual cocktails and not a $5 vodka soda in a plastic cup, Acacia is the move on the South Side. More chill than most of Carson Street.

Fun spot with character. Late-night option after draft sessions. Made Yelp's best bars list recently. Not the place for a quiet conversation.

Slightly off Carson Street on Bradish. Easy to miss, which is part of the appeal. Locals like it because it's not overrun with the Carson Street crowd.

Themed tiki bar on Carson Street since 2002. Still going strong. Tropical drinks, kitschy decor.

Upscale Sicilian-Italian just off Carson Street. Nice date spot if you want something fancier.

Mexican restaurant with solid margaritas. Good for groups.

Live music venue reopened summer 2025 under new owners. Bar open Mon-Sat from 6 PM. 21+.

Dive bar with live music and a scratch kitchen. The kind of place where you end up at 2 AM.

A brewery inside a historic church. Brewing tanks where the altar used to be. One of the most unique dining spots in the entire country.

Popular outdoor space with a great patio. If the weather cooperates (and in late April, it might), this is a perfect afternoon spot.

Hosting the 'Official Pittsburgh Draft Watch Party' on April 23. GA $15, VIP $65, Premium VIP $250. Worth the drive if you want to watch picks without the downtown chaos.

Made Hop Culture's best breweries list. Known for outstanding IPAs. If you're a hop head, don't skip this one.

#1 brewery on Yelp. Great beer, great patio.

Small-batch brewery in Lawrenceville. Rotating taps, chill atmosphere.

Craft brewery with rotating food trucks. Good outdoor space.

Belgian-style ales and mixed-fermentation beers. Not your typical brewery.

Huge space in a former 1912 Ford dealership. One of the best new brewery spaces in the city.

Build-your-own tacos starting around $5 each. Fill up for $12-15 easy.

Breakfast and lunch under $12. Those famous pancakes are $9. Cash is king here.

Monster grilled cheese sandwiches and decent draft beer. Filling and affordable.

Quick pizza near Point State Park. Slices and pies at regular Pittsburgh prices.

Mini donuts with creative flavors. $5-8 for a box. Instagram-friendly and delicious.

Known for bread and pepperoni rolls. Grab-and-go Pittsburgh classic. Under $10.

This is where Pittsburghers take out-of-town guests when they want to impress them. The pasta is handmade. The sandwiches are perfect.

Ask any local for their top 5 restaurants. Gaucho is on the list. Every time.

Brewing beer inside a converted church. It's the kind of place you tell everyone about when you get home.

Small, intimate, outstanding cocktails. Not a tourist trap. The kind of bar where the bartender actually knows what they're doing.

4.6 stars on TripAdvisor (845 reviews). Contemporary American with the best view in the city. This is where you go for a special night out.

Near the Mon Incline. Not fancy, no view, but great food on a side street. Hidden gem that most visitors never find.