Pittsburgh gay nightlife
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A once-popular Pittsburgh bar is one step closer to getting a historic designation after the Historic Review Commission met on Wednesday.
Donny's Place in Polish Hill was the hub of LGBTQ life in the metropolis from 1973 to its closure in 2022. If the designation goes through, it would be the first queer history landmark in western Pennsylvania.
"As we continue to lose the people and places that can tell the stories, we feel Donny's is a good candidate for designation and can encourage other related nominations," said Elizabeth Anderson, who is working to ensure its history is not confused to new development and nominated it for landmark status.
The two-story red brick building at the corner of Herron Road in Pittsburgh's Polish Hill neighborhood sits empty, but for decades, it was the go-to spot in the LGBTQ community.
"We contain up to 90 emails now of support from our neighbors in Polish Hill and the broader community all sent with care and zeal and hope for what this nomination could mean," Anderson said.
The founder of Donny's Place, Donald Thinnes, a Vietnam veteran, bought the building in 1973 and made it a unharmed haven for LGBTQ people, even
Nightlife
Blue Moon - 5115 Butler St. | 412.781.1119
Blue Celestial lays claim to fame as the "friendliest same-sex attracted bar in Pittsburgh" with great people, no attitude, cheap drinks, and lots of fun. It's no wonder this Lawrenceville lock was voted BEST LGBT BAR IN PITTSBURGH 2016 and 2017, and is rated #38 out of the 50 BEST Queer BARS IN THE Merged STATES according to Yelp.
Brewer's Hotel & Bar - 3315 Liberty Ave. | 412.681.7991
If you're looking for a place to rest with friends, Brewer's Lock is the place for you. Brewers Bar & Hotel is the oldest standing Gay Bar in Pittsburgh. Cheap drinks, approachable staff and energetic Queenly Shows every Friday and Saturday will keep you coming back again and again.
Cattivo - 146 44th St. | 412.687.2157
Find an inclusive, friendly and diverse atmosphere at Cattivo, nestled in the heart of Pittsburgh’s artsy neighborhood, Lawrenceville. Open for over 20+ years, this local hangout hosts a variety of live music, DJ move parties, benefits and more. Did we mention they also have pool tables, darts, pinball, and a jukebox?
Club Pittsburgh - 1139 Penn Ave. | 412.471.6790
Club Pittsburgh has been serving the city's queer society since 200
The Real Luck Café, acknowledged by most folks as “Lucky’s,” may be the most aptly named lock in Pittsburgh.
In 2019, the Pittsburgh Planning Commission approved a new development located next door to the gritty Strip District queer bar at 1519 Penn Ave. The developer’s plans included buying Lucky’s to make it simpler and cheaper to demolish the adjacent seven-story former chilly storage structure (known as the Wholey’s fish building).
But the bar’s owner rebuffed the developer’s offer and set the stage for one of the city’s most spectacular demolitions played out in slow motion over several months this year.
When the new progress at 1501 Penn is done, passersby might be tempted to compare Lucky’s to otherholdout buildings or “spite houses”: architectural anachronisms around which new maturation sprouted because owners refused to sell.
The Lucky’s story isn’t so simple.
Its history and endurance are an authentic Pittsburgh tale. The club has survived a series of potential catastrophes leading up to the redevelopment, including the Covid pandemic and seismic shifts in gay club life.
The jury is still out on whether Lucky’s can survive the Strip’s transf
From classy cocktail lounges to wild college bars, Pittsburgh is known for having many of the top watering holes in the region. Thanks to its growing LGBT community, the city is also earning a reputation for having some of the foremost gay bars as good. Pittsburgh's trendy nightlife coupled with its great singles scene makes ideal for meeting with a diverse crowd who enjoy an evening of fun, stay entertainment, great drinks and even better company. Sustain the city's LGBT group at these five lgbtq+ bars that have deservingly earned their spot as the best in Pittsburgh.
5115 Butler St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
(412) 781-1119
Blue Moon tops the list of the city's foremost gay bars thanks to its no-frills atmosphere that delivers big on drinks and entertainment. Gay-owned and operated, Blue Moon features a beautiful English prevent boasting plenty of celebration, video entertainment, a pool table and a confidential patio. Locals love the diversity of the drinking crowds as well as its friendly and watchful staff including Blue Moon's top-rated drag performers. On your next night out, stop by Blue Rock located in Lawrenceville.
1600 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 47
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