Gay Friendly Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a mixture of dichotomies. It is a thoroughly modern urban center with a long history still visible in some of its monuments and points of interest. It is a large and growing city that in many ways still retains a friendly small-town atmosphere. Pittsburgh is a place where locals feel connected to those around them but which offers growing options for both pleasure and business travelers seeking to come to the area. This blend of both sides of the coin makes Pittsburgh quite the interesting city to explore, and it creates a changing environment in which openness to the gay traveler is increasingly common.

From its start, Pittsburgh has always offered a very warm welcome to visitors, and as a result it should be no surprise that this metropolis is generally gay-friendly. There is a large gay community here, with many coming from the tri-state area to settle in the relatively-quiet-but-still-urban environment offered by the city. Although many of the people moving in to the gay community here are older home-buying residents, a stand-out quality of the gay life in Pittsburgh is that it is especially welcoming to its young people. There are many nightspots specifically for minors and those under 21 can also enjoy many of the youth nights hosted by some of the local clubs and traditional bars, allowing for a safe and welcoming spot for gay Pittsburgh travelers to enjoy their stay in the area.

The main neighborhood in the city known for being gay-friendly is Shadyside. On a three-block stretch here, you'll find many of the gay clubs, gay bars and gay-owned establishments. You'll also find trendy stores and chic dining experiences galore. You can easily walk around this section of town - in fact, walking around is an excellent way to admire all the stunning Victorian architecture which is an added bonus featured in the neighborhood. And of course, walking around this area will allow you to people-watch in the city's most eye-catching area.

Another community known for its numbers of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses is the Mexican War Streets district. Located in the northern segment of the city, this area is very urban and very diverse. Rather than being gay-specific, this is a spot in Pittsburgh where a variety of different tolerant, creative, forward-thinking people spend their time. That said, there are many gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses around town. You don't have to opt for gay-exclusive venues and businesses to be assured excellent service and a welcoming smile while you are in this warm city! But if you want the true gay experience, these two districts are the places to search.

There are many gay-friendly events and festivities to take part in when you are in town. The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill offers plenty of services to the gay and lesbian community. They have a resourceful library and they sponsor various events year-round. Stop in here at the start of your trip to get information on the up-to-date happenings of the city. Whether you want to know where they are hosting OUTrageous BINGO or you want to see if you can catch the latest fetish fashion show, this is the best resource in the city.

Looking to mingle with the gay and lesbian community outside of the club scene? Consider The Pittsburgh FrontRunners. They're a gay and lesbian walking and running club featuring weekly walks and runs; what a great way to stay in shape while meeting some new friends!

The Pittsburgh International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and the Pittsburgh Pride Parade are the city's two huge gay events, so if you're planning your trip in advance, you may want to look towards summertime for your travels.


Where to Stay - Gay Friendly Hotels in Pittsburgh

Despite the strength of the gay community in Pittsburgh, there are not a large number of options in terms of gay-specific lodging there. But perhaps this is an indication of a good thing - when a community is open enough to welcome its gay travelers at nearly any hotel, there isn't as pressing of a need for gay hotels in the area. However, should you be searching for a place which is gay-dominant, you should try the two main gay districts of the city. The Mexican War Streets district has a number of hotels and Shadyside also offers some lodging.

The Inn On Mexican War Streets is one of the most popular gay hotels in the city. This fabulous Victorian mansion is located in the midst of the city's thriving cultural center. There is a beautiful veranda and rooms with fireplaces so you can achieve maximum comfort. Another oft-mentioned gay-friendly hotel is The Priory, located on Pressley Street. This is a European-style hotel with the luxury service of a high-end hotel but the privacy and design of a bed-and-breakfast.

If you want to be located closer to Shadyside, you also have a number of options. Consider, for example, the Courtyard Pittsburgh Marriott. Particularly good for the business traveler, but welcoming for anyone, this name-brand hotel gives you the amenities of a big place with the service of local charm, a dichotomy which well-compliments the nature of Pittsburgh itself. Other Shadyside hotels include the Appletree Inn and Sunnyledge.

If you're interested in getting away from the city for a bit, consider staying just outside of city limits at the Sun and Cricket Bed and Breakfast. This is not a gay-specific B&B; however it is said to be gay-friendly and it offers a unique experience for the Pittsburgh traveler. The inn is located on 35 acres of natural land and features spoil-yourself amenities such as horseback riding tours and in-room massages.

Where you stay during your Pittsburgh travels will depend greatly on what you want to experience most in the area. You can have historic charm or you can seek out modern amenities. You can place yourself near the cultural opportunities of the Mexican Streets District or the more-relaxing nature of the Shadyside neighborhood. No matter where you stay, if you utilize our guide, you're likely to find a quality gay friendly hotel that meets your every need.


What to See and Do in Gay Friendly Pittsburgh

You've already learned that the two Pittsburgh neighborhoods where you are going to find the most gay activity are the Mexican Streets district and the Shadyside area. So of course, you should plan on exploring those parts of the city in depth. However, you should also be aware of the general layout of the city in terms of what it offers so that you can better organize your adventures. Pittsburgh is very much a city in which location is everything - meaning that the South Side of town differs greatly from the North Side in terms of the ambiance and character and options for exploration.

The Mexican Streets district is located in the North part of town. The streets themselves are a tourist draw, offering a rich look at the area's history where the antique streets are lined with ancient local architecture. However, it is not all old news in this area. More modern history also stands out here, including the notable Warhol Museum. Perhaps of more unique interest is the Mattress Factory Art Museum where modern art has been featured in changing displays since approximately the time of Warhol's popularity. Other notable points of interest in this area include the Carnegie Science Center, the Pittsburgh Aviary and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

In contrast with the historic charm of the North Side, you will find the eclectic, modern and sometimes-seedy stuff on Pittsburgh's South Side. You can indulge in massive amounts of shopping here, particularly near Station Square, and will even find the city's largest mall in this area. If you find that the shopping bug bites you, head to A Pleasant Present on Murray Avenue. This store has the city's biggest assortment of GLBT items - including music, pride items, t-shirts, DVDs, tank tops, and many other gay essentials. If you want items that are little more unique or hardcore - items such as hides, hardware, gas masks, chaps, whips, and the like - check out The ER Room on Butler Street. They have a truly enormous selection of everything kinky, fun, and sexy.

Shopping also happens in the West part of Pittsburgh. If you haven't gotten sick of IKEA yet, or you are on the hunt for other name brand stores, West is the way to go. In addition to great shopping, you can also find the Post Gazette Pavilion in this part of town, where you'll be able to catch national and international acts who are in town while you are. Across Pittsburgh on the East Side, you will find the city's universities and the coffee-shop and bookstore offerings often associated with the college campus life, so if you're on the hunt for young college boys - head East!

So, you've done it - you've discovered North and South, East and West and you've started to plan your Pittsburgh itinerary. Not quite. What you're missing is the heart of the city. Downtown Pittsburgh is the place where people will be if they are heading to the area on business, but it is also the place for the more interesting nightlife and even some of the shopping of the area (yes, more shopping). And of course, there's history all over. From the museums to the Broadway show theatres to the eclectic shopping of the Strip District, the downtown area is a neighbourhood that should not be overlooked.


Dining in Gay Friendly Pittsburgh

When you travel throughout Pittsburgh, you'll find that there is no shortage of dining options in the city. Each section of the city features both budget and high-end dining options so that travelers seeking out their favorite cuisine should have no trouble finding it. For just randomly stopping in some place, Shadyside and the Mexican Streets District will be your best bet for gay-friendly service.

Stroll through the streets of Shadyside and you are sure to see a number of eateries that appeal to your senses, serving up everything from hamburgers to exotic fare. If you want to be sure to stop at the city’s "gay restaurant" (the only one in the area specifically known as such), "New York New York" is the place to be. This established restaurant has been part of the community for 12 years. You can order filet mignon, beef, vegetable dishes, and a selection of drinks. Although New York New York is the stand-out "gay spot", the city has had two recent additions to its gay community which are trying to make a name for themselves as being gay-friendly: Casbah Mediterranean Kitchen and Wine Bar (located in the East End) and Kaya, a Caribbean restaurant in the Strip District.

These three restaurants are the place to go when you've got a date or you want to spoil yourself with something nice. For the more casual meal, gay friendly dining options include Tuscany Cafe on Carson Street, The Orchard Cafe for brunch and the Acanthus Restaurant in the Streets district. If you're seeking cheaper eats, there are a number of places to be found near the universities of the city where people with a student's kind of budget can get good food without hassle.

For a complete list of our favorite gay friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh, click on the "Restaurants Tab" on the City Directory found on the left side of this page.

Pittsburgh may be known as something of an industrial city, but once the work day ends, everyone is ready to have fun and dance the night away. Many of the clubs and bars in the city are not gay-exclusive, but many have a large gay clientele and offer go-go boys as well as other entertainments. Even the leather bar here tends to be welcoming and laid back. There just aren't that many gritty or attitude-filled places. Most of the gay nightlife here is about having fun and dancing. Anyone is welcome - and one of the most notable features of the city is that it has a number of late night spots for the Under 21 crowd.

The dance clubs are the primary spots for the young crowd. Images on Liberty Avenue features go-go boys, karaoke nights and other specials throughout the week but is primarily known as a dance club for the young crowd. Pegasus Lounge on 818 Liberty Ave is another dance club. Located in the basement of a building, Pegasus attracts mostly Gen X-ers. The bar sponsors Tuesday Youth Alternative Nights where minors are served non-alcoholic drinks but weekends are all adult. These are just two of the spots located on Liberty Ave, a street which has seen its fair share of gay clubs come and go, due in no small part to the fact that the famous bars of Showtime's Queer as Folk were fictionally set on this street.

For a bar that has been a star on the scene since long before Queer as Folk brought Pittsburgh to gay national attention, try the Holiday Bar on Forbes Avenue. Located there for approximately forty years, this bar is a staple of the Pittsburgh gay scene. The bar area itself is cruise-y but if you just want to grab a drink and listen to some music, you shouldn't have any problems. This is also one of the gay bars in town which actually does not cater to the youth and so generally tends to draw an older crowd - but the fun remains with go-go boys two nights of the week. Another longtime staple of the scene is Donny's Place on Herron Avenue which is a laidback snacks-and-drinks kind of bar.

Pittsburgh has a few other options in terms of gay nightlife variety. Leather Central is the main S&M / fetish bar. 5801 Video Lounge and Cafe is a Shadyside favorite as far as video bars go. And the Pittsburgh Eagle, (in spite of its leather-assuming name) is a place to go with your open-minded mixed orientation friends. The Eagle is multi-level club with everything from mingling to dancing, a computer room to a stage for porn star and drag shows. And for something more upscale, there's the martini bar (True).

If saunas are your thing, Pittsburgh has a few options. Check out Club Pittsburgh on Penn Avenue. This is a huge place, with many levels, VIP suites, lockers, tanning deck, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, social area, a beautiful gym, and much more. It’s open 24 hours so you can head to this section of the city once the other late night stuff has closed down for the night and get in your towel. Another gay sauna in the area is the Arena Health Club on Forbes Avenue.

The hype about Liberty Avenue which was stirred up by Queer as Folk may not be all true, but thanks to that hype, as well as Pittsburgh's welcoming community and the generally changing times, there are plenty of spots where you can dance, mingle and laugh the Pittsburgh night away.

For a complete list of bars - and more information on our Pride City Guide featured gay bars and clubs in Pittsburgh, click on the Bars and Nightlife tab under the City Directory on the left side of this page.

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