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    ControVerSy

    3.4 (8 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 pm - 2:30 am (Next day)

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    CONTROVERSY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Went to controversy, great service! My bartender was Lexi, she's was PHENOMENAL!! I'll definitely be coming back

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    11 years ago

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    Space Bar - MoonChata - Cantaloupe Infused Reposado Zumbador, Cantaloupe Juice, Lime, Vanilla Tamarind, Horchata Foam

    Space Bar

    4.7(87 reviews)
    1.1 miDowntown
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    LGBTQ friendly

    It's weird to review a place I haven't visited in person. But Space Bar took some of their staff to…read morethe 2026 World Science Fiction Convention in Anaheim, and hosted a party in the convention hotel (on August 28). The staff they had at the convention were all super-cool people. They served great drinks. I haven't seen their drink menu, so I just said a few words about what I like, and they mixed up good stuff -- at reduced alcohol per my request. Perfect! Best of all, they had the acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author Mary Robinette Kowal as their special guest. (But she lives in North Carolina, so don't expect her as a regular in the Pittsburgh location.) Space Bar is obviously LGBT+ friendly, but it's an everyone bar. OK, maybe not everyone: it will be more fun if you're interested in science fiction and fantasy, and don't upset the vibe. I'll be sure to visit the in-person location next time I'm in Pittsburgh.

    Loved this bar--the space-themed atmosphere, great energy, and kind staff. Funny enough, while we…read morewere getting coffee earlier that morning, one of the bartenders invited us to stop by later, not knowing it was already on our post-dinner itinerary. The cocktails were creative, playful, and impressively strong without sacrificing quality. I had the Seoular Flare, which had a noticeable kick but was still very drinkable. It came with BBQ chips, and when our bartender--the same guy from that morning--noticed how much I loved them, he brought me extra. Such a thoughtful touch. The rest of our drinks were equally inventive and well-crafted. I admittedly had some doubts about whether the creativity would translate into cocktails that actually tasted good, but they completely proved me wrong. A fun concept backed by genuinely great drinks and hospitality.

    Photos
    Space Bar - The Starlight

    The Starlight

    Space Bar - The Aztec Portal - a riff on a Mezcal Old Fashioned

    The Aztec Portal - a riff on a Mezcal Old Fashioned

    Space Bar

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    BURN By Rocky Patel - Outside

    BURN By Rocky Patel

    4.0(112 reviews)
    0.7 miNorth Side
    $$

    We came to Pittsburgh while they were hosting the D2 March Madness in 2026, and thanks to my…read morenephew's team bringing us out here, we were able to uncover this gem of a cigar lounge. I've been to quite a few cigar lounges--and even worked at one--so I have a good sense of what makes a place stand out. Burn by Rocky Patel did just that on every level. The ambiance, décor, cigar selection, and service were all top-tier. It's a classy lounge with a twist of sports bar energy, which made it both elevated and fun. We enjoyed it so much that we came back the next day, and they had live entertainment--a violinist playing along to hip hop and R&B--which created such a unique vibe. Kayla, the bartender, let us know about the live entertainment the day before, it wasn't posted on their social media or website. She was attentive, sweet, and made excellent drinks. Evan, who was working the cigar side, was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and communicated well with customers even during a heavy flow. One thing that really stood out was the crowd--mixed ages, mature, and plenty of ladies confidently partaking in the beautiful art of cigars, which I loved seeing. Even if you don't smoke cigars, the vibes in this place are worth the visit. If and when I return to Pittsburgh, this place is a must. It's also within walking distance to the stadiums, which is a huge plus. Feedback for management: The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the disconnect between locations and social media postings. There was an event listed on the website that wasn't actually happening at this location, while an amazing event that was happening wasn't shared online; which would have been a shame to miss. It may be worth considering in-house social media and website management to ensure updates are accurate and timely to the specific location.

    I was excited to find a cigar bar downtown where I could hang out with a few friends after dinner…read more It's a great way to thin the crowd a bit. This place seemed inviting, however, the service was non-existent. It was actually kind of busy and the bar was full (not packed). Many of the sections were roped off so there was juts one table open near the front of the store. We sat there with no table service at all. They could have made some money from us but nope. Other than the guy at the front door who was just "find a seat" and not helpful at all, and the guy in the cigar shop, who was one of the few helpful people in assisting with the cigar purchase and cutting of the cigar. He offered to light it, but that's half the fun, so I declined. Apparently, the bartenders have lighters too but I couldn't find a place to sneak in and get the cigar lit and also buy a drink. Luckily, someone in my party had a lighter so I just used that and hung out. A drink would have been nice, but not necessary. After this place, we went to a few more bars in the area where they actually served their customers. What a novel idea, right?

    Photos
    BURN By Rocky Patel
    BURN By Rocky Patel - Lighters for sale!

    Lighters for sale!

    BURN By Rocky Patel - Inside

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    Inside

    Unspeakable - Entrance to the bar!

    Unspeakable

    4.9(20 reviews)
    3.7 miLawrenceville

    We've been here 4+ times now. Unspeakable has such an incredible vibe--cozy, intimate, and dimly…read morelit in a way that feels perfect for a date night or catching up with a close friend. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit. The drinks are definitely crafted with care and have a lot of complexity, but with only two bartenders working, it took quite a while to get ours. Not the place to go if you want quick service or are grabbing a drink before another event. My biggest downside is the price point--most cocktails are around $17. They're good, but at that price I can really only justify having one. Note: They do not have food, just snacks like peanuts. Overall, amazing ambiance and well-made drinks, just expect slower service and a higher bill.

    I hadn't been to Unspeakable in a while, so I decided to go have a cocktail. The ambiance is still…read morethe same which is nice. In addition to indoor seating on the first and second floor, they also have a fenced in patio outside for sitting. As we sat outside, we saw groups of people who could not figure out how to get into the speakeasy. Another thing that happened was that they closed early the night that I went because of the lack of customers. A group was trying to come in as we were leaving but we told them they were closing for the night. So be aware of that, if you're planning to go late night (past 11 pm). However, the drinks were amazing as always! They now added a couple of small bites so we tried the cucumbers. They were delicious and packed with flavor! Our drinks were great as always. They have even more options than the last time I was there which was nice! I still really enjoy this little space!

    Photos
    Unspeakable - Upstairs fireplace

    Upstairs fireplace

    Unspeakable - Violet desert

    Violet desert

    Unspeakable

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    ControVerSy - adultentertainment - Updated September 2026

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