I am a big fan of this place. It is kinda a dive bar and kinda a hipster hangout, but the best thing about it is that it has solid drinks and very solid food. They have great drink specials and they do a great job with all of their drinks... most of which I have never heard of. Some of the food is not great, but if you get the right things you will be really really happy. I strongly recommend the mac and cheese, the Pittsburgh bites (chicken and get it spicy - it will make you want to drink more beers just like good bar food should!), the PLT (so simple and yet one of the best things I have had in the entire city), the meatloaf (the biggest surprise on the menu IMO), and the poutine (made with tater tots! and local Arsenal cheese curds!). Don't forget the daily drink with dinner. All around, Kelly's is just a solid, solid place and a great place to hang out with friends. read more

I really do love this place I've been here multiple times. I love the hush puppies and the Mac and cheese is so good. I've never ordered anything I didn't like off the menu. The drink prices are unbeatable. I really enjoy how it has vintage looking booths and they use candles light. The only complaint is the service can be spotty. Sometimes it's good sometimes the waiters act like they are annoyed you are there. read more

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This place is great... except for a few deal breaking things: - Be careful where you park your car. Avoid the parking lot in the rear, next to the bus stop. Avoid the Rite Aid parking lot. Myself and a few other people I know HAVE had their cars broken into, or worse. Definitely keep your guard up walking to your car, go in groups, and park in a high traffic, well lit area. - It's difficult to come here with a group larger than 4. There is only one booth that accommodates any group over 4. I have also have experienced problems at the bar with prostitutes (yes... real live prostitutes) asking my friends to buy them drinks, pickpockets, shady characters, etc. Actually all of the above happened in one night! - Sometimes the drinks and food can take too long. I don't blame the waitstaff, they always seem short staffed and the waitresses are great, just a little too busy. Now, that said, I still have to admit, against all better judgment, that I love the place. I may never drive there again (scratch that- I WILL never drive there again), never sit at the bar again, or if I do, I'll keep my purse close and my boyfriend closer. All in all it's a great place for happy hour, if you can get the big booth or sit outside in the charming patio. Even the evening with the pickpockets, prostitutes, and creepsters was an epic night out. OH- And Bill Peduto was there that night. Whaaat???? read more

This sexy hipster bar is located in the east end of Pittsburgh near to the universities and hospitals of upmc. It's close to the new bakery square area in east liberty. The crowd seems to change depending on time of night. After work it's a mix of young professionals and grad students, at night it's hipsters. There is a good blend of people, one night I met an Alaskan fisherman who was definitely insane. That same night I met an artist visiting from NYC. It's a low lit and cozy place, especially in the winter. The beer selection is very good, 12 taps of craft and micro brews ranging from local offerings by east end brewery to victory, stouts, stone, lagunitas and a couple of Belgians and a barley wine. Cocktails are very good, strong pours and sort of swanky with a specialty list of mostly classics...no wimpy drinks here but good mojitos. The food is a cut above regular bar food. Fish tacos, huge burgers, fresh cut fries, boneless chicken bites, chips salsa that are homemade and fresh and...the kicker....the best frickin Mac n cheese on the planet. Not that you would ever think to order Mac n cheese in a bar, but it is perfect with a hoppy ipa. It comes out bubbling hot with a nice brown crusty top.perfect on a cold fall night! The atmosphere is combo hipster bar cum 40s deco cocktail lounge with a juke ranging from lounge music to old country/rockabilly to devo, clsh, gang of four and other punk/new wave. The place has a cozy patio that is lit by Christmas lights complete with ivy covered walls and a thatched roof hut. The place is a little young for me but I really like it. It reminds me of cozy low lit spots in the village of NYC read more

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I like this place, but there are definitely some opportunities for improvement. Service was a bit weird. We checked with the bartender before grabbing a table. Our server walked around ignoring us for quite a while. Kind of an annoying start to the evening. Once she came over, we ordered martinis, which were pretty watery and not very strong. That was a bummer too. Food was pretty good and the scene is cool, so it's still a good place to hang out. read more

Our waitress was horrible - she seemed incredibly overwhelmed by even the smallest request, and would disappear for large periods of time. And then there was the food, which I would call "mediocre at best". My fish tacos consisted of a tortilla, breaded fish (that had unquestionably been frozen 30 minutes earlier and slightly resembled a fish sticks), shredded lettuce (that came straight from a bag). We also ordered the mac and cheese and the Pittsburgh bites. Given that all of these items were also premade, I am not sure how it took 45 minutes to get our food. My best guess is that our waitress forgot to submit our order. The only points of redemption were the good drink specials and the Honeybee cocktail (which was not on special but was absolutely delicious). read more

I like Kelly's.... I like the retro diner interior, neon lights, tatted waitresses. I like that they have plenty of absolut flavors and reasonably priced drinks. They have that trendy drink menu which includes cocktails with ingredients like ginger, then have plain old booze too, I've always had great servers here, even when its super busy. Its loud! People enjoy their banter here, its not dim want to be club bar with pulsing music and people in the shadows. Very small space with lots of seating packed in so be cautious of that, if noise levels grate you. Food, its decent, the only thing I eat there much is the Mac and Cheese, I could swim in a giant bowl of it and lick it off myself all night long. read more

I like neon. Theres just something about it that says taboo allure to indulge in all sort of human vices. Moths to the Noble Gas flame, people seem to slither their way to these oasis's of the night, incubating amongst each other in a haze of sensory saturation. Kelly's beckons to the person who wants to sit and have a beer, the person who may want to catch someone's eye without filtering through waves of affliction shirts over the rancor of the latest Young ___zy song, perhaps someone who wants to wear argyle and sport a mustache and still think its not ironic that he(she?) is trying to be ironic, the person who simply wants to enjoy a solid bev for a price point for "chincy" Pittsburghers. Me? well, I like a stiff drink and 70's decor. Somewhere in a previous life I wore nothing but polyester. More like Miami Vice, or maybe Boogie Nights. Either way, environment is always friendly, or intimate, depending on what you wish. You cant go wrong with a French 57, the mac and cheese is all sorts of nom nom, and the tab for a night at Kellys is something you can feel comfortable taking home, even if you aren't taking anything else. read more

Best grilled cheese I've had in the city. Mac n cheese is to DIE for. Highly recommend.

I have not been there in quite some time. Do you still make the turtle soup. My son will be in from Boston and thought we would try this place again. read more

Yummilicious ! And that waitress is WORKING the place!!!! So good! Buffalo bites are HOT! Mac n Cheese to die for, with a hint of lemon undertone - mmmmm!!!! read more

Kelly's is special for a few reasons. Not only is it a quality bar for cocktails, but food. The mac and cheese in homemade, with a top layer crust crisped with a blow torch. I agree with Simone H. assessment - it really is a best kept secret. I like the old diner style, and the drinks and beer are both top shelf - you can't beat $4 for a cocktail. It's dark inside yes but the red booths add a certain warmth. I might have seen a DJ spinning there. read more

We moved to East Liberty about 6 months ago and have been to Kelly's several times. We usually go for the happy hour and a bite to eat during the week. The drinks are strong and the Reuben sandwich is excellent! read more

Now officially my favorite bar. Their happy hour (half priced apps and drafts 5 - 7, I think) is great because their fries are a must have, even if it doesn't go with your old fashioned cocktail. Cocktails are what they do best - I've fallen in love with their Montmartres. Take your parents or take a date, Kelly's is good for all occasions. Double update: my fiance proposed to me here (over some fantastic cocktails and shrimp po'boys and under the dark pinkish lights), so I'd say it's pretty low-key and romantic too :) read more

Very cool looking interior something like a 50s hipster bar with lots of hardwood. The jukebox was 80+% Stones music, which is fine. It was a little odd to hear so much from one group. It reminded me of hanging out at a friends house and listening to specific songs from one artist to understand some type of music grow the artist experienced over a period of time. The bar food is the typical menu. The boneless wings were good. Best part was the wings were not breaded. The chips and salsa were homemade and fantastic. Decent beer menu, but the oddest thing was a Yeungling and a Magic Hat #9 cost the same at $3.50. Magic Hat #9 is a great micro brewery (retail cost $1.25) compared to Yeungling is the oldest brewery in America and perhaps the greatest cheap beer available (retail cost $0.83). So I drank Magic Hat. read more

Stereotypical 1960's diner matured into a divey but delightful hipster bar. You'll find no eggs or pancakes, only craft beers and bangin' barpetizers. The crispy mac n' cheese is some of the best I've had, get the large, trust me! It has a great drink selection, consistently fast, friendly service, and a nice outdoor patio for the summer. The prices are small and the portions are large! I wouldn't have thought the classic diner counter, checker board floors, booths, and jukebox would transform so perfectly into a bar, but Kelly's made me a believer! read more

First off, I need to break my rating down a bit... The bar and the mac n' cheese get 5 stars. Nothing better than the mac n' cheese here, I probably could eat a bucket full. It is peppery, though, so if that ain't your thang then you've been warned. Also, the quality of other food I've gotten here was better than your average bar food. The bar has fantastic choices of drafts and the service is very good. The patio in the back was a very nice surprise... I was at Kelly's several times before I even knew it existed. Wonderful option...but this is where things go wrong. The service at the tables and the patio is atrocious. Actually it's laughable how rude the waitress was to our party (unprovoked!). I was prepared for it after reading some reviews on here, but was startled by how much the warnings rang true. I don't believe this is a matter of "we didn't know somebody" or "we don't look hip enough", I honestly just think they understaff their floor. There was one waitress in charge of all inside and patio and she was obviously overwhelmed. Next time I will stick to the bar (and the mac!). read more

Kelly's only gets better with time. The interior gets little revamps and updates here and there (like the menus not too long ago) but the overall spirit has stayed the same.This was my favorite happy hour when I moved to Pittsburgh and it's still hands down the best deal around, not to mention the atmosphere is great. The vibe is a little old-school and completely chill, and the clientele is diverse rather than creepy or obnoxious. The drinks are strong and the food is delicious, so there's literally nothing not to like. I've taken a few new groups of friends here recently, and everyone raves about it. A few things to look out for...Kelly's hosts LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) so order from that menu if you want to drink something fun and interesting. They have the same rotating $4 cocktail on each day, so check out the board behind the bar and make it a habit to come back on a weekly basis for your favorite one! Happy Hour is on Saturdays as well as the weekdays, so your weekend just got a whole lot more fun. They also have a patio, which apparently takes a lot of people by surprise. Cheers! read more

Mac n Cheese was damn good. Homemade bleu cheese was even better. Service was a little weak, but overall the dive bar/ lounge atmosphere and great beer selections are solid. Wish they would expand the menu read more

This bar does the seemingly impossible by combining the authentic grit of a dive bar with an upscale lounge without it feeling hipster. I know you don't believe me, check it out and tell me I'm wrong. Diverse, laid back crowd drinking one of their signature martini cocktails. I believe there is one usually $8 or $9 cocktail drink for $4 (or at least the nights I've been there). It's a stone's throw from the shadyside Ellsworth bars. Seriously, if you have two friend jack and Diane and Diane had to wait for the bathroom at Soba and Jack left to walk to Kellys, I'd bet on Jack getting to Kellys before Diane was out of the bathroom*. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was a fun place to grab a casual bite to eat and a drink. Located on Centre Avenue, easy to get to from my apartment in Shadyside and low key vibe made for a great spot to meet a friend. I especially enjoyed their macaroni and cheese. This is dish is a guilty pleasure of mine and compared to the other places I've had it, this definitely rates in my top 3! read more

Admittedly, this is the pre-drink location when I'm going to BRGR. Sorry. It's just true. What do I like? Saturday night $2 Yuengling drafts. They also have a good selection of craft brews. I very much want to go back to Kelly's as the TARGET destination. The food selection is intriguing and it's surprisingly swanky upon walking in (the neon sign outside led me to initially believe it would be rather dive-y, but I was pleasantly surprised that this is NOT the case). I'm coming back, Kelly! read more

I visited Kelly's for a second time a few weeks ago while I was in town. Just like last time, I really liked it. The decor is great, which red leather booths and low light. The music that was playing that night was fantastic. I'm not sure if it was someone's ipod mix or the jukebox, but there was old school Michael Jackson, Dave Brubeck, Dick Dale, and other treats. I ordered the grilled houlumi and olives, which I had also had last time and fell in love. I also had a salad with cranberries and goat cheese and a delicious lemony vinegarette. So tasty. We were there on a Thursday night, probably from 7:30 until 9 or so. I was never super busy, but always people there. Our server was very attentive and helpful. I would absolutely go the Kelly's on my next trip to Pittsburgh. read more

A classic bar, a decently sized beer selection. I went on a few dates here, and it seemed like a pretty good place to bring someone to talk and drink in a low-key atmosphere. read more

Great place fo: dive bar sceen, lots of diversity in the crowd, solid drinks, good food........Sounds awesome right? Well not exactly, for all of the things this bar does of so well, it has one fatal fault, the service is absolutly horrible, i've literally been here when it is nearly vacant, and had to wait for 40min to get a beer, ridiculous. but if you've a lot of time to burn kelly's is a good choice! read more

Great place for dirty martinis. They have a dj sometimes on the jukebox but otherwise has peaceful music. Food is not as great. Grilled cheese is awesome though. read more

One of my all time favorite places to go in Pittsburgh, both as a bar and as a place for dinner. If you are a fan of cocktails, this is where you need to be hanging out. They are associated with the local chapter of LUPEC (http://www.lupec.org/) and therefore have some just wonderful cocktail suggestions. I often like to try something different, though have found a few favorites there as well to just be amazing. Their food warrants note as well, in particular the item I go there fore the most - their macaroni and cheese. It is, without a doubt, some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. It comes out in a bowl molten hot, the top of it just perfectly burnt. Biting into it right away is somewhat foolish, yet I can never resist. Must try. read more

We had a beer and $5 daily special cocktail, which was well worth it, but didn't try the food, although what we saw looked good. It's dark, with a long bar and roomy dining area (booths and tables). It was as much a restaurant as a bar; I'd like to go back for a meal. read more

Five stars for being exactly what it is - a bar that's been around forever. Unchanged. It's not fancy. It's not kid friendly. It's a combination of ironically hip and very old school. The mac and cheese is worth a trip. Can't speak to any of the other food. The draft list is good, and they have a different $4 cocktail every night. There's nothing like it left in East Liberty. Try it. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - The bar is unchanged. But I'm guessing they didn't stock Fernet Branca when the linoleum bartop was installed. - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

the cocktails and atmosphere are awesome, food is haphazard at best- I know everyone raves about the sweet potato fries, but mine were so burnt that they were all dark brown/black and pretty gross, it was soooo disappointing since i love spf's... Husband really loved the mac and cheese and would get the tofu "wings"/ chunks again if the tofu would perhaps be marinated, or smoked or something? straight from the container tofu just ain't gonna cut it. But again, if you have enough of their awesome cocktails, maybe you won't notice, or care! read more

This was my go-to bar in Pittsburgh. If there was ever any question about what to do on a weekend night, we would inevitably end up at Kelly's. It has a super laid back atmosphere and they always have good music playing. Be on the lookout for when Zombo DJs, because that's the best. It does get super crowded on the weekends and during happy hour, so go early. But in the summer months it's especially nice because they have a fairly large back patio, making it easier to get a table. The food is pretty good (Pittsburgh bites and the mini mac were my favorites) even though they got rid of the greatest item on the menu-- the tater tot poutine. They have a decent beer selection and a really good list of retro cocktails. Every night there is a different cocktail special for $4 all night and the happy hour from 5-7 let's you get appetizers for half off. read more

Solid lounge atmosphere, complete with dim red lighting and throwback tunes mixed in with more contemporary tracks. The $4 daily cocktail special is pretty legit. 5-7pm happy hour on draft beers and half off apps. The patio is great on a nice day. read more

Living in Highland Park, Kelly's is my local bar of choice. Food is well above average for bar food and they have specials on apps during the week. My favorite thing on the menu is the Pittsburgh Bites (tofu, mild) they are deep fried, crispy, and super tasty. Other stand-out items are the halloumi with olives, and tacos. Friends recommend the burger, chicken sandwich, and mac and cheese, but I have not tried these items before. I had a Southwest wrap once that tasted like it was frozen and I didn't like it, I haven't tried the other items, since I'm not into meat, but they also do a nice salad. There's a lot of hype about famous bartenders and upscale bars in the city lately, and indeed, if you're interested in an expensive cocktail of the "craft" variety than Livermore or Harvard & Highland are probably more your speed. Kelly's does classic cocktails, and the bartenders care about what they are making. I have never been displeased with any cocktail I have had here. The beer list is also extensive, they change drafts regularly. I am a wine drinker usually but I have no idea if they serve wine here because I always get cocktails. They are strong, high quality, and reasonably priced. I will admit that there have been nights when I've had a few too many, but thankfully this bar is in walking distance of my home ;) read more

Kelly's is one of my favorite places to go when the patio is open during the summer. When I am forced inside by the weather I still stop by occasionally but it is not nearly as fun. Inside is a bit to dark and loud for my taste. The drinks and food are both very good. I do love the mac and cheese; it is exceptional. Everything else on the menu is solidly above average bar food. The drink menu is all $6 and is all retro cocktail style drinks. I have had a mixed experience going off the beaten path on the drink menu. I usually stick to a Manhattan (they make a pretty good one). The beer selection is quite good too. Usually they have 8 or so micros on tap plus a pretty solid bottle list. The service can be a bit hit or miss. As longs as you are willing to hang out for a bit you will be fine, but I have ended up sitting for a long time waiting to get my drink. Usually they have two waitresses for the whole bar, which is not enough, so it is understandable. Summary: Go check it out during the summer and hang out on the patio. Get the mac and cheese. read more

Took a date here and we both have never been before. Fairly small and cozy and has a nice mellow vibe to it. Almost makes me think of an old timey diner with the booths. It was a Saturday at about 10 pm we arrived and found a booth right away. I ordered a vodka red bull but they don't carry red bull(odd) but I ordered a rum and a diet and it was spot on. My date ordered a miller lite which they don't have, bud light either. They only had Iron City and Amstel on light beers. Bartender was a no nonsense kind of guy but served us right away. We sat in our booth without having to talk over the music or other people so the noise level was even keel. We eventually made our way to the patio into these ridiculously laid back chairs. Could def have some better options for that. All in all the drinks were cheap, the atmosphere mellow and the employees pretty laid back. Would def reccomend to check out for a few drinks with friends or a to bring a date too. Just beware of the bathrooms :-/ read more

Stopped in here with friends just for the bar and the place was really cool. A lot of the complaints are about timeliness of service, but we got drinks right away and prices aren't bad for really solid drafts. I really liked the retro theme and the actual jukebox (pictured) just added to the experience. I'd suggest just stopping in for the bar, but the food did smell amazing! read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The great thing about Kelly's is the atmosphere. Great mix of folks and awesome music as well. Service is great. Drinks and food on time if not early. Downside, for me personally, is the food and lack of cold water or ice. Drinks are awesome!!Service is awesome! Menu isn't bad at all but, very minimal. Not a foodie place but would be a fantastic place to meet for 1st drink and a place to start the evening. Will be back for appetizers but, more for cocktails. Thanks guys! Great service, great atmosphere and personalities! read more

Stepping into Kelly's Bar & Lounge is a bit like stepping 50 years back in time. Just like the sign out front, the interior is a relic from another era. Kelly's is dark and cozy, but welcoming. It sort of has the feel of a dive without the griminess of one. The beer selection is pretty good, both on draft and in bottles. Additionally, the daily cocktail is an excellent special. Even at full price, Kelly's cocktails are a great value (especially for the East End) but at $4, it's practically a steal. Happy hour is a good deal too, with $2 off drafts and half-off appetizers. The food selection is nothing extensive, mostly the usual bar fare, but what I had was very good. I had an order of fried pickles and a mini mac and cheese. I can't rave about the mac and cheese enough. If you've heard the hype, you should know that it's real. Gooey, cheesey, and baked to perfection. The slightly browned and blackened crust lends a savory flavor to it that you just can't beat. If you only ever get one thing at Kelly's, make it that. Kelly's is a great place to go if you find yourself in East Liberty and in need of a drink and/or bite to eat. Looking forward to many happy hours here in the future. read more

Interesting bar/lounge. First time I ever ate in such darkness and it was still happy hour. Dark to point where i couldn't read the chalk boards. Btw, I have 20/20. Food was decent. Service was friendly and attentive. Nice selection of beers. Great bang for your buck. Especially with all these trendy lil boutique restaurants opening all around town. We would visit again. Only complaint...our veggie wontons were really burnt! Maybe cook couldn't see because it was so dark. read more

Great deals and great vibe! We came to Kelly's while staying nearby and were very happy we did. It's a no-frills bar with classic red, art deco lighting. I loved the environment! We just drank so this review doesn't cover food, but we were pleased with the drinks and the service. Everyday they have a different cocktail on special for 4 dollars, that makes it even better! read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Love the retro vibe - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania