If parking was easier & this venue was closer to my house I'd be there much more often. It's a great venue with several bars, main floor is GA & balconies have some tables. In the back of the main floor there are some high tops & a few out front around the edges too, but shows are standing room only typically. The sound & lighting are great. Staff has been friendly. I do recommend catching a show here, but come early to park or Uber here. read more

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This is a great little venue best described as cozy compared to other places I have seen Matisyahu...yes Matis If you know you know Reasonable prices 55 to get in No service fee if you buy at the venue I walked in didn't realize exactly what the layout was 1st floor is a bar in front of The stage is nice and cozy How sweet tables to sit and snack Or the floor below standing only for that concert feel I'll take tables and snacks any day Had chicken fingers and fried zucchini Delish And a generous cup of Coca Cola 2 bucks Seriously a concert snacks and coke 70 dollars Had a great night Matis was great I'll gladly return for another concert If someone cool catches my fancy As it's Lawrenceville parking is street and metered The folks running the venue all really nice and friendly read more

Favorite concert venue in Pittsburgh. Usually well priced. Sound is pretty good for being on the smaller side. Great draft list. Bartenders can be hit or miss. read more

I hadn't been to Thunderbird for a few years, since before the pandemic, so I had no idea what to expect. I had an amazing time. The remodeled venue looks great now: bars were well stocked with a wide variety of beers and liquors. The food was excellent and I found everything to be very clean including the bathrooms. The sound system upgrade is phenomenal, best I'd ever heard it. The staff was friendly and didn't act like the crowd was an inconvenience. Unlike another venue across the river in Millvale which seems to have forgotten how to make even the Smallest effort to welcome their patrons I was impressed by how much Thunderbird has improved. The only thing that still sucks is parking so use ride share or carpool so you don't have to drive around looking for a spot. read more

Went to a concert here, and getting there when doors opened was worth it! We used the QR code to look through their menu and order some pre concert snacks. It was great to enjoy while we watch people fill up the venue. The pizza was fantastic and we finished the fries almost too quickly. They had a great drink selection as well. The venue itself was fantastic, probably the cleanest bar bathroom during a concert I've ever witnessed. Cannot wait to go back! read more

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I love this venue!! It is a small venue but I love how low key it looks from the outside. They have a decent beer and cider menu on tap. The drink prices are very reasonable and it's really fun to hang out here for a concert! I love the intimate vibes and the bands that play here. They also have food here. I like that you can order on your phone and then you pick up from the counter when they text you it's ready. There was a bit of a wait since a lot of people ordered food. Their menu is pretty big with pizza, chicken tenders, fries, and mozz sticks. The pizza is very decent! I also like their fries because they feel hand cut and are nice and crispy. It gets pretty crowded in here but for a sold out show, it will. They have tables you can stand at. There's not really a wait at the bar too so service is fast. Overall, I will definitely be coming to more concerts here. Good vibes, drinks, and food! read more

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A great venue for a show! If you see any artists pop up on their upcoming shows list, don't hesitate. Buy a ticket and go! I drove here from Buffalo for a show and it was amazing. All of the staff (bartenders, security, stagehands, box office, etc.) was kind and professional. The space itself is accommodating to every concert goer. If you want to be up front, there is a good amount of rail space for you at the stage and it juts out into the GA space like a half circle, so if you're standing at either end, you get a unique view of the performance. If you're looking to avoid the floor, there are two balcony areas with seats and tables. The best part is that the first balcony (bigger of the two) isn't far back from the stage at all. I didn't partake in the food offerings but my buddy had some of the empanadas and they looked great! Without question I will be returning to Thunderbird Music Hall. I should also mention that it's located on a main street with a fair amount of bars, coffee shops, and places to grab a bite. I went on Easter Sunday so I wasn't really able to explore those establishments, but I definitely will on my next visit. read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - The outside of the venue. - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

No where to park. Should tell you before coming to a concert. The underground parking you pay is 2 miles away. They need to refund my money for the two tickets after 39 mins of going around every street corner with cars parked side by side. If you live in a small town like myself . I would not recommend anyone go. Unless you want your car towed or hit . Even if you find a parking. And I thought Los Angeles was bad. read more

Don't mind me, let me squeeze my way into a tight spot to enjoy the show when there is ample space on the balcony, and the upper balcony, and the second half of the downstairs bar for which they now all rope off for MOST shows. ‍ Not to mention the one time I actually purchase the balcony upgrade when it was available only to find someone else in my seat and was told it was "first come first serve", huh? I paid for the seat, there's a seat number one it. SMH. Sounds like a tin can in here. read more

Entrance was definitely claustrophobic and there were two lines merging into one, which was not a good first impression. But the live stage sounds great, and there are also 2 bars. Staff were all super friendly and seemed happy to be there read more

First time at the Thunderbird Cafe and had a really nice evening listening to a couple artists. Staff were friendly and we were able to get drinks and find a high table to sit at relatively easily. Location was clean and well maintained and the stage setup and layout worked well for a smaller venue. read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - So Totally on 4/14/22 were the opener for El Ten Eleven - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So, you went to hear Sierra Hull at Thunderbird. First drink I got was $18. The same drink the second time was $12. When I asked to speak to the bar manager, it was me, the errant bartender and three security guards. They made me leave, and miss the second half of the concert, because they didn't want to hear me say the bartender was stealing from customers. They gave me cash to go away, and then had security escort me out. WTF?! This place DOES NOT CARE if their staff steals from you. They just don't want to hear about it! read more

Great mid-size concert venue with a solid beer selection. This place used to be a dive bar with a firetrap of a stage in the back room. Several years ago, the owners renovated the space and now it is my go-to place to see local and nationally touring bands. Sight lines to the stage are good and the sound is fantastic. I love this place. read more

Amazing venue ! If you love love music, don't delay in checking out a how here tomorrow! read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The remodel is amazing!!! So much more room. The acoustics are fantastic. Staff really had it together and I'm here on the second day since they opened again. Love that they have a box office before entering the stage area. Several bars. Food is as good as I remember it being. So happy to be back again! read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Ok, not only is the venue totally awesome, but so is the food! We went to see Pitt Floyd and had the best time ever! Tickets were reasonable, no line to get in, plenty of great seats & standing room. PLUS the food we got was out of this world! I will be sure to return, and look forward to it! read more

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Very cool venue! You'd never guess when you see it from the outside or even as you walk into the main bar that this is as big as it is. 3 tiers so every spot is a good spot. Decent sized stage, AMAZING decor and lighting. Sound system was legit, really able to hear every note. Bathrooms are downstairs which kinda sucked because I risked losing my seat anytime i went. Otherwise a hip place to enjoy some tunes. read more

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The Thunderbird is one of my favorite local places to see live music! When you first walk in, there is a bar that is open to the public. They have a variety of beers on tap, and serve Black Sheep BBQ food! I have never hung out at the bar before, but it is always busy on a show night! Security is strict and they wand everyone down, but you are not required to have a clear purse which I appreciate. Once your tickets are scanned, you head into the venue which is 3 floors! I have only gone to a few shows here, but the sound is always great! You can pay extra to have balcony seats, which are first come first served. I love how clean and new the venue is. Even the bathrooms are clean! There is free water available near the bar. We attended the sold out Punchline show most recently, and didn't feel jam packed inside at all. It was full of people, but not the way sold out shows can be at other venues. They bring in great national touring bands as well as local musicians. I recommend this venue! read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The Thunderbird is an excellent venue! The front seems unassuming from the main drag in Lawrenceville. On concert nights, they scan your ID, check your bag, and do a quick security wand. If you have tickets, proceed straight to the box office to show your ticket and get the concert wristband. The front space is a cute bar with a small acoustic stage. On concert nights, you can move between the two spaces. Past the box office you go through a set of doors and are transported to a three story venue! They have seating on the top two floors that may be reserved depending on the show. The lower level has bathrooms, a large bar, some seating, and plenty of standing space. The venue is intimate yet you don't feel cramped. Acoustics and facilities are fantastic. There is a BBQ joint operating out of the kitchen with good bites. The bar has 20ish beers on tap. I am looking forward to attending another show! read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Stage - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This venue is awesome. It's an intimate venue to see some upcoming artists at and actually pretty amazing that this space exists in the back half of the bar- it's very impressive. The lower floor you can stand to watch the performance and there is a bar and food window down there to order food. We just needed some snacks so we ordered chips and salsa and they were honestly the best chips I've ever had in my life. The second floor also has a small bar with 20 beers on tap and a bunch of two top tables against the railing to look down at the stage. The seats are a great view. There was also a third floor (not opened for our concert) with tables against the railing to sit at that would still offer a great view of the performance. I honestly don't think there's a bad seat in this place, just depends if you want to sit or stand to watch. read more

Never realized this place was here until we got tickets to see El Ten Eleven. Great space for small concerts with a food and drink menu. We weren't hungry and we do not drink, however we enjoyed the atmosphere and our Pepsi. Haha! Plenty of room to sit or stand read more

Jeebus. It's a great venue and I loved the Hamburger show there last night, but... Someone please teach the bartender working in back down below that the norm in the industry is to serve people in the order they come in! I was skipped three times when there were only two or three others waiting. I get that it is hard to keep track when it's crowded, but it was not crowded. In one case two of us had been waiting and someone who walked in after us got served ahead of us! I wasn't going to waste my money and miss more jokes. Others had the same complaint, sadly. C'mon, buddy! You're costing the bar business (I went back to my seat without beer, finally) and yourself tips. read more

Great music venue. Didn't eat so can't comment on the food, but have heard it is good.

Freaking love this spot! The bar upstairs is cozy and nice. Small stage for 1 to 2 person performances. Box office in back then leads to the main stage with 3 levels and bars on each level. My band plays there whenever we can. Awesome employees and sound dude! Great stage and awesome feel! read more

I wish I would of got to see the place before the renovations and it did take a couple years but the place is awesome now and matches the rest of Butler street.i didn't get to see a concert but the new stage looked really good plus the new menu also looked good. I'll be back read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was at Thunderbird Cafe recently on a Saturday night for their Pit-famous Grateful Dead cover band. I really did like the set-up of the joint - a lower bar, a stage for live music in between, and then an upper balcony bar. It made for an inviting ambiance where everyone could see the musicians and the place felt larger than it really is. The start of the night was pretty "dead" - we nearly had the balcony to ourselves (and our own bar, too) until about 11pm or midnight. Then the crowds started rolling in. I liked that there were people of all ages here - college kids to original Deadheads - and everyone seemed to peacefully dance together and get along. The kitchen stayed open until 1:00am, which I appreciated, but the menu was pretty limited. I enjoyed a cucumber salad and tacos - but if you don't like Mexican, you should eat elsewhere. I'm not in a rush to return, but one of these days, I wouldn't mind another visit. read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Nice atmosphere at Thunderbird. - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

~(TL,DR) Venue is ok, patrons lame~ Unfortunately a lot of cool bands come thru here. While the drinks are expensive, the bartenders are nice and friendly. And while the layout is super neat and unexpected... the other people there were super whack. Imagine being stoked that one of your favorite bands is playing a local show after the shit show of no live music for a couple years. But then being let down to get there and see no one dancing, no one singing along, hardly anyone moving. So you take a shot of patron and move your way to the Front hoping at least the people front row of an actual rock music show will wanna sing and dance to the band... Thought I'd get another girl to join me. Try to laugh with her, wave her hand with mine, shoulder shrug with me? No? Dance a little? No? Fine hug her and move on. ONLY for some other chick to come stomping up to me, ITS TIME FOR YOU TO GO YOU'VE MADE PPL UNCOMFORTABLE. Of course my friend and I left right away, we're not there to upset anyone. But what the actual f*ck. I'm not trying to say the staff did anything wrong per say, a warning might have been nice. Or someone asking me my side, I'm barely 100lbs and on portable oxygen I wasn't sure exactly how I made anyone uncomfortable but they definitely didn't give me any example. Clearly devastated, because in my 36 years of life, living all over the country and going to festivals all over the world I've never been told I offended anyone ever. SO to make a long story longer, I reached out thunderbird to ask why I was kicked out (a few day's later they claim I wasn't, I was). The girl apparently complained, well, TATTLED. Instead of anyone talking to me like an adult, a couple little girls ran around crying to each other. If another band I enjoy comes back, I'll prolly have to pass. Although I'm waiting here for a double lung transplant & might be stuck with shows at the thunderbird fora while.. next time I won't give any money to the bar, I won't sing & dance to the music, I'll keep to myself, make sure to dress like everyone else and sit in the corner quietly alone just me and my oxygen tank. read more

Went here for the first time last night and it was fantastic. The vibe was immaculate from the minute we walked in the door. The food was amazing and all the bands killed it. We will be back. read more

Thunderbird Cafe And Music Hall - Stage with show headliners, Thank You Scientist. - Music Venues Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The venue is beautiful however the staff, more specifically on the concert side of things are a miserable group. I'd go back if there was a band I wanted to see, but have no plans going back on any random night. read more

Awesome music venue! I went to a concert 33 weeks pregnant and was stupid and didn't pay for a reserved seat. They did everything to help me out by getting me a seat where I had a great view of the show. Which was very needed since the concert was packed. I felt very safe and comfortable there. Bathrooms are also super accessible. read more

was at a show tonight that ended up getting pushed back an hour, had to wait outside in the rain, workers complained about their jobs outside the whole time. was told we couldnt get food in the cafe so they said we had time to get food. then they opened the doors at an esrlier time than they told the entire line and told us we had to throw our food away they just told us to buy. we get in and they are soundchecking at the time they arr supposed to be playing and it was embarrassing. no one knew what was happening. very disorganized i cant even imagine how the poor bands felt. will never go again. very stressful evening. read more

This is personal to me, since I have so many memories dating back to years before their renovations. When the Thunderbird closed for renovations, I was crushed. So many of my greatest Pittsburgh memories are founded on the venue's free Jazz nights on Tuesdays (I miss Space Exchange) or the small, localish acts that this place attracted. The reopening kept getting pushed back, and my friends and I debated on whether or not it would reopen at all. Then, one Friday night a few weeks ago, all of a sudden we had tickets to a show at the Thunderbird. It was happening. I was eager to see what they'd done with the place, what had happened in there over the years. Once we got into the main venue, I was in awe. The place looked entirely unrecognizable, and yet, I did not feel upset about it. It's a very open layout, with the stage level at the bottom and balconies above. It feels like a loft penthouse mixed with a hip, modern wine cellar. They have a small food menu for now, consisting of elevated Pub Grub (think Chicken Skewers and Corn Fritters). The beer menu is well curated. My only gripe is a wish for more seating, but of course it's a fine line between enough seating and not being able to maneuver through the dang place. Ultimately, I'm satisfied with the new Thunderbird. Impressed even! The next time a show is posted that intrigues you, GO! read more

Nice little bar with pool table & a great Rolling Stones pinball machine with Steel Wheels era Mick & band. Super nice staff and decent bar food. I may have to go back just for the "That's a Wrap" chicken wrap with lemon hummus & veggies. Sweet potato fries were thin and sweet. Band stage is in a small spot in the back w/ two levels of cramped seating. As small as the space is, many swing dancers were cutting a rug when we saw Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade! Super good. Only downsides were smoking - and LOTS of it and the dank/dirty ladies room with a rubber mat covering God only knows what. It's super chilly in the front bar in winter so dress warmly. read more

Awesome venue with quality staff! The BBQ food, albeit expensive, is pretty good too! I recommend the brisket. The fries are bomb too, and don't sleep on the queso! read more

Love this place! We used to always go here before it closed for the remodel. We were bummed it closed for 2.5 years to get updated but boy was it worth it. The new stage area is great and I can't wait to see shows there. The bar area seems a little cleaner and put together than before. Looking forward to frequenting here again. read more

When to see a new ( to me) band in the Theater. The sound was great! The staff was very friendly! We will be back very soon!

It's a very nice bar, cool environment. Middle aged bartender in 1980's reproduction hair metal shirts? Check. Men 50 years old with hoop earrings? Double check. Super duper hip. read more

Man, I've passed this place about a thousand times over the past 6 years, but I finally stopped in with an old friend before a show at Mr. Small's the other night. As with my recent visit to Big Mama's, I kept wondering if I was on a "mission from God" considering this seems to be a blues joint. "Nobody leaves this place without sangin' tha blooz." If you can remember what movie that came from, you are officially an 80's child. Anyways... ...me and my buddy walk in, and we're greeted by...a fellow metal dude! Well, one can only assume. He had rockin' long hair. Like Thor. Uh-oh. You know of what I speak if you saw the movie in question. We each ordered burgers. Mine was a classic bacon cheeseburger. "You can't go wrong with fresh ground beef, man," Danny assured me since I can get a burger anywhere y'know?. But you can't get GOOD burgers anywhere. And that's what this was; a good burger, a damn good burger. If it were a guitar, it would be a Les Paul, a Les Paul played by Slash. It was juicy, phat, like a nasty electric axe riff. Dooodg, dooodg, crunch, crunch, squeal, squeal, bom, bom, bom, WAHHHHHHH!!! That was Zakk Wylde, by the way, not Slash. Ummm... ...the fries were a nice surprise as well. If they weren't beer battered, well I'm BB King. They must have been fried twice; the way they're supposed to be made because they were golden, crunchy externally, soft internally. My buddy swiped a few of mine and ended up ordering some to take home! His sweet potato fries were rather juke jivin' as well and spicy to boot. He was jealous. And his lovely wife is pregnant. So any guess on who really ate those leftover fries? Dan loved the beer selection too. I can't comment on that since the demon alcohol doesn't agree with me. Yes, that's another Zakk Wylde reference. The Thunderbird is the real deal; the perfect bar in which to catch up with a guy I hadn't met face to face in 20 years. I'm so glad we dropped by before catching the Porcupine Tree concert across the bridge. Not the Rainbow Bridge. The 40th Street one. read more

The Thunderbird Café might be the worst venue for a show I've ever been to. The layout is completely wrong and doesn't allow for more than a handful of people to actually watch the bands. As with any Pittsburgh bar, it's long and narrow with the bar in front and stage in the rear. However, the stage is separated from the bar by another room with a pool table and access to the restrooms. You need to walk up a few stairs to get to the stage area and then another set of stairs to a loft that overlooks the stage. The area in front of the stage is small, but could accommodate chairs rather than SRO. The loft is incredibly small and only has about 8 tables. We were an hour early for the show and the tables were already full. We sat at the bar near the front door and had to watch the show on CCTV. I could only hear about 70% of the music because of the bar noise. So, therefore, I paid to see a show only to get the same experience as those who paid nothing. I was incredibly aggravated and ended up leaving before the show ended. I had waited months for this band to come back to town and am disappointed in how the evening turned out. To add insult to injury, this little dive bar feels no shame in charging $8 for a draft beer. Maybe they are fooling the hipster crowd, but I have no need to go back. read more

The Thunderbird is another one of those situations where I wish I could assign 1/2 stars. So for now, I'm going with 2. I lived in the neighborhood for a number of years, so I've been quite a few drunken nights here. Somehow it seems easier to tolerate on a drunken night than on a "I'm just going to have a couple of drinks" night. My last visit was the weekend before Xmas to see some bluegrass. We got there early enough to get a seat in the balcony and it was freezing. I'm not talking just a little cold, I meant cold enough that I was still cold while wearing my down coat at the table. BRRRRR. I figured they knew they were going to draw a crowd and were anticipating the heat that would come with said crowd. Ok, whatever. They definitely drew a crowd - when the bands started, it was impossible to move around at all in any area of the bar. People lining both sets of steps, packing the balcony, packing the area in front of the stage, packing the downstairs bar. It really made me wonder if they ever think about fire codes. I realize that makes me sound like an old stick in the mud, but come on people, it was crowded. And miserable to get up and move. It's also fairly overpriced - I ordered a couple of Stoli vodka sodas, and was blown away when my tab showed up. Definitely not worth the price of the drinks. And finally, only in PA, you can still smoke in here. That alone makes me want to stay away. I realize it's legal, and they try to control it, but it's been a long time since I've been in a bar where you can smoke, and guess what? It's still miserable! read more