The Attic

3609 Forbes Ave.

(412) 682-2050

$

If you are looking for a local… The Attic

3609 Forbes Ave.

(412) 682-2050

$

If you are looking for a local place to relax, drink and dance, then head on down to The Attic.

Located one floor above Club Laga, The Attic has theme nights – such as jam bands on Tuesdays and hip-hop night on Saturdays – every night of the week, Along with college-income-friendly drink specials daily.

Think you can’t get a beer for 50 cents? Head to The Attic on Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for a celebration of college night, featuring 50-cent bottles.

Looking for happy hour? Try two hours of $1 off everything from 9 to 11 p.m. on Friday nights.

So should you be looking for good music, an open dance floor or a chance to meet new people, come to The Attic and check out its jamming nightlife.

– Christine Claus

Bootleggers

403 Semple St.

(412) 682-3060

$

When it’s full, it’s a hot, sweaty, somewhat smoky bar. But don’t be turned off: that’s what makes it great.

That, and karaoke specials, and pool tables, and drinking, drinking, drinking.

You must be 21 to enter – and the bouncer stationed out front most nights makes sure of it – but once inside, you only need to be having a good time. The main room features by one of the biggest bars around.

Pull up a stool and a brew, and you’re well on your way to experiencing South Oakland’s southernmost bar. These aren’t Tower C-dwellers who moseyed into a bar by accident; they are hard-core South Oakland residents who know where they stand – and that’s usually inside Bootleggers.

Go there for the flavor that is distinctly South Oakland, and you’ll come home content with what you’ve found.

– Dave Hartman

Chief’s Cafe

307 N. Craig St

(412) 683-2936

$

The sign that hangs outside of Chief’s Cafe, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest bars, features a firefighter’s hat. It’s appropriate, then, that the 75-year-old bar was founded by a fire chief, whose name no one knows today. It’s no wonder that Chief’s Cafe has become somewhat of a gathering spot for firefighters. Along with firefighters, one can find a diverse crowd, consisting of many college students and college grads, kicking back at the bar. Chief’s Cafe is also known for their great prices and jumping jukebox. Go there if you’re looking for a cheap, good time.

– Clinton Doggett

Cumpie’s

223 Atwood

(412) 605-0911

$

This almost historic landmark was formerly called The Decade, where stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Cyndi Lauper once graced the stage. Today, you can check out a thumpin’ DJ and buy a drink from one of “Cumpie’s Angels” behind the bar.

With a reasonably priced drink in hand, patrons can wander through the bar and rub shoulders with Cumpie, who is oftentimes seated in the corner booth, known as “The Count’s Corner.”

On Monday and Friday nights, you can check out live music from local, up-and-coming bands, or challenge one of the regulars to a game or two of pool.

If you get hungry, Cumpie is proud of his fare available from The Atwood Deli – the mozzarella sticks and spaghetti specials are made with pride in Cumpie’s kitchen, in accordance with Italian traditions.

Cumpie’s doors opens early in the morning and stays open well after the sun goes down, so feel free to stop in anytime and sit at the bar, look out the garage door windows at passers-by and down an ice-cold one in good company.

– Christian Schoening

Denny’s Bar

3616 Louisa St.

(412) 682-9213

$

While not offering much in the way of food service, Denny’s Bar provides a nice atmosphere for enjoying a few beers with friends to relax after a long week of classes. Denny’s features drink specials every night; you can always find a beverage for the right price. Beers are served in 22-ounce glasses, which do not disappoint. Drafts include Yuengling, Guinness and Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde Ale. They also have a dartboard, but be prepared to wait, as competition is fierce.

– David Ogg

The Dynasty Liquor and Fine Food

4709 Centre Ave.

(412) 683-6887

$

Back when it was called Sweet Georgia Brown’s, The Dynasty was a place to go in your flyest outfit and have some cheap drinks.

Even though the name has changed, The Dynasty – as evidenced by the shocking lavender exterior and tremendous logo – is still the fly place to go for a stylin’-looking clientele and really, really cheap drinks.

The menu consists of traditional bar fare – sandwiches, burgers, and the like – but the happening atmosphere and well-stocked bar are what make The Dynasty a North Oakland institution.

– Clare Perretta

Luna Bar and Grill

304 N. Craig St.

(412) 621-2012

$

Located on pleasant North Craig Street, Luna Bar and Grill is one of the older bars in the Pittsburgh area. Although the establishment was never technically a part of the legendary amusement park LunaPark, it is said to have gotten its name from the park.

Students have been going to Luna Bar and Grill for years. With a quaint atmosphere and cheap prices, Luna Bar and Grill offers a good, inexpensive time to anyone who walks through the door.

– Clinton Doggett

Mitchell’s Tavern and Restaurant

4632 Centre Ave.

(412) 682-9530

$

There’s very little you need to know about Mitchell’s, except every Wednesday night includes karaoke and $3 pitchers of Yuengling.

That wasn’t a typo.

But there’s more to be had than good beer and bad music. There’s also good music: the Attendants have played there. Drastic plays there. Throttle Audio has played there.

And there’s also good food. But the kitchen does close, so be sure to get there early enough to enjoy your beer with high-quality munchies.

But perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Mitchell’s is that it is neither a college-kid bar nor a locals-only bar: It’s a hybrid of the two. On karaoke night, you’ll no doubt watch fledgling fraternity guys sing just after Oakland locals in their 40s and 50s. But the cultures collide without catastrophe, and the result is a bar with a true diversity of clients.

And $3 pitchers.

– Dave Hartman

Peter’s Pub

116 Oakland Ave.

(412) 681-7465

$$

When Friday night rolls around, Pitt students with proper ID typically grab some friends and head out on a bar-hopping expedition. Some bars are too trashy, some are too classy, some are too crowded and others are painfully empty. But every now and then, you’ll find a bar that’s just right.

At the top of this category sits Peter’s Pub, located conveniently within walking distance of the most of South Oakland’s residences. If college bars released a brochure, Peter’s Pub could grace the cover. Its classy but not over-the-top atmosphere is ideal for hanging out with friends, and it’s also a nice place to swing by for a sandwich. Whether you want to drink or just get some quality food, Peter’s Pub deserves consideration.

– Eric Miller

Pittsburgh Cafe

226 Meyran Ave.

(412) 687-3330

$

A relaxed atmosphere with reasonably priced food, Pittsburgh Cafe is a safe bet for students looking for a new place to eat or drink. The menu consists of items ranging from hoagies and cheese fries to chicken salad and nachos. And don’t forget the Cafe’s famous, 32 oz. iced tea.

Pittsburgh Cafe is open every day until 2 a.m., and with outdoor seating and drink specials every day of the week, such as $1 Coors on Monday, you can’t go wrong.

– Karen Bielak

Pizza Paul/Panther Hollow Inn

4611 Forbes Ave.

(412) 682-9999

$

Last year’s audience winner for Pittsburgh’s best college bar on Citysearch.com, Panther Hollow Inn looks, to the newcomer, to be an average bar, but it has a special place in the hearts of the locals.

Located between Carnegie Mellon University’s campus and Craig Street, the bar usually has more student patrons from CMU than from Pitt. CMU football players come on Mondays for $3 domestic pitchers, and CMU alumni come back for their reunion.

Known as “Phi-bar” or “P-H-I,” Panther Hollow Inn has a dartboard, several televisions to broadcast every Pittsburgh team and a jukebox filled with classic rock. The booths that line the wall are accessible even when there’s a crowd and are perfect for eating the pizza, which, of course, goes well with beer. The pizza is made in the back of the bar in a small, Italian kitchen known as Pizza Paul. Besides being one of the best-kept and best-tasting pizza secrets in town, students can get a plain pie for only $6.50 any night of the week.

– Erin Brachlow

Thirsty’s

301 N. Craig St.

(412) 687-0114

$

Located on the corner of Centre Avenue and Craig Street in North Oakland, Thirsty’s serves as a watering hole for many college students.

Thirsty’s features $1.50 drafts twice a week, and whenever there is a band playing on the weekend, it’s only $3.50 for a pitcher.

Well-known for its committed dedication to the legacy of The Grateful Dead, Thirsty’s celebrates the band every Wednesday night with non-stop Dead music and pitchers at just $2.75.

Open five nights a week, Thirsty’s is the perfect place to hang out after a rough day of classes to enjoy some wings or other assorted munchies. Stop by whenever you need a drink and don’t feel like going too far.

– Joe Marchilena

Uncle Jimmy’s

418 Semple St.

(412) 681-7480

$

For centuries, taverns have been gathering points for locals who were looking to relax. When discussing such hangouts in Oakland, the conversation will not travel far before turning toward Uncle Jimmy’s on Semple Street.

The building is well-maintained and has developed a reputation for cleanliness among local bars. Patrons can partake of reasonably priced food and drinks, and friendly service. They can also play darts or video poker, and in the words of Garth Algar, “they got a pool table, too.” Actually, they’ve got two of them.

Uncle Jimmy’s offers a pleasant, comfortable environment where students can hang out, and it embraces its visitors and turns them into regulars.

– Eric Miller