2003 East Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412.381.8454
website
Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood is legendary as a confluence of its nightlife downtown as students from Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, Duquesne and a few other schools all converge on this street for libations, whatever the occasion may be, and it’s a tradition that often carries over once they opt to settle down in the city as well. So the bars on this street have to be interesting to attract a wide audience. Fortunately there are bars like the Tiki Lounge, the resident Hawaiian-themed bar that converts to a nightlife spot into the evening. It’s got a stout menu of drinks but the ambiance is very memorable.
Take a seat beneath a giant cabana or under a palm tree, give a view to the waterfalls along the side of the building or, if you’re feeling ancy, come in one of the nights there’s a DJ and enjoy some dancing. The spot tends toward the college crowd on weekends but can be a more quiet mix of other crowds other times of the week. Some of the cocktails worth trying:
- Mai Tai: A classic cocktail made popular in the 1940s and 1950s era tiki bars that made this genre popular. Made from rum and citrus liqueurs and a splash of lime juice for a bright, spry drink that sneaks up on you if not careful.
- Coconut Kiss: Comes with a coconut mixture stirred with rum and a touch of Arabica & vanilla. Just a mild cocktail that allows a little of that coconut goodness to seep in and prevail on the taste buds. Very charming.
The bar tends toward the silly sometimes, but in those times you just want to have a little fun. Some nights the place feels like a club, other nights like a college bar. They’ll have out free leis, and more well-known, they’ll let you keep your glass sometimes. The service was nice too; visiting during a dead time they were very accommodating and conversational, returning during a busy time they were still pretty fast.
All in all a very memorable experience. If you’re looking specifically for this kind of funny experience, it’s one worth having. Just keep in mind when you go, depending on the crowd you want to see.
Recommendations
- Weekend nights this spot picks up the tempo in the evening and attracts a college crowd. At that point there is often a DJ and cover, so keep that in mind.
- The spot doesn’t serve food by itself.
- One option is to buy the drinks in their specialty glasses and then to have the glasses as a keepsake. Which is kind of a gimmick, but if it’s something you want, go for it.
Another Food Critic 