15 BYOB Restaurants in Pittsburgh (2020)

BYOB – or, bring your own booze – restaurants offer the best of both worlds. Diners are able to enjoy the perks of eating out, while sipping on their favorite wines and beers (sans upcharge!)

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite BYOB place in Pittsburgh, and listed nearby spots to purchase alcohol. (We’re thinking ahead!)

Do note, with BYOB restaurants, there is often a small table charge or corkage fee to bring your own alcohol. These prices fluctuate regularly, so calling the restaurant is the best way to get the most up-to-date information.

What are your favorite BYOB restaurants in Pittsburgh? Share them in the comments below!

The Best BYOB Restaurants in Pittsburgh:

Piccolo Forno

Piccolo Forno opened in 2005, and is both a Lawrenceville classic, and a current favorite. Whenever you’re craving crispy pizza, or freshly-prepared pasta (which, for us, is pretty often), look no further than Piccolo Forno. And, of course, what is Italian food without wine? Guests are welcome to bring their bottles to Piccolo Forno, or pick up a bottle at the restaurant’s sister bar, Grapperia, located just around the corner.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Grapperia, Franktuary, Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar, Piazza Talarico and Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar

Piccolo Forno (3801 Butler St)

Pizza Taglio

Located at the corner of Centre and Highland in East Liberty, Pizza Taglio serves up flavorful, Roman-style pizzas from their woodfired pizza oven. The restaurant is frequently regarded as one of the best pizza spots in the city. Two favorite pies include the Greenpointer with spicy sopressata and hot honey, as well as the Pig-Face with guanciale and red onions. They also have housemade ricotta, and will add an egg yolk to any pizza if you ask (may we suggest the Pig-Face?). No matter what you order, don’t forget to bring along some wine and beer to complete the meal.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits

Pizza Taglio (126 S Highland Ave)

Duncan Street Sandwich Shop

Located in Millvale, this sandwich shop offers a seasonal menu of gourmet sandwiches, sides, and salads. While the restaurant is primarily take-out, they also have a large outdoor patio for guests to relax and enjoy the meal. And to maximize the Al fresco experience, the patio is BYOB!

PS: Another large aspect of the business are their monthly, speakeasy-style, five-course dinners that they host at the restaurant… so keep an eye on their social media for those as well.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Millvale Fine Wine & Good Spirits, Vecenie’s Distributing Co 

Duncan Street Sandwich Shop (543 North Ave)

Onion Maiden

Onion Maiden is a punk-rock fueled vegan eatery in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood. The restaurant began as a pop-up, serving their vegetable-based comfort food and baked goods all over town. They opened their brick-and-mortar in 2017. Popular items include their vegan hot dogs and tater tot nachos – and, as per their theme, dish names contain a musical reference. The restaurant is BYOB and charges a $1 corkage fee per person drinking. They also have drinks like Red Ribbon Sodas and Lychee Lemonade Seltzer that make really great mixers.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Warrington Beer Distributor

Onion Maiden (639 E Warrington Ave)

Smiling Banana Leaf

Longtime Highland Park hotspot Smiling Banana Leaf is a popular BYOB choice in town. The tiny restaurant offers a large menu of delicious seasonal Thai dishes. While many order take out, the restaurant also offers a cozy, BYOB space where guests enjoy their meals with a bottle of wine or beer.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol:  Park Place Pub

Smiling Banana Leaf (5901 Bryant St)

Choolaah Indian Barbecue

Fast-casual Indian restaurant Choolaah Indian BBQ (located on Center Avenue in East Liberty) flaunts their BYOB policy. To order, guests build their own bowl, salad, or wrap, by choosing from proteins like lamb, tofu, or chicken. Every dish is customizable and packed with flavor. And while their BYOB policy is great, we also love ordering their delicious Mango Lassi.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits

Choolaah Indian Barbecue (6114 Centre Ave)

Noodlehead

Noodlehead is a casual, fast-paced restaurant serving up a menu of street-style Thai noodle dishes, dumplings and spring rolls. The restaurant is a very popular lunch destination in Shadyside, as they offer a great-value lunch menu.  They also attract a large dinner crowd, with the option of dessert from Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream conveniently located just next door. Noodlehead is BYOB, so be sure to bring drinks with you.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits

Noodlehead (242 S Highland Ave)

Square Cafe

Square Cafe is a very popular breakfast and lunch spot located in Regent Square. The weekend brunch is a Pittsburgh favorite, and everyone raves about their famous blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes. If you’re heading for a weekend brunch with friends, don’t forget to bring you own bubbly for mimosas.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: D’s Six Pax and Dogz

Square Cafe (1137 S Braddock Ave)

Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33

This laundromat-turned-restaurant has become a fast favorite in Squirrel Hill. The restaurant, which serves authentic Taiwanese cuisine, is known for dishes like stinky bean curd, soup dumplings, scallion pancake, and kim chi hot pots. The restaurant is BYOB, but does make delicious bubble teas.

Nearby spot to purchase alcohol: Independent Brewing Company, Wine & Spirits

Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 (1711 Shady Ave)

Penn Avenue Fish Company

Judging by their name it is not a big surprise that Penn Avenue Fish Company is one of the best place is Pittsburgh to go when you’re craving fresh and skillfully-prepared seafood. Their vast menu includes many seafood dishes, sushi, as well as an entire sandwiches menu, featuring items like the spicy tuna melt and the North Atlantic salmon sandwich. Penn Ave Fish Company is BYOB, but there are plenty of spots nearby to pick up local beers and beverages.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Pennsylvania Libations, The BeerHive, Maggie Farm Rum

Penn Avenue Fish Company (2208 Penn Ave)

Coca Cafe

Coca Cafe is a cozy space located on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Sunday. The cafe features items like a buttermilk donut with an icing of the day, as well as acaii bowls, shakshuka, and peach & mascarpone stuffed french toast. This is a perfect spot grabbing breakfast with friends. The restaurant is BYOB and has a $5 charge per table.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Grapperia, Franktuary, Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar, Piazza Talarico and Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar

Coca Cafe (3811 Butler St)

Legends of the North Shore

Since 2002, Legends of the North Shore has been an upscale, yet casual restaurant on the Northside of Pittsburgh. Located next to Allegheny General Hospital, this Legends features a menu of Italian classics like spaghetti, ravioli, and chicken parmigiano.  The restaurant is BYOB, and guest are encouraged to bring wine that pairs well with rich Italian dishes.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits, North Side Beer

Legends of the North Shore (500 East North Avenue)

Cafe Du Jour

Café Du Jour an European-inspired bistro located on East Carson Street in the South Side. The cafe has a quaint interior, as well as a beautiful patio courtyard that is open in the warmer months. The menu is ever-changing , but current items include roasted mushrooms with truffled burrata and a porcini-dusted New York strip steak. Café Du Jour is BYOB and cash only.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits, Carson Street Deli

Cafe Du Jour (1107 E Carson St)

La Tavola Italiana Restaurant

Head up Mt. Washington to enjoy delicious Italian food in a BYOB setting. La Tavola has a menu of classic Italian antipasti, pastas, and dessert. The space also offers various cooking classes, and can accommodate private parties.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Wine & Spirits, Packs & Dogs

La Tavola Italiana Restaurant (1 Boggs Ave)

B52 Cafe

Located in Upper Lawrenceville, B52 cafe is a vegan eatery that offers a menu of Mediterranean-American fusion dishes. The cafe space is bright and beautiful, and is a great place to grab breakfast, dinner, or a quick coffee. Customers love the flatbreads, small plate menu, and housemade kombucha. If you’re dining in, be sure to bring your own alcohol with you.

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Allegheny Wine Mixer

B52 Cafe (5202 Butler St)

Bonus: Casa Brasil

Currently, Highland Park Brazilian restaurant Casa Brasil has a BYOB policy, but the restaurant is currently in the process of acquiring a liquor license through a Honeycomb Credit, a local crowd-financing site. Their current policy is a $5 corkage fee per every 5 people at a table. (For example, if there is a group of 7 people, it would be a $10 charge for the table.)

Nearby place to purchase alcohol: Park Place Pub

Casa Brasil (5904 Bryant St)

Even MORE BYOB spots to consider: The Colombian Spot (South Side), Azorean Cafe (Bloomfield), Pasqualinos (Penn Hills), Cucina Bella (Bridgeville), Buon Cibo (Murrysville), Garlic Grille (Cheswick), Gia Visto (Monroeville), Il Burloni (Scott Township), Kabob G Grill (Castle Shannon), Oya Sushi and Korean Grill (Castle Shannon)

This article was originally published on January 13, 2018 mentioning The Vandal, Avenue B, Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, and Sausalido. These restaurants are either no longer open, or no longer BYOB.

Did we forget your favorite? Don’t fret! Leave it in the comments below!