Spirit Lodge

I love this place. It’s like stepping into a hipster/​beatnik movie set everytime I go. Some of the best pizza in the city (in my opinion), great dance nights and a friendly, knowledgable bar staff.
The monthly art installations are always interesting, and the events they have upstairs are great. Not many bars are able to pull off the style they have without being over priced and a bit cliché. Spirit is neither. I always run into a friendly face and have a great time when I’m there.
Recently started going to their brunch buffet, and that too is wonderful. Lots of vegetarian options, great price ($ 11), and there’s always been a dj as well which I think is fairly novel for brunch.
Highly recommended– definitely worth following on Facebook for the event updates. Can’t wait to make it to $ 10 lasagna night! (Which apparently includes a salad and a glass of wine)

We came here for the pizza brunch which is in the basement and is pretty dark. It took quite awhile for our eyes to adjust to the darkness and it wasn’t even a sunny day. I thought the space was pretty cool, but couldn’t help but think I walked straight into a Portlandia episode. There were cat heads hanging from the ceiling, party lights, and a DJ who didn’t really appear to be doing any DJing. The place was also full of hipsters, like literally every single diner, except for us. I don’t have anything against hipsters, it just made me feel really out of place to be around such a high concentration of them all at once. It was probably the most hipsters I’ve ever seen in one place. Feelings of being out of place aside, we brunched on. The server was really nice and the selection was very unique for a brunch. There was obviously pizza, but there were also a couple unusual salads like a lentil/​bean/​root salad. The FRENCH TOAST though… that was something out of this world. Some of the best French Toast we’ve ever had. There was also sausage, which I didn’t try because it looked a little overcooked. And then there was quiche and potatoes. They also had itsy bitsy carrot cake and smores bites. The one thing I thought was missing was eggs/​bacon. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a brunch without eggs/​bacon.

I have been trolling Spirit’s Event Calendar for a few months waiting for the perfect event. Then there is was: Lasagna Night. For $ 10, you get a small salad, a more than generous offering of Lasagna and a glass of Chianti. This night was calling my name. We arrive at 5:30 (good thing, lasagna ran out at 7:30) and sat at the bar. There were tables with red gingham table cloths, really old world. The bartender was friendly and service was great. Right when any dish was dirty, BAM, it was gone. The food was prompt and just enough. Then, as were were eating our lasagna, we hear the harmonic tunes of Frank Sinatra! What an added bonus. Spirit had a Frank Sinatra impersonator which was the icing on the cake. It was A-​MAZING. People were dancing, he sang directly to me, it was dreamy.
I was told that Frank might not be there each week. This was the first night of $ 10 Lasagna and it seemed like a hit. I am not sure that without Frank, that this night would have been as exciting.
I am nervous to go back to Spirit because I am not sure that they can top Lasagna night. But I will sure try.

Favorite bar in the city (and not just because it is a few blocks from my house). Completely unpretentious.
Good mix of people. Delicious and interesting drinks. Friendly bartenders. Good dance parties. Is there anything else you could want? Oh yeah, pizza. Well, they have that too!

Music, Booze and Pizza. What else do you need?

So fucking dope. Some nights are extra fucking chill. Depends on the vibe, but overall, super fucking dope. Music is good. Pizza is square but good. Drinks are cheap and super dope.

This is a great place to go get cheap drinks, eat fantastic pizza, and hang out in dim lighting that makes everyone look way more attractive than they actually are (which could get you in trouble). Reviews about rude bartenders is strange because I’ve only had positive experience with all the staff there… even when I’m just ordering a million $ 2.50 pbr pounders in a row.
I especially recommend: Bingo Bango, Total Trash, and Diva’s Night. They outdoor space is increasingly great with the party bus/​bonfire/​heat lamps.
People that think it’s just a «hipster bar» might just be assholes. Usually when I go here there’s a good mix of folks from different demographics and identities. It seems like most people have a fun time dancing and drinking together.

An important addition to PGH night life… not to mention a local pizza revelation!
BAR: The vibe downstairs is that of a relaxed social club, with good beer on tap, great cocktails, and affordable cans too. You don’t have to spend a crazy amount of money to have a good time here. It’s cool and approachable and hip for sure, but certainly not ultra-​chic or pretentious. In fact, quite the opposite: Warm, fun, and anything-​within-​reason-​goes. A mixed crowd tends to hang downstairs, including trendy 20 & 30-​somethings, punks, and locals of all ages. The bar tenders are super nice and the staff is usually in a good, playful mood.
PIZZA: The pizza being made at their Slide Island pizza counter in the back of the building is nothing short of amazing. It’s a more complex, higher-​end pie than you’re gonna find in Lawrenceville or Bloomfield. Square-​cut, expertly prepared dough with a whole bunch of locally sourced meat and veg topping options. I always get two (or more) slices when I’m hanging out, but they also do take out… and there’s no reason not to just pick-​up a pie from here before a quiet night at home. It’s a hell of a lot better than Vocelli’s or Domino’s, and still quite a bit better than the local chains too.
EVENTS: It’s necessary to mention that the events here are some of the most fun, zany things being done in the city right now. DJ nights that run the gamut between techno, post-​punk and new wave, early-​90s all-​female R&B, and more. Special events with amazing light shows (they were even covered in the Huffington Post in October 2015), tasty revisionist fish fry fundraisers, movie screenings, 90s-​themed nights with tons of Sega and Nintendo games, pig roasts, brick oven pizza cook-​off competitions, and even dance parties on schoolbuses outback. Really, no one else in PGH can touch the sheer ambition of what the Spirit crew is attempting here. Plus, lots national touring acts and great local indie performers.
This place is definitely happening now… don’t miss out!

***BEST BAR ALERT***
Pizza? Check.
Local bands, dj sets, dance parties? Check.
Craft drafts, cheap cans, fresh and thoughtful cocktails? Check.
If you like any of the following, Spirit is the bar for you: having fun, drank, bingo, trivia, cookouts, party bus, video games, gallery shows, non-​profit and community fundraisers, dancing, ample parking, sexy bartenders, BRUNCH BUFFETS, hipsters, punks, parents, squares, really old people?, bad boys, prank kweens, dirty birds, mozzarella, more fun.
In the short time that Spirit has been open, they’ve managed to do more innovative, fun, creative, and community driven events than any other bar or venue in recent memory. You can find me there a few times a week, whether it’s for a dance party that has me taking my shoes off and shaking it *so good*, a happy hour catch-​up cocktail with an old friend, a pizza party, or a lingering lazy hungover brunch.
Sometimes I will be on my way to a new event at Spirit and I’ll have a moment of pause, thinking to myself, «is this the night that Spirit has jumped the shark?» But by the end, you realize that Spirit has just jumped onto the back of the shark, and is surfing along with it, pizza in one hand, party in the other

Had to pay a cover just to eat pizza in there which was just spending more money while some super shitty band was playing. Also wasn’t allowed to take a non alcoholic drink outside while we were leaving. Stay away at all costs

I had the Veg pizza. Yum! The crust a bit meh but the toppings were delicious, fresh, and innovative. The service at the bar was impeccable. The atmosphere typical social club with a touch of hipster thrown in for good measure.
****What you really need to know is that Spirit the bar and Slice the pizza shop are separate entities. Spirit is cash only Slice is not.****
Enjoy!

Yo, listen: perusing these reviews, I notice that everyone has some lame and mostly difficultly judgmental anti-​whatever just-being-funny-you-can’t-take-a-joke opinion about Spirit. I just want to say that Spirit is rad as hell and it doesn’t matter who you are.
The bartenders are cool; the beer list is worthwhile, the cocktails are cheap. The food menu is a gem; the pizza crust is always crispy, the grilled cheese and tomato soup hits the spot. The downstairs has music and installations. The upstairs has weirdo events.
The crowd that this place pulls is eclectic. From well-​dressed yuppies to hipsters to older Yinzers to the random wanderers, everyone is always smiling and having a good time. The dance floor doesn’t always fill up, but if you want to dance, then dance!
This place is so accepting of all types of people from all types of backgrounds with all types of interests, and their diverse list of events only furthers that mentality. They don’t judge, so why would you?

You don’t need to be a hipster to enjoy this dive bar. They kept the old Elk’s Lodge sign at the entrance and just rolled with the wood-​paneling in the bar area, so they aren’t taking themselves too seriously. I may be a closet hipster, but I arrived to the bar looking like a schoolmarm in my work clothes. The bearded dudes in flannel and the tattooed bartender didn’t give me a second glance… they just assumed I’d want a cocktail list instead of a beer list. Once I corrected them, all was smooth sailing from there.
The draft list is short, but quality. They have a beer for every taste. I adored the Hop Farm Provision Saison recommended to me by a friend — has a very subtle hint of flavor that makes for a wonderful aftertaste. It was also $ 3 draft night, which really can’t be beat.
Loved their pizza and love that it can be ordered by the slice. When your favorite pizza topping is anchovies it is difficult to get the haters to allow the salty little gems atop the cheese where they belong, so pizza by the slice becomes a delicacy. The crust reminded me of my beloved Beto’s pizza, sturdy and with a soul-​satisfying crunch! The sauce was not a dominant flavor, which is another quality that makes me weak in the knees. Quality cheese and salty anchovies slightly melted against that already delectable base and you’ve got one excellent slice of pizza. I only wished I had ordered more!

So I have been here twice now and my opinion about it is totally divided.
The location is cool, big and divey. There is outdoor seating and a really impressive garden In back. There is also lots of parking.
The first time we went it was a Sunday and we played Bingo Bango, which is just bingo for Pittsburghers. The pizza was excellent I got a margarita slice and a veggie slice which was a delicious combo of kale and lemon. They also have a meat option.
On the second visit I got a cocktail which was really good, gin and juice made with real juice, I think it was Apple, cucumber, ginger and carrot. I would like to try there other cocktails at some other point.
This week the pizza options were different, as they change on a weekly basis, but they still have three, margarita, meat or veggie. The veggie this week was broccoli, and yes they used fresh broccoli, moz, cheddar, breadcrumbs and ranch. The ranch was house made and looked like something I would make at home, which I appreciated! They do make it in house, I asked. However this combo is not something I would ever choose if I have the option for other veggie varieties.
There was not much broccoli on it, and the pieces were really small. It was fine though I didn’t hate it I just think it was kind of a bizarre combo and like the kale and lemon a lot better!
When we went up to order another piece I wanted to give them my feedback, but the person who was assisting us seemed to not care about what I was saying and did not seem interested in hearing it. I was not being rude I just like to give feedback at restaurants sometimes.
I also wanted to ask about the pizza buffet they have during the week and what that is like. He didn’t really seem to want to answer me, brushed me off by saying it just has two types of pizza on it (which doesn’t sound like a buffet to me).
The second slice we got took forever! I kept on checking back for it until finally asking where is was after 40 mins (we were hanging and drinking so it didn’t feel like that much time) turns out he took it off the counter and put it above the oven… why did he do that? Was it just to be rude? Not sure… Obviously that slice was terrible and we were not happy about it, but because we were with friends I didn’t make a big deal of it.
Moral of the story is I am not intimidated by hipsters, but I don’t have time for rude or pretentious ones.
I would give Spirit another shot and maybe adjust my rating. But for now it seems like they had a great start but that has not been sustained.

Spirit has a great reputation but what have they done to earn it?
I have never had a good experience here. I come for the music, but I leave in large part because the employees are so incredibly rude.
On a side note, do not go to Spirit expecting to dance. Go there expecting to awkwardly hang out while avoiding eye contact with people you may or may not know. Go there to pretend you did something with your night.
It’s fun because it’s ironic right?

Tried their Pizza, fell in love, never looking back. They change out their pizza options weekly, but if you are in the neighborhood, check out Slice Island. Seriously, that cheese pizza is what dreams are made of. I’ve had the veggie one, the meat one, and the cheese. All are delectable, but that cheese pizza I have cravings for.
Did I mention Kendal works there? Kendal! Of Remedy, Round Corner Cantina, Gooskis, etc. fame. She’s a sweetie, a great bartender, and will rock your socks off with her awesome playlist.
This place is where it’s at on a friday and saturday.
Oh, and 80’s night thursday… 80’s night thursday. Do it.

The first time I went to Spirit was to check out my friend’s band, Shaky Shrines, on their opening night. It was insane. There were so many people and the place was packed. We waited almost and hour to get in (to be fair, there were about 20 of us that were together). It was not a great experience. Since then, i have gone back many times and I have to admit that my opinion has changed considerably.
To start with, the drinks are great. When I go at night, I generally stick to my usual whiskey and water but every once and a while a good cocktail is a great treat. Spirit plays on traditional cocktails but with a unique spin. They use fresh juices and shrubs to create thoughtful drinks that are refreshing (and keep you feeling guilt free). One of my favorites is the kale margarita!
Next, I should move on to their pizza. Oh my! It is tasty. This crusted, square pizza covered in cheese. A very pleasant surprise. I hear their specialty pies are really good but I stuck with a slice of traditional pepperoni. It was a little pricey (just over $ 3) but was a large piece sliced in two.
What I really love about Spirit is its existence as a music venue. I know that it has taken the arduous task of hosting 80’s night while Belvedere’s is closed for renovation but they have served as a location for much more than 80’s night. I recently went their for Bike Fest 2015 to see Grand Piano and it was great. The weekend before I was there to see Wooly Woman and Dream Phone. It also was a host of RANT. It really makes me giddy to know that places such as Spirit, Cativo and Bayardstown are starting to really offer a home for local bands. There are many places i know that host shows (Howler’s and weather permitting shows are also great) but I have really enjoyed how spacious Spirit is. I’m certainly not knocking any other location. I’m just really happy about the addition.
All in all, it is a great place that offers indoor and outdoor spaces, with great food and great music.

LOVE JEALOUSY AND KENDALL = SPIRIT IS THE NEW HIPSTERS SOCIAL CLUB!
Hi My Loves!
I saw Spirit come up on my «Cool People Feed» and put it on the list to try STAT!
I went out with «Trouble» intending to have a fun night, got a bit of bad news and then drank my cares away at Spirit!
LOVE/​JEALOUSY: I love they reused an old Moose Lodge, which is a ready made social hall and bar! WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT! That’s why I’m jealous!
Really all this place needed was a good cleaning and a little décor — which was done nicely and BOOM it’s this awesome ready made hang out! I could kick myself for not thinking up this place!!!
I wore my hippest hipster get up… my sports car betrayed me deep attempts at being a hipster that night… BUT ANYWAY… When you first walk in it’s easy to miss the steps down to the huge bar and dance floor but your nose helps you to sniff out the tasty pizza and garlic knots cooking down there. When you realize how huge the place is it’s kind of incredible the space they have in the ever growing property values of Larryville. There is a genius running this business cause the walls are covered in local art that is for sale, smart and free… How I love America!
That’s when we met KENDALL and her kickass bartending skills and her awesome playlist playing in the background. We tried a couple mixed drinks and the beer selections, she was great and helpful! GIRL NOTE: Bathrooms were clean!
If you wander upstairs there is a bingo hall/​music venue/​party space = genius money making concert venue!
I could spend every night here hanging out. It’s a great place to hang. Too bad I don’t have enough hipster outfits and I drive a Benz or I’d fit right in! It’s such a genius business concept it makes me cry!
Totally coming back!
Love you!
Muah

Spirit lounge is Lawrenceville’s newest anything goes hipster venue. Redone from the former elks lounge it has two stories that offer entertainment and in house pizza back room called Slice Island and an outdoor patio.
Downstairs is kept very dark to give it a grungy vibe. The servers are overzealous charismatic person where you would just wish they would nose the lip ring but amazingly spirited fun people. Let them serve you up a mixed drink or serve a cheap can of beer to your preference and indulge in nightly activities from Sunday’s Bingo Bango to Saturday night bands and dancing.
Now be sure to go get pizza. If hipsterism is not your style of dancing in a basement, be sure to at least come around to the back to get a slice of pie from Slice Island, you will not be disappointed. Ignoring the ongoing feud they are currently holding with another Bloomfield spot [not to be named], they serve light tagliare style [cut] on ciabatta bread with a focus on the toppings of veggies or meat. Dabbed spots of mozzarella covered my slice which was amazing, with fresh tomatoes and a sprinkle of mint. Fantastic.
The upstairs part of the lodge will be focused on events and of course more shows and nontraditional events that may not have space in the downstairs space, something to look forward to in the Fall. I hope to catch one of other hungry-​hungry-​human where you are on skateboard and utilize laundry baskets. [hellz yea]
Make sure to make this is a spot on your list when coming down Lawrenceville it definitely does not disappoint.

I stumbled upon this joint after seeing an advertised art show on Facebook, but apparently this place only opened a few weeks back under this new name.
My first impression was that this place was going to be a gallery — but to my surprise it is indeed a funny little dive bar that does it all — art on the walls, a projector that shows movies and the all important GOT on Sunday nights, plus their better than most bar and food selection. The interior is definitely a lodge-​y feel with wood panel walls and quaint Christmas lights hanging as if you were hanging out in your parents basement.
The bartenders are friendly and timely. Since there isn’t too much of a crowd, the bar staff has time to experiment and try some new mixology, ready to try a new combination as requested.
There was also more food than I expected. I saw a few groups of people ordering pizza, which were served on pizza boxes.

This is the replacement for Belvedere’s. If you like Belvedere’s, you’ll like this place. If you don’t, you won’t like it.

«If you didn’t know this was here, you wouldn’t know this was here,» was the review given by +1 last night. I’m guessing this mostly refers to its appearance as a nondescript, closed looking former Moose Lodge with really good drinks (hence the fine logic).
To look dim and divey, and then serve cocktails with mint lemonade and arugula pizza is an example of what Pittsburgh should be going for. Long bar, cozy round booths, and a dark dance floor makes it for me. Bingo and Game of Thrones on Sundays, the early In Bed By Ten party on Fridays, and «Slice Island» pizza (!). I’m really excited about Spirit Lodge. The staff was super surprisingly friendly and quick when I expected at least a little snoot, especially on a busy 80s night temporarily being hosted for Belvedere’s.
Check the event calendar on their site, I guarantee there is something this week that you would be into. Just don’t be put off by the dark façade and hoard of youths blocking the entrance (nonsmoking establishment, you’ll have that). Get a rum swizzle, a pizza, and enjoy some Oingo Boingo on your Thursday evening.

This place has been open for a weeks. We randomly stumbled upon it after our post dinner (pusadee’s garden) walk. We were feeling adventurous and thirsty and decided to wander in. It’s an old Moose Lodge– which makes for some interesting furnishings and a disco ball in the middle of the room– it’s got a very charming dive/​lodge feel. Through the kitchen and in the back of the Lodge is a place to chill, play horseshoes or others enjoy your beverages outdoors. The crowd was a mixed bag– but the average age seemed 20 something. We were definitely on the oldest folks in the bar.
The drinks are great– no crazy tender bar concoctions but fresh juices for mixers and plenty of beer on draft.
My favorite drink of the evening was gin and juice-​included gin, carrot juice, ginger. I also got the Laura Palmer — a fabulous bourbon drink! They have baby Budwiser cans for $ 1.
On Sunday nights (we were there on a Sunday evening) they play Bingo (aka Bingo Bango) for a chance to win pizza or a drink. It’s a silly, fun way to kill some time. We won and got a piece of pizza (yes, I know we already ate dinner thank you.) and it was yummilicious! They end Bingo Bango before 9 because they show Game of Thrones. It seems like it’s a mixed bag as to whether folks want to watch or not. Seems like the staff isn’t so much on GoT. The reason I mention this is that if you come here to watch it can be annoying with all of the other convos from folks not into it. But no big for us.
The staff is young and friendly. The only opportunity for improvement is that the one bartender forgot our order 2 times– so we had to remind her. I heard her apologize to other folks for forgetting– might have just been a ‘one of those days.’ She was super responsive after we reminded her.
We DEFINITELY will be back and will bring some friends (cool ones) from the suburbs.