Italian Roots in Bloomfield (Early 1900s) Bloomfield, a neighborhood just three miles east of downtown Pittsburgh, earned the nickname “Pittsburgh’s Little Italy” thanks to a wave of Italian immigration in the early 20th century. While the area was initially settled by German Catholic immigrants (who built St. Joseph’s Church in 1886), Italians from villages in…
Pittsburgh is a city built on tradition, and nothing embodies its history quite like its oldest bars. Long before craft beer and cocktail lounges took over, these watering holes served as gathering places for steelworkers, bootleggers, and politicians alike. Some have survived Prohibition, economic downturns, and shifting drinking trends, yet they remain standing as testaments to Pittsburgh’s resilience. Let’s take a look at the oldest bars in the Steel City and the rich history behind them.