Best Places To Get A Hot Toddy In Pittsburgh
Jan. 11 is National Hot Toddy Day and there's no better way to celebrate than with this classic hot cocktail. While Pittsburgh doesn't boast too many places that offer this comforting winter weather drink, there are several bars that serve up their own version of a hot toddy. If you need a cold-weather pick me up, pull up a seat at one of these five bars that promise to warm you from the inside out.
Murray Avenue Grill
1720 Murray Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 521-1272
www.murrayavenuegrill.com
Situated in the heart of Squirrel Hill, the Murray Avenue Grill should be your top choice for the city's best hot toddy. Its recipe is one of the most traditional you'll find thanks to a classic mix of whiskey, sweetener and water. If you prefer a more modern take on a hot cocktail, ask for a hot apple grog that combines cider, Captain Morgan spiced rum and a cinnamon stick garnish with a spike of hot chocolate or one of the many varieties of coffee-based liqueur.
Braddock's American Brasserie And StreetSide Bar
107 6th St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 992-2005
www.braddocksrestaurant.com
Any bar that calls itself "a tribute to the Whiskey Rebellion" is guaranteed to serve up one fine hot toddy. Braddock's American Brasserie and StreetSide Bar tucked away in Pittsburgh's Renaissance Hotel is no exception. This ultra stylish and intimate bar houses one of the best bourbon collections in the Pittsburgh area, where locals gather to enjoy a comforting hot toddy. If you prefer your hot toddy with whiskey over any other liquor, stop in on Whiskey Wednesday.
Piper's Pub
1828 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 381-3977
www.piperspub.com
Piper's Pub in the city's South Side neighborhood boasts an impressive selection of incredible whiskey-based drinks, including its own hot toddy. Sample the flavors of alcohol until you find the right mix to create the ultimate comfort drink that's right for you. Consider ordering your hot toddy with scotch as this pub has the largest selection of scotch in the South Side. Once you've warmed up with a Piper's Pub hot toddy, sit down for a hearty meal sure to keep you toasty this season.
Related: Best Hot Drinks In Pittsburgh
Papa J Centro's
212 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 391-7272
www.papajs.com
Regular patrons of Papa J Centro's, downtown Pittsburgh's reportedly haunted bar and former brothel, will agree no one makes a hot toddy quite like the bartenders here. While you may not see this sweet spiked tonic listed at the bar, they'll make any drink you'd like, including the hard-to-come by hot toddy. For a slightly different twist on the usual hot toddy, request a Bee's Knees, which uses traditional hot toddy ingredients and combines them with a sweet simple syrup. Stick around long enough into the night, and you may see more spirits than just those in your hot toddy.
Related: Best Spots To Warm Up During Winter
Jernigan's Tobacco Village Scotch And Cigar Bar
1500 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
(412) 531-5881
www.jerniganstobacco.com
Scotch may be in its name, but whiskey flows freely at Jernigan's Tobacco Village Scotch and Cigar Bar in The Galleria of Mount Lebanon. Hot toddy connoisseurs will rejoice at the pub's recipe that can be made with its selection of Canadian and Tennessee whiskeys, including Crown Royal, Gentlemen's Jack and Canadian Club 12 year. For those who prefer their hot toddy be made with rum or bourbon, Jernigan's offers a selection including Ronrico and Maker's Mark. While this cozy bar can become extremely smoky as it is attached to a specialty retail tobacco store, its worth your wade through the smoke to sip a Jernigan's hot toddy.
Jessica Wasik lives in Pittsburgh where works as a full-time figure skating coach sharing her passion with todays generation of young skaters. A graduate of Robert Morris University with a degree in English Studies, Jessica is also a contributing writer for Allegheny West Magazine. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
