There’s something about Mary’s in Garfield

The 5100 block of Penn Avenue in Garfield has become something of an LGBTQ corridor, with Two Frays Brewery, Kindred Spirit Tattoo, and the Mr. Roboto Project all welcoming and serving the community. When Mary’s opened in November 2024, its pink neon sign announced a mysterious newcomer to the scene.

Mary’s had been in development for years, its dark windows obscuring any sense of what might be going on inside. The always-reliable Reddit said it would be a queer bar. There were whispers that Sharon Needles, the controversial RuPaul’s Drag Race winner from Pittsburgh, was involved (she isn’t). The prospect of a full-service bar to complement Two Frays was enticing, but it wasn’t clear exactly what we’d be getting.

Seven months in, Mary’s has comfortably settled into its place on the block and in the neighborhood as a whole. I’ve been to Mary’s a handful of times, mostly grabbing quiet after-work drinks with friends (though I did cut a rug at one Trash Disco night before drunkenly deciding Lucky’s was a good idea).

At the risk of reducing queerness to an aesthetic, Mary’s is visibly queer. Bravo on the TVs, heart-shaped tables, glittered bartop, leopard-print floor, all queer-coded. One bathroom, red-lit and wallpapered with Tom of Finland imagery, has, as my friends’ Instagram stories suggest, already become an iconic Pittsburgh selfie spot.

But looks aside, Mary’s has assumed a significant role as a gathering place for the East End’s queer community. It recently held Dykes After Dark, an after-after-party for the Pittsburgh Dyke March. In May, it co-hosted Garfield Pride with Kindred Spirit, with STI testing by Central Outreach and a dunk tank benefiting SisTers PGH. The first Thursday of every month will feature Littllest Petshop, an event for Steel City Pups. (For those unfamiliar with queer subcultures, this is not the occasion to bring your goldendoodle out drinking. Two Frays has you covered there.)

Mary’s website doesn’t have an events calendar (yet), but scroll through their meme-riddled, chaotically captioned Instagram feed and you’ll find something … not for everyone, but maybe for anyone interesting. Looking for DJ nights ranging from disco to ’80s to goth to grunge? Queer burlesque? Bravo-themed trivia courtesy of PGH Trivia? RuPaul’s Drag Race watch parties? Mary’s is your new favorite bar. For those who want a little buzz on the cheap, the happy hour offers half off everything, including tipples such as draft rosé, absinthe cocktails, and beers from Two Frays. If you’re on the Apteka waiting list (which is usually the case), it’s a convenient place to kill time with an apéritif.

Though Mary’s could adequately be described as a campy dive, I’ve had some fantastic drinks there. On my first visit, I ordered a dry gin martini with a twist. I usually don’t get much more specific with my martini order, so as not to be too insufferable. But after I provided my preferred gin, the bartender asked for a precise gin-to-vermouth ratio and suggested a variation that combined Dolin Blanc with the traditional dry vermouth. The result was cold, balanced, and bracing, as any great martini should be. I was pleasantly surprised — this was a level of detail and care that, in my experience, even more upscale bars lack. (If martinis aren’t your thing, I’ve also ordered some decent gin and tonics.)

Mary’s has quickly become one of my go-to spots, and I’m excited to see if it grows into an enduring neighborhood and queer staple. I might even start watching some Bravo shows to get the full experience.

This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2025.