Dee's Cafe   

Back in the olden days, Pittsburgh was renowned as a rough-and-tumble stop between larger cities, where travelers could stay for a cold mug and a game of pool. That simple industrial tradition lives on at Dee's Cafe, one of the most dependably packed stations on the South Side circuit. With two levels, a half-dozen pool tables, plenty of booths and stools for scores of drinkers, Dee's is among the grittiest, most unpretentious bars in the 'Burgh. Six-packs are available for takeout, but true Dee's fans can spend hours in its dark, smoky depths, jamming quarters into the jukebox and taking in the dizzying murals on the eastern wall. Where the downstairs bar befits sports fans with frothy glasses, the upstairs bar caters to the liquors-and-mixed-drinks crowd. Out-of-towners may feel a little wary when they first step into Dee's, but rest assured -- the bartenders are friendly, and it's easy to start some Eight Ball with a smirking new friend.