#5739 - Karwoski's Tavern, Pittsburgh, PA - 4/23/2024

Karwoski's Tavern, AKA JCK Tavern
Pittsburgh, PA 

"If you want to sit in an extremely dark bar and feel like your worthless, this is the place to go." - James K, Yelp

Karoski's Tavern, AKA JCK Tavern, is a classic neighborhood dive, a bit off the main drag, in the South Side Flats area of Pittsburgh. When I arrived, well before the posted closing time, the bartender was a bit irked, informing me that he'd turned off the lights and was in the process of closing. I managed to convince him to let me in for one quick beer.  

There has been a licensed bar in this location for at least 150 years, since at least 1884, and it was run by the Karwoski family from when Joseph Karwoski purchased it and took over the liquor license in September 1922, to at least 2017 and I presume to this day.

And before you object that there were no licensed bars in America in 1922, there absolutely were in the state of Pennsylvania, which kept issuing licenses, with most saloons, breweries and distilleries continuing to operate until about 1926 (at which point PA shifted to an underground, speakeasy system, like the rest of the country experienced from 1920 or earlier).

It's smokey and happily dark, even when they're not in the process of closing, and they don't f around with karaoke, or bands, or other promotions. I will be back.

132 S 24th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 - (412) 431-3021
Est. 1922  
Previous bars in this location: Bar names unknown, but from 1884 to 1922 saloons here were run by Victor Doser, John N. Johnson, Harry Hartman, John Suttner, and Edwin Hirt
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Reviews: fatherpitt - yelp