There’s a new queer, alcohol-free late-night hangout space in the South Hills!
On July 18, Nightshade Lounge officially opened its doors to the public.
Nightshade Lounge is a non-profit community center located at 3019 West Liberty Avenue in Dormont, with the goal of bringing people together and providing support and resources for those in need. They offer a food pantry, clothing closet, and harm reduction and reproductive health supplies. It’s a place for queer folks to safely gather and hang late at night outside of traditional bars. The hours are 8 PM-1 AM daily, and it’s closed Tuesdays.
“It’s a relaxing, cozy spot to be in and to access resources after most resource hubs are closed,” says Blake, who opened the Lounge with his partner.
Blake’s decision to open Nightshade Lounge was based on a culmination of ideas he’s had over the years. The resource closet and food pantry were projects he was already working on with another non-profit, and when he left, he expanded upon those ideas. As for the late-night lounge, Blake attributes that to he and his partner’s affinity for the famed Beehive, an alternative coffeehouse and cultural hub in the South Side that closed in 2018.
“My partner and I have spent many, many nights over the past years moping over the fact that the Beehive isn’t around anymore and that there wasn’t really anywhere for us to go that wasn’t a bar late at night. So as soon as I had the time and the energy to do it, I was like, screw it, I will create it myself!”
It can be very lonely and isolating for sober queer folks who don’t have other options at night.
“If you go to a bar, that can be triggering as someone who’s sober. Or you stay home, and you don’t have the community. I wanted there to be another option,” says Blake.
Blake chose to open Nightshade Lounge in Dormont because it’s a very queer-friendly neighborhood. “I wanted it to be in the South Hills because overall there’s not much here as far as queer spaces. There are a lot of queer-friendly businesses, but there aren’t many queer-friendly/queer-owned spaces.”
When scouting the Dormont neighborhood, Blake spent a lot of time walking around talking to local business owners whom he described as extremely supportive, and he noted all of the Pride flags displayed throughout the area, making it an ideal home for Nightshade Lounge.
According to Nightshade’s website, as of April 2026, a local resource guide on LGBTQIA+ friendly businesses has over a hundred entries, only five of which are in the South Hills. All five offer specialty services like salons and personal training. None act as a location where people can gather and build community without the expectation of spending money. In addition to this, there isn’t a single sober meeting place or resource hub in Pittsburgh, queer-friendly or not, that’s open after 10 PM.
Nightshade Lounge is operated by volunteers consisting of queer and trans folks living across Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
Expect to find a cozy atmosphere filled with soft music, dim lighting, comfy furniture, and a chill vibe. Folks can read quietly or create art alone or in a small group. Others may choose to work on their laptops while sipping tea in a corner. There’s a bookshelf full of donated books as well as a smaller bookshelf of owner recommendations. Books may also be borrowed if requested. The decor is reminiscent of a Victorian library combined with a Boomer’s childhood game room.
I was personally enchanted with the vintage hair dryer chair, sans dryer hood, rotary phone, and Blake’s handmade leg lamp.
All of the snacks are individually packaged, GF/Vegan, and most are top 9 allergy-friendly. The snacks, teas, and beverages are free for those who may not be able to afford them, with a “suggested donation” for those who can afford to pay it forward.
Along with the food pantry and clothing closet, there is a Resource Desk with Post-Op Care Packages, HRT Supplies, earplugs for those in need of a little extra quiet time, and a guide that includes info for other queer/trans friendly businesses, social groups, and resources. Nightshade Lounge is also wheelchair accessible and neurodivergent friendly. The doors are open, and the staff is ready to serve your late-night needs.
Visit nightshadepgh.org for more information.