The Rebel Room delivers on all three. Step inside of the Industrialist Hotel, a part of the Autograph Collection focused on bringing the art of storytelling to life. These hotels are rich in character and celebrate artistry that surprises, inspires, and delights. Located in the heart of downtown at the corner of Wood and Fourth, the historic Arrott Building’s architecture is dazzling, the lobby features stunning floor to ceiling marble with ornate historic details and the reason I stopped in: a stylish bar with a high quality mixology program.
The signature bar and restaurant is influenced by Pittsburgh’s revolutionaries, the movers and shakers that shaped our city. Photos of recognizable faces and historic maps hang on the walls to create a moody atmosphere perfectly paired with a drink.
They have a handful of signature cocktails, but there are three that stand out among the rest. The ‘In Rebel Fashion’ is a mix of rye, bitters, orange, and cherry with toasted sugar created in-house. Another popular order is the ‘Spring Gimlet’, a standard drink that they put their own spin on. In addition to the traditional gin and lime, hibiscus simple syrup is added which gives the drink a pop of pink and floral flavor. Two thumbs up.
My personal favorite was their take on a paloma, ‘The Mon’. Much better than river water, the drink was refreshing and included Tajin, a chili-lime seasoning that gave the drink a little hint of somethin’ somethin’. But if you want the heat, I’d try the Jimmy Snorkle. A really unique blend of cool and hot combining mezcal, lime, cucumber, and a few drops of hot sauce.
Their drink menu rotates as their mixologist masterminds come up with new creations. Behind the scenes they have tons of books they dig into and study to come up with their next set of menu items. I’m excited to see what they’ll feature next! The Rebel Room has a chic steel city vibe with incredibly friendly staff who know how to make some drinks. Period.
