After a show, drift down the block to Pittsburgh’s only Downtown jazz bar, Con Alma.
Live Jazz and Good Late Night Eats at Con Alma in Downtown
Warm and inviting, Con Alma’s space feels both curated and comfortable — like stepping into a carefully designed home and knowing that every detail has a story.
Velvet lounge chairs and couches sit alongside shelves of vinyl records. The restaurant’s neon-lit name glows softly above the stage as musicians ease into a set. The walls are adorned with photos of historic jazz icons who performed in Pittsburgh — Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington — providing ever-present reminders of Pittsburgh’s rich jazz tradition. It’s the kind of place where you might come in for a drink and end up staying for the whole night.
The History of Con Alma
Con Alma (Spanish for “with soul”) was founded in 2019 by jazz guitarist John Shannon, together with Chef Josh Ross and hospitality expert Aimee Marshall. What began in Shadyside as an intimate listening room has become a hub for Pittsburgh’s jazz community, winning local and national awards from the likes of Esquire magazine, Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Magazine. The larger Downtown location, which opened in 2021, brings that spirit to the city’s cultural core, positioning Con Alma as both a post-theater destination and a lively gathering place.
“Downtown, you have both locals and tourists,” Shannon says. “Out-of-towners come in and say, ‘We wish we had a Con Alma in Los Angeles. We wish we had one in Baltimore.’ It’s beautiful, because we’re doing something unique here.”
A Pillar of the Community
Doing something unique does not always come easy. In late 2025, Con Alma found itself in debt from operating the Shadyside location through COVID, with costs from opening the Downtown spot piling up. The owners launched a crowdfunding campaign in December and raised nearly $50,000 in a month, a testament to the restaurant’s place in the community.
Late-night offerings make it tempting to linger. The menu features rotating Latin-Caribbean influenced dishes, such as ropa vieja, braised short ribs over beans, tomatoes and peppers. An old-fashioned anchors the happy hour drink menu, while the house classic How High the Moon — named for the 1940s jazz standard — blends spiced rum, red plum liqueur, lemon, aquafaba and cinnamon into something both nostalgic and fresh.
All That Jazz
Visitors give high marks to the food and drink, but the music is the primary draw. “I’m a jazz girl and this is my place,” says regular Carolyn Kazdin. “I love that they’re keeping jazz alive.” Shannon himself is an accomplished jazz guitarist who grew up in Pittsburgh and left to study jazz in Boston, live in New York City and tour internationally (including in South America) before returning to help boost the jazz scene at home. His vision for Con Alma has always included mentorship and access; most Tuesday nights bring a jam session led by noted saxophonist Tony Campbell, offering young artists invaluable bandstand time.
“I was nervous to get up there, but it was such a good experience,” says high schooler Naomi T., who joined a recent jam session. She hopes to study jazz in college and sing professionally, and says stage time helps her build confidence.
“In jazz, it’s important when you’re learning the music to have bandstand experience,” Shannon says. “That’s what we strive to give young musicians.” Con Alma also collaborates with the Center of Life Jazz Youth All Stars, an after-school arts program in Hazelwood. In December, the Youth All Stars shared the stage with the Con Alma All Stars, an evening that underscored the bar’s role not just as a venue but also as a bridge between generations.
Intimate Vibes
On most nights, Con Alma is abuzz with activity, but it manages to maintain a cozy, intimate vibe. There’s seating for about 100 people — though you may find yourself jockeying for standing-room space if you arrive too late.
Milton Eli Raiford, another devoted patron, visits Con Alma multiple times a week. “This is by far the best jazz bar around. I tell everyone to come here.” He says he doesn’t mind the cover charge (which ranges from $5 to $15 depending on the night), since it goes to the musicians and allows the restaurant to support and recruit professional talent. “You get this kind of jazz every night. And an atmosphere like this — where do you find this in America?”
At its core, Con Alma remains what Shannon, Ross and Marshall originally envisioned: a place with soul, where jazz is a living conversation — one that welcomes artists old and new, and gives Pittsburgh a place to gather, listen and stay awhile.
613 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.932.2387
Open Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-11 pm; Friday, 4:30 pm-12 am;
Saturday, 4 pm-12 am; Sunday 4-9 pm
Kitchen Closes One Hour Before Doors
Live Jazz Tuesday-Thursday, 7-10 pm; Friday-Saturday
7-11 pm; Sunday 5-8 pm
More Restaurant Options Around Downtown
The Warren Bar & Burrow, 245 7th St., Smart cocktails and a solid wine list in a latenight spot next door to the Benedum.
Olive or Twist, 140 6th St., Enduring martini bar and pub-grub spot near the Byham stays open until 11 or later from Tuesday to Saturday.
City Works, 2 PPG Place, — Copious beer choices at one of the only Downtown spots open late every day of the week.
Story by Liberty Ferda
Photos by Laura Petrilla