Hey Babe fans have reason to rejoice: The East Liberty restaurant has expanded into a new 50-seat dining room, complementing their approximately 70-seat lounge space in the lobby of The Maverick hotel.
The new dining room accepts reservations, while the original lounge remains open to walk-ins—allowing the restaurant to offer the best of both worlds. Both spaces serve the same seasonally changing menu of globally influenced dishes designed for sharing, with options ranging from playful small plates and salads to larger entrées, sandwiches, and desserts.
A strong first year in East Liberty
Hey Babe launched in June 2025, realizing a long-held dream from husband-and-wife duo and longtime restaurant industry veterans, Danielle Cain and Rob Hirst. Within the first year, Hey Babe earned a place on Pittsburgh Magazine’s lists of the city’s 10 Best New Restaurants and 25 Best Restaurants for 2026. It was also highlighted by Table Magazine as one of its favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh’s East End.
“We were pretty proud of our team and what we’ve been able to create,” Hirst said. “I think we’ve been very well received by the local East Liberty community and Pittsburgh in general.”
Designing the expansion
From the beginning, Cain and Hirst planned to eventually open the adjoining dining room, which formerly housed Ace Hotel’s Whitfield. But first, they wanted to take some time to determine exactly what the new space should look and feel like.
“What that other side would be was sort of an open question mark,” Hirst explained. “We created a vibe that was upscale but still very accessible, and we weren’t sure if we should extend that same concept to the dining area. But we found that people want that and like that, so we continued it.”
The new room carries over the lounge’s 1970s-inspired aesthetic, with painted wainscoting, tassel lampshade chandeliers, rich warm tones, and curved shapes. Modular table configurations allow for private parties, showers, and other gatherings—an area of the business that has been especially popular since Hey Babe opened.
“We were pretty proud of our team and what we’ve been able to create. I think we’ve been very well received by the local East Liberty community and Pittsburgh in general.”
– Rob Hirst, Co-founder of Hey Babe
Reaching more of Pittsburgh
Cain and Hirst hope the expansion will build on Hey Babe’s warm reception in East Liberty and introduce the restaurant to an even wider audience.
“I think we’ve got a really good start with East Enders,” Hirst said. “Now it’s about continuing to grow that to the greater Pittsburgh area.”
They also hope the expansion can contribute to a stronger nightlife scene in East Liberty and across the city.
“Since the pandemic, nightlife has changed, with people going home earlier,” Cain noted. “When we opened, we hoped to draw more people in for a casual drink before a show or event. Helping to grow more of that in the city would be nice.”
Plan your visit
Hey Babe is located on the ground floor of The Maverick hotel at 120 S. Whitfield Street. The lounge remains walk-in only, while limited reservations for the new dining room can be made online.
