La-la-la lavender season has arrived! The fragrant floral herb can be found as an ingredient on summer cocktail menus throughout Pittsburgh: The Spritzery, for example, offers a Lavender Espresso Martini. Alta Via Ristorante celebrates with Lavender Bees Knees. Urban Tap’s brunch menu proffers Violet Dawn that features lavender along with elderflower, crème de violette and vodka. And the beat goes on.

Here are some standout lavender-inspired stunners that caught our attention.

Lavender French 75

The classic French 75 is said to have been created at Harry’s New York Bar in 1915 Paris. The story is that this potent drink could give as good a kick as a 75-millimeter field artillery gun. The traditional recipe combines gin, champagne, sugar and lemon juice.   

The Abbey on Butler Street in Lawrenceville gives the cocktail an update with the addition of lavender syrup. Tanqueray gin, prosecco and lemon juice blend beautifully for a delicious sip. The coupe glass makes an elegant presentation of its pale purple liquid.

The Abbey’s libations menu holds many creative takes on cocktails like the Pineapple Mojito, the Spicy Dirty Pickle and Green Tea-ni. Another lavender option is the Lavender Espresso Martini made with espresso-infused Stateside Vodka, lavender simple syrup, coffee liqueur and coffee.

We love slow sipping on a sunny day in the fenced-in courtyard. Sitting under an umbrella and listening to the splashing fountain is a perfect escape.

LaVanda at Grapperia Bar Classico. Photo by Sally Quinn.

LaVanda

Grapperia Bar Classico is a cool, dark hideaway around the corner from its mothership restaurant, Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville. It’s a fine place to meet friends before reservation times. And so convenient when you forget the wine for your BYOB dinner! Grapperia sells bottles of wine along with its extensive cocktail specialties.

Grapperia itself translates to grappa bar. Modeled after classic Italian bars, Grapperia’s drink menu includes grappa-focused cocktails along with more traditional fare. Grappa, an intense distilled spirit, is made from the remains of grape pressing – all those seeds, stems and stalks left over from winemaking. The brandy-like booze contains about 37.5% to 60% alcohol.

One of the grappa drinks is LaVanda (lavender in Italian). The concoction begins with lavender-infused grappa with green peppercorn, honey, lime juice and peaflower added for a sweet raisin-like flavor.

Other grappa-inspired options include the Italian 75 (grappa, prosecco, green pepper, honey and lemon juice); Blackberry Smash (grappa, fresh blackberries, lemon, maraschino and prosecco); and Been to the Moon (Juniper grappa, Suze aperitif, fennel-mint syrup and grapefruit juice).

Bonus: Order takeout from Piccolo Forno and eat at the bar for a complete Italian experience.

Lavender Lemon Drop at Ritual House. Photo by Sally Quinn.

Lavender Lemon Drop

Ritual House, Downtown, is a pretty place that’s the perfect setting for a girls’ night out. Dangling fairytale chandeliers, pink and purple wisteria blossoms hanging from the ceiling, birthday treats presented with clouds of cotton candy and sparklers.

Ritual House’s Lavender Lemon Drop carries on the luxe tradition with its pale lavender color. Mixologists blend Boyd & Blair Lavender Lemon, lavender syrup and lemon juice. A sugar-rimmed glass and lemon slice complete this sweet and sour delight that’s as delicious looking as it tastes.

Other cocktail options continue the theme with fanciful picks like Girl Crush (pomegranate liqueur, grenadine and juice); Too Bee or Not Too Bee (ginzer, hibiscus-infused honey and lemon); and Spa Day (cucumber vodka, elderflower, coconut water, cucumber juice and lime).

Earl of Lavender at The Cafe Carnegie. Photo by Sally Quinn.

Earl of Lavender

Lavender gets the royal treatment at The Café Carnegie in Oakland with a concoction of Earl Grey Gin, lavender, honey and lemon juice. This darker-hued cocktail is a rich drink that satisfies sip by sip. Those who prefer a hot drink to get through the afternoon slump can try the Chamomile-Lavender Steamer, an alcohol-free mix of milk and chamomile-lavender syrup.

Other cocktails include Andrew’s Scottish Coffee (a twist on Irish coffee dedicated to Andrew Carnegie), Thyme Spritz and the unusual It’s Corn! (tequila blanco, sweet corn syrup, fish sauce and smoked sea salt).

A stop at the café is a must when visiting the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, whether you’re viewing the International or visiting dinosaurs. The space is sophisticated and stylish with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Fountain Plaza.

The café menu offers small plates for snacking like Artichoke Flatbread, Carrot and Fava Bean Hummus and Deviled Eggs. Bigger appetites might go for the savory Roast Chicken Pie, Shrimp Diavolo and Tamari Tofu. It’s a great spot to take a pause between exhibits.

Lavianda at Gaucho Parrilla Argentina. Photo by Sally Quinn.

Lavianda

At Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, the lavender cocktail gets its name from the Portuguese translation. The lemony refresher Lavianda is formulated from lavender and coriander-infused gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and St. Elder Elderflower Liqueur.

The bar area is a gracious space for happy hour sipping and snacking. The half-price paquenos menu of small bites includes delights such as empanadas, camarones (jumbo shrimp) and chorizo sausage with fire-roasted peppers.

You’ll find fun drinks, too, like Cherry Pop (maraschino liqueur and vodka with sweet vermouth rinse); White Negroni (Lillet, gin and dry vermouth); and Practically Perfect (white rum, lime juice, simple syrup and guava juice).

The aroma of sizzling, wood-fired meats will entice you to stay for a mind-blowing full meal.

Lavender Bee’s Knees at Coughlin’s Law Kitchen & Ale House. Photo by Sally Quinn.

Lavender Bees Knees

Coughlin’s Law Kitchen & Ale House takes its name from the Tom Cruise movie, “Cocktail.” In the movie, Bryan Adams plays flair bartender Doug Coughlin who trains Cruise’s character. When asked questions, the reply was always: “It’s Coughlin’s law.” So, it makes perfect sense that the Mount Washington and Mount Nebo Pointe locations maintain an inspired focus on cocktails.

Their Lavender Bees Knees begins with chamomile-infused gin, lemon and lavender honey syrup. A dehydrated slice floats upon the foamy top for an inviting presentation. The drink is a twist on the classic Bees Knees. The Prohibition-era cocktail was named after the slang phrase of the time, meaning excellent, cool or awesome in today’s parlance.

The cocktail menu includes many more twists and turns with the likes of a Peach Margarita, Pickled and Bleu Martini, Bananas Frost Old Fashioned and Frozen Limoncello Poppyseed Spritz.