West Art took over the former St. Peter's United Church of Christ on Buchanan Ave in 2023, when West End neighbors Josh Gibbel and Rufus Deakin turned 15,000 square feet of church into an art bar and music hall. Touring acts roll through its two stages — David Ramirez and Low Cut Connie's Adam Weiner have both played here, some shows co-presented with WXPN. Between concerts it runs Drink & Draw, mahjong and chess nights, and SPiLL, the monthly LGBTQ+ social. The coffee bar pours Nostalgica, roasted a few blocks away on Grant Street. Catch a show in the Sanctuary if you can — stained glass over a stage is a hard combo to beat.
Zia Maria splits the difference between old-world Italian eatery and full-on pub, sitting off Route 222 in Denver, halfway between Lancaster and Reading. The Victorian-style pub side runs twenty drafts — one of the deepest draft lists in the area — right next to the red-sauce dining room. Friday and Saturday nights bring live bands and DJs, never a cover. On game days, claim the 80-inch screen in the pub or take the outdoor deck, which seats dinner and parties all week. Come for the beer wall, stay for the pasta.