Exploring the neighborhood; exploring Pittsburgh: a guide.
My nearby food place recommendations
If you want delicious, upper-scale soul food, this is the spot: a Wilkinsburg tiny gem.
LuLu's By Soulful Finesse
1027 Wood StreetIf you want delicious, upper-scale soul food, this is the spot: a Wilkinsburg tiny gem.
Straight-up, old-school-style soul food here, no frills, but still delicious, good for take out.
Soul Food Connection
819 Wood StStraight-up, old-school-style soul food here, no frills, but still delicious, good for take out.
Nancy's Revival
616 South AveAmong the best diners in the city, great for some comfort food.
Fireside Caribbean Restaurant
796 Penn AveBasic but yummy Jamaican cuisine, good for take out.
Istanbul Grille
1103 South Braddock AvenueNice Turkish place, their babaganush is excellent!
Excellent bakery, all their pastries are amazing, and pretty cheap. They also have nice sandwiches. Nice to order a pastry and seat outside.
18 locals recommend
Madeleine Bakery and Bistro
609 S Trenton AveExcellent bakery, all their pastries are amazing, and pretty cheap. They also have nice sandwiches. Nice to order a pastry and seat outside.
Try their cupcakes, they are super yummy! They also have outdoor seating, and it's quite close to the apartment.
BB&Bur Pastry Kitchen and Bakery
317 South Trenton AvenueTry their cupcakes, they are super yummy! They also have outdoor seating, and it's quite close to the apartment.
This is supposed to be Square One on 1137 S Braddock Ave, AirBnB messed this one up, oops. They have excellent vegan / vegetarian cafe, try the biscuit sandwiches!
My Goodness
This is supposed to be Square One on 1137 S Braddock Ave, AirBnB messed this one up, oops. They have excellent vegan / vegetarian cafe, try the biscuit sandwiches!
Thai Cottage
1109 S Braddock AveSolid Thai restaurant, their curries are decent.
For groceries
The only food co-op in Pittsburgh; a bit pricey but well worth supporting. A twenty minute walk from the apartment
37 locals recommend
East End Food Co-op
7516 Meade StThe only food co-op in Pittsburgh; a bit pricey but well worth supporting. A twenty minute walk from the apartment
Less than a ten minute drive away, doesn't get too busy in the mornings.
117 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
9020 Covenant AveLess than a ten minute drive away, doesn't get too busy in the mornings.
McBroom Distribution
1200 South Braddock AvenueDecent selection of beer, ciders, and hard seltzers. Always friendly.
The best wine and hard liquor place in the city. Not all that because wine stores in Pittsburgh are state-owned, but passes the bill.
18 locals recommend
Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection
5956 Centre AveThe best wine and hard liquor place in the city. Not all that because wine stores in Pittsburgh are state-owned, but passes the bill.
Bar culture
Probably my fave brewery in the city, mostly for the chill atmosphere (their beers are not bad either).
25 locals recommend
East End Brewing Company
147 Julius StProbably my fave brewery in the city, mostly for the chill atmosphere (their beers are not bad either).
Good beer selection and decent cocktails, plus yummy snacks. Try also Hidden Harbor next door if feeling like going for Tiki-style drinks.
30 locals recommend
Independent Brewing Company
1704 Shady AveGood beer selection and decent cocktails, plus yummy snacks. Try also Hidden Harbor next door if feeling like going for Tiki-style drinks.
divey but not quite a dive bar, cheap drinks, punk / reggae music, good but greasy bar food, nice vegan options.
39 locals recommend
Kelly's Bar & Lounge
6012 Centre Avedivey but not quite a dive bar, cheap drinks, punk / reggae music, good but greasy bar food, nice vegan options.
My favorite place for cocktails in Pittsburgh, draws a lot of the Pitt crowd.
23 locals recommend
Butterjoint
208 North Craig StreetMy favorite place for cocktails in Pittsburgh, draws a lot of the Pitt crowd.
Laid-back, quirky bar, ideal for wine and cocktails. Maybe my fave bar in the city.
48 locals recommend
The Allegheny Wine Mixer Inc
5326 Butler StLaid-back, quirky bar, ideal for wine and cocktails. Maybe my fave bar in the city.
My favorite food places in the city
Pricey but delish New American-style food. Try the heirloom carrots, they're great!
18 locals recommend
Fig & Ash
514 East Ohio StreetPricey but delish New American-style food. Try the heirloom carrots, they're great!
La Gourmandine
4605 Butler StThe pastries in this French bakery are to die for.
If you want to go vegan, this is the place to do so, with its inventive East European cuisine. Great cocktails too!
72 locals recommend
APTEKA
4606 Penn AveIf you want to go vegan, this is the place to do so, with its inventive East European cuisine. Great cocktails too!
This place is not out of this world, but I find its bistro-type food comforting. Try the moules frites if you are not vegetarian.
30 locals recommend
Point Brugge Cafe
401 Hastings StThis place is not out of this world, but I find its bistro-type food comforting. Try the moules frites if you are not vegetarian.
If you love Thai food and noodles, this is your place. Cheap but cash-only.
75 locals recommend
Noodlehead
242 S Highland AveIf you love Thai food and noodles, this is your place. Cheap but cash-only.
Delicious Taiwanese food, have no words to describe their stinky tofu.
21 locals recommend
Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33
1711 Shady AveDelicious Taiwanese food, have no words to describe their stinky tofu.
Lots of people prefer Millie's, but this is my fave ice cream place in Pittsburgh; it also has more options than Millie's and a couple of vegan options. For sorbet, go to Millie's.
FRIO Creamery
4127 Butler StLots of people prefer Millie's, but this is my fave ice cream place in Pittsburgh; it also has more options than Millie's and a couple of vegan options. For sorbet, go to Millie's.
Baby Loves Tacos
4508 Liberty AveBest non-traditional tacos in the city, good vegan options.
Best "authentic" Mexican tacos in the city. Not a fancy place at all, a bit off the beaten path, but worth it.
Las Palmas Tacos
1616 Broadway AvenueBest "authentic" Mexican tacos in the city. Not a fancy place at all, a bit off the beaten path, but worth it.
Tocayo Taqueria & Tequila
810 Ivy StFavorite upscale-y tacos in the city. Yummy guacamole!
Arts and culture
The name says it all. A place for enjoying some fascinating artwork and playing even. Check out their events, they often have wonderful artists playing there.
352 locals recommend
The Andy Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky StThe name says it all. A place for enjoying some fascinating artwork and playing even. Check out their events, they often have wonderful artists playing there.
The main arts museum in the city, worth checking out for their contemporary art shows and their collection of photography by Teenie Harris, an important 20th century Black photographer. Also check out the Natural History Museum next to it.
165 locals recommend
Carnegie Museum of Art
4400 Forbes AveThe main arts museum in the city, worth checking out for their contemporary art shows and their collection of photography by Teenie Harris, an important 20th century Black photographer. Also check out the Natural History Museum next to it.
My fave arts place in the city, specializing in art installations, including some nice Yayoi Kusama pieces. Go afterwards for a stroll in the Mexican War Streets and visit Randyland.
213 locals recommend
Mattress Factory Museum
509 Sampsonia WayMy fave arts place in the city, specializing in art installations, including some nice Yayoi Kusama pieces. Go afterwards for a stroll in the Mexican War Streets and visit Randyland.
An interesting art-deco-ish architecture piece that houses part of the University of Pittsburgh; it houses the Nationality Rooms, which represent different national cultures.
113 locals recommend
Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth AveAn interesting art-deco-ish architecture piece that houses part of the University of Pittsburgh; it houses the Nationality Rooms, which represent different national cultures.
Well worth the trek! This museum houses many unique music boxes and automatic musical instruments.
8 locals recommend
Bayernhof Museum
225 St Charles PlWell worth the trek! This museum houses many unique music boxes and automatic musical instruments.
An hour and a half away from the city, but perhaps the best arts-related experience in the area: one of modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright's most impressive architectural works. From there you can drive to Ohiopyle State Park, where you will find some amazing waterfalls and hikes. Probably the best park in a 2-hour radius from the city.
240 locals recommend
Fallingwater
1491 Mill Run RdAn hour and a half away from the city, but perhaps the best arts-related experience in the area: one of modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright's most impressive architectural works. From there you can drive to Ohiopyle State Park, where you will find some amazing waterfalls and hikes. Probably the best park in a 2-hour radius from the city.
The most prominent Black cultural center in the city; it often has great art shows and excellent music concerts.
10 locals recommend
August Wilson Center For African American History
980 Liberty AveThe most prominent Black cultural center in the city; it often has great art shows and excellent music concerts.
A fascinating museum of genetically modified "nature."
7 locals recommend
Center for PostNatural History
4913 Penn AveA fascinating museum of genetically modified "nature."
If you like photography, check out this place, they always have excellent exhibits!
6 locals recommend
Silver Eye Center For Photography
4808 Penn AveIf you like photography, check out this place, they always have excellent exhibits!
My favorite walks and hikes
The nicest park in the city, lots of fun paths to choose; the north-side is walking distance from the apartment, near Homewood Cemetery, which is also fun. From the north side you can take a look at where the Forbes Ave. bridge fell.
205 locals recommend
Frick Park
The nicest park in the city, lots of fun paths to choose; the north-side is walking distance from the apartment, near Homewood Cemetery, which is also fun. From the north side you can take a look at where the Forbes Ave. bridge fell.
Take the Monongahela Incline up to Mount Washington, where you can have a great view of the city and stroll around another of the cute neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.
226 locals recommend
Mount Washington
Take the Monongahela Incline up to Mount Washington, where you can have a great view of the city and stroll around another of the cute neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.
One of my fave places in the city for experiencing the wonders of the plant world. The cafe is top notch!
202 locals recommend
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1 Schenley DriveOne of my fave places in the city for experiencing the wonders of the plant world. The cafe is top notch!
Neighborhoods
Actually a small town, Wilkinsburg is where the apartment is located, on its eastern border with Regents Square. Wilkinsburg has been gentrifying rapidly, as many of the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, but you still don't see the "cool" new bars, businesses, and restaurants that are notable in trendy neighborhoods like Lawrenceville. It has many Black-owned restaurants, included here, and it's worth strolling down Lincoln Highway and checking out the Asian grocery store there.
Wilkinsburg
Actually a small town, Wilkinsburg is where the apartment is located, on its eastern border with Regents Square. Wilkinsburg has been gentrifying rapidly, as many of the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, but you still don't see the "cool" new bars, businesses, and restaurants that are notable in trendy neighborhoods like Lawrenceville. It has many Black-owned restaurants, included here, and it's worth strolling down Lincoln Highway and checking out the Asian grocery store there.
A lovely neighborhood, right to the west of the apartment; it has lovely trees, some excellent restaurants on its main crown, Braddock Ave below Forbes, and it also connects to Frick Park. I go walking and jogging around here all the time.
12 locals recommend
Regent Square
A lovely neighborhood, right to the west of the apartment; it has lovely trees, some excellent restaurants on its main crown, Braddock Ave below Forbes, and it also connects to Frick Park. I go walking and jogging around here all the time.