Why Pittsburgh is primed to surprise

If you haven’t been to Pittsburgh before or it’s been a while sinceyou visited, it’s time to take another look. The erstwhile industrial town isnow on the cutting edge, where a new generation of tech, robotics and medicineprofessionals have helped redefine the area.

Pittsburgh’s unique cultural experiences  reflect the region’s longstanding embrace of innovation. One thing never changes here – a sense of warmth and friendliness, which you will find from the moment you exit the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Here are some of our favorite ways Pittsburgh is serving up the cool and unexpected for young travelers.

Restaurants

Pittsburgh remains known for thesignature sandwiches at Primanti Brothers,laden with French fries and coleslaw, but there are other amazing placesfeaturing international flavors and down-home cooking.

In the Strip District, Novo Asian Food Hall offers everything fromTaiwanese to Vietnamese to Korean food, with great drinks at Novo Bar. In themood for shrimp or fish? Roland’sSeafood Grill is a Strip District institution increasingly drawingvisitors to enjoy signature dishes like mussel pots and lobster mac and cheese.

In Bloomfield, the city’s best pies are at Spak Brothers Pizza – you won’t believe thispizza is gluten free. Fantastic Thai food and fun cocktails await at Pusadee’s Garden in Lawrenceville, whichfeatures outdoor seating and vegetarian and vegan options. Eastern Europeanrestaurant Apteka,features an all-vegan menu and has been named one of the nation’s top 50restaurants by the New York Times. Apteka elevates traditional ethnic fare likepierogies, which Pittsburgh has adopted as a trademark dish, and the borscht isa standout. It is located across from St.Mary Catholic Cemetery.

For breakfast any time of day, sample theoutstanding omelets at Ritter’sDiner, but be advised – this family-owned favorite only takes cash.Or satisfy a sweet or savory craving with crepes at Cafe Moulin.

Nearby Nordic seafood restaurant FET-FISK opened in March 2024 after running a series of hugely successful citywide pop-ups since 2019. Sample the fresh ricotta curds and red velvet beet cake.

In Lawrenceville, Umami Izakaya is a Japanese pub with great drink and appetizer deals during happy hour and perfect sake and spirit flights to pair with ramen or rice bowls.

A center for the arts

From its famous pop art native son, Andy Warhol, to the very latest in avant-garde concepts, Pittsburgh embraces the unexpected.

The Andy Warhol Museum is a must-see. Watch theshort film Fifteen MinutesEternal, which tells the artist’s life story, then use theBloomberg Connects app to take an interactive tour of the museum. Contemporaryart museum Mattress Factory is a great follow-up. You canexperience entirely different styles at this place named for its originalpurpose — warehousing mattresses for manufacturer Stearns and Foster.

For music, visit free banjo night at the Allegheny Elks Lodge or catch a show at ThunderbirdCafe & Music Hall.

The Pittsburgh Banjo Club sponsors theElks Lodge sessions on Wednesdays from 8 to 11 p.m. – while entry is free, foodand drink are cash only. Meanwhile, Lawrenceville’s Thunderbird is known forfeaturing up-and-comers and established acts like Grammy-winning bass guitarvirtuoso Victor Wooten, and every seat in the house is surprisingly close tothe stage. The Funhouse at Mr. Smallsprovides an amazing aesthetic experience, housed in a 200-year-old formerCatholic church. The Millvale club welcomes an eclectic array of indie bands,and drinks and entry prices are quite reasonable.

Love classical, jazz or piano music?After performances, members of the PittsburghSymphony Orchestra sometimes hop across the street to jazz bar con alma for impromptu jams.

For anyone looking for free entertainment plus a bite to eat, theno-charge Allegheny County Summer Concert Series at Hartwood Acres invites a rotating lineup oflocal food trucks.

Reinvented neighborhoods

The hallmarks of Pittsburgh’s historiccharm are all around, but the city has reinvented formerly industrial neighborhoods  into more modern spaces that are worthvisiting.

Sitting northeast of downtown andfeaturing loads of riverfront real estate, Lawrenceville is a throwback to the Steel Citypast that has adopted a more boho feel. Trendy bars like New Amsterdam and AlleghenyWine Mixer dot Butler Street, and visitors can catch lively dragshows at Blue Moon.Art galleries and antique boutiques make fun daytime destinations.

South Side Flats, sitting south of theMonongahela, has seen a boom in housing and nightlife, plus an influx ofstandout ethnic restaurants. Locals love walking and biking on Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Big DogCoffee has the best joe in the area, and BirminghamBridge Tavern boasts excellent wings.

Shadyside, smack in the center of the city,has evolved from a mostly residential area to a more commercial location closeto the Universityof Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University.It used to be known as Pittsburgh’s Greenwich Village, but the vibe has becomemore mainstream and less counterculture. It also claims the commonwealth’s onlywooden street – Roslyn Place, a cul-de-sac off Ellsworth Avenue. Shadysideplays host to fun weekend shopping and music popups, too.

A few miles from downtown, Bloomfield(aka Pittsburgh’s Little Italy) has experienced a glow-up. It once sat amid thecity’s early glass and steel mills and provided a home to many Sicilianimmigrants. Now, many of those old buildings have been rebuilt. Liberty Avenuehas loads of restaurants featuring authentic dishes from around the world, andthe walkable neighborhood features a fun coffee/vinyl shop in Long Play Café, also called Rosie’s Records.

Friendship, a neighborhood often includedwith nearby East Liberty and once known mostly for its Victorian homes, hasundergone a renaissance in the past 15 years. It has become more walkable andattracted emerging businesses like Duolingo,which established its headquarters there in 2016. May’s FriendshipFlowers & Folk Festival is a don’t-miss.

Regent Square is another walkable placeon the East Side. Situated near Frick Park and housing charming shops andrestaurants, the neighborhood’s Irish roots shine (it also puts on uniqueannual events such as Run Aroundthe Square.) Recent addition Stay Gold,an independent bookshop, is a new favorite with a distinctive pink storefrontyou can’t miss. Nearby 3 Rivers Outdoor Co. sells outdoor gear andhosts high-energy outdoor- and running-themed events.

A championship-caliber sports experience

Pittsburgh’s civic pride is always on full display, and its sports teams have given it a lot to be excited about. From the excellent fan experience at its world-class venues to the infectious energy of fans in its sports bars, it’s easy to get swept up when you visit the City of Champions.

The six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium (formerly known as HeinzField) on the Allegheny River. Right next door, the Pittsburgh Pirates hostgames at PNCPark, where you can catch a perfect view of the downtown skyline.The Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of five Stanley Cups, compete at PPG Paints Arena, located downtown. The majorsports venues are steps away from the Platinum LEED-Certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center or a shortwalk over one of the Three Sisters Bridges, a trio of self-anchored suspensionbridges spanning the Allegheny River.

With both the Steelers and Piratesstadiums residing there, the North Shore is the place to find sports fansduring the season). Grab a drink at SouthernTier Brewing Company, which also has regular concerts and bingonights, or go duckpin bowling at Shorty's Pins& Pints.

Incredible outdoor experiences

Pittsburgh’s natural spaces are a greatattraction for young, active travelers. City parks, the confluence of rivers,and wooded surroundings reflect the growth of the city. Allegheny Landing is a riverfront sculpturepark and one of the city’s most-photographed locations. Boating on the city’sfamed three rivers is a  treat – take the Gateway Clipper or, for a special occasion,charter a tiki boat from Cruisin’Tikis Pittsburgh.

Schenley Park, located between Oakland and Squirrel Hill, includes 456 acres oftenoccupied by students from Pittsburgh’s major universities. nearby Duquesne University and University of Pittsburgh. It has a golfcourse, beautiful overlook and,  offersswimming in the summer and ice skating during the winter months. Across theMonongahela River, 257-acre Emerald View Park is a rehabbed space thatincludes sports fields, picnic areas and playgrounds. Frick Park, bordering the other side ofSquirrel Hill, is the area’s largest park at 644 acres and has a wonderfulplace to see birds at Clayton Hill. Watch for cultural events such asShakespeare in the Park.

An event for every taste

A packed event calendar, from annualevents to weekly markets, means there’s always something exciting to do rightaround the corner in Pittsburgh. April’s free Art All Night has showcased the city’s bestartists, musicians and films for nearly three decades. May’s Millvale Music Festival has more than 300 actsacross almost 30 stages, including some spoken word and comedians.

Summer brings more fun. MattressFactory’s annual Garden Party, a June fundraiser, includesseveral stages of musical performers and food from more than a dozen localrestaurants. The ThreeRivers Arts Festival features 10 days of free exhibitions in thecultural district. The PittsburghRenaissance Festival, held in nearby Newton over six weekends eachsummer, features sword swallowers, jugglers and, of course, turkey legs. Afour-day celebration of all things pickle in July, Picklesburgh offers attendees music andpickle-themed gifts in addition to pickle gelato, pickle pizza and pickleeating contests.

Late summer’s 10-day motor sportsfestival, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, includes avintage car race. Another free event, September’s Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival,highlights world-renowned performers, including Maysa and Chris Coles’ NineLives Project featuring Sean Jones.

As summer turns to Fall, look for two ofPittsburgh’s most entertaining festivals. Barrel &Flow supports the opportunity and artistry of the black community,and has been named by USA Today as America’s favorite brew fest two years in arow. And the PittsburghIrish Festival celebrates the rich Irish history and traditions inthe city, featuring everything from musical acts to authors to Irish familytree tracing.

From May to September, hit up weekly farmer’s markets in Squirrel Hill, East End,North Side and Carrick. During the holidays, the Peoples Gas Holiday Marketwelcomes local vendors and food sellers to downtown Pittsburgh. Betweenshopping for stocking stuffers and posing with Santa, get in a few spins aroundthe ice skating rink. And don’t forget local churches that hold bazaars andfestivals throughout the city every time of year – “yinz” will get a great taste of the friendlyculture that makes Pittsburgh so appealing.