My Christmas Stay at the Omni William Penn
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This holiday season, I decided to plan a quick overnight stay in Pittsburgh to stay at the beautiful Omni William Penn located in the Cultural District downtown. I really love Omni properties especially around the holidays. They decorate their lobbies so beautifully. Years ago, I lived in Asheville and regularly visited the amazing Grove Park property. This resort hosts the most incredible gingerbread competition each year. If you are traveling through Western North Carolina, I highly recommend checking it out. The historic Bedford Springs property is another to put on your must-see list.
I had dined at The Terrace Room several times during the holiday season while living in the ‘Burgh a few years back and figured I would plan an overnight stay now that I am living in the Cleveland metro. It was a quick 2 hour roadtrip and I love traveling around the holidays to explore different traditions.
Not only is this hotel really gorgeous with extravagant decor but it is also located within walking distance to the theater district and the city’s iconic PPG ice rink. I have always wanted to see The Nutcracker and figured this would be the perfect year to do so since my hotel would be within walking distance. Despite living in Chicago for over 20 years, I never made it to the famous Joffrey ballet. Also, there is a lot of festive fun downtown this time of year, all easily walkable from this property. It’s a great value this time of year (we scored a room for under 200 bucks).
The gorgeous lobby
This hotel’s lobby is exceptional. While living in the ‘Burgh, I planned a few daytrips just to soak in the festive decor and enjoy brunch in the beauty lobby restaurant. There is a giant Christmas tree with twinkling white lights and red and green ornaments. It’s hard not to feel the Christmas spirit in the air as you step into the lobby and see beautiful garland and wreaths everywhere. It’s immaculately clean and perfectly decorated: you can’t help but getting into the holiday spirit.
One of the highlights which was new for this year was a gorgeous gingerbread replica of the property with a train going around it. The piece is very detailed and artistic: a beautiful addition to brighten up the holidays. This added a whimsical touch to the overall display.
We loved sipping coffee in the lobby while playing Scrabble (my travel edition comes in handy!). There is an on-site coffee bar and bakery although hours are a bit limited. On a side note, the coffeebar transforms into a holiday pop up called Glitzmas; unfortunately it was closed during our visit. I saw a sign in the hotel about a Valentine’s pop up – I might have to come back for another stay this February!
Seeing a show at the beautiful Benedum Center
Despite living in the city a few years back, I never made it to any shows. The city frequently ranks amongst the most artsy so this was a bit of a lost opportunity. After seeing the wonderful Nutcracker production, I wish I would have enjoyed a few more shows while living in close proximity. The show was amazing (the dancers were so talented) and we enjoyed a pretty good view despite buying the cheapest tickets.
Considering I live a quick 2 hour roadtrip away, I wouldn’t mind booking tickets to Wicked (opens in mid January 2026) or Beauty and the Beast (opens in late February 2026). I recommend taking a look at the Benedum website for upcoming productions.
Before the show, we stopped at one of our favorite restaurants in the city, Chinatown Inn. I love Chinese food especially around the holidays. This is one of the city’s older restaurants and the only surviving in what’s left of Chinatown. The food is really delicious and I love the ambiance. A big beautiful fish tank greets you as you walk in. The dining room is dim and romantic and I love the seasonal touches.
As for the food I recommend the veggie fried rice, lo mein, vegetable lettuce wraps, spring rolls, and egg flower soup.
Dining at The Terrace Room
One of my favorite places to enjoy breakfast in the city is the beautiful dining room inside this hotel. My first time dining here I mistakenly ordered the buffet. I recommend ordering off their breakfast menu for a better experience. The menu is a bit small, but offers a nice mix of savory and sweet choices which should satisfy picky eaters. We went with a veggie omelet and malted vanilla pancakes. Other interesting menu items I noticed included: spinach and toasted quinoa bowl, crushed avocado toast, and a sweet potato cereal bowl.
Both were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. I really loved the potatoes and the blueberry topping for the pancakes. They were so good you didn’t need any extra syrup. The coffee here is also amazing – no need to go elsewhere.
We enjoyed endless refills while taking in the beautiful decor all around us. On another positive note, our waiter was one of the nicest we have come across in a long time. Not only was he friendly and personable, but he also told us to stop by anytime later in the day for a free coffee.
The Terrace Room also serves weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. As early risers, we appreciated the convenient breakfast hours (6:30am-11am). The lunch and dinner menu both look decent enough, however, we opted to dine at some of our favorite local restaurants including Zuppa (a great local soup and sandwich cafe).
On-site, you will also find The Tap Room sports bar and The Palm Court serving light appetizers and drinks in the lobby.
Walkable to holiday festivities
One of the biggest perks of staying here is walking to the festive ice rink at PPG rink. I’ve been ice skating for many years and this is one of my favorite rinks. There is a big tree right in the center, along with festive lights and music. It’s much more fun skating at night with all the lights, but on this particular trip we only had time for a daytime skate. It was insanely cold outside but a lot of fun and skating does work up a sweat!
It’s a bit pricier than other city rinks I’ve visited, starting at $12 for admission and $5 for skate rentals. Fortunately, I brought my own skates to save a few bucks. Even better, a nice guy came up to me and gave me one of his tickets because one of his family members did not show up. Thanks to whoever this is!
Another great holiday tradition you may want to check out is Spirits of Giving Around the World. This will not take up much of your time but it is conveniently located just across the street in Two PPG Place. At this annual exhibit, you can look at interesting Santa traditions and representations around the world. It’s a good stop if you are interested in the holidays and history. Hours are a bit limited (Mon-Fri from 6:30am-5pm). It’s free and runs from mid January through the New Year.
There are a number of restaurants near the rink including Primanti Brothers which is a local chain known for stacked sandwiches with tons of meat, cheese, and even french fries!
Overall, I would say that this hotel is a great choice if you love holiday decor or you are seeking a great 4 star property walkable to the theaters. Really, you cannot go wrong either way. You can check their website for special promotions and full restaurant menus.
