10 Pittsburgh Date Ideas

Pittsburgh is a city known for sports, bridges, and scenic views. While most attractions are crowded with lots of tourists, families, and big groups, there are a number of romantic destinations to consider if you are seeking something to do that is both fun and low-key. Whenever Mike and I tire of the family crowds at the zoo, more often than not, we opt for a cozy morning coffee or a quiet afternoon at one of the city’s beautiful museums.

We have had no problem finding things to do together in this underrated city. In my guide, I have included budget friendly date ideas that will run you no more than 30 bucks.

Take a stroll around the Carnegie Museum of Art

The Museum of Art receives much less foot traffic than the adjacent Natural History museum. While I love both museums (and you receive entry to both for one price), the art museum is the more quaint choice for those looking to enjoy a romantic afternoon.

The museum houses over 34,000 pieces of wonderful artwork including a large section dedicated to iconic impressionist artists like Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne. This is my favorite section of the museum, but I love exploring the entire collection.

Other highlights include a mesmerizing Hall of Sculpture and a Hall of Architecture featuring 140 plaster cast replicas of iconic monuments. Check out more highlights from the collection before your visit.

After your stroll, I recommend enjoying a cozy coffee date at The Cafe Carnegie

Tip: If you are a Bank of America cardholder, you will receive free admission the first full weekend of any month. Check out the Museums on Us promotion for more details. We use this fabulous deal all the time!

Ice skating at the North Park Ice Rink

I love ice skating at a real outdoor rink during the winter season and this city offers no shortage of great rinks. This is what i love most about the city – you do not need to hide in the house all winter. Ice skating is one of our favorite things to do as a couple at least once in the weeks leading up to Christmas (although I much prefer skating to Mike). While the downtown rink at PPG Place is fantastic, it’s pricey, always crowded, and usually requires advanced online registration or a lengthy wait. Also, parking is a hassle to find and there are not many good restaurants in the area.

The North Park Ice Rink, on the other hand, is just 5 bucks for admission ($6 for non residents) and $2 for skate rentals. The rink is NHL sized and never overly crowded. The setting is gorgeous with beautiful trees comprising the backdrop. Benefits include no loud music (outside of the festive Christmas season), hot cocoa and coffee for sale inside, and easy access to numerous local restaurants in Wexford (I recommend Zuppa’s Deli, a local gem which serves excellent soups and sandwiches).

Enjoy a cozy cup of coffee at Mel’s Petit Cafe

The ‘burgh is a really great coffee city – I have a hard time choosing which coffeehouse is best as they are all fantastic in different ways. Mike and I start most of our weekends out by enjoying a cup of joe and pastry at a local coffeeshop. Many of the popular places like Mediterra receive lots of traffic which means it can be a little difficult to enjoy a date let alone a conversation.

Mel’s Petit Cafe is located in a quiet section of Mt. Lebanon, an upscale suburb in the South Hills. The setting here is very quaint, and thus, this cafe attracts more couples than families. Here you can enjoy a savory or sweet crepe, delicious coffee drinks from local roaster La Prima, and homemade bakery treats. The presentation is nice and the ambiance clean and refined. Mike really loves their coffeecake.

Two other local cafes I recommend are: Cafe Moulin and Margaux. Cafe Moulin serves great crepes in a beautiful dining room. I recommend the Tivoli, featuring cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, spinach, and pesto. Margaux is an upscale coffeehouse serving a full espresso menu, specialty pastries, and breakfast entrees. I recommend a delicious almond croissant.

Take a stroll along the North Shore Riverfront Path

A long walk along this beautiful downtown riverfront path will allow you to take in some of the most beautiful city vistas in the metro. For me, Pittsburgh’s skyline is tied with Chicago for best in the country. It’s truly amazing and I never tire taking in the views from the Duquesne Incline, Mt. Washington, and this beautiful bike path. We love taking bike rides here during the summer season: the temps are usually great for biking and there is always some event in the area we can attend on any given weekend. Picklesburgh has been one of my favorites thus far.

From the iconic yellow Clemente and Warhol bridges, to the gorgeous skyline, and Point State Park (the meeting place of the Three Rivers) you will see some of the city’s most impressive sights via this 7 mile walk. Attractions along the way include a Mr. Roger’s memorial, Water Steps fountain, and The Andy Warhol Museum (the pop art is amazing!). This is a tranquil place to take a walk – assuming there is no event or game going on.

Get back to nature at Phipps Conservatory

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city in exchange for a walk around this urban nature oasis. With over two dozen gardens to explore, the Phipps Conservatory is a great urban escape, especially on a rainy or cold day. Highlights include a large 14 room glass house. I really love the tropical, fern and desert gardens, as well as the year-round orchid room.

I’ve visited a lot of great conservatories around the U.S. and this one, although quiet small, is really nice. I also love the colorful glass blown art sculptures from iconic artist Dale Chihuly. Seasonal flower shows and special holiday events keep things interesting all year-round.

Enjoy a sweet treat at Mediterra Bakery

For the best homemade pastries in the city, look no further than Mediterra. This upscale bakery specializes in farm-to-table breakfast fare, artisan breads, and the most decadent sweet treats. From croissants, to danishes, to cookies and cheesecakes, you can find just about anything here to tempt your sweet tooth. Best of all, they always offer new treats along with the changing seasons, from a Pumpkin Crumpet (pic above), to an Egg Nog Danish.

I really love everything I’ve tried here with their danishes being my favorite. Mike loves their cinnamon rolls and says they are the best he’s ever had. In terms of entrees, I always order the wonderful Shakshuka.

The coffee is easily amongst the best in the city and the ambiance is just perfect for a classy date. Visit in the morning at the quieter Sewickley location to ensure a peaceful experience. Note: Even though this cafe is considerably less crowded than the Mt. Lebanon location, it can get busy fast.his place can get busy fast. I recommend getting here right at opening and preferably during the week for the most peaceful experience.

Play with cats for a good cause at Cats N’At

Spending time at a cat cafe is a great way to find new adoptable kittens or simply donate to a good cause. Cat cafes have become more popular across the US since the opening of the first cafe in Oakland (Cat Town) back in 2014. At Cats N’At, you will pay a small cover charge ($8 pp) that goes towards the maintenance of the facility (which is beautifully decorated with cat art, cat trees, and cat furniture).

You will get a half hour to play with/observe the cats. There are teaser toys and treats to keep the cats entertained. Even if you do not decide to adopt, you will feel good knowing that your donation went towards providing care to needy kittens.

Update: I also love Kitty Cat Queen Rescue (in fact, this is the place we come to at least a few times per month now). It’s by far the best cat cafe I’ve ever been to. I recently adopted the most beautiful orange tabby here. The facility is great and the people who work here really dedicated to cat welfare! Highly recommended!

Take a cruise along the Three Rivers

Gateway Clipper offers a number of picturesque cruises where you can enjoy the urban scenery in a comfortable climate controlled setting. A cruise is a wonderful alternative for those who want to enjoy the pretty skyline scenery without completing a lengthy walk or bike ride.

Cruises operate year-round with outdoor seating in the summer months and a cozy heated indoor deck available in the winter. Specialty cruises include holiday, dinner, and dance parties. A special 21+ wine tasting cruise is a perfect date night activity! We took a really fun Halloween cruise last year. On the one downside, there was a lot of people smoking outside which sort of dampened the overall experience.

Check out more pics from our cruise

Go Retro at Pinball Perfection

For any couples into old-school gaming, Pinball Perfection is the ideal date destination. Here you can play over 300 different pinball games, ranging from the 50’s-90’s. The museum really is a blast to the past. Along with pinball, you have arcade bowling, stand up arcades, skee-ball, foosball, and more. The collection of Star Wars and Star Trek machines is quite impressive.

You will find lots of classics here including Back to the Future, The Addams Family, and The Empire Strikes Back. Best of all, you can play to your heart’s content for just $15. I feel like it is a much better value than Dave and Busters for anyone into arcades. We love to leave the cell phones at home for a while and enjoy the temporary jump back in time to the heyday of pinball!

Brunch at the Terrace Room at the Omni William Penn

This beautiful resort in the downtown Cultural District offers a brunch buffet on Saturday and Sundays. Pricing is high ($27 pp) although the selection is fantastic, service is great, and the ambiance is beautiful. Highlights include an omelet station, assorted breakfast pastries, fresh cut fruits, and unlimited coffee, tea, and juice. I prefer to order a la carte as I find the food much better but the choice is up to you.

If you are willing to pay the high price tag, the food is great and the atmosphere perfect for a special occasion. I love visiting over the Christmas season – this hotel puts up the most gorgeous holiday decor! Last season, we enjoyed a delicious brunch here and then went ice skating: it’s the perfect winter date combo!

Update: Mike and I recently booked a room here to enjoy easy access to The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center and we really loved the overall experience. Seriously, this hotel decorates marvelously for Christmas. On our trip, we ordered the most delicious Malted Vanilla hotcakes served with blueberry compote. The menu changes frequently, but if you see these on the menu, I recommend splurging.

More fun date ideas in the ‘Burgh

Take a peaceful walk at a park – There are a number of great parks right in the city. Check out my favorites for a gorgeous stroll.

Sign up for a class at Painting with a Twist – A unique date night experience where you paint and drink wine. No art related skills required.

Plan a fancy meal – Sure, there are a lot of pubs and breweries in the city, but really there is something for everyone. In terms of romantic dining, you can’t beat Monterey Bay Fish Grotto for the views. However, it’s pricey, so if you are looking to stick to a budget, it’s probably out. A great alternative downtown is Christo’s, a long running Greek place. We also love Pasha Cafe (Mediterranean), Ditka’s (Steakhouse), and The Porch on Schenley (American).

Be dazzled at Liberty Magic – Be entertained at a fun magic show on the street where Harry Houdini performed death defying stunts in 1916.

After Dark at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Explore one of Pittsburgh’s top museums after dark. Admission is limited to those 21 and over to ensure a more peaceful experience.

Treat yourself to a hot chocolate at Coffee Tree Roasters – Coffee Tree Roasters has many convenient locations across the city. They serve great coffee in an upscale setting. Also, they are known for their specialty drinks including a decadent white hot chocolate. Perfect place for a winter cocoa date. I like the cozy, quiet Mt. Lebanon locaiton.

All-you-can-bowl at Arsenal – This trendy bowling alley is the perfect destination for date night. Bowling is all-you-can-bowl for one price ($10-20 depending on day). Special themed nights are 21 and over and include 80’s/90’s night, craft beer night, and rock n’bowl.

Good Fridays at The Warhol – On Fridays, from 5-10pm, The Warhol Museum offers half price admission. Enjoy a DJ and cash bar.