The Big List of Must-Do’s in Pittsburgh
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
The best local food & drink
The foodie scene continues to expand throughout the ‘Burgh. Today, you can find many diverse options across the culinary board. Pittsburgh is most famous for pierogies, the Primanti sandwich (now a chain with 40+ locations in PA, WV, and OH), the Pittsburgh salad featuring fries as a topper instead of croutons, and Eat N’Park (a long running family diner).
Primanti Bros. – Iconic sandwich stop which started as a food cart in The Strip District in 1933.
Chinatown Inn – Sole standing restaurant in Pittsburgh’s historic Chinatown. Great food and ambiance.
Iron Born Pizza – The only place to enjoy authentic Detroit style pizza!
Mercurio’s – Excellent wood fired pizza and gelato in a neighborhood setting.
Choolaah – Fast casual Indian restaurant serving specialty bowls. Lots of GF and vegan choices.
Dorstop – Popular diner featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. Great burritos!
Forgotten Taste – Low-key joint serving a variety of homemade pierogies, both sweet & savory.
Pasha Cafe – Delicious Mediterranean fare served in a colorful dining room. Great patio! Amazing falafel!
More great restaurants in Pittsburgh
Enjoy a cup of joe
Pittsburgh is one of the nation’s best coffee cities. In fact, it is home to one of the highest number of coffeeshops per capita. Here are a few of the best independent coffeehouses.
Mediterra – Upscale bakery, cafe, and coffeehouse with several locations. Serves delicious pastries (best Danish & cinnamon rolls), coffee, breakfast, and artisan bread. Try the Shakshuka for breakfast.
Defer – Hipster coffeeshop featuring funky artwork and brick walls in The Strip District. Great coffee and pastries (try the Green Tea Matcha bread).
La Prima – Long running Italian roaster in The Strip. Amazing espresso. Located next door to an Italian bakery.
Commonplace – Popular coffeehouse with 6 locations in the metro. Enjoy the beautiful leafy patio at the Mexican War streets cafe. Great coffeecake!
Margaux – Upscale coffeehouse serving top notch coffee and pastries in a big airy modern space.
Coffeetree Roasters – Chain coffeehouse with consistently good coffee at each location. Bonus points for the clean ambiance and free refills!
For history buffs
Mr. Roger’s Memorial – Downtown’s North Shore Riverfront Park is home to a Mr. Roger’s memorial. If you were all a fan of the show, you’ll want to stop by.
The Strip District – Former home to factories and mills, now a hotspot for dining and events. Lots of local galleries, coffeehouses, ethnic grocers, and sports stands are found in this thriving district.
Schenley Park – Large city park home to hiking trails, a historic carousel, the Phipps Conservatory, a winter ice rink, and over a dozen tennis courts. Great city views and lots of annual events. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Point State Park – Downtown park marks the joining spot of the Three Rivers. Highlights include natural trails, a gorgeous seasonal fountain, nice river views, and easy access to the bike path.
Mexican War Streets – Historic tree-lined neighborhood lined with row houses. Home to Monterey Irish Pub – the city’s best Irish restaurant and Commonplace Coffee.
Allegheny Commons Park – Est. in 1867, it is Pittsburgh’s oldest park. Located in the beautiful Mexican War Streets neighborhood. Highlights include a lake, various memorials, and public art pieces. Also home to The National Aviary.
For sports buffs
Western PA Sports Museum – Dedicated to PA sports teams. Great place for history & sports buffs.
Steelers games – Cheer on 6 time Superbowl champs, the Steelers, at Heinz Field (now Acrisure).
PIrates games – Cheer on 5 times World Series winners, the Pirates, at beautiful PNC Park.
Get back to nature
The Pittsburgh metro is home to many parks. It’s easy to find a great place to jog, hike, bike ride, snowshoe, cross country ski, and simply relax in nature. I enjoyed using these parks all year-round.
Moon Park – Spacious park in suburban Moon Township. Highlights include multiple tennis and backgammon courts, basketball hoops, picnicking shelters, hiking trails, and baseball fields. Love this park – I lived 5 min away and used it several times per week – a beautiful place with great tennis and hiking trails.
Robin Hill Park – Several miles of quiet rustic wooded trails – little traffic. Great leaf peeping.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium – Home to 4000 animals. Highlights include a large aquarium and underwater polar bear viewing.
Falls Run Park – Small park in Glenshaw featuring a nature trail and 18 foot waterfall.
Racoon Creek State Park – One of the largest PA state parks. Home to an ancient mineral springs.
Tom’s Run Nature Preserve -The best place to hike in the metro. Gorgeous 3 mile wooded trail (super colorful during autumn).
