Visiting Pittsburgh: Where to Eat, Stay, & Visit | Pittsburgh has got to be one of our favorite cities in the US. Theres something for everyone: good food, museums, an art scene, a huge brewing culture, outdoor adventures, and the most beautiful skyline.
Having visited the city many times over the last few years and enjoying each visit more than the last, I wanted to put together this guide to help you enjoy your visit to Pittsburgh. While I am sure there is much more to do and eat, these are some of our favorites.
My husband completed his first masters in Pittsburgh and it was the first place he called home after leaving Bombay. Needless to say, Pittsburgh holds a special place in our family’s heart! When we were getting married, he made sure I wasn’t a super fan of any other football team, haha he wanted to make sure we would be a Steelers Family.
Heres our guide to traveling to Pittsburgh: places to eat, where to stay, and what to do.
PLACES TO EAT
- Pamela’s Diner: A Pittsburgh classic for great diner food, great for breakfast.
- Udipi: A must stop after a maunder visit: Our favorites in include the chole bature, rava masala dosa, and filter coffee!
- All India: Right near University of Pittsburgh this Indian restaurant is a no frills just great food eatery. We love their thali options along with their masala chai. Their Tandoori Chicken is so good.
- Mambo Italia: Come here for wood fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and an amazing ceaser salad. It’s BYOB (bring along some IC Lite Mango)
- La Gourmandine: Oh my goodness where do I start? Try EVERYTHING: We tried the almond, chocolate, and plain crossaints. They have a cheese and onion puff pastry that’s phenomenal. Don’t miss their eclairs and tarts either!
- Istanbul Grill: Fuss free medditeranean food that is full of flavor.
- Millies Homemade Ice Cream: Seasonal Ice cream flavors made with locally sources milk and eggs. I love their Lavender flavor!
- The Church Brew Works: Once a church, this space is now a place for house-brewed beers, a mix of pizzas, and pierogis.
- Nicky’s Thai Food: One of the best Thai restaurants we’ve had in the USA. SO flavorful – you can order different spice levels, Our favorites included the Basil Chicken, Pad Thai, and Lychee Twist.
- Patron Grill: Awesome Mexican food, endless salsa and chips, with huge drinks.
- Choolah: A fast casual Indian restaurant that serves bowls and wraps. Easy eats if your kid (or parents) crave a daily dose of Desi.
- Madeleine Bakery & Bistro: Great croissants + coffee. Try their seasonal sandwiches!
- Primanti Bros.: A Pittsburgh must have, colslaw with french fries in your sandwich with your protein of choice.
- The Vandal: Eastern European small plates plus coffee, brunch & breads.
- The Milkshake Factory: Handspun shakes and craft sundaes made with farm fresh dairy.
- The Standard: A great mix of elevated bar food, salads, sandwiches, and drinks. A great evening hangout spot.
- East End Brewing Company: This local brewery offers tours, a tasting room & house beers.
WHERE TO STAY
Our favorite place to stay is the downtown area of Pittsburgh. It’s centrally located and just a quick drive away from the sites that are not in downtown. We’ve stayed at the following hotels and have enjoyed our stays from rooms, service, to amenities.
- Westin
- Omni Wiliam Penn
- Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh
- Marriott Courtyard
THINGS TO DO
- Heinz History Center: 250 years of Pittsburgh history at the Heinz History Center, Pennsylvania’s largest history museum
- Visit Mt Washington: the most gorgeous views of the city; pro tip: go at sunrise or sunset
- Hike at Ohio Pyle: Check out Cucumber Falls & Bear Run
- Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History: This is Arya’s favorite museum. The dinosaur exhibit is a must. Such a great place to spend a day!
- Pittsburgh Children’s Museum: The best Children’s museum we have visited, floors of fun for kids and lots of visiting exhibits.
- Warhol Museum: Did you know Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh? This museum holds a permanent collection of art and archives from the pop art icon.
- Sri Venkateswara Temple: This gorgeous mandir is modeled on the temples in Southern India. It opened in the 70’s and is one of the most visited temples in the USA.
- Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: I can’t speak enough about this zoo. We have loved our visits here, its clean, well laid out, and the animals seem so happy!
- Point State Park: Such a gorgeous area to walk around during sunset.
- National Aviary: The only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the United States. See free-flying bird habitats and meet signature species.
- Fallingwater House: An award winning house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939 – about 90 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.
- The Strip District: Converted warehouses house a mix of old-style grocers, gourmet food shops, bars, classic Italian eateries and sandwich places.
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: A beautiful garden that appeals to both adults and kids. Check out the butterflies!
- Cathedral of Learning: a 42 story skyscraper that serves as the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus. Be sure to visit Dippy the Dinosaur!
- Duquesne Incline: Opened in 1877, the Duquesne Incline has been used to transport cargo and workers before roads were built. It now serves as a tourist attraction so guests can see the beautiful views of Pittsburgh.
- New Vrindavan ISKCON: Honorable mention as this mandir is only 65 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. This peaceful temple sits atop a mountain, surrounded by a lake, a farm, cabins, and wandering peacocks. We’ve been here a few times and always leave with such a sense of peace.
Have you been to Pittsburgh? What are your favorites there?
Love seeing this about my hometown! Try Prantl’s Bakery for their Burnt Almond Torte; Moio’s Bakery in Monroeville for amazing Italian pastries (close to SV Temple). And visit Kennywood sometime! One of the oldest amusement parks in the country, with a few good wooden roller coasters, a gorgeous merry go round, and potato patch fries 🙂