24 Hours In Pittsburgh

So many people request travel guides to Pittsburgh and I honestly can't believe I have never done one! I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and except for 4 years at James Madison University in Virginia, I have always called the 412 home. I know this city like the back of my hand!

I figured I would do a 24-hour guide every once in a while. There is SO much to do so I want to give you guys little doses of Pittsburgh so whether you are coming for one day or one week, you'll have great ideas and information from a local. With that said, the food in Pittsburgh is phenomenal and I'm highlighting only a few restaurants in this post, so browse this if you want to read more about restaurants in Pittsburgh that I love. There are also a lot of different neighborhoods that deserve exploring so for now, I'm going to focus on downtown/strip/Lawrenceville but in the future, I'll highlight other areas, too.

Also, I'm assuming this is a Saturday, so keep that in mind, too!

Where to Stay:

Hotel Monaco or the Omni William Penn. There are a lot of other hotel options downtown, too, but these two are my favorites! They are both right next door to each other and centrally located in downtown Pittsburgh. From here, you'll be able to get anywhere by walking or taking a quick and inexpensive Uber ride. Not to mention, downtown is also easy to get to and from the airport (on the weekends you won't have to worry about rush hour traffic).

Hotel Monaco is trendier and more modern and has a smaller, boutique hotel feel. There is a restaurant, The Commoner located downstairs as well as a rooftop bar (weather permitting) called The Biergarten.

Omni William Penn is more of a Pittsburgh historical icon and has a bigger hotel vibe to it. If nothing else, you must stop into their lobby to see how beautiful it is! There is an elegant restaurant, The Terrace Room in the lobby as well as a lobby bar. You can also have afternoon tea or head to The Speakeasy in the basement for prohibition-era cocktails. There is also a Starbucks conveniently located inside of the lobby!

Morning

I would head to the Strip District. It is within walking distance from the two hotels that I recommended and is one of my favorite areas in all of Pittsburgh. This area is the best on weekend mornings. There are two major streets in the Strip District that you'll want to walk along: Smallman Street and Penn Avenue. There, you'll find open-air markets, food carts, ethnic food stores, adorable coffee shops, cute boutiques and more. 

Coffee: I would first stop at La Prima Espresso which is, in my opinion, the best coffee in Pittsburgh. Their original location is in The Strip District and you will feel as though you have been transported to a small town in Italy. Snag a bag of their coffee to take home with you, you won't be disappointed! 

Once you have your coffee, you'll be ready to stroll along and wander in and out of stores. The Strip District is very much an experience in and of itself. Knowing that you are visiting and won't be doing any cooking or grocery shopping, I'll share a few favorites that aren't food-based are Grandpa Joe's Candy which is a nostalgic candy store that has any candy imaginable. My favorite part, though, is the $5 candy box. There is a wall of loose candy and for $5 you can fill the box to the brim with whatever you want. I do this every single time I'm in the strip! My second favorite is Roxanne's Dried Flowers. It is the most beautiful shop filled to the brim with incredible dried flowers, arrangements, and small gifts. Another great stop is Pennsylvania Libations. This liquor boutique offers free tastings and is stocked to the brim with different liquors that have been created right here in Pennsylvania... many in Pittsburgh! And lastly, if you are as in love with antiques as I am, Mahla is one of the best in the city and chock full of incredible pieces. 

Breakfast: All that walking and I'm sure you have worked up an appetite! I have two suggestions for breakfast/brunch. The first is Smallman Galley which is one of my favorites. It's a chef incubator where there are 4 different 'restaurants' under one roof. Kind of like a cafeteria but much cuter. There's a bar and a coffee bar, too, so they have everything. It's casual and you order at the counter. The food is SO good. Home is our favorite! 

My second recommendation would be a diner-style restaurant called Pamela's. There is often a line/somewhat long wait for breakfast on weekend mornings, so you might want to go early and put your name in. Pamela's is a staple for Pittsburghers and is known for its crepe-like pancakes. They are out of this world and if you go, that is what you should get! I also love their lyonnaise potatoes and sometimes I will get the tex-mex omelet. 

If it's getting close to lunch or the afternoon and you're looking for a spot to stop and enjoy some wine or a cocktail, check out Kingfly Spirits, a distillery, or Pittsburgh Winery. 

Afternoon

Lunch: So now you've worked up an appetite for lunch. There are two Strip District options I would recommend. Dianoia's for some incredible Italian fare in a very bright, pretty setting, or get into Pittsburgh's roots for a no-frills lunch at the original Primanti Brothers.

Dianoia's is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city so if you don't go there for lunch, I'd suggest it for dinner (make a res and get the gnocchi in the bread bowl...trust). Their food is phenomenal and you just can't go wrong there. For lunch their meatballs are incredible, they have great Aperol spritzes, and oh my goodness their sweet Lebanon bologna sandwich is heavenly.

Primanti's is famous and definitely a 'touristy' spot. It's about as casual as you can get (they don't even serve the sandwiches on plates) but this is 'the Pittsburgh sandwich' that's famous for having fries and coleslaw on the sandwich. It's an acquired taste and I LOVE it. I'd honestly only recommend going to the Primanti's in the strip. There are tons of other locations but if you're going to do it, go to the original and if you go, order a sandwich, don't get anything else- it's the sandwich you are going for, otherwise, it's not worth going. If you had gone to Pamela's for breakfast, I would skip Primanti's and vice versa just because that's a lot of greasy food for one day, ha!

Now that you have a full belly, let's move on to activities! If it is a museum you desire, we have tons. My favorites are the Carnegie Museums. There are 3 and they are in different areas of the city. You will have to pick one and spend the afternoon there! My personal favorite is The Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History (you'll need to uber or drive from Strip District/downtown). I could spend the entire weekend at this museum. They have incredible works of art as well as a lot of interactive things, too. This is great for children and adults of all ages. It's located in the Oakland area which is where The University of Pittsburgh is, so afterward, I suggest walking around the beautiful urban campus. If time permits (it might not, the museum will suck up your afternoon), you'll definitely want to go inside of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning. It truly looks like you stepped into Hogwarts and is just all around architecturally beautiful. They have Nationality Rooms throughout the cathedral and they are so cool to see. They are basically classrooms that are designed with different nationalities in mind.

If you are looking for a snack, head to either Dave and Andy's for a scoop of homemade ice cream and a freshly made cone (cash only) or have a true Oakland experience at The Original Hot Dog (the dirty O as Pittsburghers call it). It's a hole in the wall but wow are their hot dogs and fries incredible! 

Evening

Ok, let's head back downtown to your hotel. You're likely tired and ready for a rest after walking a lot of steps! After you relax, get dolled up and head for rooftop cocktails at Over Eden in Lawrenceville, which is a rooftop bar in the Tryp hotel. The sweeping views of the city and delicious craft cocktails will have you appreciating the city's skyline. 

Have time for one more cocktail? Head to Grapperia which is a tiny, cozy Italian cocktail bar that specializes in grappa and amaro. Not your thing or bar too full? Head to Round Corner Cantina for delicious margaritas! If it is nice outside, you must sit on their patio (which you have to walk through the restaurant to get to). 

Dinner: Ok this is the dinner you have been waiting for- literally because you have to make a reservation at least several weeks in advance. This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh... drumroll, please... Poulet Bleu! It's located in Lawrenceville and is about as traditional French food as you can get- the best French food in Pittsburgh, in my opinion. This will be a long dinner so plan to relax and enjoy. Pro tip: order the soufflé before you order your dinner so you'll have it come out perfectly in time for dessert (believe me, you are going to want to order the soufflé). Besides the food being excellent, they have a great selection of cocktails, wines, champagnes, etc. and the interior design is drool-worthy. I liken it to being in a Nancy Meyer's movie. Everything about this restaurant is perfect. It is pricey, so just be aware! 

Afterward, are you looking for a nightcap? The Speakeasy in the William Penn is cozy and close to your bed, as is The Commoner's bar!