What do we know about Pittsburgh? It’s that city in Pennsylvania that used to make lots of steel, it has some major league sports teams and bridges at every turn (a whopping 446 in total). There’s also a dynamic creative and independent underbelly that locals and privileged outsiders know all about, alongside an unusual obsession with pickles.
Pittsburgh has another side that it would be remiss not to experience. For nature lovers there’s some of the most beautiful waterways with dramatic topography and the meeting of three majestic rivers that flow through the city. For food fans there’s world class culinary delights ready to sample and abundant microbreweries to test out.
There’s a thriving gallery scene for art seekers and its moderately sized downtown area means it is easy to navigate by foot, bicycle or scooter.
While da ‘Burgh has plenty to brag about it just gets on with life, letting other brassier cities vie for the limelight meaning it isn’t usually on the must-go-visit list of US cities for travellers.
Whether you’re seeking culture, food or nature, or in our preferred case all of three, and with new direct British Airways flights from the UK, now is the ideal time to go and seek out your new favourite US place.
ART AND CULTURE
For a small city Pittsburgh’s museums and galleries are first rate.
The Clemente Museum
Before visiting this awesome museum, that pays tribute to the late Pittsburgh Pirate baseball hero and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, we knew nothing about one of the most celebrated athletes in Pittsburgh’s sporting history, but having spent an evening exploring the exhibits (with its passionate and knowledgeable curator and museum owner Duane Rieder) we left as fans.
The fact that the museum’s basement is also home to a wonderful winery and members bar may well have helped too. This was a Pittsburgh highlight and well worth checking out.
The Clemente Museum is open by appointment only for guided tours.
clementemuseum.com
The Carnegie
The Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Music Hall, and Carnegie Library are all under one ornate roof. Spend a day there and don’t miss checking out the great collection of 20th-century paintings, the Hall of Architecture, and one of the World’s best dinosaur collections.
carnegiemuseums.org
The Andy Warhol Museum
“The idea is not to live forever; it is to create something that will.” Hey, you’re in Pittsburgh so a visit to the Warhol Museum is an absolute must. Set inside an old warehouse, this seven floor temple to the work of the native Pittsburgher and king of pop art is the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist, and houses thousands of iconic works spanning across, printing, drawing, photography, sculpture, film and floaty silver clouds.
The museum sheds a remarkable light on the pop artist luminary, his creative processes and his legacy. It includes many of his seminal works, such as the Brillo Box sculptures and Elvis paintings, as well as rotating exhibitions that deep dive into the collection.
Contemporary artists are showcased who continue to explore Warhol’s lasting connection and influence worldwide.
warhol.org
August Wilson African American Cultural Centre
This sleek modern venue, designed by global design practice Perkins+Will, celebrates the contributions of African Americans to culture, art, music and theatre, both regionally and globally.
Named in honour of August Wilson, the world-renowned playwright, this forward-looking, one-of-a-kind hybrid institution houses the first-ever permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and works of the Pulitzer prizewinner and explores his cultural impact in his home city and beyond.
The centre also offers multiple exhibition galleries, a 492-seat theatre, an education centre for classes, lectures and hands-on learning.
awaacc.org
The Mattress Factory
Located in the Northside district of the City, the provocative and immersive former factory is a gallery and experimental lab for living artists that hosts creative minds from around the world (as well as around the corner) to create site-specific installation art.
In addition to revolving installations created by artists-in-residence, you can explore the permanent installations and seriously boost up your ‘insta’ likes in the mirrored Yayoi Kusama ‘Infinite Dots’ room.
As ‘Natalie’ says in her 1 star review on Trip Advisor “If you like staring at an orange circle on a wall in a dark room, this place is for you.” Luckily we do!
mattress.org
QUIRKY
RANDYLAND – When in the Northside district visiting The Mattress Factory pop over the road and check out ‘Randyland’ where every square inch of this corner building is covered in painted recycled objects and retina burning psychedelic art. This ‘outsider art’ venue functions as a home and artist’s space that its creator, Randy Gilson, shares with likeminded creatives. It’s totally nuts, totally unique and totally ace!
BICYCLE HEAVEN – Over the course of 20 years, owner Craig Morrow, has gathered together – inside a two story warehouse – rare and unique bicycles to create a fascinating (and ever so slightly creepy) makeshift museum. Home to the bike from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and some very cool vintage BMX’s, this sprawling and eccentric display of 4,000 vintage bikes is part museum, part repair shop and part hoarder’s paradise.
bicycleheaven.org
PICKLES. What’s the big Dill? – Pittsburgh is obsessed with pickles; it has its own Pickle Beer, Pickle whiskey and Pickle cocktails as well as its own 3-day festival ‘Celebrate all things pickled at Picklesburgh’ which takes place every July. You won’t have to go far to sample a pickle-inspired delicacy.
picklesburgh.com
ON LOCATION – Pittsburgh has provided a backdrop for many blockbuster movies over the years. The city played a starring role in coming-of-age drama, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, as well as action thrillers, Jack Reacher and The Dark Knight Rises as well as the recent Amazon Prime release of ‘A League of Their Own’. So why not hit your favourite streaming platform to whet your appetite before you go?
STAY
EVEN Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown
Perfectly placed for wherever your mood takes you from Even Hotel it’s a five minute walk into the heart of downtown (and probably about a 15 minute stroll back courtesy of one of Pittsburgh’s multiple craft breweries and that last Pale Ale you had “for the road”). Located inside historic Kauffmann’s Building the hotel features a 24-hour fitness center and in-room ‘training zones’ that come with a foam roller, yoga mat, yoga block, exercise ball, resistance bands and training guides. The in-room fitness is a nice touch, meaning if you forgot to pack your gym-wear you can still squeeze in a workout in your pants (if desired). There’s also a communal ping-pong table too if you want to add a bit of cardio in the mix.
ihg.com
EAT
BREAKFAST – The Speckled Egg
If you’re feeling ambitious, go for the crab omelet. If this is too much for your morning sensitivities, don’t worry their ‘Millennial’ Avocado smash on toast is (almost) just as good.
thespeckledeggpgh.com
LUNCH – Walter’s Southern Kitchen
We weren’t expecting a Southern style BBQ joint in Pittsburgh, but we’re glad we found one in the hip Lawrenceville neighbourhood. Pulled pork, ribs, brisket and corn bread were all on point. The buzzing Austin feel is matched by a meat-centric menu – get a few plates to share and watch the BBQ masters at work. Craft beers from local heavyweights Brew Gentlemen, Grist House, Hitchhiker and Pittsburgh Brewing Company will help swill it all down.
walterspgh.com
DINNER – DiAnoia’s
Modern Italian fare? Fresh, homemade dishes? Relaxed casual surroundings? Amazing cocktails? We’re totally sold!
dianoiaseatery.com
ALL DAY – The Strip District
The Strip District is one of the coolest areas in Pittsburgh. Once a hotbed for manufacturing and shipping, the Strip is now a food destination unlike any other. The area may have become a mecca for tech companies like Apple and Facebook, but thankfully the heart of the district remains unchanged. Think of it as a cultural melting pot, filled with a plethora of gourmet grocers, wonderful delicatessens and hip restaurants… all on one taste-inspired street.
You can pick up homemade gelato, spicy tacos, Polish delicacies and refined, modern American cuisine within 50ft of each other. A great way of tasting your way around the universal flavours is by taking a ‘Burgh Bits and Bites walking tour. Led by a local guide you get to pop into numerous eateries and sample the wares. At least that way you can burn off some of those extra calories you’ll consume on the tour as you check out the rich history of the neighbourhood and its extensive range of markets and stores.
burghfoodtour.com
Primanti Brothers
Founded by Joe Primanti and his brothers during the Great Depression, the restaurant chain has made Pittsburgh famous for its iconic mammoth sandwiches. For this heart attack on a plate there is no need to order any fries or coleslaw on the side, because when selling to truck drivers (who need at least one hand on the wheel) Joe decided to toss them all together in the sandwich.
The sandwiches consist of grilled meat, cheese, sliced tomato, coleslaw and fries served between two hefty slices of Italian bread. Personally we didn’t care for it (we ordered wrong by choosing the ‘Pittsburger’) but fellow travellers swore blind that what they ordered was the best sandwich they’d ever had.
primantibros.com
DRINK
Pittsburgh is a city of 300,000 people, and almost 50 breweries. This place digs its hops.
Dancing Gnome Beer – Since its inception in 2016 this small brewery and taproom in the Sharpsburg area of the city helped put the Pittsburgh craft beer scene on the map with IPAs, Pale Ales and stouts worth seeking out.
dancinggnomebeer.com
Wigle Whiskey Distillery – American whiskey was born in Pittsburgh so where better to hit than this family owned and operated tasting room? Sample your way through the city’s whiskey-laden past including the opportunity to take in the story of the violent 18th century Whiskey Rebellion. Grab a classic cocktail in the bar, or even better, try the ‘Eau de Pickle’ whisky (trust us, it’s a lot nicer than it sounds) for a unique taste of Pittsburgh.
wiglewhiskey.com
This friendly and unpretentious city has plenty to see and do so for your next USA City break Pittsburgh should be near the top of the list.
What are you waiting for?
