The 7 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of two neighbourhoods in the South Side of Pittsburgh, the South Side Flats is next to the Monongahela River and is a must-visit after dark. The area is centred around East Carson Street, a National Historic District of Victorian buildings packed with bars, music venues and cafes. Don’t miss cocktails at elegant speakeasy Acacia or, if you like things a little noisier, Jack’s Bar is the stuff of local legend for its noisy jukebox, pool tables and friendly staff.

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Brookline is a family-friendly neighbourhood crammed with restaurants, art galleries, great schools and two city parks. Kids will love the playground at Brookline Park and ice-cream sundaes at Scoops on the Boulevard. Meanwhile, grown-ups will be happy with the taco stall at Las Palmas Carniceria and artisan coffee at 802 Bean Company. And there’s also the legendary Pitaland, which draws crowds for its fresh pita bread and hummus.

The residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, in the East End of Pittsburgh, is known for its pizza spots like Aiello’s and Mineo’s, along with its diverse culinary scene. Movie buffs will enjoy visiting the Manor, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest movie theaters, which features a popular bar. Plus, if you love the outdoors, the neighborhood is sandwiched between Frick Park and Schenley Park, offering easy access to green space.

For its affordability, Bloomfield, also known as Pittsburgh’s Little Italy, is a favourite among college students, from local universities such as Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. Eat out at the revered old-school Italian restaurants plus, if you’re staying for long enough, try the local Thai and Vietnamese spots, too. This hip destination prides itself on Liberty Avenue, where you can rifle through classic vinyl records, pick up books by local authors or trade in and buy preloved clothes. Bloomfield also hosts a variety of popular annual events, such as parades for Columbus Day and Halloween, and Little Italy Days in August, where Liberty Avenue comes alive with vendors, Italian food and entertainment.

Lawrenceville, formerly an industrial neighborhood, has been transformed into a hub for innovation, creativity and nightlife. There are plenty of local retailers, cute breakfast and brunch spots, and a selection of places to grab a drink; Church Brew Works is the oldest brewery and draws in huge crowds with its unique space in a historic church. For entertainment, catch a show at Row House Cinema – a single-screen theater that picks movies based on a weekly theme – or head down to the Arsenal Bowling Lanes.

Strip District, aka the Strip, is foodie heaven. Start the day with a classic breakfast at Pamela’s or grab a coffee from some of the best coffee shops in town, such as La Prima and 21st Street Coffee, where they brew Intelligentsia beans using a variety of trendy techniques. Meanwhile, lunch could take you anywhere, from fish at Luke Wholey’s to spicy tacos at Edgar’s, before the evening is rung in at Wigle Whiskey, which makes a variety of organic grain-to-bottle spirits, and Maggie’s Farm, which distils award-winning rums.

Come to Shadyside to gawp at the Victorian-style mansions that line Fifth Avenue. Green space and parking are considered a premium in the neighborhood, but Mellon Park is just around the corner and offers a beautiful open space with a walled garden and various sports fields and courts. As for cuisine, Shadyside has it all – from casual dining like Stack’d, which serves great burgers, to fancy eats such as Casbah or Soba for upscale Asian cuisine. Elsewhere, shop until you drop on Walnut Street, featuring high-end retailers to eclectic locally owned stores. One of the biggest attractions in Shadyside is the Jams on Walnut, summer concert block parties, which draws thousands of people to the neighborhood.

Siobhan Grogan contributed additional reporting to this article.