We asked, residents answered. What's your favorite...
...cocktail spot?
Acacia, South Side Flats – great speakeasy atmosphere, rotating and innovative craft menu, and made-to-request concoctions for people looking to try something off the beaten path.
-Roger Klein, PGY-6
Tina’s, Bloomfield – great drinks, and vibe. Cocktails reasonably priced around $12-13 and many small plate options. This spot wouldn’t be out of place in one of the bigger cities on the East coast. Recommend the Lion’s Tail.
- Noah Krampe, PGY 3
Allegheny Wine Mixer, Lawrenceville – Was this bar named after the Catalina Wine Mixer joke in Step Brothers? They can’t legally say but the energy is similar and if you wanted to get up and sing “Por Ti Volare” late on a Saturday night I’m sure they would accommodate. The wine list is usually great and the bartenders are about as unpretentious and helpful as they come, and IMO the cocktails are pretty great too. They have fun snack specials like fondue and fancy hotdogs and also happen to be right across the street from Pusadee’s for a very fun date night.
- Will Daly, PGY-5
Unspeakable, Lawrenceville – it’s hard to beat the behind-the-bookcase vibes, but their cocktails run the gamut from dressed-up classics to Vietnamese-inspired creative masterpieces
-Roger Klein, PGY-6
Lorelei, East Liberty – A really unique place. 3 former storefronts in with huge windows overlooking East Liberty. The corner is a bright, sage-green cocktail bar with tables on the street, the middle is an ethereal coffee bar with excellent spiced lattes, and the end is an alpine themed beer hall with wood-fired pizza (looks great, haven’t tried it yet!). They have an ever-changing cocktail selection with unique flavors I haven’t seen elsewhere. Herbal forward. Every August, they run a special Alpine Tiki theme that transports you to warmer places. Their lattes are my favorite in Pittsburgh so-far, too.
- Trevor Fachko, PGY-1
Grand Concourse in Station Square. They have a great happy hour with awesome food and drink deals. Historic location, right on the river.
- Chris Owen, PGY-2
...restaurant?
Dish Osteria, South Side Flats – a neighborhood spot tucked amongst houses in Southside, this spot has some of the best Italian food and cocktails in the city. Small, and intimate it’s perfect for a date night or a nice meal with your family. Everything on the menu (drinks and food) are 10/10.
- Noah Krampe, PGY-3
Pusadee’s Garden – an upscale Thai-fusion restaurant located in the up-and-coming area of upper Lawrenceville. You may dine either inside or outside, and their gem of a garden is actually a gorgeous courtyard nestled in the center of the restaurant. I always recommend trying the 17-ingredient salad, which is bursting with flavor and unlike any salad you’ve ever had. Reservations can be difficult to come by, but if you line up outside for walk-in seating before they open at 5pm, you can always snag a table.
- Katelyn Carty, PGY-4
Morcilla, Lawrenceville – a great tapas restaurant tucked into a narrow, brick-walled rowhouse in Lower Lawrenceville. Dark and moody inside with cured ham hocks hanging above the bar and window view into the kitchen. Every dish I’ve had is excellent, but I especially recommend the anchovies, octopus with a tahini/brown butter/ chermoula sauce, and the beef short ribs with whipped horseradish labneh. Reservations recommended, but they occasionally have availability for walk-ins at the bar.
-Trevor Fachko, PGY-1
Italian spots: Alla Famiglia- classic Italian, shareable plates, but pricey. La Tavola – BYO on Mt. Washington. Cenacolo is my absolute favorite but it is very far east of the city. Dish in southside, see Noah's response. Di Anoias in the strip – amazing too, very popular.
-Ben Peticca, PGY-1, half Italian
Long Story Short, Lawrenceville. All of the above are better restaurants overall (and I have some other favorites closer to that level – Umami, Soju), but sometimes you just want a beer and a burger (or a meatball mac and cheese melt) after a long day, without having to worry about a reservation. This has been that spot for me. They serve Cinderlands beer (some of the best in the city), make some pretty good cocktails, and serve up casual fare (love their loaded tater tots) at a reasonable price. Not the one place you should go during your single day in Pittsburgh, but a place I love as someone who lives here.
-Parker Holum, PGY-1
...brunch place?
Mediterra, Lawrenceville/Sewickley/Mt.Lebo - A PGH favorite that carries hot brunch specials, housemade pastries and breads galore, and a whole host of premade carry away items/cheeses. I love their rotating cereal milk lattes, Danishes, and the quiche but I don’t think you can go wrong.
-Andie Quinn, PGY-4 (agreed, -Ben)
Thyme Machine, Bloomfield - This is not a brunch place so much as a stand on the side of the road but if the purpose of brunch is to heal you after a long night (on call or at the klerb) then this has fit the bill for me many times over. They make my favorite breakfast sandwiches as well as tasty bevs and donuts and on a nice morning you get to see a broad swathe of the Pittsburgh community standing in line.
- Will Daly, PGY-5
Square Cafe - delicious crab cake Benedict, and fun frozen drinks. I used to go after rounding at Mercy and Shadyside with my chief when I was a junior and have brunch together! Now I take my family when they come to visit.
-Peyton Skupin, PGY-5
...day trip?
Ohiopyle State Park is a super popular outdoors/hiking area about 1.5 hours from the city. There are lots of easy, fun hikes, rafting, and swimming during the summer. I recommend going with a group of friends/co-residents.
-Chris Owen, PGY-2
...place to get pizza?
Driftwood Oven in Lawrenceville. A bit pricey but worth it. I’ve had the Bianca and chicken pesto pizzas, and they were so good. The restaurant is down the block from my apartment, so it’s super convenient to call in a to go order and walk over to pick it up. Lawrenceville is a great area to walk around with tons of shops and restaurants to peruse. It is also a very dog-friendly neighborhood!
-Nada Lelovic, PGY-2
Alta Via Pizzeria in East Liberty. It’s part of the Bakery Square complex that has access to a bunch of indoor and outdoor seating, and their celiac-friendly gluten-free pizza dough is the best around. I have yet to try a pizza of theirs I didn’t like.
-Roger Klein, PGY-6
Pizza Lupo in Lower Lawrenceville. Fantastic Detroit and thin crust pizza with unique and delish toppings. They are a game night fave for me! They make dough fresh daily and when they are out, that’s it. So get your pizzas early and enjoy around the game table all night!
-Andie Quinn, PGY-4
...coffee spot?
Delanie’s Coffee in Shadyside is right around the corner from my place, has great coffee and coffee-based drinks so it was one of major places my wife and I planned our wedding. The ambience is perfect!
-Fola Laditi, PGY-3
Centred in Shadyside. It’s 100 yards away from Shadyside hospital and has phenomenal takes on common specialty coffee drinks. For example, they have the best PSL you’ll ever taste, a delicious maple sugar latte, and good cardamom-based beverages. Their non-coffee offerings and pastries are also a step above most coffee joints.
-Roger Klein, PGY-6
Latte Lane in Cheswick. As a girlie who will drive 30+ minutes to try coffee shops throughout the larger Pittsburgh area, Latte Lane is worth the (15ish min) drive. They have 800million flavors, solid snacks/pastries, “lotus” energy drinks for non-coffee folks, and a seasonal joke coffee menu to knock your socks off. If you’re the type of person who would like to drink the next Taylor Swift album as coffee, this is your place. My perfect Sunday morning involves an iced coffee at Latte Lane, bakery treats from Oakmont, and the Brunch Wrap Supreme from Taco Boys as I work my way home from Cheswick.Time to get on my level, folks.
-Andie Quinn, PGY-4
Happenstance Cafe in Lawrenceville. I’m biased because it is only blocks away from my house but it is emblematic of why I love living in Pittsburgh and Lawrenceville. It's in an old row house, has a great patio, and a very nice upstairs space to relax and enjoy your latte. They have great brunch and surprisingly good lunch and dinner food. The owner is so nice and wanted to open a cafe that stays open into the evening, so they also serve wine and beer and have a great happy hour.
-Parker Holum, PGY-1