Club Cafe in Pittsburgh's South Side is a unique performing arts venue in that it is incredibly small, yet attracts some of the best up-and-coming musicians there are.
So when the guitarist of one of our favorite bands (Chris Eldridge from the two-time Grammy nominated Punch Brothers) came into town to perform with one of his closest friends (guitarist Julian Lage- Grammy nominated for the Best Contemporary Jazz album), we bought tickets in a heart-beat.
Caliente Pizza and Draft House is a Bloomfield favorite that is known for popular Pittsburgh pizzas, nationally award winning crusts, and a tap list that includes a decent selection of local Pittsburgh beer.
But as this one is a pizza place at its heart, we had to visit to check out their critically acclaimed pies to see what the fuss is all about.
In a neighborhood where it would seem almost impossible for a business to be hidden away, especially one that serves alcohol, the South Side cocktail bar known as Acacia is just that.
Ringing true to their speakeasy theme, this spot should be on your list of places to seek out in the city if you are in the mood for a superb drink.
If you can find it, that is.
Picture a dive bar in your head. Now give it a performance space. Swap the Yeungling and Bud Light on the bar for beer from the likes of Draai Laag (now known as Strange Roots) or Full Pint. Oh, and picture the kitchen giving up the traditional burger and fries for Sicilian pizza.
Got it? Good.
This is Spirit, the multi-floor bar, performing arts venue, and Pittsburgh pizza shop located just off the main drag of Lawrenceville in an old Moose lodge, and it is exactly like what you're envisioning.
Row House Cinema is a unique neighborhood movie theater located on Butler Street in Lawrenceville.
The theater shows a wide range of films with themes that change every week, and its connection with next door Bierport makes it convenient for bringing craft beer with you into the movies.
We recently made a trip to see Fences and really enjoyed our afternoon as this intimate theater.
Golden Pig is a hole-in-the-wall Korean joint in Cecil, PA, that has pretty much everything you'd expect from such an establishment: super welcoming owners that will treat you like one of the family, delicious Korean food made from scratch, and an abundance of kitschy pig knick knacks located just about everywhere.
When it comes to getting out into nature, we love the great outdoors and will do everything we can to find a unique hike regardless of how rigorous it ends up being (which has gotten us in trouble a few times if we are to be honest).
But we know that this level of exertion is not always for everyone, and sometimes you just want to get out somewhere for an easy stroll or bike ride. For those who seek out this kind of outdoors experience, The Panhandle Trail (a converted rail trail) is for you.
One of the biggest complaints we hear about taco joints in Pittsburgh is that they are, for lack of a better term, overpriced. Throw in the premium of downtown Pittsburgh and it is pretty fair to say that you have a hard time getting a decent taco in the area without breaking the bank.
So when Condado Tacos, a Columbus-based budget taco restaurant, invited us to check out their first Pittsburgh location right in the heart of downtown, you knew we had to go. Thankfully, we have to say that this one comes in to fill that void with more appealing prices, roughly $3-$4 per taco, meaning you could walk away with a full meal for under $15 per person quite easily.
When it comes to restaurant dining in downtown Pittsburgh, we'll call that a win.
The Holiday Inn Pittsburgh North Shore shocked us, there is no other way to put it.
This budget friendly hotel in Pittsburgh's North Side offers a perfect location to the city, PNC Park, and, the one thing we did not know about before our visit, an incredible view of the Pittsburgh skyline!
There is something about a barbecue shack on the side of the road that just gets me excited.
You don't need a fancy restaurant, a unique ambiance, or even real seating to be a good barbecue joint in Pittsburgh. So when you find one that is literally just a small building with a window to order from, two picnic tables, and a portapotty outside, you know something good is going on.
At Rowdy BBQ, you get just that.