Palm Palm is a vibrant small plates restaurant located in Shadyside near East Liberty. The restaurant, the second venture from the folks behind Ritual House, aims to blend the vibes and food from Palm Beach and Palm Springs, along with nods to other cuisines from around the world.
With good flavor combinations in the dishes, tropical-leaning cocktails, and coastal vibes, the spot has a feel-good ambiance that's sure to draw crowds.
One of our favorite on-the-water activities is kayaking. But when it comes to kayaking around the Point, we could never make the logistics work. When we were free, the river would be running too fast, or it would be abysmally hot.
Then, Kayak Pittsburgh closed its rental location next to PNC Park to work on an upgraded dock near the convention center, which opened in the summer of 2025.
So we resolved to check this one as soon as it opened, and we are really glad we did- this kayaking launch site is a dream come true!
When it comes to enjoying fields of sunflowers near Pittsburgh, we have to admit that we're quite spoiled. Between the many farms open to get photos within a field and others open for pick your own bouquets, you really have a number of options to get out and see these gorgeous flowers in southwest Pennsylvania.
But there is one caveat- most of the fields require a bit of a drive outside of the city.
In this one, we wanted to share a few fields you can visit as well as give you an idea of costs and their respective opening dates as these flowers can have quite a limited blooming period!
Note: We are updating this article for 2025 dates and pricing as they become available, but note that many listings still include 2024 information. Please reconfirm at the farms directly via their respective links below as prices, dates, and times are liable to change based on bloom progress. Most of the farms below are cash only.
If there is one thing we want more of in Pittsburgh, it would be more amenities on the rivers.
Yes, we have great bike trails and numerous boating opportunities to get out on the water, but it often feels like businesses (like restaurants) and public spaces to relax along the shores are lacking at times. With three rivers, we would love waterfront amenities everywhere you look.
So when Riverlife announced that they were bringing a new concept to the Allegheny River in 2025, called Shore Thing, we were in. Not only was this one set to be a space for everyone to get out and enjoy the views of the water for free, but they went one better- it is built on the water!
We went to this one on opening day and loved it so much that we returned the next day for more. It is just that good.
Pittsburgh's regional grocery store scene leaves a lot to be desired, we have to admit.
Thankfully, we have a lot of international grocery stores in the region that fill in the gap and provide unique food options that you may not get at a conventional grocer (with many at prices at, or better than, our local chains!).
So in this one, we thought we'd take a look at ten international grocers that have some of our favorite selections in the city. Whether you're looking for Asian, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, or Eastern European, we've got you covered in this one!
When it comes to music institutions in Pittsburgh, it feels like we've sadly lost many to history.
But there is one musical experience in Pittsburgh's North Side that still exists to this day, and that is the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. Founded in the 1980s, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club has become a beacon for banjo lovers to play together. Even better? Their Wednesday night practices take place weekly at the Elks Lodge #339 on Cedar Avenue starting at 8 pm, and is completely free for visitors to attend!
Free live music from a Pittsburgh institution? You'll get just that with the Pittsburgh Banjo Club!
It doesn't take much to find great music in Pittsburgh. From our thriving theaters in the Cultural District to numerous concert venues and one-off events at businesses all over the city, you really don't have to go far to find good music.
But finding free music, and perhaps more importantly, recurring free music can be a bit harder.
So in this one, we thought we'd share some great recurring concert series that are worth checking out. Some are on a year-round schedule, others are seasonal, and even more are on select nights that change weekly or monthly. But the one thing that ties them altogether- they're free!
Note: Please reconfirm all schedules prior to visiting as performances are prone to change. The days of the week and/or months featured below are representative of historical schedules only.
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings got its start in Flushing, New York, a few decades ago and has since garnered a huge following, expanding to multiple locations in several states. Needless to say, the opening of a location right here in Pittsburgh created a huge initial buzz and anticipation.
We visited soon after opening and enjoyed the fun vibe, the variety of soup dumplings on offer, and several of the non-dumpling menu offerings.
Ever since Whitfield closed at The Ace Hotel (now the Maverick Hotel), we've been looking forward to a new spot that would be a worthy successor.
In 2025, Hey Babe opened and had a menu that made us think this could be the place, and we went in as quickly as we could to check it out.
On the surface, Hey Babe feels like a proper hotel lounge, with a robust menu of craft cocktails, wine, and beer. This alone would put the bar in the running for one of the best hotel bars in the city. But throw on their robust food menu as well, and this is the kind of place you can go for drinks, food, or a little bit of everything and not feel out of place- for guests of the hotels and locals alike.
To put it bluntly, Hey Babe has just about everything we look for in a good cocktail bar.
Sometimes we want to get out and explore Pittsburgh without spending a lot of money. Other times we want to get out and enjoy the city without spending any money at all.
While entry fees for attractions and experiences are commonplace, there are thankfully many great free things to do in Pittsburgh that you may want to consider when you want an activity that doesn't break the bank.
So in this one, we thought we'd share a few of our very favorite ideas to help you get exploring without having to bust out your wallet!
Please note: As of publishing, the below attractions are all completely free to visit; however, you may require to pay for parking at some locations depending on when you visit. These locations will be noted accordingly. Some attractions may also require advanced reservations and many have donation boxes available near the entrance. If you are able, tipping a little bit goes a long way to help keep these attractions open to all!