La Bodega Taqueria is one of those places that we absolutely love to discover in Pittsburgh.
We did not know this one had opened up right on the heart of East Carson Street in South Side, and only stumbled upon it while driving to meet friends for drinks at Acacia a few blocks away.
In the brief seconds it took us to drive by, we knew where we had to end up for dinner after, and a short while later we made our way down the block for some delicious, delicious Mexican food.
The Pittsburgh Glass Center has been a hub for all things glass art and glassmaking in Friendship for several decades now, and in 2024 the facility recently upgraded its facilities in a beautiful expansion.
While you may be familiar with this one for its numerous glassmaking classes on offer, this one has come together to be a facility that is three spaces in one. One part museum, one part artist space, and, of course, one part for glass classes for the public!
So be sure to plan an afternoon visiting this one to check out their museum-caliber exhibits, tour the facility, and take a class!
In recent years, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium was known for hosting the Asian Lantern Festival for a night-time walkthrough amongst beautiful, massive lanterns.
In 2024, this changed as the zoo did not bring the show back for another year. Instead, the zoo announced a new show for the holidays, known as Wild Illuminations, that would be a similar experience to the lantern fest- with a holiday twist.
Naturally, as fans of the Asian Lantern Festival we had to visit this one on opening weekend to see what it is like!
We are always of the mindset that Pittsburgh needs more wine bars and bottle shops, and, thankfully, our wine scene is improving with each passing year.
In 2024, Lawrenceville's wine scene got a new addition- Solera Wine Co.
Not only is this one a wine bar offering an array of wines by the glass, but it also offers an on-site bottle shop, small bites, and a modest cocktail program, too!
Go for a glass, leave with a bottle? We're okay with this.
We've often wanted more local options at Pittsburgh International Airport, and whenever a business with a local connection gets announced, we visit it as soon as we can the next time we're at the airport.
Beercode was no different, and this gastropub took over the former Bar Symon space right in the heart of the airside terminal.
True to the name, this one is focused on all things beer and has a rather impressive lineup of local brewers alongside some national favorites.
As you likely know, southwest Pennsylvania has a rich heritage in the whiskey industry, with the production of the acclaimed Monongahela Rye, the Whiskey Rebellion taking place nearby, and more.
This history can be seen all over the region, and perhaps one place that shows it off the best is none other than West Overton Village in Scottdale- just a few minutes off the turnpike in the Laurel Highlands.
This museum does an excellent job at showcasing village life in the 1800s, highlighting the growing whiskey trade around the Old Overholt brand, and even has a connection to the steel magnate Henry Clay Frick, too!
So head down to the Laurel Highlands during their seasonal operating hours to check out this gem of a museum.
In Pittsburgh, if you hear the word Battleship, your first thought may not go to a war-time vessel of the seas, but, instead, a loaded hoagie full of cold cuts.
But the Swissvale-based Triangle Bar does not just offer any hoagie. True to its name, the famous Battleship sandwich clocks in at over two feet in length and joins other naval-themed sandwiches for an impressive lineup of exceptionally large sandwiches.
After driving past this one on many trips over to Kennywood, we decided to stop and see what the tirangle-shaped bar and deli is all about.
When an event brands itself as “a most curious bi-annual market,” we can safely say our interest is piqued. When that event is the Allentown Night Market, typically taking place on a Saturday night in June and October, after our first visit we knew we had to visit every time.
“Most curious” is an understatement here!
So whether you're into the off-beat, macabre, or simply want to check out what is new in this fun corner of Pittsburgh, the Allentown Night Market evenings should be on your radar.
It appears that Butler Ballooning ceased operations in June 2025.
We've been fortunate enough to take a hot air balloon ride in Tanzania, and we always wondered what a flight in the Pittsburgh region would be like.
In 2024, we got to find out that Butler Ballooning opened up just north of the city to provide sunrise hot air balloon rides high above Butler County.
We were guests of Butler Ballooning to check out what a flight is like shortly after this one opened, and we have to admit, this one is quite the experience well worth getting up early for!
As budding pinball fans, we decided to start checking out places to play pinball in Pittsburgh. Over time, one spot came recommended to us again and again- the Pittsburgh Pinball Dojo in Bellevue.
This modest pinball hall features two rooms loaded with roughly 50 machines, all set to free play mode after your initial ticket fee, and, best of all, is BYOB and BYOB friendly!
So on one rainy Friday night we made our way over to the dojo to check out a free play night and we have to say, we can understand why this one is so popular.