Downtown

Space Bar Review – Exploring the Cosmos with a Cocktail

Pittsburgh really is becoming a space city, and the molecular mixology cocktail bar, Space Bar, will help everyone explore the universe- with tasty libation in hand.

Located right in the heart of Market Square (aptly referred to as the holodeck when onboard), the cocktail lounge is the resident bar of the SS Oasis ship which travels distant worlds and services locals of the various systems visited with tasty cocktails- some familiar, some simply other-worldly.

We were fortunate enough to visit this one many times since they opened in the fall of 2023, and share some updated thoughts of what you can expect in this one!

Disclaimer: We are friends with the owners of Space Bar, provided consulting during start-up, and attended a preview event at opening. We have also purchased the cocktails discussed below outside of these instances. As always, all opinions are our own.

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Spork Island Trading Company Brings Tiki Vibes Downtown

We love tiki drinks, and when we heard that Spork Island Trading Company was opening up as an immersive tiki bar in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, we had to go right away.

This one combines a beautiful ambiance with a robust tiki menu and is helping convert Penn Avenue downtown into quite the cocktail hub.

So, let's dive in and share a bit of our experience from opening night in this one!

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Butcher and the Rye Review – Whiskey and Modern Cuisine

Butcher and the Rye is a whiskey bar and meat-forward restaurant located in downtown Pittsburgh in the heart of the cultural district. Shuttered during COVID, the restaurant recently reopened with a revamped menu. The massive wall of whiskey remains the focal point of the space, while the food is perfectly designed to pair with the spirit-forward drink list.

We made it in to Butcher and the Rye during their re-opening week and were happy to see that the space still has multiple dining nooks acoss each of its levels, creating a cozy and intimate feeling. We were seated on the second level in front of the den-like library complete with a giant stuffed black bear. The menu matches the vibe – think bourbon-focused cocktails, dry aged meats, lots of game dishes, and other hearty fare.

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Okane Sushi Review – Omakase Dining in Downtown Pittsburgh

As big fans of all things Japanese cuisine, we have been thrilled to see many higher-end restaurants open up in the city serving sushi and other regional specialties.

Okane in downtown Pittsburgh is one such restaurant, and focuses on a prix-fixe omakase experience with 16 to 20 courses. We have had many omakase dinners like this during our travels in Japan, and it is one of our favorite dining styles to try chef-curated bites over the course of an evening.

So we booked a reservation for my birthday and made our way downtown to try this one out shortly after it opened!

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First Look at Arts Landing in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District

After 22 months of construction, the highly anticipated Arts Landing in downtown Pittsburgh had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 17th, 2026- just ahead of the NFL Draft.

As we have been eagerly looking forward to this park, I made my way down to the Cultural District to check out Arts Landing during the event and was pleasantly surprised at the space, amenities, and, of course, art!

So let's share a first look at what you can expect at Arts Landing!

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Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food Review – Fast Casual Downtown

When looking for a new restaurant to visit downtown before a Pittsburgh Penguins game, Yaba's Middle Eastern Street Food, just across the street from PPG Paints Arena, caught our attention.

A fast casual, build-your-own bowl and wrap concept focusing on Middle Eastern flavors? All at a reasonable price? Sign us up!

As it turns out, this restaurant, tucked away on the second floor of an assuming building near the stadium, packed a punch. If you're in the mood for a quick and reasonably priced Middle Eastern meal while downtown, Yaba's is worth the stop.

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How to Get the Most Out of Light Up Night in Pittsburgh

In Pittsburgh, the start of the holiday season is not ambiguous.

It is not after Halloween when department stores put out Christmas decorations (or do they do it before now?). It is not the day after Thanksgiving that many traditionally observe. It is also not the first snow sighting, December 1st, the fall time change, or any other arbitrary benchmark.

This one particular instance should not be up for debate, as the start of the Christmas season in Pittsburgh is Light Up Night- the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

In this guide, we want to share some of our favorite tips on how to get the most out of what is perhaps our favorite annual event in Pittsburgh!

Note: In 2025, Light Up Night will have some slightly modified event locations due to the on-going construction in Market Square. While this article is meant to be somewhat static year-to-year, we've noted some variations for 2025's festivities in this one.

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5 Places to Park in Downtown Pittsburgh for Cheap

One complaint we hear on a regular basis about exploring downtown Pittsburgh is that it is expensive to park.

We always thought this was an interesting statement, given that Pittsburgh's parking garages are, in our experience at least, much, much cheaper than most major cities.

The complaint about parking downtown has a kernel of truth, however. Some garages do charge $20, $30, $40, or more to park- typically the result of extreme surge pricing whenever popular events are going on. These private garages are often able to price on a whim and get unsuspecting visitors to pay because, well, that's the price.

But here's the truth- many garages do not charge this much, and, dare we say, are quite reasonable. If you know where to park, particularly in many of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority garages, you will likely never pay much more than $8 after 4 pm and on weekends, or sub-$20 for a full-day during the work week.

So in this one, we thought we'd share five places to park in downtown Pittsburgh that won't break the bank. These are, for us at least, the only places we will ever park- and we reap the reward in the form of massive savings every time.

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Kayak Pittsburgh Makes for Perfect River Exploration

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!

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10 Performing Art Venues in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District

Every Pittsburgher knows what makes the Cultural District special, and it is the impressive concentration of theaters found in just a few short blocks.

From Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center to more obscure spots like Liberty Magic and Greer Cabaret, we really have the opportunity to see a show almost every single day of the year.

So in this one, we thought we'd run through all of the great theaters in the Cultural District to help you find a new spot to take in a show!

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