TRYP Hotel Review – Affordable Rooms in the Heart of Lawrenceville

Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on February 22, 2023.

Disclaimer: We were hosted for this experience. Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. Please check out our Terms and Conditions. Pricing, operating hours, or menus may have changed since our initial visit and may not be reflected in subsequent updates. Please confirm these directly with any business or attraction prior to visiting.

When you think of popular Pittsburgh neighborhoods, you may instantly assume that any given one is home to several hotels for visitors. For a few, you'd be right. But there are many neighborhoods in the city that do not have hotels at all, and up until mid-2019 Lawrenceville was one that sorely needed a property.

It wasn't until the TRYP Hotel opened that Lawrenceville got its first proper hotel, and this one fits right into the trendy neighborhood perfectly thanks to its beautiful restoration of a former school building right on 40th Street.

Throw in a rooftop bar with a stellar city view, a nice restaurant on the first floor, and some modern amenities and you have enough to make us happy.

We got the chance to check this one out as guests of the hotel and share more in this full review!

Smaller Rooms at a Budget-Minded Price

Bet in Tryp Hotel Lawrenceville

It is one thing for us to tell you that this hotel is in a former school building, but you really have to be inside this one to get the full experience. Throwback features are found everywhere including blueprints of the building in the lobby and old lockers in the hallways to name a few.

We'll be the first to admit that our room at the hotel wasn't particularly large and only really had enough space for a King-sized bed, TV, a shelving unit, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. But while somewhat lacking in size this one made up for it in its comfort as the bed was among the more enjoyable ones we've tried in the city. When laying down, we were also dazzled by the ceiling decor which looked like a pattern you'd expect on a cut piece of marble.

Trippy. Or, perhaps, tryppy! In either case, it made for a rather relaxing rest all things considered.

View from Fourth Floor at Tryp Pittsburgh
View from the Fourth Floor Rooms.

For those who value a view, you would do well to try and get an even-numbered room on the fourth floor. These typically look towards the downtown skyline and can catch some of the city's tallest buildings just peeking out over the top of the condos next door. (For a better view, you'll definitely want to head up to the fifth-floor bar- the view there is truly the best here).

From there, while we could generally call the room quiet from most street noise, it is worth noting that trains passing along the tracks nearby can be heard when they blow their horn; however, we noticed them once or twice max during our stay (your mileage may vary here).

Old School Lockers at the Tryp Hotel

Overall, despite its smaller rooms, we enjoyed the comforts of this one and think those who find a great rate and want a stellar location in the heart of Lawrenceville will be quite pleased all the same.

The On-Site Bar and Restaurant Stand Out

Drinks at Brick Shop in Lawrenceville

One of the things we always lament about Pittsburgh hotels is that many do not have chef-driven restaurants or bars with unique vibes. Fortunately, the TRYP Hotel is not one of those as this particular hotel has both!

The on-site restaurant, Brick Shop, is located just off the hotel's lobby area and focuses on an array of international dishes which during our visit ranged from Georgian khachapuri to Sicilian arancini, the all-American burger, and even French confit wings to name a few.

This is rounded out with a pretty impressive bar program that includes house cocktails as well as a robust natural wine list from producers the world over. Although this restaurant was pretty empty during our weeknight visit, we can definitely see this one buzzing a bit more on their Thursday and Saturday live music nights (small cover charge applies) and we'd most certainly return for a glass of wine with the khachapuri!

For those who want something a bit more laid back, modern, and with one of the best views of the city from a bar, you'll want to head up to the fifth-floor bar, Over Eden.

Over Eden at the Tryp Hotel

This bar is half indoor and half outdoor and the indoor portion has large sliding glass garage doors to really open up the view on a nice day. Much like the bar at Brick Shop, this one focuses on craft cocktails and natural wine but also has a modest beer list as well. We'd be the first to admit that the cocktails in the downstairs bar felt a bit more fortified than the upstairs one, but if you were to hand us a beer or glass of wine and send us on our way to enjoy the view, well, you won't hear us complain (other than the food menu being on the smaller side, at least).

Together, these two bars and restaurants in the hotel are likely designed for a specific customer in mind and we can certainly see how it is not for everyone. But if a dazzling view (Over Eden), great wine list (both spots), or unique international dishes (Brick Shop) sound up your alley then these spots should certainly be on your radar during a visit. Otherwise, the hotel's location right in the heart of Lawrenceville means even more delicious restaurant options are just steps away!

Overall, the TRYP Hotel really helped fill a need in Lawrenceville with a budget-minded option in a perfect location. Whether you are going to stay the night or simply want to grab a beer or glass of wine from the rooftop bar on a nice day, well, you have a number of options to consider here!

The TRYP Hotel is located at 177 40th Street in Lawrenceville. Parking is available on-site and valet rates vary depending on occupancy. During our weeknight visit in May 2021, no valets were on-site and parking was free. We do not expect occupancy to remain low like was during our visit, so it is best to assume an on-site valet rate may apply in the future. We were guests of the hotel for this review. As always, all opinions are our own. To read more reviews of the Tryp, click here.

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