THE PERFECT PITTSBURGH DAY part 6 – a series with mini itineraries for a perfect day in Pittsburgh! Great for when you have out of town visitors or are looking for a day of fun in our little city.
OKAY, admittedly this itinerary isn’t mini HAHA however technically you can pack all of these activities into 1 day with no driving in between! You also could totally split these activities into 2 days across Saturday & Sunday, but anywho let’s round it up 👏🏼
Start your morning by heading to Pamela’s Diner for their classic diner breakfast! I love their crepe-style hotcakes (blueberry or chocolate banana are my go-to) & sausage, but their famous lyonnaise potatoes are also GAS. Also, when I am at a diner I don’t know what it is but I slam black coffee like it’s my job LOL. There will likely be a wait at Pamela’s, but they have outdoor picnic tables to hang at so the wait will go quick.
After you’re fueled up, shop down Penn Ave! There are tons of spots that sell classic souvenirs, yinzer themed apparel & sports merch. This is where you’ll also find the slightly unhinged yinzer apparel (the AFC North shirts are always hilarious) & unique shirts like the ItalYINZ shirt I’m obsessed with. While you are meandering down Penn Ave, be sure to stop to check out the specialty shops along the way! The strip is home to SO many cool shops. Penn Mac is one of my absolute favorites for all the charcuterie fix-ins (seriously their cheese counter alone is worth the visit, but check out their meat section as well & prepackaged coolers. Reyna Foods is the PLUG for Mexican ingredients. Their homemade tortillas, chips, dips & salsas are truly next level. You’ll also find all the different Mexican cheeses, unique juices for drinks & a MASSIVE hot sauce collection.
If you’re from Pittsburgh, you’ve likely heard of the next spot, Wholey’s Fish Market. They are known for their fishmonger section, but they also sell poultry, beef, pork & even have an exotic meats section. Two more spots I love for their specialty foods are S&D Polish Deli & Sambok. S&D sells the best kielbasa in the city without a doubt, but I also love their apricot kolaches (polish cookies). They also have prepared food for sale like fresh pierogi, so if you’ve never had pierogi this is the SPOT. Sambok is a Korean grocery store with tons of cool instant noodle flavors, fun candies & they even have a food stand out front with prepared food. This was also my sriracha plug when there was that huge shortage #srirachagirl4life.
Keep the energy flowing with a coffee from La Prima & a treat from Colangelo’s! La Prima in my opinion is the best coffee in Pittsburgh. You will often see their grounds being used around the city at coffee shops that don’t roast their own beans because it’s that good. I LOVE an iced oat milk latte from here – truly unbelievable. Now for Colangelo’s. They are connected to La Prima’s 21st Street location & serve classic Italian baked goods & grab-and-go cuisine. Their meles are the perfect sweet treat, I switch between apple & blueberry. Speaking of Italian goodies, at some point in your journey through the Strip you’ll HAVE to snag a hot pepperoni roll from Pittsburgh classic, Mancini’s. Mancini’s is my go-to for all things bread. Their Italian & jalapeño cheddar loaves are my personal favorites. Plus, every month, Mancini’s does a themed bread display! One of my faves was their display from October of Beetlejuice 🤪
Last up on the meandering down Penn Ave tour is Grandpa Joes Candy Shop. This nostalgic candy store is filled with TONS of unique sodas, homemade chocolates, throwback candy, ice cream & even a $5 candy buffet! Razzles & Big League Chew are my 2 favorite old school candies that they sell, but trust me when I say they have EVERYTHING. You can also find cool gifts here perfect for kids or anyone that loves a throwback moment – think silly putty, Hi-Ho! Cherry-O, Wooly Willy & more.
OK so if you were going to split this itinerary into 2 days, this is where is would cut it, but in reverse order. This first half would be best for Sunday & the second half would be best for a Saturday!
Did you know Pittsburgh was home to the #1 history museum in the US?! The Heinz History Center is one of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to. It is home to pieces of Pittsburgh’s iconic sports history, Heinz history, interactive exhibits & more. Throughout its 6 floors, you’ll see artifacts big & small, all with a tie back to our beloved city. Tickets are only $20 for adults, $11 for kids & free for kids 5 & under. After spending time at the museum, if it’s adults only at this point, continue the theme of “making history fun” by booking a Wigle Whiskey distillery tour & tasting. This experience is the perfect blend of spirit samples, cocktails & history of whiskey in western PA. Spots are limited so be sure to purchase tickets online ahead of time for the slot you prefer (12, 1:30, 3, 4:30 or 6pm). The tours only run on Saturdays so plan accordingly!
Lastly, cap the day off with dinner! There are SO many awesome options in the Strip for dining whether you are looking for something casual or full-service. Some of my favorites are listed below. If you need inspo on what to order, I listed out my go-to choice at each place 👀
Casual Spots
- Coop De Ville – Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich with a side of Pimento Mac n’ Cheese
- Pizzeria Davide – If you want to go basic, Margherita; If you want something more exciting, New Yorker with Soppressata, Spicy Peppers & Hot Honey
- Primanti Bros. – The Pittsburgher & yes you have to get the coleslaw & fries ON the sandwich
- Iron Born Pizza – Spicy Pie is my favorite, but everyone also RAVES about their Buffalo Chicken Pie
- Penn Ave Fish Co. – ANYTHING from their sushi bar is elite
- Cinderlands Warehouse – Crunch Wrap, it’s everything you want it to be & more
Full-Service Spots
- Cellars Speakeasy – menu changes seasonally but they always have the filet which I love; any time they have a risotto on the menu, it is amazing
- The PA Market – any of the wood-fired pizzas
- DiAnoia’s Eatery – you have to start with the fresh bread & whipped ricotta & I typically follow it up with the Cacio e Pepe
- Balvanera – for starters the crudo & Harlow’s caesar are great; I love their Ancho steak with a side of the setas salteadas; do NOT skip on dessert at this spot, everything is remarkable
- Roland’s Seafood Grill – hot lobster roll sliders are a must – there are 3 of them which in my opinion is much better than one large hot lobster roll especially if you want leftovers; lobster mac & cheese & the mussel pots are fabulous
- Bar Marco – I’ve actually not yet gone in for a dinner service, but the two times I dined via catering in their event space, everything was incredible
- Luke Wholey’s Wild Alaskan Grill – this is a great full-service restaurant if you don’t want something too fancy; Atlantic Cod fish sandwich with a side of Mac n’ cheese is my go-to
The 412 Franimal 