How to Explore Pittsburgh in 48 hours

There’s a lot of city pride in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for good reason. From close-knit neighborhoods to world-renowned architecture to top-rated restaurants, there’s a lot to love. Driving just over four hours from Washington, D.C. for a two-night stay over Memorial Day weekend, here are a few places we explored in 48 hours.

Eat:

• Bagels at Pigeon Bagels, a popular kosher bagel shop.
• Caramel popcorn from Pittsburgh Popcorn Co., a gourmet shop inside an old theater in The Strip. District.
• Chocolate pudding from The Butterwood Bake Consortium, a top-rated bakery with Victorian era decor.
• Dan dan noodles from Everyday Noodles, a hand-pulled noodle and dumpling shop. If you bring kids, ask for dough to play with.
• Pastrami sandwich from Deli on Butler, a popular deli in Lawrenceville.
• Potato salad from Apteka, a no-reservation vegan Central and Eastern European-inspired restaurant. They also make their own sodas with unique flavors like black pepper and poppyseed.
• Scones from Madeleine Bakery & Bistro, a bakery run by a husband-wife team in the Regent Square area with nearby local shops. WorkshopPGH, a local home good store, is worth popping into across the street.

Drink:

• Coffee from La Prima Espresso Company, an Italian cafe with a bakery attached.
• Concord grape hard cider from Dear James, the bar inside food hall Lawrence Hall.
• Latte from Ghost Coffee Collab, a micro roastery with quality coffee inside a bar space.
• Maple latte from KLVN Coffee Lab inside a design-forward space.
• Milk tea boba from Dr’Tea, a second-floor shop just off popular Walnut Street.
• Pear cider at Arsenal Cider House, a Civil War-themed cidery with an outdoor patio with yard games.
• Ube latte at Redstart Roasters, a bird-friendly micro roastery.

Do:

• Bowl at Zone 28, an entertainment center with bowling, laser tag, and arcade games.
• Browse local books at White Whale Bookstore, an independent bookstore with a cafe. Another bookstore worth visiting is Riverstone Books in Squirrel Hill.
• Find treasures at Randyland, an activist’s yard filled with murals, sculptures, and recycled objects.
• Learn about emotions in the Kindness Room inside the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, a large space with hands-on exhibits. Nearby is Federal Gallery, a large, family-friendly food hall.
• Run down Canton Avenue, the steepest street in the continental U.S.A.
• Stroll through Allegheny Cemetery, one of the city’s largest and most storied resting place.
• Take your kids to the Super Playground within Highland Park, one of the many large green spaces in the city.
• Taste whiskey at Wigle Whiskey Distillery, a family-owned spot with tours.
• Walk down Sampsonia Way, an alley with decorated houses for exiled writers thanks to City of Asylum.

See:

• Butterflies at the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, an 1893 gift to the city housing plants and flowers from around the world.
• City view from Grandview Overlook, one of many views of the city skyline.
• Contemporary art at the Mattress Factory, an art museum inside an old mattress warehouse.
• Grand homes in Schenley Farms, one of Pittsburgh’s many historic neighborhoods.
• Nationalist Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning, the world’s second-tallest educational building.
• View of the Cathedral of Learning from the rooftop terrace of The Oaklander Hotel, a hotel on the site of the music venue Syria Mosque.