Sarah's Guidebook
Food scene
B52 Café
5202 Butler StOur favorite! Don’t miss the burger or the breakfast sandwich!
Elevated but casual, this is one of our favorite places to take guests. Don’t miss the pirogies or black pepper soda
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APTEKA
4606 Penn AveElevated but casual, this is one of our favorite places to take guests. Don’t miss the pirogies or black pepper soda
Jason’s sister owns and operates this classic Italian bakery in the Strip District. Tell Denese we sent you and try the beans and greens—healthy soul food at its finest
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Colangelo's Bakery & Cafe
207 21st StJason’s sister owns and operates this classic Italian bakery in the Strip District. Tell Denese we sent you and try the beans and greens—healthy soul food at its finest
Cash only! You’ll see just about everyone in the East End lined up for Thai street food. A small menu, but everything is amazing
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Noodlehead
242 S Highland AveCash only! You’ll see just about everyone in the East End lined up for Thai street food. A small menu, but everything is amazing
There’s a Hatfields-and-McCoys-style rivalry between Mineo’s and Aiello’s (right up the street). Just about every yinzer will have a strong opinion about which one is better. To be safe, maybe you should try them both?
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Mineo Pizza House
2128 Murray AveThere’s a Hatfields-and-McCoys-style rivalry between Mineo’s and Aiello’s (right up the street). Just about every yinzer will have a strong opinion about which one is better. To be safe, maybe you should try them both?
This slice shop opened after a falling-out at Mineo’s down the street, and it’s been a dead heat for the East End’s favorite pizza ever since. Check out both and come to your own conclusion.
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Aiello's Pizza
2112 Murray AveThis slice shop opened after a falling-out at Mineo’s down the street, and it’s been a dead heat for the East End’s favorite pizza ever since. Check out both and come to your own conclusion.
Don’t let the modest exterior fool you: Chef Wei Zhu is a James Beard nominated superstar, and this Sichuan-style menu will stun you. The baby eggplant and water spinach are just as delightful as the duck.
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Chengdu Gourmet
5840 Forward AveDon’t let the modest exterior fool you: Chef Wei Zhu is a James Beard nominated superstar, and this Sichuan-style menu will stun you. The baby eggplant and water spinach are just as delightful as the duck.
Coffee and Tea
Pittsburgh’s answer to Starbucks; carefully crafted coffee without the snob factor. You’ll find other locations throughout the East End and Northside
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Commonplace Coffee — Squirrel Hill
5827 Forbes AvePittsburgh’s answer to Starbucks; carefully crafted coffee without the snob factor. You’ll find other locations throughout the East End and Northside
The closest coffee shop is this banker’s-hours joint in adjacent Polish Hill. You’ll find scene punks, vegan food, and a wonderful golden milk latte
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Kaibur Coffee
3138 Dobson StThe closest coffee shop is this banker’s-hours joint in adjacent Polish Hill. You’ll find scene punks, vegan food, and a wonderful golden milk latte
Another Oakland favorite coffee shop—we also love the Sharpsburg location, but this is the closest
Redhawk Coffee
120 Meyran AveAnother Oakland favorite coffee shop—we also love the Sharpsburg location, but this is the closest
If your tastes in tea run toward nettles, tulsi basil, and other herbalist recs, you’ll love Bantha. The interior looks like something out of a Star Wars movie
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Bantha Tea Bar
5002 Penn AveIf your tastes in tea run toward nettles, tulsi basil, and other herbalist recs, you’ll love Bantha. The interior looks like something out of a Star Wars movie
This is an especially cozy place for a cup of tea prepared with utmost care. The menu is a whole binder of everything from basic chai to bubble tea to warm yak’s milk. You’ll see feverish studying alongside first dates, and sometimes a whole group of instrumentalists playing the oud.
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Dobra Tea Pittsburgh
1937 Murray AveThis is an especially cozy place for a cup of tea prepared with utmost care. The menu is a whole binder of everything from basic chai to bubble tea to warm yak’s milk. You’ll see feverish studying alongside first dates, and sometimes a whole group of instrumentalists playing the oud.
Books
Our treasured local indie! There’s a lot to love here, and a soon to come coffee shop. You can find Sarah’s first novel, Marilou Is Everywhere, on the local authors wall
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White Whale Bookstore
4754 Liberty AveOur treasured local indie! There’s a lot to love here, and a soon to come coffee shop. You can find Sarah’s first novel, Marilou Is Everywhere, on the local authors wall
Focused on literature in translation and indie press books, this place is world class. You’ll find things here that you won’t find anywhere else
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City of Asylum
40 W North AveFocused on literature in translation and indie press books, this place is world class. You’ll find things here that you won’t find anywhere else
Just a short walk away, this is a favorite (mostly secondhand) bookstore. Caliban supplies used books to most of the second-hand shops in NYC, so you know the selection is epic. Don’t miss the fiction paperback section in the basement.
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Caliban Book Shop
410 S Craig StJust a short walk away, this is a favorite (mostly secondhand) bookstore. Caliban supplies used books to most of the second-hand shops in NYC, so you know the selection is epic. Don’t miss the fiction paperback section in the basement.
Record Shops
People from LA lose their minds when they see this massive warehouse of … just about every kind of vinyl you could hope for. Cash only, although the cashier might cut you a deal if they approve of your selections
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Jerry’s Records
2136 Murray AvePeople from LA lose their minds when they see this massive warehouse of … just about every kind of vinyl you could hope for. Cash only, although the cashier might cut you a deal if they approve of your selections
Sightseeing
Pittsburgh has an old reputation as a smoke-filled mill town, so you might be surprised by the beauty of this massive park. We love hiking here; Falls Ravine is our favorite
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Frick Park
Pittsburgh has an old reputation as a smoke-filled mill town, so you might be surprised by the beauty of this massive park. We love hiking here; Falls Ravine is our favorite
Schenley Park
Don’t miss winter ice skating at the Oval
Within Walking Distance
Looking for a quick bite nearby? Here are a few close spots you can walk to in about 10 minutes
Tamarind Flavor of India
257 N Craig St