Nikolai’s guidebook
What's Great in Squirrel Hill and Beyond
Here are some of my favorite places in the neighborhood as well as a few standouts in town.
Best coffee in the neighborhood.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Commonplace Coffee — Squirrel Hill
5827 Forbes AveBest coffee in the neighborhood.
A one of a kind teahouse. One of my favorite places in the area.
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Dobra Tea Pittsburgh
1937 Murray AveA one of a kind teahouse. One of my favorite places in the area.
I Am Yoga - Pittsburgh
1701 Murray AveExcellent hot vinyasa and Bikram style yoga.
Manor Theatre
1729 Murray AveYou're very close to a great indie movie theater!
Hidden Harbor
1708 Shady AveTiki Bar!
Excellent Vietnamese food with a small vegan menu.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tan Lac Vien Vietnamese Bistro
2114 Murray AveExcellent Vietnamese food with a small vegan menu.
Surely one of the greatest purveyors of used vinyl in the country. It's surprisingly massive and a lot of fun to visit.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jerry’s Records
2136 Murray AveSurely one of the greatest purveyors of used vinyl in the country. It's surprisingly massive and a lot of fun to visit.
Great fresh breads and pastries including some vegan options.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Allegro Hearth Bakery
2034 Murray AveGreat fresh breads and pastries including some vegan options.
These guys are pretty serious about shoes and have been in the neighborhood for most of the twentieth century. Great selection of walking and running shoes as well as some more casual and formal options.
Littles Shoes
5850 Forbes AveThese guys are pretty serious about shoes and have been in the neighborhood for most of the twentieth century. Great selection of walking and running shoes as well as some more casual and formal options.
I have to confess I've never stepped into this patisserie but their macrons are famous all over the city.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gaby et Jules
5837 Forbes AveI have to confess I've never stepped into this patisserie but their macrons are famous all over the city.
The neighborhood is full of good Thai food. This might be the best and has a nice ambience to boot.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bangkok Balcony
5846 Forbes AveThe neighborhood is full of good Thai food. This might be the best and has a nice ambience to boot.
Biketek Pittsburgh
5842 Forbes AveGood bike shop if you need a repair or are in the market for something.
This little place is a short walk from my house and offers serious Sichuan cuisine. A James Beard award finalist.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chengdu Gourmet
5840 Forward AveThis little place is a short walk from my house and offers serious Sichuan cuisine. A James Beard award finalist.
This middle eastern influenced vegan cafes in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville is one of my favorite places in the city. It is outstanding for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their sourdough pancakes are some of the best I've ever had. Their hearty tofu scrambles will impress meat eaters alike and leave you wondering how they manage to do it.
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B52 Café
5202 Butler StThis middle eastern influenced vegan cafes in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville is one of my favorite places in the city. It is outstanding for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their sourdough pancakes are some of the best I've ever had. Their hearty tofu scrambles will impress meat eaters alike and leave you wondering how they manage to do it.
Just a few doors down from B52 this cafe specializes in amazing cakes and has a charming Victorian feel to it. There's some seating outside in the back as well.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Butterwood Bake Consortium
5222 Butler StJust a few doors down from B52 this cafe specializes in amazing cakes and has a charming Victorian feel to it. There's some seating outside in the back as well.
A block away from B52 this is a great place to browse mid-century antiques. You probably won't find a steal here but it's really fun to look.
Who New? Retro Mod Decor
5156 Butler StA block away from B52 this is a great place to browse mid-century antiques. You probably won't find a steal here but it's really fun to look.
Down Butler Street from the other Lawrenceville places I mentioned, this great little movie theater plays whatever the heck it wants, with a different them each weekend. They are connected to Bierport, so you can bring delicious beers into the theater.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Row House Cinema
4115 Butler StDown Butler Street from the other Lawrenceville places I mentioned, this great little movie theater plays whatever the heck it wants, with a different them each weekend. They are connected to Bierport, so you can bring delicious beers into the theater.
Awesome hidden spot for Japanese food, sushi and sake open late night. Can be very crowded and has a bit of a club feeling when there's a DJ.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Umami
202 38th StAwesome hidden spot for Japanese food, sushi and sake open late night. Can be very crowded and has a bit of a club feeling when there's a DJ.
This is one of the premier restaurants in Pittsburgh as far as I'm concerned, and many agree. It's very sophisticated vegan Polish food. Trust me, unless you've had this, you have no idea what that means. This place is super-hip with outstanding cocktails and a lovely outdoor seating area in the back. Casual fine dining cuisine at a very reasonable price.
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APTEKA
4606 Penn AveThis is one of the premier restaurants in Pittsburgh as far as I'm concerned, and many agree. It's very sophisticated vegan Polish food. Trust me, unless you've had this, you have no idea what that means. This place is super-hip with outstanding cocktails and a lovely outdoor seating area in the back. Casual fine dining cuisine at a very reasonable price.
This little asian fusion place rounds out the trifecta of world-class vegan restaurants in Pittsburgh. It's a bit out of the way from my house but it's seriously good and has a playful heavy metal theme to boot. Cash only.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Onion Maiden
639 E Warrington AveThis little asian fusion place rounds out the trifecta of world-class vegan restaurants in Pittsburgh. It's a bit out of the way from my house but it's seriously good and has a playful heavy metal theme to boot. Cash only.
You're only a five minute walk away from one of the most beautiful parks in Pittsburgh! Just take a right out the door and another right on Beechwood. Ample room for hiking, running, lounging and picnicking.
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Frick Park
You're only a five minute walk away from one of the most beautiful parks in Pittsburgh! Just take a right out the door and another right on Beechwood. Ample room for hiking, running, lounging and picnicking.
On the other side of Frick Park from my house, this great little museum has rotating art exhibits, a permanent collection of early automobiles and tours of the original owner's Victorian house.
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The Frick Pittsburgh
7227 Reynolds StOn the other side of Frick Park from my house, this great little museum has rotating art exhibits, a permanent collection of early automobiles and tours of the original owner's Victorian house.
Regardless of your opinion of the artist's work, this museum is incredibly well curated and tells a fascinating story about one of Pittsburgh's most famous sons.
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The Andy Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky StRegardless of your opinion of the artist's work, this museum is incredibly well curated and tells a fascinating story about one of Pittsburgh's most famous sons.
Regardless of your interest in baseball, the Pirates home stadium is a beautiful structure with stunning river and city views.
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IPNC Park
115 Federal StRegardless of your interest in baseball, the Pirates home stadium is a beautiful structure with stunning river and city views.
If you're new to Pittsburgh I highly recommend taking an evening river cruise to see all of the beautiful bridges and downtown architecture.
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I-Gateway Clipper Fleet
350 W Station Square DrIf you're new to Pittsburgh I highly recommend taking an evening river cruise to see all of the beautiful bridges and downtown architecture.
Pittsburgh's Symphony Orchestra is one of the best. I highly recommend you catch a concert while in town.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
600 Penn AvePittsburgh's Symphony Orchestra is one of the best. I highly recommend you catch a concert while in town.
This arboretum and botanical garden is stunning and a great way to spend a couple of hours surrounded by beauty.
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Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1 Schenley DriveThis arboretum and botanical garden is stunning and a great way to spend a couple of hours surrounded by beauty.
You're not all that far from one Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous work! It's a lovely drive too.
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Fallingwater
1491 Mill Run RdYou're not all that far from one Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous work! It's a lovely drive too.
Not far from Fallingwater, this less famous Frank Lloyd Wright house is entirely different and absolutely worth the visit. It's less crowded and the grounds are beautiful.
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Kentuck Knob
Kentuck KnobNot far from Fallingwater, this less famous Frank Lloyd Wright house is entirely different and absolutely worth the visit. It's less crowded and the grounds are beautiful.