Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is having a moment.
From being named one of the 100 unexpected travel destinations in 2024, to some standout cultural attractions, like the Warhol Musuem and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, this rust belt city has remade itself into an amazing travel destination.
Andy Warhol, Self Portrait, 1986, acrylic and screen print on canvas, Carnegie Museum of Art
Pittsburg shares geographical and psychological similarities to my hometown of Philadelphia—both have industrial roots, brash sports teams and a chip on their shoulder as underdog cities. Both have outstanding arts and culture venues, amazing neighborhood food scenes, and a compact urban core that can be explored in a long weekend. So I went to the ‘Burgh, and here are the top spots I found!
Andy Warhol Museum
One of the top draws for me in Pittsburgh was to visit the Andy Warhol Museum - housing the most extensive collection of art and archives from one of Pittsburgh's most famous sons. Spread over six floors in a gorgeous neoclassical building, the Warhol Museum is the largest space dedicated to a single artist in North America. In fact, a huge $45 million expansion at the adjacent parking lot will grow their exhibition and event space by 60% - so look for that in 2026 and beyond. The current museum starts with a biographical history and early fashion drawing from Warhol’s early life, to major works including soup cans, Elvis and his collaborations with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Go early, get a timed ticket and you can have some of the galleries to yourself, if you’re lucky. Here are some of my favorite images…
Elvis, 11 Times, 1962
Silkscreen ink and silver gelatin paint on linen
Fallingwater
Located about 90 minutes outside Pittsburgh, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater was another cultural destination that drew me to the area. This iconic home built for the Kauffman family in the 1930s is as famous as any house in North America. It could be the American Taj Mahal or Buckingham Palace. For all its fame, it experiences as very intimate - an accurate snapshot of a family home, just as they left it in the 1960s when it became a historic home. All of the furniture, save a few side chairs, were of Wright’s own design. The artwork - including pottery, Asian artifacts and a few paintings, are all original to the house. Extensive maintenance and upkeep are evident as the house approaches its centennial, less than a decade away. Terrific guides usher you around the grounds through the house's private rooms and provide an excellent history of the landmark house. Some things are underwhelming in person, not Fallingwater. The blending of art, architecture and nature in this spot is sublime. Check it out!
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Just in time for the Spring Flower Show, the Phipps Conservatory was bursting with flowers, topiaries, indoor and outdoor gardens, and a special exhibition of Hawaiian flowers, fruits and feathers. The word is out here, as the place was crowded with families, but it was a great weekend visit that popped with color. A must for flower lovers!
The Strip District
Just north of Downtown is the Strip District, a half mile or so of shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. A great part of town to wander during the day - there’s no center; just stroll the streets or sign up for a food tour. I had an awesome lunch at Penn Avenue Fish Co, grabbed coffee at Allegheny Coffee and passed, but did not sample, the french fry stuffed sandwiches at Primanti Brothers.
Restaurants
I had two great experiences at dinner - one pre-theater at Meat & Potatoes and one on Mount Washington overlooking the city at the (maybe too) slick Altius. Before seeing The Importance of Being Ernest, by Oscar Wilde, at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, I had a great steak and martini at Meat & Potatoe - a great, mirrored room with a huge bar and cosy hightop tables. Fun, vibey and the food was amazing. Barcelona was super fun at the bar for a wine flight and some tapas. Altius was the more formal option with drop dead gorgeous views of the confluence of Pittsburg’s three rivers. It felt ‘special occasion’ and it was well worth it - amazing staff. You can’t go wrong at any of these 3 different spots.
The Industrialist Hotel
I found a pretty good hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, the Industrialist Hotel, as a home base to explore the city. It was a solid choice, but by no means extraordinary. The room was terrific, as they bumped me up to the top floor in a corner room with a great view of Mt. Washington and the Monongahela Incline. The awkward lobby is more than made up for by the friendly valet staff. The sitting room had a pop-up Cherry Blossom bar that was pretty fun and timely. The hotel occupies a former grain company headquarters and is centrally located to access all of Pittsburgh’s attractions.
Parting Shot - Duquesne Incline
When Pittsburgh was the center of steel production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the factories lined the rivers, and the workers all lived at the top of Mount Washington. Two funiculars, the Monongahela and the Duquesne Inclines, transported people down the steep hillside and back. This unique experience is a big tourist draw for the stunning views and cool engineering of these historic cabins.
