This guide highlights some of the best places to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks in Pittsburgh, PA.
I’m excited to share this Pittsburgh dining guide. Whether you live here or are visiting, this post aims to point you toward some reliably great spots. I narrowed the list to keep it manageable, but there are plenty more favorites—if you have recommendations, please leave them in the comments so others can discover them too.
BREAKFAST
FL.2 – Downtown
Floor 2 at the Fairmont is one of my top picks in Pittsburgh. It’s ideal for a leisurely brunch with beautifully presented dishes—think indulgent French toast, avocado toast and creative brunch cocktails—plus striking, varied décor and a standout bar. If you have time, consider returning for dinner; their evening menu is excellent.
Recommendations: The market breakfast sandwich, French toast and chips & ice cream. Their seasonal flavored mimosas are also worth trying (recent flavor: grapefruit tarragon).
THE VANDAL – Lawrenceville
The Vandal serves a changing, seasonal menu featuring eggs, sandwiches and baked goods. Everything I’ve tried has been excellent, and they make a delightful maple latte. The bright, minimalist interior with marble tables makes it an Instagram-friendly spot—great for photos and brunch alike.
Recommendations: The soft scramble is simple but perfectly executed and very popular.
PEAR AND THE PICKLE – Troy Hill
Pear and the Pickle keeps a compact breakfast menu that punches above its weight. The egg sandwich—served on a buttery bun with options like tomato, bacon or sausage—is a morning staple. They also offer great coffee and board games, making it a cozy spot to linger over breakfast with friends.
Other favorite breakfast/brunch spots: Square Cafe (Regent Square), The Whitfield (East Liberty)
LUNCH
BANH MI AND TI – Lawrenceville
For a quick, affordable, flavorful lunch, Banh Mi and Ti is a family-run Vietnamese spot serving traditional banh mi sandwiches, rice bowls and bubble tea. It’s a regular go-to when you want something satisfying without a long sit-down meal.
Recommendations: The Viet special, drunken beef bowl or the classy chick sandwich.
MEDITERRA CAFE – Sewickley
Mediterra Cafe in Sewickley is a bright cafe and market known for freshly baked bread and quality cheeses. It’s an excellent lunch stop with a variety of sandwiches and salads, and they also offer a strong breakfast menu if you’re there earlier in the day.
Recommendations: Turkey sandwich, grilled tuna melt, kale salad bowl.
Other favorite lunch spots: Noodlehead (Shadyside), Point Brugge Cafe (Point Breeze)
DINNER
BAR MARCO – Strip District
Bar Marco is a cozy Italian restaurant that balances casual and refined. They offer a fixed cocktail menu plus a fun create-your-own cocktail option where you answer a few flavor questions and the bartender crafts a custom drink. It’s become my go-to when I want reliably good Italian fare and inventive cocktails.
Recommendations: Gnocchi sardi, kale Caesar, rice pudding.
SOJU – Garfield
Soju is a newer addition to the scene and quickly became a favorite. The beverage soju is known for being smooth, and the restaurant’s food blends Korean and American influences in creative, delicious ways.
Recommendations: Killer tofu, bibimbap, and a soju-based cocktail.
SMALLMAN GALLEY – Strip District
Smallman Galley is an incubator-style food hall where several rotating chefs run distinct concepts under one roof. It feels like an upscale food court with diverse menus—recent offerings have included pizza, tacos, Vietnamese and modern American dishes. If you’re headed to the North Shore, check out the sister concept, Federal Galley.
Recommendations: It depends on what you’re craving, but Iron Born Pizza is a personal favorite for pizza.
MORCILLA – Lawrenceville
Morcilla focuses on Spanish cuisine with an emphasis on tapas and sharable plates. Small plates make it easy to sample many items, and the lively atmosphere makes it a popular weekend choice—reservations or bar seating are recommended.
Recommendations: Cod croquetas, baby back pork ribs, lavender marcona almonds and sangria.
ROUND CORNER CANTINA – Lawrenceville
If you love tacos, Round Corner Cantina is hard to beat—affordable, flavorful, and with a standout house salsa and a welcoming outdoor patio that’s perfect on warm nights. It’s one of several excellent taco spots around the city.
Recommendations: Any of their tacos are excellent—try chorizo or shrimp with a house margarita and chips & salsa.
MILLIE’S – Shadyside, Downtown, Lawrenceville (coming soon)
Millie’s is an ice cream shop but worth including with dinner spots for those who want dessert after a meal. They rotate inventive flavors frequently and now have multiple locations and pop-ups, making it easy to satisfy an ice cream craving.
Recommendations: Peanut butter, lavender and any of their vegan flavors.
Other favorite dinner spots: Gaucho (Strip District), Smoke (Lawrenceville), Driftwood Oven (Lawrenceville), Muddy Waters Oyster Bar (East Liberty), Station (Bloomfield).
DRINKS
HIDDEN HARBOR AND/OR INDEPENDENT BREWING COMPANY – Squirrel Hill
Hidden Harbor and Independent Brewing sit side-by-side and share ownership, yet each offers a distinct vibe. Hidden Harbor is tropical and theatrical, serving rum-forward cocktails in playful glassware—great for groups. Independent Brewing is a cozy brewery with a wide beer selection and surprisingly excellent margaritas. If you have time, visit both.
Recommendations: Independent’s margarita and local Pilsners; Hidden Harbor’s Oh My Guava and Golden Girl cocktails.
ACE HOTEL – East Liberty
The Ace Hotel lobby bar offers a comfortable setting with a solid cocktail and small plates menu. Seating includes couches and a game area with ping pong, cornhole and board games—ideal for groups or a relaxed evening out.
Recommendations: The Fairweather cocktail and the Fourth River Mule.
LORELEI – East Liberty
Lorelei, from the same ownership group as Hidden Harbor and Independent, combines a cocktail bar and a beer hall in one space. It’s a short walk from the Ace Hotel and offers both creative cocktails and a strong beer list—great for mixed groups.
Recommendations: The Redhead Swizzle, a solid margarita and an excellent beer selection.
Other favorite bars: Spirit (Lawrenceville), Grapperia (Lawrenceville), Mixtape (Garfield).
COFFEE SHOPS
I have many coffee shop favorites across the city. Here’s a location-based list so you can find a good cup no matter where you are:
- Downtown: Gasoline Street Coffee
- Strip District: De Fer Coffee
- Lawrenceville: Espresso a Mano
- Shadyside: Arriviste
- East Liberty: Ace Hotel lobby bar, Zeke’s
- Squirrel Hill: Commonplace Coffee
- South Side: Big Dog Coffee
- Edgewood: Biddle’s Escape
- Oakland: Redhawk Coffee
- Troy Hill: Pear and the Pickle
- Brighton Heights: California Coffee Bar
A big thank you to the restaurants that partnered for this guide: Fl.2, The Vandal, Banh Mi and Ti, Bar Marco and Soju—these are genuinely among my favorites. If you’re looking for more guides, explore other city-specific food guides from this site.