People visiting Pittsburgh for the first time asked me my favorite question. They wanted recommendations for the Strip District! I think I overwhelmed them with all of the suggestions, so I decided to make a blog that people can reference. Here are my (and Johnny’s) top ten!
1. La Prima & Colangelo’s
You have to go to both. Cant have one without the other. They are next to each other and actually connected. People are outside speaking Italian and enjoying each other’s company over espresso. It reminds me of happy place, Italy. We often buy La Prima’s coffee beans to use for our espresso machine at home!
For Colangelo’s you cannot go wrong with getting a pastry or lunch! Everything I’ve had there has been incredible. My go to is getting a cappuccino from La Prima and then get an apple mela from Colangelo’s.
2. Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.
Penn Mac is the best. Anything you want you can get. Fresh pasta, olive oil, cheeses, meats, spices, sauces, bread, produce, and frozen Italian food. We love having frozen ravioli and meatballs in our freezer in case we need a quick and easy dinner. We also get our pasta and bread flour to make our own homemade pasta and bread. I could spend hours shopping here!
Other go-to places we will go grocery shopping would be Stamboolis and Strip District Meats.
3. Pane e Pronto
This is further down in the strip, but is truly a hidden gem! It is part of DiAnoia’s which has amazing Italian food. They have fresh pasta, meal kits, breads, desserts, and the best sandwiches. My favorite sandwich is the Franco. You definitely need to check it out.
Make sure to take home some food for later. Try Di Anoia’s while you are there!
4. Enrico’s
At first glance Enrico’s appears just to be a bakery with amazing biscotti. You have to try the biscotti with your La Prima coffee (and you can buy at the La Prima counter). If you look to the left, there is a narrow alley that takes you to an incredible restaurant. Enrico’s wood fired pizza is so good!
On top of having a restaurant and bakery, Erico’s offers cooking classes! Johnny and I have been trying to take the pizza or sauce making classes but they fill up quick! Check their website often for the classes and 1st Friday dinners.
5. The PA Market
This is the perfect place to go if you have friends that all want to eat different foods. They have multiple places that you can order, a full bar, and a wine bar! It also has indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy it all year long. I recommend making reservations if you are planning on going on a weekend.
6. Cinderlands
This is Johnny’s favorite by far. He loves their beer so much that there are always some cans in our fridge. They have games you can play on the lower level, or you can enjoy a sit down dinner upstairs. They allow large party reservations. I love getting their smash burger.
7. Cafe Raymond
The diners like Delucas, Kelly O’s, and Pamelas are so good they always have a line out the door. However, Cafe Raymond has become our go to. There are options for everyone. It is great for both breakfast or lunch. If you want something sweet I recommend the French toast.
8. Cellar on Penn (R Wine Cellar)
My first time doing a wine tasting was in 2019 for a friend’s birthday! They have since moved locations and now have both wine tastings and food. During a wine tasting, they provide a lot of information about the wine, the process, and the grapes. You are able to select multiple wines and they provide a charcuterie board. It is a fun thing to do with a group. Make sure to make reservations!
9. Papa J’s Twin Plaza
They have so many options pizza, drinks, Italian food, and my favorite, gelato. There are so many gelato flavors that it’s too hard to count. There are two different stations each with its own unique flavors. Make sure to check out both before making a decision. It is the perfect dessert post dinner.
10. My Sweet Lilly
I love my sweet lilly. They have amazing cannolis among many other desserts. My favorite part about the shop is the shop is named after the owner’s dog, Lilly. It is the perfect place to get a sweet treat for you and your fury friend.
They have a whole section dedicated just to treats for pets. My favorite is that Happy Birthday bone which I get for Theo on his birthdays.
11. Primanti Bros
It was worth the bonus item! This is the original Primantis location! If you are visiting Pittsburgh for the first time you have to try a Primantis sandwich. This location often has a long line around lunch time so be early or order ahead online. My favorite is the Cajun chicken sandwich with an IC Light beer.
Other Favorites
There were so many other places that I wanted to add to the list! It was very hard to pick since there are so many and each place is unique. I recommend trying them all if you have time!
Breakfast
- Delucas
- Pamelas
- Kelly Os
Dinner/Drinks
- Bar Marco
- Penn Ave Fish
- Cellars Speakeasy
- Wigle
- Engine House 21
- Pittsburgh Winery
- Iron Born Pizza
Shopping
- Pennsylvania Libations
- Strip District Meats
- Stamboolis
- Wholeys
- Any and every Pittsburgh t-shirt shop. There is an overwhelming amount
Activities
- Puttshack
- Coop De Ville
Sustaining Nicole 
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