The neighborhood of Highland Park is one of Pittsburgh’s hidden gems. With historic homes, a reservoir, and great restaurants, it’s a centrally located area that features some excellent eateries.

A French Café Known for Its Brunch

Park Bruges is a Pittsburgh favorite. Featuring French bistro cuisine, it’s a comfortable venue with a killer weekend brunch menu. This is a great place to bring out-of-towners. Park Bruges switches out their daily omelet and frittata recipe so you can always try something new. If you’re planning on Saturday or Sunday brunch, be there 10-15 minutes before they open. There’s often a line outside while people wait for the place to open. (Take that as a sign of how good it is.)

Park Bruges has a lunch and dinner menu as well. It’s also considered the cousin to Point Brugge, a European-style café in Point Breeze.

Best Thai Food in the City

Smiling Banana Leaf is considered by many to be the best Thai restaurant in the city. It’s a small spot that’s kept very busy by take-out and dine-in patrons. Order pad thai for pickup or make a reservation to eat there. The food is always good, and you can expect to have leftovers. The portion sizes are generous.

A Darling Local Bakery

There’s a bakery in Highland Park that will have you singing as you walk through the front door. Food Glorious Food is a small bakery on Bryant Street that offers seasonal treats. Brownies, tarts, cakes, pies, cookies – anything you need for your sweet tooth. This place has a few seats inside and outside, so you can grab something savory (like quiche or soup) and eat in.

Homemade Italian Fine-Dining

Joseph Tambellini is a high-end Italian restaurant housed in a renovated Highland Park house. It’s a romantic spot perfect for anniversaries, birthdays or special occasions. The pasta is all made in-house. If you’re wanting a white tablecloth dining experience, make a reservation here.

A Cozy Local Coffee Shop

Tazza D’Oro is a local coffee shop with a homey feel just around the corner from Bryant Street. You’ll want to bring a book or do some work from this quaint café. In addition to being considered one of the best espresso bars in the city, they offer homemade treats that look just as good as they taste. Be warned, you may get sidelined by a brownie or cookie on your way out. And you can feel good about eating locally. They source over 80% of their food and milk from local vendors and farms.

This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.