When you think of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, you may have fond memories of seeing a show there with friends or enjoying an evening listening to the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Beyond cultural attractions, the Cultural District has expanded into an area with vibrant nightlife, city parks, fine dining options, and everything needed to live comfortably.
Live: An Urban Home
While the Cultural District is known as a great night-out destination, it’s becoming an increasingly appealing place to live. For young professionals working in the city, living in the Cultural District gives a new meaning to walkability. Living in the same neighborhood as your favorite theater or rooftop bar is a luxury unique to this area.
Considering the dozens of eateries and cultural attractions within walking distance, the Cultural District has only grown in popularity. With new and renovated apartment complexes like Eighth & Penn, living comfortably downtown is becoming more attainable.
Apartments at Eighth & Penn are available this Summer. Find your new home in the Cultural District at www.eighthandpenn.com.
Eat: Proximity to Restaurants
If you love good food (which most Pittsburghers do), you’ll want to take advantage of restaurants in the Cultural District. Many of the best places to eat in the city can be found in and around this area.
Butcher and the Rye and Meat and Potatoes are two spots well known for their quality meats. Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room has some of the best handcrafted pizzas around. For a casual luxury dining experience, fl. 2 offers a vibrant venue with a raw bar and modern American menu.
New restaurants are often popping up downtown. The Eagle, a fried chicken restaurant and beer hall, is opening in the new Eighth & Penn apartment complex this spring.
No matter what kind of food you’re craving — from sushi to tacos and pasta to pizza — you’ll never go hungry in the Cultural District.
Drink: Bars and Nightlife
Many of the restaurants in the Cultural District also have custom cocktails and stylish bars. During the summer months, Sienna Mercato is a must. With their 3 dining options under one roof, Sienna is a unique restaurant experience with a striking Rooftop Beer Garden.
Olive or Twist is a martini bar and restaurant with live music on the weekends. They’ve been voted the best place in Pittsburgh for martinis, cocktails and networking. The Sharp Edge Bistro is another popular spot in the heart of the Cultural District. The Belgian bistro offers over 35 taps and 200+ bottles of beer, along with the great bar food you would expect in this city.
A fun history fact — many people may not know that Pittsburgh is the birthplace of whiskey. The Cultural District is within walking distance of distilleries in the Strip District. Wigle Whiskey, Kingfly Spirits and Maggie’s Farm Rum aren’t far from downtown.
Play: Parks, Art and Theaters
While downtown Pittsburgh can feel like an urban metropolis, it’s also close enough to several city parks that you can be downtown but still enjoy green spaces. The Cultural District is close to Mellon Square Park, Point State Park, and the Gateway Center Park.
Walking across one of the Three Sisters Bridges, you can easily make your way to the North Shore where you’ll find the Roberto Clemente Memorial Park, Allegheny Riverfront Park, North Shore Riverfront Park, and the parks associated with the sports stadiums.
Obviously, the Cultural District is known as such because of the art galleries, exhibits and theaters in the area. The Wood Street Galleries and Emmanuel Fine Art Photography are both in the Cultural District. Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts draw in off-Broadway productions, performance from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
