From wonderful art to food, sport and leisure – the seven reasons to visit Pittsburgh
AMERICA’S Steel City has incredible art, rule-breaking breweries and a whole lot of fun on offer, says Deputy Picture Editor Antoinette Cumberbatch.
From Warhol wonders to Pearl Jam’s fave wine – the city has it all.
1. Warhol wonders
Andy Warhol is one of Pittsburgh’s most famous exports, so visiting the museum in his honour is a must.
Start at the top of the gallery to see his life’s work, and you’ll find it’s so much more than Marilyn Monroe prints.
Don’t miss his Judy Garland portrait or the room filled with silver, helium-filled, pillow-shaped balloons.
Entry costs £16.60 (Warhol.org).
Meanwhile, head over to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to see one of the world’s first T. rex specimens, plus there’s artwork galore in its sister museum next door.
Tickets cost £16.60 (Carnegiemnh.org and Cmoa.org).
Later, hit the selfie-worthy Infinity Dots Mirrored Room by Yayoi Kusama and discover other modern-art treats at the eclectic Mattress Museum.
Entry costs £16.60 (Mattress.org).
At the new Moonshot Museum, watch scientists creating spacecraft that will eventually head to the moon.
Tickets cost £7.75 (Moonshotmuseum.org).
2. BIKES and BEERS
The Great Allegheny Passage is one of the most historic bike trails in the US, spanning a whopping 150 miles.
Luckily you can do a shorter version in two hours with Golden Triangle Bike Rentals (Bikepittsburgh.com).
Whizz alongside the Monongahela River and past Colour Park.
Fancy a pit stop?
Dive into the Sly Fox Brewery at The Highline for a surprisingly good coffee ale, £6.25 a pint, or a refreshing raspberry hard seltzer, £5.50.
Elsewhere, at Cinderlands Warehouse – one of more than 40 craft breweries in the city – there are 15 different ales and stouts.
The malty, sweet Ghost Rail lager makes for the perfect sundowner on the terrace adorned with fairy lights.
3. PRESIDENTIAL FEASTS
Expect to queue for a seat at Primanti Bros, famed for its huge sandwiches stuffed with fillings like pastrami, cheese and slaw, £5.60.
The drinks are just as big – order the Drunk Duck (a mix of vodka, coconut rum and strawberry lemonade complete with a rubber duck) – and the experience is like something out of Man V. Food (Primantibros.com).
Pamela’s is an American diner fit for a president – Barack Obama is a fan of its pancakes, and we loved the chorizo hash, £7.70 (Pamelasdiner.com).
Or scoff your way around the Strip District on a ’Burgh Bits And Bites tour (Burghfoodtour.com).
Don’t miss Peace, Love & Little Donuts – bite-sized pieces of heaven in flavours including salted pretzel and maple bacon, £8.30 for six (Peaceloveandlittledonuts.com).
After something fancier?
Spirits And Tales at the Oaklander Hotel serves beets with feta mousse and pea shoots, £12.50, and a fine wagyu burger with truffle fries, £19.50 (Spiritsandtales.com).
4. DOWNTOWN DELIGHTS
Take in spectacular views of Downtown Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline funicular.
Tickets cost £4.15 (Duquesneincline.org).
Then head Downtown to the art deco speakeasy at Omni William Penn Hotel for a Prohibition Punch of strawberries, whiskey, ginger beer and Angustura bitters (Omnihotels.com).
5. PEARL JAM’S FAVE WINE
The Lawrenceville neighbourhood is alive with independent boutiques and vintage stores so good that you’ll want to buy another suitcase.
Visit Vestis for stylish clothes (Vestispgh.com), and Rosie’s Workshop for quirky gifts (Rosiesworkshop.com).
Be sure to book a tour of the Clemente Museum to learn about the life of incredible baseball player Roberto Clemente, too – there’s even a bar with wine made on-site that Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder apparently adores.
Tours cost £17.45 (Clementemuseum.com).
Meanwhile, TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville Hotel makes for the perfect base to rest your head.
Housed in a former warehouse, it has Nip + Fab toiletries, rainfall shower heads and a rooftop bar for cocktails with a stunning city skyline view.
6. A NEW WAY TO TANGO
To really live like a local, you must catch the Pittsburgh Steelers play an NFL fixture at the Acrisure Stadium.
Arrive early for the pre-match festivities and perhaps even join a bout of beer pong in the car park.
Buy one of the legendary “terrible towels” to swing during the game, too – the sea of orange is an incredible sight, even if the game itself feels a bit mind-boggling.
Tickets cost from £125 (Steelers.com).
7. THE WORLD’S COOLEST WATERFALL HOUSE
American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was the genius behind the Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater.
The latter, completed in 1939, is a 90-minute drive out of Pittsburgh.
Nestled in the Laurel Highlands, a visit here offers an instant change of pace.
Be wowed by the cascading waterfall, before stepping inside a time capsule of perfectly preserved decor on a guided tour of this incredible house, £27 per person (Fallingwater.org).
A short walk uphill is another of Wright’s houses, Kentuck Knob, with its gorgeous sculpture garden.
Tours cost £24 per person (Kentuckknob.com).
FYI
Plan your trip at Visitpittsburgh.com.
Return flights to Pittsburgh from London Heathrow start from £505 per person (Britishairways.com).
Doubles at TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville Hotel cost from £134 (Wyndhamhotels.com).