South Side

You haven’t really experienced the spirit of Pittsburgh until you’ve visited historic East Carson Street in the South Side. This area is comparable to Soho or Greenwich Village but combined with the down home atmosphere of a small Pennsylvania town.

The South Side area is a good place to hang with friends, see a local band, or run errands. East Carson Street is known for its hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve the best food in town, and its small, locally owned bookstores, tattoo parlors and other businesses. Some must-sees, or must-tastes, are Mallorca, a fantastic Spanish restaurant with huge portions; Abbruzzi’s quaint Italian restaurant; FatHeads, home of the best wings in Pittsburgh; and Primanti Brothers Pizza, great for Pittsburgh-style pizza. Be sure, also, to check out the hip cafes (try the Tuscany Café and the Beehive, to get you started).

Much of the South Side offers a unique selection of independent boutiques and clothing stores. Alternatively, on the far east side of East Carson Street you can find South Side Works. Here you can shop at high-end retail stores, dine at restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory, or see a movie.

Another area in South Side, further along Carson Street to the west, is the more commercial Station Square. This area is a developing Pittsburgh tourist spot, convenient because of its proximity to the Gateway Clipper Fleets as well as the Inclines. At Station Square there is a lot to experience as well, including an indoor plaza with many little shops for Pittsburgh Steelers attire and souvenirs. Station Square also has several restaurants including the Japanese Kiku, as well as the Cheese Cellar, Buca di Beppo, and Houlihan’s. For a fancy evening, the train station-turned-restaurant Grand Concourse is a great place to experience Pittsburgh’s past along with a fancy filet mignon or crème brûlée.

Getting There:

By Car:
Take Fifth Avenue west to the Birmingham Bridge. That takes you right to East Carson Street.

By Bus:
From the corner of Forbes and Craig, catch a south/westbound 54C bus, and get off on East Carson between 10th and 28th Streets.

Web Site:

www.betatesters.com/penn/sahside