PGH Connections
Bloomfield
Quaint neighborhood seems like a relic from another time
If you are looking to get out of the Shadyside/Oakland/Squirrel Hill rut, and you’re feeling adventurous, then go check out a neighborhood called Bloomfield. Known as the “Little Italy” of Pittsburgh, Bloomfield offers a wonderful selection of eating options as well as hot spots for hanging out with friends.
Liberty Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Bloomfield and the street is lined with card shops, shoe stores, Italian restaurants, and markets which attract shoppers not only from nearby neighborhoods but from all of Pittsburgh. The primary Bloomfield attraction is the variety of food options it offers, including endless romantic restaurants, bakeries, and breakfast spots which make it difficult to choose where to go first. A few must-visits are Del’s Ristorante Del
Pizzo, Mezzanotte Café, D’Amico’s, and Alexander’s Pasta Express.
This quaint neighborhood seems like a bit of a relic from another time. Everyone seems to move very languidly and you might even catch the owners of the houses that face onto Liberty having an ice cream on their front steps. The locals are very aware of the area’s reputation for classic Italian food and a 1950s feel and have gone so far as to paint the cheery red, green and white colors of Italy on the curbs and parking meters. If the hip cafes and inventive panini fillings they offer are any indication, however, there does appear to be movement toward infusing the atmosphere with some modern trendiness.
Stop by to pick up your favorite Italian deli meats and food products at Donatelli’s Italian Food Center or Groceria Italiana. Enjoy some freshly made cannoli at Paddy Cake Bakery or Simple Treat Bakery. Get your haircut at one of the many old-fashioned barbershops along Liberty Ave. On your way out, don’t forget to get a serving of some of Pittsburgh’s best Italian Ice at Scoops Plus or a coffee at Crazy Mocha.
Getting There:
By Car:
Take Morewood north to Fifth Avenue and turn east. At Negley Avenue, go north. Negley will turn into Liberty Avenue.
By Bus:
Catch the northbound 54C from the stop on Craig Street just past Fifth Avenue. Take it to any of the Liberty Avenue stops, depending on where you’re going.