PGH Connections
Shady Side
Tree-lined streets of upscale retail shops and restaurants
Shadyside, home to many shops, restaurants, salons and bars, is a wonderful place to eat, run errands or just hang out. It is located within walking distance of campus, beginning around Ellsworth (just north of Fifth Avenue) and South Aiken and moving east until it meets East Liberty. The moniker Shadyside is drawn from the 19th Century Pennsylvania Railroad Station named for its unique shady lanes. Since the 1920s, residential Shadyside has been home to an amalgamation of affluent families, young professionals and students. With its cool, tree-lined streets and its strips of upscale retail shops and restaurants, Shadyside is an integral part of the Pittsburgh experience.
Walnut Street, the main retail center of Shadyside, is a great place to shop for necessities and treats. Just wander along the stretch of road from South Aiken to Negley, and you can stop in to whatever store catches your eye. A leisurely stroll along Walnut Street window-shopping with an iced latte is a lovely way to pass an afternoon, although it tends to become much more sedate at night. If you’re in the market for a meal, some great local restaurants include the Pittsburgh Deli Company, Prantl’s Bakery, and Pamela’s, which is the place to be for breakfast. For more exotic tastes, visit My Thai, Sushi Too, Cozumel, or La Feria. Finally, the Walnut Grill, and Girasole are nice, fancier places to go for a special occasion.
But Walnut Street is not the only popular place in the Shadyside area: a few blocks north of Walnut Street is Ellsworth Avenue and to the east is South Highland, which both offer a fun antidote to the rest of Shadyside’s peacefulness. Wander along Ellsworth and you get the sense that you have truly stumbled upon a little-known gem. The area manages to be trendy and interesting but not over-crowded. Surprisingly, Ellsworth has a very different atmosphere from the groomed, upscale Walnut Street, which is its geographical sister. Some of Ellsworth’s restaurants include the Elbow Room, Soba Lounge, Umi, Bellini, and Fajita Grill. A fun place for coffee, lunch, and delectable desserts is Crazy Mocha, which now offers free wireless internet. Keep your eyes peeled for the exciting vintage clothing stores, and don’t be afraid to poke your nose in anywhere: you may just discover something.
Getting There:
By Car/On Foot:
Take Morewood to Fifth Avenue. Turn east and then turn north onto South Aiken and right onto Walnut Street or continue on South Aiken to Ellsworth.
By Bus:
Catch the southbound 500 or 71D on Fifth Avenue. Depart at South Aiken and walk to Walnut Street.