I did a lot of research before my trip to Pittsburgh and saw review after review recommending the Strip District. I wasn't really sure what to expect but I'm SO glad I went. This is a destination not to be overlooked and Pittsburghers are so lucky to have these foodie resources in their own backyard! It's basically one big area where old factories have been turned into stores, bars and restaurants. Vendors line the sidewalks. Stores keep their doors open and offer free tastes. My first stop was the famous Primanti Brothers, which deserves a review all on its own! Today, many of the abandoned warehouses have been renovated into small specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. The historic St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, a landmark built in the ornate Polish Cathedral style in 1891, lies in the heart of the Strip District, bringing a touch of Old World architecture. The area has developed into a historic market district with many ethnic food purveyors, some art studios, antique dealers, unique boutiques, and other businesses setting up shop where trains once delivered produce by the ton. The Strip District comes alive primarily on weekends during the summer months when street vendors are selling their wares, the open-air farmer's markets are in full swing, and party-goers sit outside and enjoy a drink. By 1 or so, things have mostly closed down. I made a stop at Stamooli's to sample some cheese and check out the Greek yummies. I also ducked into the classic Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., known as Penn Mac to the legion of local fans. At Penn Mac you can stock up on Italian goods from olive oils to imported San Marzano tomatoes, and a cheese section with its wide selection. One foodie item I was determined to sample was Isaly's chipped ham, which I found at Penn Mac and got a free taste. I'd also heard great things about Mon Aimee Chocolate so I decided to take a look. It's very expensive but most of the chocolate is imported. I was able to find some European chocolate for my chocolate snob hubby though, so that was a perk! I've heard the hot chocolate (in back) is to die for. Didn't give it a try. Eventually I made my way to Wholey's, another highly recommended stop. Seafood is the draw. If it's any indication how fresh the produce is at Wholey's, the on-site sushi chef uses tuna, yellowtail and salmon straight from the ice-packed samples on display. Wholey's is a locally-owned supermarket and wholesale company, where the aisles are packed with discerning shoppers. I sampled some soup and it was amazing!! Oh how I wish we had something like this in Lincoln. There were many items I wanted to take home. In the early 19th century, the Strip District was home to many mills and factories as its location along the Allegheny River made for easy transportation of goods and shipping of raw materials. It was the home of the Fort Pitt Foundry, source of large cannon before and during the American Civil War, including a 20-inch bore Rodman Gun. Early tenants of the Strip District included U.S. Steel, Westinghouse, The Pittsburgh Reduction Company (ALCOA), and later The H.J. Heinz Company, famous ketchup and condiment manufacturer. The shipping infrastructure built around the manufacturing companies naturally lead to an increase in other types of merchants setting up shop in the Strip. By the early 20th century the Strip District became a vibrant network of wholesalers--mostly fresh produce, meat, and poultry dealers. Soon, auction houses rose around the wholesale warehouses and many restaurants and grocery stores were built to feed hungry shift workers at any hour of the day. By the 1920s, the Strip District was the economic center of Pittsburgh. read more

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This is just a hard review to write, how do you sum up a neighborhood? This could really be a two part review if you attempt to write about what it is like here in the daylight hours and what it is like in the night time hours. The strip district truly has everything to make it a 24 hour destination. For the daylight hours it is one hundred percent crazy. I mean that with as much love as one can say about a Pittsburgh institution. This place is busy. Not just mingle busy, but beehive-in-full-defense-mode busy. There are people everywhere. Even when you think there isn't anybody there, just try stopping for a second to look at something. One of two things will happen, you will be bumped into repeatedly, or there will be a line forming behind you. People have no regard for traffic here either, but the traffic is totally respectful to people that want to get across the street to get a buy. Everything you can imagine to buy is available for you here. From popcorn to tennis shoes, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I have been here on multiple occasions and have not been able to hit up everything I wanted to. Not because I don't have enough time to do it, but because I am just 1. too tired or 2. ran out of strength to carry items. But not to fret, with this being a seven day a week happening, I can always come back. Now the night time hours here are a little different. It is packed. When I say that, I mean every club, bar, concert venue, etc. is packed to the gill with people having a good time. Don't forget the numerous restaurants this area has to offer. The flavors offered here vary so much that every palate can easily be satisfied. I have spent many nights in the Strip with friends having a great time and making tons of memories. Many nights ended up turning into morning before I knew it. With the new developments taking shape in the Strip I am sure that there are going to be many changes in how things work with parking and traffic. But the one thing that won't change are the experiences that you will have here. Well, maybe that will change a little bit, but not for the worse. New venues will be added, that's what I'm trying to get at. read more

Since moving from San Francisco to Pittsburgh, I've been struggling to buy once easy to find ingredients. It wasn't until a month in that I've discovered this lovely stretch of colorfully diverse shops and restaurants. It was love at first sight. It might be a tad difficult to navigate during the afternoon as cars tend to double park or drive really slow whilst their hunt for the much coveted parking spot. Although, there are a few places that offer parking lots for their guests. But, besides that, this place is well worth a visit if you're ready for a global food adventure. There are two aspects to the Strip District, the actual establishments that line the stretch of streets and the stands that dot the storefronts. My personal favorite are the food stands of course. Their offerings change according to the season. Winter brings roasted chestnuts and a variety of soups, whereas summer brings the savory aroma of grilled meats and freshly made banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich). I could go on and on about all my favorite stores, but I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise of unraveling this lovely place. So grab a friend or three, and explore what this amazing place has to offer! read more

Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

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Best time to go is Saturday mornings to late afternoon. There are street vendors, food trucks, and various local shops ranging from a coffee store, asian supermarket (a chinese and korean based one), chocolate store, etc. You'll find Pamela's Diner here, Roland's - good place to get a drink, and if you want to pick up some Steeler t-shirts almost every vendor sells them! This kept me occupied for a good hour to hour and a half. It felt a little sketchy around 4-5pm when the sun started to disappear and the streets a little emptier with the vendors packing up. read more

Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

Wasn't impressed. Lots of cheap T-shirt and gimmicky souvenir shops with identical merchandise and a couple of specialty food stores if your local or have access to a kitchen during your stay. Best section seems relatively new and unfinished ( includes the East End Brewery ) on 19th street read more

Everyone told me about the Strip District. Just keep in mind after 4pm a lot of shops and businesses start to close. Yes no joke. I got here by 6pm and pretty much everything was closed. The street was dead and it seems like the actual Strip District (Penn Ave) is just a few blocks. If you walk further down then you end up in no where. read more

If only all family visits in PA kicked off with a visit to the Strip. Chocolate. Pierogies. Mile high sandwiches. Jazz on the streets. Dr.Seuss fabric. Dried floral wreaths. Just a wee sampling of the items that razzle me while visiting strolling through the District on a Saturday morning. The best part about the strip? No matter the weather, Pittsburghians (does this word exist?) come out in droves for fresh Italian breads on the streets topped with jalapenos, pepperonis and cheese, baklava and produce sold even when there's snow in the air. My favorites: hot chocolate from Chocolat (as close to the Swiss/Italian Chocolate al densa as you'll get) - I recommend the spiced, dark chocolate option - they'll let you sample to make the final call Pierogies and other polish goodies from S&D Polish Deli (eat in and take some home for later from the big freezer of pierogies in the back) Sandwiches from the classic Primanti Brothers - coleslaw, meat and whatever else you could imagine mashed between two thick pieces of bread. Macaroni Company: buzzing cheese counter, olive oil barrels, great selection of Italian sweets (including my mom's favorite: poppyseed roll bread) Can't wait for the next visit and to knock off some new businesses off my list. Wish folks from Indy would embrace the cooler weather like this. read more

Wow. Love this place - any day of the week! There is so much to do here; that's the reason why most people feel that this is one of the best areas to hang out in the 'Burgh. It sucks to drive down Penn Avenue on the weekend, but for good reason - there's so much to do! Personal favorites are PBT for childrens' ballet classes, Wigle Whiskey for honestly amazing drinks and great libations, the Lotus Food Company for asian grocery, Wholey's for fish/seafood, and enjoy all the stops in-between! This place is definitely our go-to when we have out of town guests to show the city, and they are always happy we did. Honestly guys, thanks! You've made a "Yinzer" out of this good ol' Southern boy... Will definitely be back... read more

I liked the Strip District, but I was not nearly as Blown Away by it as some others. It seems like a great neighborhood for locals to do there ethnic food shopping. But for tourists, I'd say there are far better parts of Pittsburgh if you're short on time. I had dinner at Roland's Seafood. It underwhelmed. I certainly don't regret my trip to the Strip District but I wouldn't go far out of my way to get here. read more

I'm a real fan of The Strip District! I recently visited friends in Pittsburgh and they took us here for shopping and some lunch. While it's nothing like the Italian Market in Philly where Rocky took his famous run, it's a close second! I can't think of a thing you can't buy here! Fresh fish, spices, breads, pottery, fresh flowers, produce, restaurants, you name it....you can find it here! Absolutely great and everyone should go here at least once when in PIttsburgh! read more

I visited this area for the first time in March 2014 with my family. We were just experiencing the city and not looking for anything specific. All of us loved it, young and old. We loved the little shops, especially Pittsburgh Popcorn Factory, Art of Steel, the European market, various street vendors and the biscotti shop. Even if you fasted, you wouldn't be able to try it all in one day. There are tons of food options from snacks to sit down restaurants. If I was local I would have such a great time experiencing all of the local wonders and flavors as well as take advantage of the fresh produce market which had incredibly low prices. I wish they'd close off the roadways in peak hours. There isn't much room to move on the sidewalks but there is also traffic so it's a struggle to get around, especially with a stroller. I wish there was a little more variety in shops because I can see it getting old year after year if there isn't variation. read more

Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

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Absolutely loved this strip! Lots of eats and shopping. From a fresh fish market to a candy shop! Perfect place to "waste" sometime. We arrived in Pittsburgh early and couldn't check into the hotel so we killing a couple hours here. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh I will definitely return to the strip! read more

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For a lively and authentic neighbourhood, you named it the most bland name "Strip District". You can feel the history and taste the history here but also note the up and coming gentrification that respectfully works itself in. We originally came here because of dinner... Gaucho Parrilla Argentina was our siren's call and wow, the delivery of flavour amazing. We noticed how the area had the gritty industrial vibe of the docking areas and wholesalers. Interesting thing, between the big cement block buidlings, you had these incredibly charming old red brick buildings that called from another era. Often now housing businesses that seemed to pass down generation to generation or on occassion, a new shot of energy from a new place. We did come here a few times ... Gaucho Parrila, Smallman Galley, Bar Marco, La Prima, Colangelo's and Kelly O's. We saw the quiet streets in the evenings and the vibrant markets spilling onto every part of the sidewalk on Saturday. I highly recommend anyone to come Saturday morning... it is a bit crazy to navigate your way through the crowds but also avoid the random tables of Pittsburgh Pirate gear or tables of green beans. But I highly recommend doing it because you'll see the best of the Strip during that time. And it's even better with a La Prima Cappuccino in hand. There are tons of things to see that are so unique ... Grandpa Joe's Wonka-esque towering displays of candy or the auction like yelling from Robert Wholey fish market. It's all got to be seen and done. For me, the sights and sounds are great but the food is best here. Bar Marco, La Prima, Smallman, Gaucho Parilla, and Colangelo's are all worthy of a side trip ... ok, probably a few side trips. read more

A lot has changed over the years but the smell is still the same , it smells like Pittsburgh! , from spices , cheese , fruit , vegetables all fresh, and the food cooked in the side of the street what's not to love about this place. This is definitely one place I never not go when I hit Pittsburgh. read more

Strip District - Street food only $2.00 for giant egg roll good stuff - Local Flavor Near Me

Been down here before but wanted to try other places. Love the ability to park and see the different shops. Great places to eat. Lots of variety of food. Really excited to see how this area is growing with new businesses. Can't wait to go down again and see what is new. Lots to do and see. Come and visit this wonderful area of Pittsburgh. read more

Lots and lots of shop, bats, and restaurants in this area. All can be done on foot and both sides of the street are full of fun stores. read more

Strip District - The Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

This is a hard review to write because so many of my favorite places have gone to "Strip heaven." With today's Stanley cup parade downtown I had the opportunity to venture down some of Penn Ave hassle free. Yes there are many fine places to eat here a lot of which are on my to do list. The strip best known for great produce at very reasonable prices did not turn out to be that way today as I stopped at one store. I was looking at strawberries. They sold for the same amount I pay in the grocery store and were just as bad. However, they hold some of the best venues such as the PA Macaroni Company, Mon Aimee Chocolate, Robert Wholey's. Not to mention everywhere I turned there were clothing stores and of course sport tees everywhere!!! However, it is the home of the Heinz history center, Prestogeorge fine coffees,PIttsburgh Popcorn factory, and a whole variety of shops. Parking can be bad. If you are lucky then you can get a metered spot. If you plan to stay for more than an hour you are best to pay a flat rate at one of the lots. I visited a few coffee shops along the way and as I looked over Smallman St and Penn Ave my heart sank as I remembered the old days when Benkowitz fish sandwiches was the place to go on 22nd st. Mike Fineberg's is now gone along with the Pittsburgh Public Market. Yes and you will even find some street vendors and an occasional food truck here or there. Yet it is a bike lover's dream. No time I can say is really the best time to visit. The strip district is always crowded but it is one of our neighborhoods and one that makes me Pittsburgh proud. read more

Although Monroeville is local-ish, I am a total tourist when strolling The Strip! I love the shops and never leave empty-handed (or hungry!!), but destination is not typically narrowed beyond "The Strip". Great art shops, many cultures, bustle? puts Miss Kitty to shame!, fantastic smells, seafood galore and 100% Pittsburgh. My rating math is this: 6-stars minus one for parking! Five it is-- Hoping that another benefit of empty-nest is becoming a Strip regular! Wish me luck! read more

It's got it all. Interesting shopping, great eateries with the best seafood in the area. I wish I could try them all. It's a must area to go if you want some unique food stuff from around the world. Each trip I bring home some amazing cheese, meats, sweet treats and trinkets. You can also get food from many Asian countries beside Europe. There is something for everyone when it comes to a visit in this area. read more

Are you looking for some of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh? Then look no further! The strip district is a microcosm of the diverse and local food selection that Pittsburgh has to offer. There are landmark restaurants in this such as Pamelas and Delucas while there are also new and changing restaurants such as the hip smallman gallery that is one building with 4 different small kitchens (usually only 2 people preparing food) that all serve one large area. At smallman the restaurants will change every so often and new start ups will be invited in to try to make a name for themselves and hopefully land a brick and mortar store somewhere in the city. There are many other types of businesses as well. If you are looking for wearable Pittsburgh gear the strip is the place to be. Stop by the strip district meat store to grab a wide array of meat including some of the best bacon and sausage I've ever had, elk, alligator, and even snake. Also for the out of town visitors, the Primanti Bros located in the strip is the original location. There is too much in this area to name it all. Weekends are crowded and the strip closes down early so get there early! read more

Having an Importing business in the Strip for over 25 years, it's a great place to visit and shop.

Husband and I have been to Pittsburgh a handful of times now. After our last visit Moms asked me, "Haven't you exhausted that city by now?" Yeah, no. Pitt is chock full of awesome things to do. We've only just scratched the surface. Every time we visit we try to do something new and different. Know what we do *every* time, tho? Visit The Strip. Usually more than once. On the weekends, The Strip District pulsates with activity. Brick-and-mortars throw their doors open, street vendors set up shop, local produce markets thrive, and artisans sell their wares. Throngs of people swell the sidewalks and streets. Tourists and locals abound. It's the most vital and exciting place in the 'Burgh. Walk here if you can. If you must, park early (I'm talking the crack of). Pop in anywhere that looks good -- don't miss Wholey's, Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, Penn Avenue Pottery, DeLuca's, Mancini's Bread or In the Kitchen. You haven't visited Pitt until you've strolled the Strip. Trust me on this one. read more

Walk a mile in my shoes and you'll end up at the The Strip District ! (^.^)/~~~ It's no secret....the Strip might be the best thing about Pittsburgh....A lively produce market by day....a busy club scene at night...a visit the strip is not to be missed during my stay here in Pittsburgh ...been here multiple times! And loved every moment of it...its a A short walk from downtown as well ! this area never gets dull! enjoyyyy read more

If you have out of town visitors, the Strip District is one of the best parts of town to take them. There is plenty to see and do and eat--so much that you can't expect to possibly experience it all in one day! If you're a local, I'd recommend returning frequently to take advantage of all that this neighborhood has to offer! The best part of the Strip is the local merchants and the unique and--for the most part, inexpensive--goods and eats. If I lived closer, this is where I'd shop for groceries. As it were, I come here mostly for the prepared food. The eats range from inexpensive, quality street food (e.g., Edgar's Tacos, Lucy's) to reasonably-priced sit-down or self-serve lunches (e.g., Wholey's, Chicken Latino, Penn Ave. Fish Co.) to higher-end restaurants (Lidia's, Luke Wholey's, Kaya). You can find tasty specimens of whatever type of food you're craving, whether it's pizza, pho, or pastries. Be sure not to miss the PGH Public Market, which houses several vendors selling fresh, homemade food. If you're more interested in liquid refreshments, be sure to check out the Strip's array of coffeehouses (La Prima Espresso, 21st St. Coffee), bars (Bar Marco, Harp & Fiddle, the BeerHive), and distilleries (Wigle Whiskey, PGH Winery, Maggie's Farm Rum). I've recently made the Strip a regular meal stop on my weekend bike rides around the city, and have enjoyed treating my tastebuds to the multitude of culinary treats that it offers. Additionally, I've begun exploring its breweries, and looking forward to checking out more of them. Finally, a trip to the Strip just wouldn't be complete without a stop at a bakery (Enrico, Colangelo's) or Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor, a vintage ice cream parlor and soda fountain, for a sweet treat. If you're interested in shopping for food or ingredients, I'd recommend checking out the inexpensive, fresh produce at the Market Outlet and the Farmers @ Firehouse farmers' market, the authentic ethnic ingredients at Penn Mac and Lotus, and the spices at Penzey's. If you love sweets, be sure not to miss the candy stores (Mon Aimee and Grandpa's). If you're more interested in checking out artisan goods, be sure to check out Art of Steel, the Allegheny Coffee and Tea Exchange, and, of course, the sportswear store. And of course, be sure not to miss the Heinz History Center, a cultural gem of a museum full of historical artifacts presented in a fun, engaging way. About the only thing not to love about the Strip is the crowds, which are especially heavy during the weekend, and the hectic parking (but see my tips). They make for great people watching, however, so find an uncrowded spot and take advantage! read more

Strip District - Cannoli and other delicious baked goods for sale in front of Penn Mac - Local Flavor Near Me

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This is the part of town where you can get whatever you want, somewhere, at a decent price, from somebody who knows exactly what you need and Pittsburgh's always going to the Super Bowl, here we go, Steelers, here we go. Just watch out for the tourists. And the nightclub crowd. My understanding from a lifetime of shopping here: buy your biscotti at Enrico, grab some grape leaves at Stamooli's, catch up on the lasest cheeses at Penn Mac, load up on chocolate at Mon Amis, stockpile steaks at Strip District Meats, catch a fish at Wholey's, appease your orientalist fetishes at Lotus, sharpen your knife at In The Kitchen, engage in spice trading at Penzey's, get veggies at Stan's, bread from Sunseri's, for starters. read more

This is always an interesting part of Pittsburgh to visit and it's really the place to be on most weekends. For most Pittsburgher's, it's a tradition. This part of Pittsburgh dates back to the 19th century and was originally home to mills and factories. Located along the Allegheny River, this was a good spot for transportation of goods and materials. U.S. Steel, Westinghouse and The Pittsburgh Reduction Company were early tenants of the Strip District. This was later the location for H.J. Heinz Company, famous for ketchup. The Strip District later became a spot for wholesalers of meat, poultry and produce. Even later, restaurants and grocery stores were built to serve the local workers. By the 1920s, the Strip District was the economic center of Pittsburgh. Today, there are still several wholesalers and produce dealers, but gone is the manufacturing plants and mills. Many of the abandoned warehouses have been renovated into small specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Stand out historical buildings include the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, which was built in the 1891 to 1892. Another beautiful building is the century-old Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building which houses The Senator John Heinz History Center. The area has developed into a historic market district with an interesting mix of ethnic foods, art studios, antique dealers, interesting boutiques, and other businesses setting up shop where trains once delivered products by the ton. The Strip District is alive on weekends during the summer months as the ever-changing variety of sidewalk vendors hock their wares, the open-air farmer's markets are in full swing, and others sit outside and enjoy a drink. The area has seen interest by residential developers recently. Some of the old factory and warehouse buildings are being transformed into apartments and lofts. Examples include the Cork Factory, Brake House Lofts Apartments and more recently the Otto Milk Condos. For us, it's a hangout to casually pretend to shop, generally buying a lot of nothing, but looking at everything. We also like to try a different restaurant on every visit. read more

I love the strip district. I love walking, looking, smelling. It is everything and has everything Pittsburgh. There is plenty of parking (if you are willing to walk a few blocks) and there is so much to see. All of the street vendors and all the little mom and pop places that have been here for ages make an awesome feast for your senses. There are always lots of people (good for people watchers) and lots to taste. The flowers being sold are beautiful and the view of downtown (or as we say it dahntahn) is just extraordinary. If you are looking for something to do on a Saturday morning, come here. Always a fun time! read more

Great place to have access to for Pittsburgers, suburbanites, tourists and anyone else interested in having the closest thing to an open market experience in Pgh. There are many things to do while in the strip. Start your day with breakfast at a greasy spoon, then, shop til you drop on fine produce, fresh, pungent cheeses, warm breads and pastries, and much more. Head to lunch at any of the numerous cafes. Go down to the Pgh History museum. Then, head to a fancy dinner, a couple bars for night caps, and end your experience at the famous Primanti Bros. A must see if visiting from elsewhere, and a must visit if in need of anything fresh, different, and life changing food-wise. And, btw, probably one of the best places to buy all your Pgh sports team fan gear. read more

Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

This is a meat lovers paradise, everything is fresh, so heavenly fresh and God so affordable. On my latest visit I purchased pork chops, hot Italian sausage and a 5 pound bag of chicken wings for less than $35. Rewind to last year, I started to notice that Giant Eagle chicken wings have become giant grotesque flavorless monster meat. Because of this I started shopping at Strip District Meats. The wings are appropriately sized and delicious. In fact everything I've purchased here is delicious. The hot sausage has got to be the best I've ever eaten. They're good every way to, grilled, baked, fried, boiled etc... I couldn't be more pleased with the selection and quality of meats. They have just about everything under the sun including chorizo!!! Be warned though, this butcher shops is tiny and gets packed. The staff moves fast but it can get cramped in there. It's a boisterous crowd that shops in there. This is my go to meat shop. read more

I've been a huge fan of this little piece of the Burgh ever since I was a kid. My dad would take me down here every Thursday to gather food for Sunday supper. First stop was Allasandria Sausage, sadly gone now, but their homemade hot sausage was amazing. Next stop was Penn Mac, olive oils, hunks of Parm and Romano cheese for topping pasta. Flour and eggs for my great Grandmother's home made pastas. Needless to say, the strip has a soft spot in my heart. Today, the strip is an eclectic collection of shops, street vendors, bars, restaurants, food trucks, t shirts, sports memorabilia, bakeries, coffee and ethnic markets. The Cork Factory condos are here, as well at the Heinz History Center. The original Primanti's Is here, Lidia's, and two of Pittsburgh's top breakfast spots Pamala's and DeLuca's. A favorite of almost all locals, if you're a visitor there are two streets in Pittsburgh you must explore, Carson Street on the South Side and the Strip District's Penn Ave. read more

Pittsburgh Bound! Part VI I moved to Atlanta in December of last year from Pittsburgh and had yet to be back. Virtually every Labor Day weekend of my entire life was spent in Pittsburgh with my parents, as my birthday falls within the window. I promised my folks that I would make a long weekend out of it, and head on home. The following reviews are a step-by-step account of the long weekend. Enjoy! (For part V, go to: http://www.yelp.com/review_share/XO8oVmObhdsGT1Blrby2-w/review/u9-OxNypeTIcnD6dBuLb9A?fsid=4oLsiunZ6p5Vz1h7XdLLXg) A small section of Penn Ave., Smallman St., and Liberty Ave. make up the Strip District; an iconic marketplace that came to fruition in the early 1900's as a practical necessity in the heart of a steel town teeming with shift workers just looking for something to eat. The Strip was initially a business hub with serious contenders placing offices within its confines. US Steel, ALCOA, Westinghouse, and Heinz were all aligned down the street that boasted the best in local food wholesale, grocery stores, and restaurants. Not much has changed in a century. The Strip is still one of the hottest spots in the Burgh. If you are going to Pittsburgh in the near future, make sure to carve out a slice of time to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes that the Strip District has to offer. Locals flock to the Strip on a weekly basis, and tourists who are checking it out will immediately notice that there isn't the least bit of a tourist-trap feel to it. The Strip is a genuine culmination of local cuisine, epicurean diversity, and a place where there are few, if any ingredients, that aren't within a block's reach of wherever you are standing. Meat purveyors, cheese mongers, and a variety of street vendors serve up such delicacies as pierogies, grilled chicken satay, raw oysters, and even homemade dog treats. I didn't need anything. My mom didn't need anything. But we knew that if I was in town, we were going to do what we always do when I'm home and wrestle through the throngs of people, knowing that even if we came home empty-handed, at least we experienced the minor chaos. After two minutes of entering Wholey's I came to the realization that this is the first time in my entire life where I wasn't driving back to my home after visiting with my parents. A first, I had to board a plane to go home to Atlanta, which created a severe limitation on what I could buy. Whatever I got, I had to eat before I left which was perfectly fine with me. The Strip District is definitely a place worthy of visiting when you're in town. (For part VII, go to: http://www.yelp.com/review_share/hsRjct8UiUHU54B983GmcA/review/5q1GTAV1pUIq_BgCnNNY-A?fsid=oxxZiKVdfoPZvy9nBFr2AQ) read more

This was such a cool area of Pittsburgh! While on a weekend vacation to see a Braves/Pirates game, we were told by several people to check out the Stript District in Pittsburgh so we did on Saturday. There were stands of fruits, vegetables, flowers, bread, desserts, clothing all along the streets. It was a lot of fun just to walk around and see what all they had to offer. There were tons of places to eat and all kinds of shops. One of the shops we stopped into was Wholey's Fish Market and though we couldn't buy anything because we had no way to keep it cold, it was cool just to walk around and see all of the fish and fresh meat they offered. We also checked out the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and I wanted to buy all the cheese and olives they had there. Oils, nuts, pastas, meats, cheeses. It was an Italian food lover's dream. We finished the day by buying a cannoli on the street after lunch to share and just enjoyed the beautiful weather as we walked up and down each section. This is one place I would go back to again on my next visit. read more

This place was amazing. I spent over two hours weaving my way through people and street vendors checking out the wide variety of stores. I really enjoyed all the different ethnic stores. It was amazing to have an Italian, Greek, Mexican, Korean, and Chinese grocery store all on the same street. I loved Penzeys spices! They had an excellent selection and the staff was very friendly. Overall the highlight was Wholey Seafood. The selection was diverse and fresh. This district makes me want to visit Pittsburgh all the time! read more

There is something downright charming about the Strip District. It's a true mashup scene, and I love it. There's restaurants of all kinds- high, medium and low brows of various cuisines. You have bars (divey to the cocktail), night clubs, luxury apt buildings, mixed with street vendors selling street food to Pittsburgh paraphernalia. You want fresh veggies, fish caught that day? Got it. Flowers, clothing, a super charming cigar bar?! My favorites though are the ethnic markets within blocks of each other. Counting in Reyna Foods, Penn Macaroni Co., and Salem's Market that also carries some Indian products. Mon Aimee Chocolat will change your life! There's more around I'm sure, just haven't yet discovered. It's a great area to walk around, compact enough to where you can check out all the establishments quite easily. Tourists are around, but I wouldn't call it a tourist trap. Most shops close early, so get there early, like before 4pm. The first time I went I wasn't all that impressed, but the more and more I go, I totally dig it. read more

Strip District - Traffic relatively clear on a late weekday - Local Flavor Near Me

I love the Strip, I really do. Can it be better? YES. If you like to support local businesses and visit what it like a city public market or market district, the Strip is the place to go in Pittsburgh. There you will find specialty meat purveyors, seafood purveyors, spices, Italian goods, bakeries, etc. You will also find a lot of local businesses or farms that have their own stand in the Public Market area. You can find some of the best breads and meats in town down here. You can find a lot more in many other cities markets like this though. That is my only complaint... I feel that with a little love, this area can become more like Cleveland's West Side Market, or like the Lexington Market of Baltimore, etc. There is just so much more potential overall. read more

You HAVE to go up there several times to see everything this not a trip that can be done in a day. This place has everything. I mean Everything. Penzey's - Spice Shop Lotus Food Co. - Asian Food Market Pennsylvania Macaroni Co - Italian Food Market Labad's - Mediterranean & Middle East Food Market Reyna's - Mexican Food Market S&D - Polish Deli Wholey's - Fish Market great fish! In The Kitchen - Name says it all everything you need "In The Kitchen" Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange - Every Coffee or Tea you could want. Bradley's Book Outlet - Lots of books! Loom - Cute little fabric Store Mon Amiee - English Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Spicy Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! read more

Love the Strip. Whether you're a local, live in the city (like me) or from outta tahn, you will love the Strip District. Open air shops, great eateries, and fantastic bars. Come dahn on a Saturday or Sunday for the festival like atmosphere and excitement. read more

Strip District - Local Flavor Near Me

I really enjoy places such as this ... and I expect a little bit of grit in my refurbished warehouse/industrial districts, but this is as dirty a retail rehab district as I've ever seen. Asides from the parking being a mismanaged fiasco, I blame the local business owners for not sweeping up outside and around their businesses and not even caring to cut a few weeds outside their doorways. I have no doubts The Strip has earned its reputation, places such as this are really a joy to visit and get a feel for a city, but the business owners are trashing that reputation by not taking better care of it. read more

The Strip was more interesting years ago. It was filled with the same ethnic stores as today and tons of nightclubs. They even had a floating dock with two clubs, a seated boardwalk and floating stage. They had an outdoor club called Coconuts that was tropical and more. Today most of that is gone. It's just some small ethnic food stores, souvenir stores and a couple of restaurants. The parking along the warehouse used to be free on the weekends.... and there were more stores and an open warehouse with food. It's OK to browse here for Steelers merchandise or some cheap vegetables. read more

WOW. there are so many locally-owned shops in the strip district, it is amazing! i had never seen anything quite like the strip before coming here; i am from the DC area and that is the city i am used to. there are definitely locally-owned places in DC, but not at the same density as in the strip district, does that make sense? the first shop i went into was a woodcarving sort of place. there were handcrafted cutting boards and other wooden things, as well as handmade blankets and candles. very cool place! another shop i really liked was a coffee and tea shop. an entire wall was lined with giant mason jars full of loose leaf tea that you could buy by the pound. i bought a quarter pound each of three different types, which was very exciting. one last place to note was grandpa joe's candy shop, which had a variety of fun and vintage candies. there are also several farmers' markets, and of course a primanti brothers! i came with my family on a saturday and most of the shops closed at 5:00, which i was surprised by. so this is definitely a daytime/early afternoon activity. definitely recommend coming here and checking it out! read more