Best Things to Do in Shadyside: Dining, Shopping, and Entertainment

Shadyside is a charming neighborhood in Pittsburgh that has a little bit of everything — and once you start exploring, it's hard not to fall in love with it. Whether you've been here a while and feel like you still haven’t fully discovered what your neighborhood has to offer, or you just picked up the keys to your apartment, we created this guide to help you dig a little deeper and make Shadyside feel like home.

The Best of Shadyside Dining

Shadyside punches above its weight for food. The variety is there, sure, but the quality is what keeps people coming back — and almost all of it is within walking distance of your new apartment in Shadyside.

• Café Moulin: A tiny French-inspired café that feels like it belongs on a side street in Paris. They are best known for their crepes and coffee. Be prepared to wait in line on the weekend!
• Mad Mex: Loud, fun, reliable. The Tex-Mex is bold, the options are plentiful, and the margaritas cause some nights to go longer than expected… not speaking from experience, of course… 
• Soba: Soba features a Pan-Asian menu, fantastic sushi, and inventive cocktails. You’ll find many patrons here celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Note that it is more upscale, so it’s a restaurant you will want to dress up for!
• Urban Tap: This is the neighborhood staple. Don’t know where to get brunch without a long wait? Urban Tap. Looking for a place to watch a Steelers game? Urban Tap. With a rotating craft beer selection and solid pub fare that works for every occasion. Also, the IPAs, if that's your thing, are taken seriously here.
• Tocayo: Modern Mexican done right. Bold flavors, a cocktail menu worth working through, and a space with enough energy that you'll look up and realize an hour has passed.
  

Boutiques and Big Name Stores

Walnut Street and Ellsworth Avenue are the hotspots for shopping in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. The neighborhood offers a mix of local finds, independent boutiques, and a few large-name retailers you already know.

• Hey Betty: This vintage shop features a mix of carefully curated clothing, accessories, and home items. It’s the perfect spot to hit when you are browsing with no agenda.
• Ten Toes: Looking for shoes? Ten Toes if your spot! They sell styles you won't find at the mall, and the staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. It’s worth a stop, even if you didn't plan to buy anything. (You probably will, though.)
• Kards Unlimited: A Shadyside staple that's been around long enough to earn its reputation. They are renowned for their selection of cards, gifts, novelty items, and other trinkets you can’t find elsewhere. It’s easy to spend half an hour in here without noticing.
• Patagonia: You know it! The Shadyside location is the perfect spot for those gearing up for anything outdoors or looking for a jacket that'll beat the Pittsburgh winters. 
  
  

Things To Do After 5 pm

Shadyside has enough going on that you don’t need to leave the neighborhood to find a good time. A few worth knowing about:Fitness: Stay active with a workout at X Shadyside, a local fitness center that offers classes and personal training. For those who prefer yoga, Yoga Flow is a popular studio offering classes for all levels.

• X Shadyside: Looking for group fitness, personal training, or just a home gym? With X being so close, it gives you less excuse to skip a workout… who said that?! 
• Yoga Flow: This is a solid local yoga studio with classes across all levels. Be sure to check it out. Namaste!
• Steel City Improv: Watch improv comedy shows in a casual setting. It’s worth going at least once, even if you think improv isn't your thing. And if you’re looking to dabble in the comedy realm, classes are available too. 
• Shady Grove: Outdoor seating, live music, good drinks, great food. What else could you ask for? This is the perfect spot for a warm evening when you just want to sit outside with your friends.
• Mario's East Side Saloon: Mario’s is a bit louder and livelier than the other bars in Shadyside. Made up of a lot of college students, they have weekly trivia nights and are always busy on the weekends.
  

Green Spaces To Enjoy

Mellon Park feels like a well-kept secret. It has beautiful gardens, easy walking paths, and enough open space to spread out on a Sunday afternoon.

The East Liberty Pedestrian Bridge is worth checking out too! It is the perfect spot for a walk, great for photos, and quiet in a way that's harder to find than you'd think this close to the city.

Now… Get Out and See Shadyside!

With delicious food, great shopping, green space, and fun activities to enjoy, Shadyside gives enough variety that you'll keep finding things you didn't know were there. The next time you leave your apartment, take a different street, try the restaurant you keep walking past, and enjoy living in Shadyside!

If you’re looking to call this neighborhood home, check out our current availability in Shadyside! Feel free to contact Sterling Land Company with any questions.