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Neighborhoods of Pittsburgh in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Photo: Ainulindale, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
South Side is the southern region of Pittsburgh, south of the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. While this article covers the entire southern region of the city, "South Side" usually refers to a popular neighborhood directly across the Monongahela River from Downtown.
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Once you've ascended to the top of Mount Washington, either by driving or taking one of the two inclines (popular attractions in their own right; see above under Get around), you'll be treated to a splendid view of Downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. Along Grandview Avenue, which parallels the edge of the hill, there are several overlooks offering you unobstructed views. As you walk from one end of Grandview Avenue to the other, the view will change. At the eastern end, at the top of the Monongahela Incline, you'll be directly across from the skyscrapers of Downtown. As you proceed to the western end, near the top of the Duquesne Incline, you'll have a better view of the point, the North Side, and up the river valleys of Pittsburgh.
Picnic area, public boat launch, canoe launch, and a riverfront trail. The riverfront trail runs from the Duquesne Incline along the Monongahela River to about Homestead to the east. Along the trail are informative signs about Pittsburgh history and industrial artifacts from Pittsburgh's industrial heyday on display.
Now a popular office and shopping complex, Station Square used to be a railroad station. The station, fully renovated, is still there. Now housing the Gandy Dancer Saloon and the Grand Concourse restaurant, it is a beautiful example of the grand train stations of the past with a huge, beautiful colored glass skylight, feaux marble columns and fine wooden appointments. You may still see a train passing on the tracks between the station and the river, but they are freight trains, not passenger trains. In the courtyard space facing the river and downtown, you will find several artifacts of the steel industry past on display: huge ladles and furnaces and other equipment. From April through November, the courtyard's large fountain is turned on with the jets of water choreographed to music.
A lovely overlook offering a gorgeous view of Downtown Pittsburgh and the three rivers, looking at the point dead on. To get there requires going through a residential neighborhood down several side streets. From South Side, take Carson St west, turn left at the intersection at the West End Bridge and proceed down Steuben St (a small street on your right just after you make that left turn), turn right on to Chartiers Ave, turn right on to Lorenz Ave, proceed into the neighborhood, turn right onto Elkton St, and finally turn left onto Fairview Ave; the overlook will be directly in front of you.
Offers a variety of sightseeing, dining, and entertainment cruises on the three rivers of Pittsburgh using old-fashioned paddle wheel boats. There are also dinner and dance night cruises, where you can eat galumkies (Polish stuffed cabbage) and polka away the evening on the river.
Offering guided segway tours of the Downtown area and segway accessories.
A professional soccer team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United Soccer League. The Riverhounds play their home games at the 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium in Station Square.
Every October in the South Side is a tour of the South Side Slopes. The event takes place on a Saturday. Participants are given a map and can walk guided trails of the South Side Slopes. Water stations are setup along the way. This is an excellent way to see the South Side Slopes.
One Saturday in February is a yearly soup contest held in the South Side. For $25, participants can try nearly 30 different soups from various restaurants. The restaurants make the soup and serve samples in nearby stores. This event is a great way to try soups from many of the restaurants as well as see many of the stores that make up the South Side.
Call for a reservation and enjoy a seasonal menu at incredibly reasonable prices. The courtyard provides an intriguing setting for your meal. BYOB (a stem fee applies).
A long list of drinks, a trendy crowd, and excellent dessert to compliment this chain's well-known huge servings.
Cozy upscale Italian restaurant and one of Pittsburgh's most romantic restaurants.
Site of the former train station, hosts a huge Sunday brunch and a beautiful view of the city.
A sushi restaurant with reasonable prices. The dress code requires smart casual.
The popular Pittsburgh chain famed for its sandwiches.
Offers an all-vegetarian Sunday brunch, with salad, fruit, bread, pastries, and an amazing vegan dessert table. It's also an antiques store and art gallery.
Kura
Two layers of conveyor belts allow for customers to select items as they catch their eye or order them directly from the kitchen. Drinks are served by a music-playing robot.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Watch the chefs make your soup dumplings in front of you at this Michelin Guide recommended restaurant which serves a variety of Southern Chinese food.
Voted as one of the best sports bars in the city. If you are interested in cheering for a Pittsburgh team, this is the bar to go. If it is the playoffs, show up ahead of time or there may be a line at the door.
Casey's has a little-person bartender on Monday's where he walks onto the bar and dumps shots into your mouth.
A giant beer selection, truly focusing on local and regional beers, many of them on tap. Giant sandwiches and home cut fries and chips. They have an even larger section in their carry-out store on the 2nd floor.
Modeled after the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, with German style brats and booze. The accordion player (and sometimes other entertainers) keeps the mood festive and energetic, especially once visitors have had a few rounds of beer.
Open every hour that they are legally allowed to serve alcohol, closing only from 2AM-7AM each morning. A dive bar in the truest sense, and typically the final stop for many on a Carson Street pub crawl. The drinks are extremely cheap. If you are looking for a beer and a shot, this is the bar to go.
This bar is typically filled with rock & roll types. On Thursday through Saturday nights the second floor of the bar acts as a venue for local artists. Many of the shows are all ages.
Delanie's
Delanie's serves a variety of coffees, teas, and other hot beverages alongside bagels, other lighter fare, and some alcoholic beverages. Drinks can be enjoyed at seating outside, in the loft, and in the main seating area which is open-air when the weather allows.
Gong Cha is South Side's first dedicated boba tea shop. The expansive menu includes rotating seasonal offerings and extensive customization options.
Pittsburgh's only licensed hostel, with shared and private accommodations. Shared single-person bathrooms in the hall; the Byers Suite has a private ensuite bathroom. Security lockers available in the shared dorms. Free wireless internet.
An outdoor shopping and entertainment complex with a variety of shops, most of them high-end national chains.
A mixed-use area with lots of local boutiques and some higher end national chains.
By public transit
Pittsburgh's light rail system, "The T", runs from downtown into the South Side.
On foot
From Downtown, one can easily walk to Station Square via the Smithfield Street Bridge, and from Station Square take the Monogahela Incline railway up to Mount Washington.
In the case of Mount Washington, getting there is half the fun. Many people take one of two incline railways, each a mile apart, to the neighborhoods atop Mount Washington:
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