Looking to uncover all that Central Northside has to offer? Get to know this Pittsburgh neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from an outdoor art gallery to an Irish pub.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Central Northside, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Randyland
Topping the list is local flavor and art gallery Randyland. Located at 1501 Arch St., it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting five stars out of 87 reviews on Yelp.
Folk artist Randy Gilson has been creating this outdoor landmark at his home since 1995. The ever-changing installations include brightly painted murals and furniture, as well as mirrors and countless other upcycled materials.
Make sure your phone battery is fully charged, as you may be constantly snapping photos.
"Randyland is a great place for anyone who likes to show off on social media," wrote Yelper Andy V., who visited it on Jan 1. "It's full of cool places to take that Instagram-worthy photo."
2. Monterey Pub
Next up is Monterey Pub, situated at 1227 Monterey St. With 4.5 stars out of 93 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
This quaint pub in the heart of the Mexican War Streets offers traditional bar food along with a wide variety of drafts on tap. The Guinness shredded beef nachos and fried pickle chips are popular appetizers, while the pub-style shepherd’s pie and the Unusual Burger keep the booths full every night.(Here's the full menu.)
Yelper Michael F. wrote, "I went to this snug and cozy pub for dinner yesterday. The service was fantastic—Guinness after Guinness seemed to appear as if by magic. We started with the smoked salmon nachos, which were an unexpected delight. Do yourself a favor and get anything made with the Guinness beef."
3. Commonplace Coffee
Commonplace Coffee, a spot to score coffee and tea and more, is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1501 Buena Vista St., 4.5 stars out of 71 reviews.
This coffee franchise has locations all over the Pittsburgh region. The bright and airy Mexican War Streets location serves filter coffee, espresso and tea varieties from countries all over the world. Order a latte for the taste as well as the unique art on the surface of the drink. (Find the menu here.)
"Great place to grab coffee and work on things," said Yelper Allyson H. "Great atmosphere and my vanilla latte was delicious!"
4. El Burro
El Burro, a spot to score tacos and more, is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 198 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1108 Federal St. to see for yourself.
El Burro offers large portions of traditional Mexican fare like tacos, burritos and nachos. Try the California burrito and the specialty carne asada fries. This spot also offers a full menu of vegan and vegetarian options. (See the full menu here.)
Jared S. said, "Favorite place to eat around. The burritos are sizable and delicious, love the way they toast the top and bottom a little bit. [The] California burrito is one of the best, but the burritos are all wonderful, and the tacos as well."
5. Badamo's Pizza
Finally, there's Badamo's Pizza, a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 45 reviews. Stop by 1106 Federal St. to hit up the spot to score pizza and salads next time you're in the neighborhood.
The second location for this Pittsburgh pizza joint opened in 2017. The spot serves pizza-by-the-slice in both Sicilian-style as well as New York-style. The menu also includes full pies, hoagies, salads and sides.
"After trying about a million other pizza shops in the city, this is by far the best if you're looking for authentic NY thin crust pizza," wrote Yelper Christine A. "The crust, sauce, cheese, everything is amazing. Even their ranch is house made and so good. The staff is super friendly and personable. Cannot recommend this place enough."
