Best Aldi Finds Section
Lawrenceville Aldi
Nothing sidetracks a grocery trip like the Aldi Finds section, and not all Aldi Finds sections are created equal. The Lawrenceville Aldi reigns supreme with a full, well-stocked aisle begging shoppers to peruse its selection of seasonal decor, ill-fitting clothes, and random toys. And candles — soooo many candles. What goes better with frozen pizza and Belle Vie flavored seltzer than a steeply discounted stadium chair, an off-brand Squishmallow, or a hooded towel for your dog? Looking for a small one-use appliance, or a cheap hair tool that probably sucks? It’s all here in the Aldi Finds section! And if you’re like me, you follow the Aldi Instagram account for weekly updates on new useless crap that will make you question whether or not it’s worth the short-lived burst of retail dopamine. 450 56th St., Lawrenceville. stores.aldi.us
-Amanda Waltz
Best Over-the-Top Billboard
Jimmy Wan’s Restaurant and Lounge
Few billboards grab my attention like the one for Jimmy Wan’s restaurant, its Chinese-style dragon looming over Rte. 28, eyes flashing, neon fire bursting from its mouth. The flashy style conjures a sexy, dangerous establishment straight out of a Nicholas Winding Refn thriller, specifically Only God Forgives. While the results are, expectedly, less so, the food still slaps, ensuring that the dramatic billboard isn’t the only thing worthwhile about Jimmy Wan’s, which has locations in both Fox Chapel and Cranberry. 1337 Old Freeport Rd., Fox Chapel and 1686 Rte. 228, Cranberry. jimmywans.com - Amanda Waltz
Best Place to Be a Local Tourist
Allegheny Observatory
I’m a big believer in being a tourist in your own city, something that’s not difficult in a place as steeped in history and accessible landmarks as Pittsburgh. It took too long for me to visit the Allegheny Observatory, a designated historic landmark atop Riverview Park that’s often forgotten amid the much-deserved love for our museums, inclines, and stadiums. Operated by the University of Pittsburgh for the last 158 years, the Observatory is still a working laboratory, and thus not a place you walk right into, but it frequently holds free tours and events, in keeping with its mission to let the public come gaze at the stars. In addition to three domed telescopes (one of which has a true-crime connection), the Observatory is rife with gems like a crypt, marble hallways, and stained glass, and boasts having pioneered standard time, shaping Pittsburgh’s industrialization. Come for the cosmic views, stay for the eye-opening history. 159 Riverview Ave., Perry North. observatory.pitt.edu -Rachel Wilkinson
Best Place to Be Left Alone
Banksville Swimming Pool
Pittsburgh Citiparks pools are oases for the overheated. While they vary from cute to capacious and everything in between, one stands out for its extremely chill vibe — Banksville Pool, located off of Banksville Road in the sleepy neighborhood of the same name. If you’re hot, sick of your neighborhood, and simply want to take a dip without being bothered, Banksville Pool is it. Keep this in mind when pool season comes back around next year! 1461 Crane Ave., Banksville. pittsburghpa.gov. -Colin Williams
Best Neighborhood Restaurant That Will Never Make an Eater or New York Times List
Coriander India Grill
While Pittsburgh opens buzzy new restaurants (in this economy?) and holds court about its status as a foodie town, lately, I’ve been more about the unsung hero: the unflappable neighborhood gem. This isn’t so much about one spot — though obviously I have mine — as much as a category of restaurant that I know every Pittsburgher has in their back pocket, and that’s “Old Faithful down the street that’s been there for years.” This restaurant never fails to deliver delicious takeout on a rainy Tuesday, and you can even dine in without a reservation. For me, this is Coriander, a Squirrel Hill staple where I know the spice level on the matar paneer (my go-to) will be perfect, the samosas straight from the oven, and the mango lassi fresh. I’m also looking at you, Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33, and Leon’s Caribbean in Allentown (which, admittedly, I will drive to). In an uncertain world, let’s hear it for the tried and true. 2201 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill. corianderindiangrill.com -Rachel Wilkinson
Best Downtown Alley
Exchange Way
The Steel City already had its star turn as Gotham City in Christopher Nolan’s Batman series. From the right angle, it’s easy to pretend Pittsburgh is bigger and maybe scarier than it actually is, and that’s especially true in the alleys of Downtown. While some alleyways capture a piss-scented Manhattan je-ne-sais-quoi (Strawberry Way) and others take you to the city’s utilitarian backside (Cecil Place), Exchange Way combines steaming grates, rusty fire escapes, and public art installations in a perfect Gotham gumbo. You can almost imagine the Batmobile speeding toward “Cell Phone Disco” in pursuit of the bad guys after sunset. Exchange Way, Downtown. -Colin Williams
Best Bus Line for a Pittsburgh Grand Tour
PRT 64 (Lawrenceville-Waterfront)
This year’s Best of PGH issue goes to press during a two-month-long stalemate over Pennsylvania’s state budget, which could see historic transit cuts, including 54 Pittsburgh bus lines. Having relied on Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses for the 13 years I’ve lived here — and recognizing transit as a public good and part of Pittsburgh’s DNA — I don’t want to see any of them go. But I’ll spotlight one favorite: the 64, slated for “major reduction.” The 64 is a classic Pittsburgh bus, traversing Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Greenfield, ending at the Waterfront in Homestead. Do you want to get a breakfast arepa before heading to your dentist? What about grabbing coffee in Friendship, then catching a movie at the Manor? Are you a Greenfielder like me who can commute to work, or wants to walk through the underrated Calvary Cemetery in the fall, then skip driving to the Waterfront? The 64 has covered all the contingencies of my East End-centric life, and I’ll continue to toast it even if we’re forced to bid it farewell. rideprt.org -Rachel Wilkinson
Best Bike Lane
Allegheny Commons
Pittsburgh’s non-car infrastructure is arguably better than it’s been since the end of citywide trolley service. In particular, we’ve massively stepped up our bike-lane game under the past two mayors, turning four-lane traffic nightmares in East Liberty and Allegheny Center into the city’s completest streets. The latter combines bike lanes with dedicated signals, pedestrian bulbouts, truck aprons, and protections including striping and FlexPosts for a much more secure experience. The lane loop around Commons is exemplary of the Pittsburgh we’re becoming, a place that is far friendlier for people on foot or wheels to navigate and enjoy. The only thing better than this kind of infrastructure upgrade is full pedestrianization. Commons N, E, S, W, Allegheny Center. -Colin Williams
Best Graffiti Tag
FART
Graffiti is cool. It makes ugly surfaces pretty and pretty surfaces more interesting. It can also be quite funny and even helpful. One Pittsburgh tagger has been running around discouraging littering. Someone else is making your mom jokes at the expense of passersby. My favorite? FART. Sometimes, the artist even ups the ante, adding tags including “piss,” expanding to “fart boy,” even “fart on cops!” (assuming this is all one person). One wonders if the similar tag “POOP” is the same person or a different vulgar vandal. Either way, these people are doing the lord’s work. Stay flatulent and fleet of foot, FART. I salute you. Various locations. -Colin Williams
Best Nemacolin Alternative
The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio
Can you afford to go to Nemacolin? I can’t. Sure, it’s lovely there, with excellent dining and a spa that will take you to nirvana (I hear), but I’d also like some semblance of a savings account. Instead, when I’ve needed a little getaway, I’ve opted for The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio. Is it cheap? Heck no. But if you want a little opulence without having to pull from your 401(k), this is a better option. The rooms are lovely, the spa is accommodating, and the heated “Roman bath” outdoor pool, which is accessible all year round, feels like a little oasis. Rates at both resorts vary depending on the season, but in general, you can spend a night at The Grand Resort for about a third of what you’d pay at Nemacolin. Considering that not going broke increases my happiness roughly threefold, this is a great deal all around. 9519 E. Market St., Warren, Ohio. thegrandresort.com -Ali Trachta
Best Place to Watch a Geese and Groundhog Turf War
Waterworks back parking lot
Behind the Waterworks shopping plaza, the clans of Canada Goose and Whistle Pig do battle. Barely contained by a chain-link fence, these natural enemies forever clash over a coveted patch of embankment, their awkward combat witnessed only by gym rats drinking pre-workout in their cars outside Anytime Fitness, or by hibachi employees taking their smoke breaks beside the dumpsters. Will these furious creatures, these accursed warring fiends, ever know peace, or will the angry honks forever ring out in Aspinwall? 934 Freeport Rd., Aspinwall - Amanda Waltz
Best Place to Let a Kid Blow 10 Bucks
Vendor Bender
Perhaps an international family vacation isn’t in the cards for you this year, but a trip to Vendor Bender with a 10-spot in hand is something your kid will probably be more excited about, anyway. Vendor Bender, an always-open little room on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill, houses about a dozen vending machines, all stocked with candies, snacks, and drinks from around the world, each priced at a few dollars each. Your little one can sample chips from the Philippines, gummies from Germany, Lebanese soda, and/or legit Dubai chocolate, depending on the offerings of the day. It’s candy, but it feels special. Almost “cultured.” Plus, maybe they’ll even let you have a bite. 2301 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill. instagram.com/vendorbenderstore -Ali Trachta
Best Featured Pittsburgh True Crime Case
Dr. Larry Rudolph
However one feels about true crime, whether indifferent, outraged, or invested, the subject suddenly becomes unifying when it involves the rich. Take Dr. Larry Rudolph, the successful local dentist, known primarily for his well-advertised sedation methods, who became the subject of Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari, a Hulu series released earlier this year. The unusual details of the case involve big game hunting (gross), infidelity, and, of course, greed. Another classic, and tragic case of “it’s always the husband.” -Amanda Waltz
Best Place to be Shamelessly Sweaty
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
To my fellow prissy femmes who prefer to shimmer as opposed to drip hog sweat whilst out in public, I see you, and it’s OK. It’s OK to strap on a bike helmet, crush your hairstyle for a day, and enjoy a bike ride on the scenic riverfront. It’s OK to run the trail while listening to Lady Gaga on your AirPods and sweat in the humid summer heat, and the humid fall heat, and the spring rain. And while it’s super fun to be sweaty while busting a move at Brewer’s Bar, nothing beats the feeling of a sudden cool, soothing breeze on your sweaty face like you get on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. pittsburghpa.gov/Recreation-Events/Parks/Our-Parks/Three-Rivers-Heritage-Trail -Stacy Rounds
Best Unintentional Art Gallery
STORExpress Self Storage windows in Etna
The massive STORExpress Self Storage facility lurks near the 62nd Street Bridge like a troll waiting to unleash its three riddles. Over the years, however, it has enthralled me with its strange window displays, inadvertent tableaux worthy of artistic consideration. I imagine a storage facility manager turned outsider art visionary, who discovers a collection of abandoned mannequins in a locker and arranges them for their own amusement, only to construct a thought-provoking work. The windows’ most recent random assortment of patriotic July 4th yard inflatables was clearly a searing indictment of our slowly deflating democracy. 100 Hafner Ave., Etna. storexpressselfstorage.com - Amanda Waltz
Best Tiramisu That’s Not Tiramisu
Moio’s
Once upon a time, I tried the Tony-misu at Moio’s, and it changed my life. It’s a sheet cake that serves 15-90 people (that’s straight from their website and not an exaggeration), but it can also be for one person who really loves this version of a tiramisu and is willing to go on a shameful cake binge. It’s like tiramisu underwent a glow-up and became something that’s somehow even better. I give it a million out of five stars. 4209 William Penn Hwy., Monroeville. moios.com -Stacy Rounds
Best Place to Take Your Kids When You Actually Need to Get Work Done
Beanstalk HQ
Work-from-home parents: I know you need a goddamn break. From Bluey blasting on the TV while you’re sending emails, to kids begging for snacks while you’re on Zoom, nothing ruins a day more than trying to do everything you can to be the best parent and the best employee while pulling out your hair. Before you turn to vodka and Xanax, give Beanstalk HQ in Wexford a shot. Drop your kids off in the playroom with a trained childcare professional while you work in a co-working space that comes with coffee, snacks, and peace and freaking quiet. 12300 Perry Hwy., Ste. 200, Wexford. beanstalkhq.com -Stacy Rounds
Best Minor Pittsburgh Hoax
Fake Oakland Sheetz
Now that we can herald the coming of Pittsburgh's long-awaited Sheetz, I’ve been reminiscing about the road that led us here. Pittsburgh is home to some all-time great hoaxes, most notably, of course, the bootleg South Side Burger King. But I now submit for the canon the tale of the fraudulent Oakland Sheetz, where, in 2021, a prankster hung a fake “Coming Soon” sign for a Sheetz (it was laminated!) on a former Marathon gas station on Forbes Avenue. (The site at 3500 Forbes Ave. is still under construction to become — what else? — a mixed-used development.) Back then, the city rejoiced at the fake news, then just as quickly called the culprit a “monster” for instilling false hope, and launched a short-lived Fake Oakland Sheetz Twitter account. But you never hear “fake Oakland Sheetz” anymore — at least not with the same fervor as “secret fourth river” or “tunnel monster”— and I think it's time. Fake Oakland Sheetz is a cousin to Fake South Side Burger King — a story of COVID-era mania, which has now been resolved, ironically, by post-pandemic closures. Plus, I still want to know who did it. -Rachel Wilkinson
Best place to see Steelers playing pickleball
North Park pickleball courts
In June 2022, Pittsburgh Steelers players T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Alex Highsmith played pickleball with an adorable grandma at the North Park courts. She was unaware of their identities until a photo of them went viral on social media, highlighting the players' interest in the popular sport. Meanwhile, in 2025, I have thrice spotted Steelers or former players, like Charlie Batch and his Rottweilers, stalking around the park. Are they due for a part two pickleball game with local grandparents? We shall see… North Park, McCandless. alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Parks/North-Park -Stacy Rounds
Best Unofficial Borough “Mayor”
Kathy Neidhardt of McCandless
The one person who always knows what’s going on in McCandless Township is Kathy Neidhardt. She is the heart of the town that keeps it ticking. She does everything from updating residents on committee meetings to raising environmental concerns to making folks aware of local events to sharing the town’s history to shouting out the accomplishments of North Allegheny students, and more. She’s always got her finger on the pulse of the borough. -Stacy Rounds
Best Late-Night Food
The Parlor Dim Sum
As a night owl, I can attest that food after 10 p.m. is still virtually unheard of in this town (we don’t even have a Best of PGH category for it). But The Parlor Dim Sim recently answered the call, expanding on its happy hour to add a full-blown late-night experience with a DJ at the bar on Fridays and Saturdays. The Cantonese spot serves a menu of rotating cocktails and food specials that transcend the normal greasy pub grub, including, when I visited at least, endlessly satisfying crab fried rice. I didn’t know I needed dim sum and tofu dumplings to soak up drinks after midnight, but I do, especially while dining on the restaurant’s covered patio, being nebby, and eavesdropping on hungry Lawrenceville partiers wandering the street below. 4401 Butler St., Lawrenceville. theparlordimsum.com -Rachel Wilkinson
Best Place to Let Machines Babysit Your Kids
Velum Fermentation
A top-tier weekend parenting experience is letting your kids run amok in a safe space while you sit with friends and drink beer, and this seems to be pretty much what Velum Fermentation was built for. In their big warehouse space on the South Side, they have a dedicated section for pinball, skee-ball, driving games, and good old-fashioned claw machines — along with a token dispenser that takes credit cards. There are even little step stools so the littlest among us can get a boost if they can’t reach the flipper buttons. Strategically placed at the end of the arcade are picnic tables, making it easy to keep the kids in sight while you chit-chat with pals and sip on a Concrete Bunny. Catch me there all winter. 2120 Jane St., South Side. velumfermentation.com -Ali Trachta
Best Coffee for Cheapskates
Coen Markets
Pittsburgh is home to a multitude of incredible coffee shops that serve up bespoke beverages while fostering local community, but we’re not talking about that right now. We’re talking about where to go if you want a consistently cheap cup of joe on the run, and that place is the Coen Markets adjacent to Amoco stations. If you join the Coen Club, you get a ton of discounts, but the best one, I’d say, is that any size coffee is only 99 cents. 99 cent coffee? In this economy?? Sometimes you gotta do it. Various locations. coenmarkets.com -Ali Trachta
Best Summer Camp
Sheldon Calvary Camp
Admittedly, I’m wildly biased about this, because I’ve been going to Sheldon Calvary Camp — which has ties to Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside and is now property of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh — my whole life. I was a camper there decades ago, then a counselor, and I still go, to this day, to “Family Camp” at the end of the summer along with my young children. But that’s the point. If you would like for your kids to have a rich, classic American summer camp experience at a place that’s so great they’ll want to keep on going, like me, well into their 40s and beyond, Calvary’s it. 4411 Lake Rd., Conneaut, Ohio. calvarycamp.org -Ali Trachta
Best Burger Bar I’m Not Actually Going to Tell You About
[redacted]
Pittsburgh’s best burger bar is — well, it’s very good. They have a great selection, good service, and a menu that caters both to beef connoisseurs and the health-conscious, and they also have beer. The thing that makes it the most special is they’re homemade — everything is made from scratch. And their tap selection, often featuring, um, good craft beer, is among the best in the city. Basically, this place is awesome. I want them to do well, but not so well that I can’t go there in peace. Is that so selfish? What’s your favorite burger bar, anyway? [redacted]
-Colin Williams