Shopping · Pittsburgh · United States
Shopping in Pittsburgh
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alekjds, Public domain
Quick answer
Pittsburgh shopping is about food, sports gear and independent shops rather than big malls, with the Strip District, Lawrenceville and Shadyside the best areas. Best souvenirs: Black-and-gold sports gear, Heinz products and Warhol prints and books.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Black-and-gold sports gear
Where to shop
Strip District
Italian grocers, kitchen shops, sports stalls and souvenir shops along Penn Avenue.
Lawrenceville
Independent design, vintage and gift shops along Butler Street.
Walnut Street, Shadyside
Fashion boutiques, chain stores and cafés in a leafy setting.
Market Square and downtown
Shops around the square and a holiday market in winter.
Markets
Strip District street stalls
Weekend stalls selling Steelers, Pirates and Penguins merchandise, produce and street food.
Holiday market in Market Square
A European-style Christmas market with wooden chalets, usually from late November.
What to buy
Black-and-gold sports gear
Steelers, Pirates and Penguins jerseys and Terrible Towels from Strip District stalls.
Heinz products
Heinz was founded in Pittsburgh; pickle pins and ketchup souvenirs are local favourites.
Warhol prints and books
Prints, books and design items from the Andy Warhol Museum shop.
Pittsburghese T-shirts
Shirts with local words such as 'yinz' and 'n'at' from independent shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Strip District
Strip District
Along Penn Avenue, family-run shops such as the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, fishmongers, bakeries, coffee roasters and Asian grocers sell food from shops that once supplied the city's wholesale produce trade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Iconic
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Smiley cookies and Local beer. Eat'n Park restaurants around the region and its bakery counters. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Strip District | $$$ | Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments |
| Lawrenceville | $$ | Row houses, independent shops and much of the city's newer dining on Butler Street |
| Oakland | $$ | Universities, hospitals and the Carnegie museums around Schenley Park |
| Shadyside | $$$ | Victorian houses and boutiques along Walnut Street |
| South Side | $$ | East Carson Street bars, Victorian storefronts and the South Side Slopes |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
- Hold doors and greet people in neighbourhood shops and bars; Pittsburgh is chatty and informal.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- June: Three Rivers Arts Festival — free art and music downtown (usually early June)
- July: Picklesburgh — pickle-themed food festival (usually July)
- December: Holiday market in Market Square (usually late November to December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and first-timers
Strip District
Old produce warehouses turned into food shops, markets and new apartments
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Pittsburgh?
Black-and-gold sports gear, Heinz products, Warhol prints and books and Pittsburghese T-shirts.
+Where is the best shopping in Pittsburgh?
Strip District: Italian grocers, kitchen shops, sports stalls and souvenir shops along Penn Avenue.
+What are the best markets in Pittsburgh?
Strip District street stalls and Holiday market in Market Square.