Central Oakland is an extension of the University's Pittsburgh campus, which features museums, sights, green spaces, and restaurants. This guide suggests our favorites in Oakland with a few nearby favorites that are worth the trip.
Visit the links below for more information, or download the PDF version of the guide.
Jump to: Museums and Cultural Sites | Outdoor Spots and Views | Attractions | Neighborhoods | Restaurants
Museums and Cultural Sites
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of the largest natural history museums in the U.S., famous for its dinosaur hall (including a real Diplodocus and T. rex) and the Hall of Gems and Minerals. Connected to the Carnegie Museum of Art in one building.
Carnegie Museum of Art
Founded by Andrew Carnegie, with a collection spanning contemporary art, decorative arts, photography, and architecture. Home to the long-running Carnegie International exhibition.
The Andy Warhol Museum
The largest museum in the world dedicated to a single artist, showcasing Warhol's paintings, films, and personal archives. (Located on the North Shore.)
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
A Beaux-Arts landmark built in 1910 to honor Allegheny County's military veterans, styled after the ancient mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Houses military exhibits, a 2,500-seat auditorium, and a banquet hall.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens—take a tour before dinner on Tuesday
A stunning Victorian glasshouse with rotating seasonal flower shows, a tropical forest, desert room, and butterfly garden — right on the edge of Schenley Park.
Cathedral of Learning & Nationality Rooms—offered as a tour
Pitt's 42-story Gothic Revival skyscraper is a Pittsburgh icon on its own. Inside are the Nationality Rooms — 31 classrooms representing different cultures and heritages that helped build Pittsburgh, each designed and furnished in an authentic period style. Explore the free rooms on the 3rd floor, or take a self-guided audio tour of the 1st-floor rooms for a small fee.
Frick Fine Arts Building (Pitt)
A beautiful Italian Renaissance-style building with an open-air cloister and murals inspired by the Sistine Chapel and Vatican. Home to Pitt's art history department and a small gallery. Free and often overlooked.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh — Main (Oakland) Branch
A grand historic building attached to the Carnegie Museums, worth a walk-through even just to admire the architecture and reading rooms.
Maxo Vanka Murals
Located at the historic St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, these striking murals were painted by Croatian artist Maxo Vanka in 1937 and 1941, depicting the lives of working-class immigrants, war, and social justice themes. Guided tours are offered, with admission around $15–20 per person.
Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh's Smithsonian affiliate, covering the region's history — from Big Mac origins to the Civil War — in the Strip District.
Allegheny Observatory
A working astronomical research facility (University of Pittsburgh) with the third-largest refracting telescope in the world, located in Riverview Park. Free public tours run April through October, by reservation only, starting at 8 p.m.
Community Engagement Centers
Pitt-run neighborhood hubs that act as a "front door to Pitt," housing community programs and services in the Hill District, Homewood, and Greater Hazelwood.
The Frick Pittsburgh
Located in Point Breeze, this includes Clayton (the Frick family mansion), a car and carriage museum (free museum of antique cars), and an art museum — set on a beautiful wooded estate.
Mattress Factory
A contemporary art museum known for large-scale, immersive room installations, including Yayoi Kusama's infinity rooms.
Randyland
A free, wildly colorful outdoor folk-art environment created by local artist Randy Gilson — a fun, quick photo-op stop.
National Aviary
The country's largest indoor nonprofit aviary, with walk-through exhibits where birds fly freely around visitors.
Outdoor Spots and Views
Duquesne Incline
A historic cable car (opened 1877) that climbs Mt. Washington, offering one of the best skyline views in the city.
Grandview Overlook
Part of Mt. Washington's Grandview Avenue and located in the city’s Emerald View Park, this is one of the most photographed skyline views in the country, especially at night.
Schenley Park
A sprawling 456-acre park bordering Oakland, with trails, a scenic lookout within the park with views over the Panther Hollow ravine and the city, Phipps Conservatory, and a golf course. Nearby Schenley Plaza hosts a large open lawn bordering Pitt’s campus with food kiosks, a carousel, and lawn games (giant chess, bocce).
Pitt & Carnegie Mellon Campuses
Both worth a stroll even if you're not a student: The University of Pittsburgh campus centers on the Cathedral of Learning, while Carnegie Mellon University's adjacent campus has spots like the Fence (a constantly repainted student tradition), Hunt Library, and the Randy Pausch Memorial Bridge.
Attractions
Kennywood Amusement Park
A National Historic Landmark amusement park in West Mifflin known for classic wooden roller coasters like the Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt.
Gateway Clipper Fleet
Sightseeing riverboat cruises on Pittsburgh's three rivers, departing from Station Square — great for skyline views from the water.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Home to a wide range of animal exhibits and an aquarium, in Highland Park.
Neighborhoods
Pittsburgh has several distinct neighborhoods worth exploring including the Strip District with produce markets and Bloomfield’s “Little Italy.” Find out more at Visit Pittsburgh: Neighborhoods.
Restaurants
Primanti Brothers
The Pittsburgh classic: sandwiches piled with French fries and coleslaw right inside the bread. Multiple locations, including one in Oakland (Forbes Ave) and the original in the Strip District.
Butterjoint
A cozy North Oakland bar and restaurant mixing Pittsburgh comfort food (pierogies, burgers) with French bistro classics. Shares a kitchen/bakery with Sidecar coffee shop next door.
The Porch (at Schenley)
A come-as-you-are neighborhood bistro right in Schenley Plaza, serving simple, scratch-made food, with a patio overlooking the plaza's fountain, carousel, and lawn — good for a meal before/after museum visits.
Union Grill
A classic neighborhood bar and grill since the 1990s, famous for its Turkey Devonshire (a Pittsburgh original from the 1940s) and the Chophouse Burger. Popular with students, museum-goers, and UPMC staff alike.
Tazza D'Oro
A European-style café that opened in 1999 and serves only single-origin coffee, roasted by Verve Coffee Roasters. About 70% of its food is locally sourced, including pastries made by the owner's family bakery. The original spot is a beloved neighborhood fixture in Highland Park, and there's now a second location right in Oakland at 125 Lytton Ave — good for a coffee break between museum stops. Very close to hotel.
Divvy Coffee & Buns
A family-owned Oakland cafe with a European-inspired, globally flavored menu, blending coffee with sweet and savory buns (like the Kopi Roti). Also serves breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, and sandwiches such as the Habibi Beirut. A cozy, welcoming spot to sit and study or chat over coffee.
Redhawk Coffee
A small, mom-and-pop coffee roaster that started as an espresso truck in 2016 and grew into a beloved local chain. The original Oakland cafe on Meyran Avenue — affectionately nicknamed "the Hawk" — is a tiny, buzzing spot popular with Pitt students for studying and coffee.