Get To Know Uptown (The Bluff)

A neighborhood dotted with 18th-century brick rowhouses sits between Oakland, the Hill District, and Downtown — and depending on who you ask, you might get a different name for it.

In true Pittsburgh fashion, this section of the Burgh has multiple monikers: The Bluff, Uptown, and SoHo. In the mid-1800s, it was known as SoHo Gardens because there was an oasis of fruit trees, roses, and jasmine near the Birmingham Bridge.

By the early 20th century, immigrants from all over the world moved here to find jobs in the steel and coal industries. But with the steel industry collapse in the 1970s — paired with city disinvestment — the neighborhood struggled to stay vibrant.

Today, Uptown is known for being home to Duquesne University, UPMC Mercy, and PPG Paints Arena, but a walk along Forbes or Fifth Avenues will reveal so much more ⬇️

☕ Eat & Drink

Coffee lover? Beer fan? You can find both brews inside Trace Echo on Forbes Avenue. The folks at Trace Brewing transformed an old pharmacy building into a chic daytime coffee shop and evening taproom. Grab a seasonal latte from Ghost Coffee Collab, then stick around for one of their evening events — like Get Dahn Uptown jazz night every second and fourth Thursday.

On Fifth Avenue, across from PPG Paints Arena, Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food serves delicious fast-casual wraps, salads, and bowls. Make your own with add-ins like falafel, chicken shawarma, sumac onion, chickpea salad, and baba ghanoush. It’s on the second floor of a storefront building, and it’s worth the climb!

🎨 Go, See, Do

Want to get into 3D printing, but not sure how to start? Need a special sewing machine for a project? HackPGH on Fifth Avenue is your spot. This volunteer-run community makerspace is a hub for creatives, and offers a wood shop, embroidery and Cricut machines, laser cutting, a computer lab, and more. Members get 24/7 access to the space. Check out their workshop calendar, or take a tour on a Monday or Saturday.

Throughout the neighborhood, you’ll see showy murals, interesting statues, and eye-catching mosaics. Most of them are designed by artist James Simon, who’s known for his colorful mosaic pieces all across the city — including the Uptown neighborhood sign. Look for his studio on Gist Street!