Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
A neighbourhood on the rise.
The industrial revolution built Pittsburgh, and the tradition of local entrepreneurs continues its influence with the reinvention of Lawrenceville, a haven for budding business-types looking to make their mark.
Butler Street is the main artery of the area, and offers an array of lures, like stylish Von Walter & Funk, a curated taste of gift, home décor, apothecary, and stationery from indie brands such as Austin Press, Cocktail Kingdom, Farmhouse Pottery, and Arte Italica, artfully displayed alongside vintage items sourced by owners Shawn Aversa and Jamie McAdams.
N0. 14 Boutique shares a similar aesthetic, showcasing brands like Lucca Couture, Greylin, and Bishop + Young, and select cards and gift from Brittany Fuson Paper and Rifle Paper Co. This shop started life online and maintains its social media cred with regular style hits via Instagram and store blog Just a Girl Boss.
Nearby restaurant The Vandal showcases locally-sourced ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with inventive menus by Chef Csilla Thackray, while Toll Gate Revival offers Americana finds for the modern man cave. Leather furniture, gas station signs, and masculine ephemera of mid-century industry are a lure for those seeking distinct home décor. Cure Restaurant, an early adopter of this neighbourhood, offers modern Mediterranean cuisine from Chef Justin Severino, dedicated to Pennsylvanian ingredients.
For a sweet indulgence, the intimate setting of Butterwood Bake Consortium is a bakery resembling your Aunt Sophie’s Victorian parlour, except she may not have offered Matcha cake with salted almond buttercream frosting by the slice with an espresso.
And another sign of the area’s evolution: Ace Hotel has arrived in Pittsburgh in nearby district East Liberty. The former YMCA-now-contemporary-boutique-hotel is already a popular spot for classic cocktails and locally-inspired cuisine at in-house tavern Whitfield and DJ nights in the revived gym space.
