PGH layover questions

Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

chiefretired

Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
8
Location
Central Pa
Having the layover at PGH transferring from the Pennsylvanian to the Capitol Limited is there anything close to the station worth exploring by foot if it's a safe area, and coming back in the morning is there anyplace open for COFFEE that time of day during the layover waiting for the Pennsylvanin?
 
You can walk into the city center... it's pretty quiet that time of night, but beautiful (nice neo-gothic sky scrapers, some interesting modern architecture), and safe.

For a wonderful jaunt, catch the (underground) street car, from the city center (a few blocks from the station) a couple of stops across the river to Station Square. This is a little mall built around the old Pittsburgh and Lake Erie station, a gorgeous mini-Grand Central, now home to a fancy restaurant and oyster bar. If you can afford the restaurant, it's worth it, but if not, you can still look in, and eat at one of the mall-type chains. No more than $10 in a taxi if you don't want to play with the trolley, but of course you feel less of a connection to the city.

Don't know about coffee in the morning, but on a weekday the city rises early.
 
What connection direction are you making. If it is westbound Pennsylvanian -> Westbound Cap, there are some great restaurants and bars a short 5 blocks walk (is an easy walk) starting at about 16th and Penn Ave. The Station is at 11th and Liberty. Primanti Bros. is a famous eatery in Pittsburgh for some interesting sammiches.

You can go to Station Square as Blue Marble suggested. The T station (the underground he mentioned) is at Oliver Street and Grant about 2 blocks away from the station. The T costs $2.25 per person per trip and is paid only at the Station Square side of the trip. (outbound - pay at the end of the trip, inbound - pay at the start of the trip)

If you're feeling extra adventurous and would like a spectacular view (assuming good weather), ask the station attendant when you pay your T-fair for a transfer (an extra $1) and walk from the Station Square T-station to the Monongahela Incline and get a bird's eye view of the city from Grandview Ave. There are a couple of small places to eat up there too, but they might be a little walk. When returning, get another transfer from the Incline station agent. Transfers are good for 3 hours.

If you're doing westbound Pennsylvanian -> eastbound Cap. all of the above still applies, but after about 11pm, all you'll have left to do are the bars.

My office directly overlooks the PGH Amtrak station, so I know my way around here pretty well if you have more specific questions.
 
chiefretired said:
Having the layover at PGH transferring from the Pennsylvanian to the Capitol Limited is there anything close to the station worth exploring by foot if it's a safe area, and coming back in the morning is there anyplace open for COFFEE that time of day during the layover waiting for the Pennsylvanin?
Click to expand...
Arriving at PGH at 5AM going East there is a very nice small eatery to eat breakfast in the strip distict called Delucas. You can get a fabulous breakfast there with all the trimmings and the prices are reasonable. They are located at 2015 Penn Avenue and they open early as the strip area is a distribution and delivery point for the food service industry. The strip district is about a 10 block 15-20 minute walk from the station but its not bad. In ths Strip district area there is an abundance of eatieries but Delucas is the only one that I know of thats open at 5AM. When we were there Delucas was surprisingly busy at that early morning hour. Lots of delivery men seem to stop there during their early morning runs.

Exit the station make a right and walk down to 20th st. Make a left on 20th and go a block or two to Penn Avenue. Delucas is there.
 
dlagrua said:
chiefretired said:
Having the layover at PGH transferring from the Pennsylvanian to the Capitol Limited is there anything close to the station worth exploring by foot if it's a safe area, and coming back in the morning is there anyplace open for COFFEE that time of day during the layover waiting for the Pennsylvanin?
Click to expand...
Arriving at PGH at 5AM going East there is a very nice small eatery to eat breakfast in the strip distict called Delucas. You can get a fabulous breakfast there with all the trimmings and the prices are reasonable. They are located at 2015 Penn Avenue and they open early as the strip area is a distribution and delivery point for the food service industry. The strip district is about a 10 block 15-20 minute walk from the station but its not bad. In ths Strip district area there is an abundance of eatieries but Delucas is the only one that I know of thats open at 5AM. When we were there Delucas was surprisingly busy at that early morning hour. Lots of delivery men seem to stop there during their early morning runs.

Exit the station make a right and walk down to 20th st. Make a left on 20th and go a block or two to Penn Avenue. Delucas is there.
Click to expand...
+1 to this.
 
I'll be heading west on both and then east on both a week later. Does the trolley run in the evening up till about 11ish and is anything still open at Station Square at that time? Also was just looking for coffee going east(Starbucks or equilv ) clos to the station. I've been to SS and the incline about 18 years ago and walked there and back, but don't want to try that again in the time I'll have. The view from the incline at dusk was worth it however.
 
You have inbound and outbound Ts every 30 minutes until about 12:30am.

Most places in station square that have bars will be open that late.

For your Starbucks request, I personally recommend Crazy Mocha (a local chain that I feel is much better quality than SB) There is one in Liberty Center (the building I work in) directly across from the Amtrak station that opens at 6am. The building has a Federated Investors sign on the roof.

Walk straight out of the Amtrak station along the building, Once you reach the end of the building, stop and look up. You'll see my office. Crazy Mocha is inside directly below.
 
*edit - I just realized I don't know when you are traveling. We are due to have 2 new stations open up on the T-line in March/April. That will most likely effect T scheduling and I don't know what the new schedules will be.

That said, if you are here after those stations open, that opens the possibility of the Pittsburgh North Shore with a whole additional set of restaurants, bars and even the Casino which is 24/7
 
We will be traveling in July both ways,but you have given me some ideas to work wirh,thanks. Crazy Mocha sounds just what I'll be looking for on the wayback. Thanks
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top