Regent Square, just beside the expansive greenery of Frick Park, is a quaint, homey neighborhood with a lot to offer in both dining and the arts. On Saturday, October 5, local Regent Square gallery and fine arts auction house Concept Art Gallery has two openings from 1PM-4PM.
Concept is showing Zoë Welsh, an accomplished abstract painter and art therapist, in the main upstairs space above the auction house. In the annex space (beneath the theater-like marquee), Concept is exhibiting mosaic work by Sarah Cohen. Both promise to be a splash of color in an otherwise dreary start to the fall!
Given all of the brunch spots and cafés in Regent Square, going to see a midday art show at Concept and exploring the neighborhood makes a perfect weekend day out. (Insider tip: The staff at Concept prepare the light fare available at their gallery openings themselves, including an amazing fig jam on their charcuterie board. It’s one of the best complimentary snack destinations in the city). Here are our recommendations for a day out in this quirky corner of the East End, with pit stops for coffee, brunch, shopping, and culture.
Brunch and a Show in Regent Square This Fall
Have a Coffee
Spigolo
101 Edgewood Avenue
Spigolo (meaning “edge” or “corner” based on its address on Edgewood Avenue) is a brand new coffee shop on the East End with gluten free bites, quality espresso, and a cozy storefront. Welcome a newbie to Pittsburgh by trying some of their espresso!
61B
1108 South Braddock Avenue
This café gets its name from the bus line that traverses Braddock Avenue from Regent Square into Oakland. It’s a popular hangout for college students and remote workers because of its many tables and its deep mugs of coffee. We also recommend the Italian pizzelle cookies as the season creeps closer to Christmas.
Biddle’s Escape
401 Biddle Avenue
Biddle’s Escape is a Regent Square neighborhood haunt that also sells antiques, candles, and a number of oddities and ephemera. They often have food trucks outside the café, so keep your eyes peeled for what’s happening over the weekend. Biddle’s Escape also features some pretty unique drinks like an amaretto latte and Szegedi Kave, a Hungarian style espresso with steamed half-and-half, vanilla sugar, Szeged cinnamon, and whipped cream.
Go for Brunch
Hemlock House
1126 South Braddock Avenue
Pittsburghers have flocked to Hemlock House since it opened last summer, and it’s no surprise given how unique of a restaurant it is. It has a Twin Peaks theme, a vaguely goth aesthetic, and high-quality food to boot. And their brunch menu is scrumptious and loaded. You’ve got mushroom, chorizo, and smoked gouda omelets. They also offer three different kinds of house burgers. For a sweet treat, they serve a rotating cannoli special. Eating at Hemlock House is always a special experience.
El Burro
1113 South Braddock Avenue
El Burro is perfect for those times of day when you don’t know if you want a full meal, but still want to sit down and nibble on something over a fun conversation with friends. Their chips and guac are a sizable portion and go great with either a margarita or their non-alcoholic options. Plus, the covered outdoor patio makes for a great gathering spot rain or shine.
Thai Cottage
1109 South Braddock Avenue
On a grey autumn day, the fragrant spice of the ginger tea at Thai Cottage is unbeatable while watching the leaves fall on Braddock Avenue. You can also get great handhelds like crispy tofu, spring rolls, or summer rolls with delightfully savory dipping sauce. For dinner or a little bit of midday bubbly, Thai Cottage is also BYOB with no corkage fee.
Shopping and Culture
Stay Gold Books
1104 South Braddock Avenue
Stay Gold Books, like Spigolo, is new to Regent Square. They have a huge selection of contemporary fiction and host book clubs, open mics, and game nights for people of all ages. Husband and wife Corey and Carrie Wittig started Stay Gold as a way to focus on their family and give back to their community after Carrie’s diagnosis of breast cancer. Thus far, Stay Gold has been a great place to shop, meet new people at events, or discover new local authors at readings.
Fungus Books
700 ½ South Trenton Avenue
You know a neighborhood is cool when it has more than one bookstore. Owner Ed Steck is a connoisseur of rare books and stocks many independent presses and older editions in his store, plus obscure records. (Walking in, you’ll usually hear one of them). Fungus also hosts readings and displays artwork. Work by textile and print artist Brent Pheto is currently hanging in the shop.
April April
609 South Trenton Avenue
If you want even more art, April April are newcomers to Pittsburgh from New York that moved their commercial gallery from Brooklyn to Regent Square. Gallerists Lucas Regazzi and Patrick Bova heard that the lower cost of living and vibrant creative scene in Pittsburgh made it an up and coming destination for artists. April April has open walk-in hours, so make it another stop on your Regent Square day out!
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of Concept Art Gallery
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