The “hilltop” neighborhood rises above the South Side Flats along carved pathways that weave through the South Side Slopes. You can see the ridges of old streetcar tracks in the age-speckled concrete. Frequently, faded stairways in the brush on the roadsides lead to nowhere. But the curves of Arlington Avenue and East Warrington Avenue tower over the city skyline, and you can see everything from the exclamation mark of the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland to the cluster of art deco skyscrapers downtown.
In recent years, the Hilltop has become a hub for small business owners, independent musicians, and first-time homebuyers looking for somewhere that’s spacious yet not suburban. Take a break from the Flats, Lawrenceville, or Bloomfield and take a drive into the hills for an excursion in the Hilltop.
Where to Shop
The affordability of space in the Hilltop—the sub-neighborhoods being Allentown, Mt. Oliver, Knoxville, Arlington, and St Clair, means there are a ton of small businesses, particularly in Allentown. Worth checking out is Puvithel (829 E Warrington Ave) an independent Japanese-inspired Fashion designer. Puvithel shares its space with LGBT wedding photographer Maya Lovro, as well. Down the block, Dr. Tumblety’s Time-Inspired Specialty Shop (753 E Warrington Ave) has everything the goths or steampunk among us could ever want, with a speakeasy, the Storyville Lounge, attached.
There’s something about the Hilltop that seems to attract quirky, gothic-inspired businesses, the way Polish Hill attracts punks. There’s even a gym called Death Comes Lifting (636 E Werrington Ave) Allentown, lest goths and emos feel like they have nowhere to work out. Grim Wizard Coffee (1206 Arlington Ave) lets metalheads have a place to get their coffee as black as their hearts. Maybe it’s something about the foreboding hills and industrial debris, maybe the subculture just found a place to bloom in Allentown.
Maybe you think “You’re saying ‘hilltop’ and just referencing Allentown,” and while Allentown has had the most boom in recent years, Mt. Oliver, Knoxville, and Arlington have a lot to offer, too. On your way up on Arlington Avenue, 350º Degree Bakery (2427 South 18th St) is a delicious place to get high-quality baked goods. Thalia’s Herbal Salves (722 Fisher Street), closer to St. Clair, is a woman-owned business where you can find herbal remedies for that back pain we all seem to be developing lately.
Where to Drink
Corner Café (2500 South 18th Street) on your way up towards Mt. Oliver is a classic South Side dive, known in the neighborhood for its humorous front window signs. Bottlerocket Social Hall (1226 Arlington Ave) in Mt. Oliver has become a tour stop for nationally known musicians, with a mix of concerts, dance nights, community events, and plain old neighborhood bar service. Garvey’s (41 Sterling Street), nestled in the South Side Slopes, is another classic, old-school bar—as one of the Google Reviews said, “found this place while stumbling home during my college years.” Just be careful on the Sterling Street stairs if you’re drinking!
Hilltop Tavern (750 East Warrington Ave) is one of the few non-goth establishments on Warrington and serves bar bites and beer for the normies that dare to wander those streets. Inner Grove Brewing (827 East Warrington Ave) also has a wide variety of beers on tap on Warrington. Heading up into the Hilltop for a drink can be a nice escape from the frat-laden streets of East Carson—or as a pregame before heading down into the city proper.
Where to Eat
Though ECHT Coffeehouse Lounge & Bistro (107 Penn Ave – be careful not to let your GPS send you to Bloomfield!) in Mt. Oliver is temporarily closed, it’s a great restaurant to have on your radar, with an innovative, affordable menu. When they open up again, I’m going to be first in line.
If you’re searching for charcuterie, The Cheese Queen (156 Brownsville Rd) is a woman-owned cheesemonger business that can help you pick the right cheese to pair with any wine or meat selection. They also host dinner parties, wine tastings, and holiday events.
But for a splurge night out, Italian restaurant Alla Famiglia (804 East Warrington Aven) is rumored to be frequented by Pittsburgh athletes. It also has a cigar lounge, a rarity in modern restaurants. And its abondanza approach to delicious Italian-American cuisine is widely beloved.
For a hangover cure on Sunday morning if you glugged a little too much of that Montepulciano at Alla Famiglia, try Breakfast At Shelly’s (740 East Warrington Avenue) for the omelettes, burritos, and milkshakes served by friendly faces. The Hilltop might not be as rowdy as the Flats or as picturesque as Mt. Washington, but like the terrain around it, its people are tough, unique, and full of character.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Alla Famiglia
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