HIGHLAND PARK
#8 in Best Neighborhoods to Live in Pittsburgh
#9 Best Neighborhoods to Raise a Family in Pittsburgh
Walkable and welcoming, the Highland Park neighborhood pairs the breathing room of the suburbs with urban culture and connectivity. With some of the most significant, gracious properties within the city limits, Highland Park is a designated Residential Historic District for its wide variety of 19th and 20th-century architecture. Its namesake 380-acre park with a Victorian entry garden, fountain, and reflecting pool is built around two large reservoirs. It includes a running/cycling loop, swimming pool, playgrounds, outdoor sand volleyball court, dog park, and pond. The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is located in Highland park, too, and is home to more than 400 animal species.
With its small-town feel, the neighborhood’s hub, Bryant Street, has independently owned grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants housed in old buildings and former homes. Robust public transit serves commuters to Oakland and Downtown, with easy access to Rt28. Residents are connected through Highland Park’s community groups and email listserve. Union Project offers community, work, and teaching space for artists and public events celebrating inclusion and collaboration in a restored Gothic Revival church.
Median Home Value
$403,401
Population
6,581
Area Feel
Dense Suburban
Must Go Places in Highland Park
Though the neighborhood is primarily residential, its small hot spot of restaurants on Bryant Street will satisfy any foodie. The Park Bruges offers some of the best brunch and dinners in the region, where you can try French/Belgian specialties like Moules Frites. Smiling Banana Leaf, considered by many to be the best Thai restaurant in the city, serves up quick yet fresh Thai dishes. Teppanyaki Kyoto dishes out authentic Japanese cuisine. Casa Brasil offers traditional and vegan entrees for takeout and dine-in options, often featuring live Brazilian musical performances. Joseph Tambellini is a high-end Italian restaurant housed in a renovated Highland Park house.
Just around the corner is the much-loved neighborhood coffee shop Tazza D’Oro. Prized as a communal space, it also features rotating roasts from Counter Culture, a wide selection of teas, and locally sourced baked goods. Food Glorious Food serves any baked good you’re craving. Family-owned shop of LaScola’s Italian Ice and Custard serves deliciously fresh frozen treats.