The Picture-Perfect Picnic
Photography by Maya Elaine // Styling by Justin Matase and Jon Kunitsky // Place settings and blanket provided by GATHER in Sewickley (www.thegathershop.com)
Even if you’re not from here, it’s easy to see that Pittsburgh is a city with no shortage of outdoor spaces. From the waterfront areas, like the South Shore Riverfront Park, the Highline overlooking the Monongahela River, Point State Park, and the North Shore to the tree-covered, neighborhood-spanning city parks – we’re looking at you, Schenley and Frick! – there are a number of easily accessible and walkable outdoor areas.
What to do with all of this green space? Picnic! Find a riverside table or grass-covered hillside, lay out a blanket, and dig into a feast of food. Check out our picnic picks below, where we’ve paired locally sourced menus with area parks.
Duncan St. Sandwich Shop
Duncan St. will fill your picnic basket with the classics: gigantic sandwiches built to share, homestyle cold salads and sides, and sweet, sparkling, housemade sodas. Order a spread from the Millvale shop (we recommend the Nashville hot turkey and smoked potato salad) and pack it up for a drive to a riverfront pro or to sit on the lawn at Hartwood Acres, making the historic mansion your backdrop.
Bae Bae’s Kitchen
Though not traditional picnic food, Bae Bae’s Kitchen is one of our favorite to-go eats. The Korean-inspired restaurant packs grain bowls full of flavor, though the crispy, crunchy Korean-fried chicken, fried tofu, and cheese-filled wontons are must-tries. And, just down the street, you can grab a boba tea from their second location, Bae Bae’s Cafe. From there, it's a short walk to Point State Park, the perfect spot for a Downtown picnic. Grab a spot on the steps and watch boats whiz down the river.
Chantal’s Cheese Shop
There’s a cheese plate for every occasion at Chantal’s. Pick one up for a relaxed, long day of picnicking in one of the parks on the outskirts of the city. Find a spot in the 2,013 acres covered by South Park, or sit by the lake at North Park. Feeling adventurous? Cart your cheese out to Moraine State Park, a massive, tree-covered space of rolling hills, sparkling lake water, and beaches, about 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
Pigeon Bagel
With the help of Pigeon Bagels, we promise an early morning picnic at Schenley or Frick Park is worth it. Drag yourself out of bed to beat the bagel rush, grab one of Pigeon’s high-stacked sandwiches – a favorite is their garlic and salt bagel stacked high with smoked salmon, red onion, cream cheese, and capers – and a strong cup of coffee. The peacefulness of early morning park meadows is sweet.
STORY BY MAGGIE WEAVER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAYA ELAINE // STYLING BY JUSTIN MATASE AND JON KUNITSKY
Don’t miss a single delicious thing!