Here for the NFL Draft? See the real Pittsburgh, too.

DiFiore’s Ice Cream Delite (Mount Washington) 

• Website 
• Address: 120 Shiloh St., Pittsburgh, 15211
• Cost: Items range from about $5 to $15
• What’s nearby: Monongahela Incline, Grandview Overlook Park, Grandview Bakery & Sweet Shop

Todd DiFiore, owner of DiFiore’s Ice Cream Delite, uses a simple logic to prove the area around his ice cream shop offers the best view of the city. 

“I look at it this way,” he told Public Source. “There’s four overlooks on this side of Grandview Avenue. Somebody smart built four overlooks on this side for a reason, don’t you think? I’d like to think so.” 

One of the most beloved ways to commemorate reaching the top of the Monongahela Incline (free during the NFL Draft), DiFiore’s offers what the owner considers unparalleled soft serve ice cream in addition to hoagies, fish sandwiches and chicken tenders. DiFiore’s early days working at a fast-moving gas station instilled in him a quick, efficient work ethic. He’s proud of the business’s ability to quickly get customers their orders. During the NFL Draft, members of his family will be helping him reach his goal of seeing lines as little as possible. 

“I just expect chaos,” DiFiore said. “But I’m kind of used to chaos. I’m trained in chaos.” 

Pinball Perfection (West View)

• Website 
• Address: 231 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, 15229
• Cost: $15 entry per person 
• What’s nearby: Glenmore Park, Game Masters, Center Avenue Slice

Pittsburgh has one of the country’s thriving pinball scenes, and while the area offers several spots to play, the biggest is Pinball Perfection. Doubling as both an all-you-can-play arcade and a museum, Pinball Perfection features more than 300 different pinball machines that span from the game’s early days to modern times. 

Friday nights bring the most players, but Pinball Perfection also has afternoon hours Tuesday through Saturday. Find owner Dan Hosek, and he’ll talk pinball as much as anyone will listen. 

Allegheny Commons Park (North Shore)

• Website  
• Address: West Ohio Street, Pittsburgh, 15212 
• Cost: Free
• What’s nearby: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, National Aviary, The Andy Warhol Museum

Not far from Acrisure Stadium, Allegheny Commons Park features enjoyable green space, sports courts, trails for walking and biking, a dog park and more. The park also has the Patricia Regan Rooney Memorial Fountain, Lake Elizabeth and several memorials and art installations. 

The park is also home to the Community Garden at Allegheny Commons, a space curated by the community that cultivates a wide variety of flowers as well as produce. 

Kaibur Coffee and Cafe (Polish Hill)

• Website  
• Physical address: 3138 Dobson St., Pittsburgh, 15219
• Cost: Menu items span from about $2 to $10
• What’s nearby: Doomed Planet Comics, Pope’s Place, West Penn Community Recreation Center

A de facto hub for Polish Hill, Kaibur Coffee and Cafe does business at the bottom of a three-floor tower in the neighborhood. The stickers and artwork surrounding the entrance also underscore the location’s role as a hot spot for the city’s alternative scene. In addition to a variety of coffees, the cafe also serves breakfast sandwiches and toast, with a specialty in vegan and vegetarian options. 

Grandma B’s Diner (The Hill District)

• Website  
• Address: 2537 Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh, 15219
• Cost: Menu items about $5 to $15; cash only 
• What’s nearby: Jerry’s Pizzeria, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Hill District, Beads and Baubles Bits and Pieces

Grandma B’s typically closes between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., but its owner, Dorian Moorefield, said to Public Source that they’re open to extending hours if the NFL Draft brings more foot traffic. Online search engines typically direct people toward the business during city events, Moorefield said, so they’re prepared. 

The kitchen makes its fresh, hot food in the eyesight of its customers. Together, its bar seats and tables fit about 20 people, offering a cozy, personal atmosphere. The diner specializes in breakfast, but, as Moorefield put it, “some people get burgers for breakfast.” 

The restaurant serves a very diverse clientele, according to Moorefield. 

“It represents the city really well,” Moorefield said. “It represents the change in the city, where different nationalities can come in under one roof and feel at home, no matter where you’re from or your religion or your choice of life. If you come to Grandma B’s, you’re going to feel welcome.” 

Bicycle Heaven (Chateau)

• Website  
• Address: 1800 Preble Ave., Pittsburgh, 15233
• Cost: $10-15 for entrance; free for children younger than five 
• What’s nearby: Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff, Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Get Hip Records

Bicycle Heaven stands out in a city full of museums as particularly unique and niche. Best known for having one of the fancy red bicycles dutifully cared for by its owner in Tim Burton’s feature film debut “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” Bicycle Heaven features thousands of vintage bicycles. Those who look hard enough can spot bicycles seen in other movies as well. 

Rosie’s Records (Lawrenceville) 

• Website  
• Address: 5401 Butler St., Pittsburgh, 15201
• Cost: Items at various prices  
• What’s nearby: Row House Cinema, Mezcal Mexican Cantina, Arsenal Bowl

When Rosie’s Records opened eight years ago in Delaware, it had a different name that never stuck, owner Brian Broad told Public Source. When he adopted a puppy named Rosie, whom he regularly brought with him to the shop, calling the business Rosie’s Records came naturally. 

“Rosie is our little Frenchie,” Broad said. 

In between chatting with the knowledgeable, friendly and passionate Broad and petting Rosie, customers can browse a wide selection of records evenly split between old and new. Because of the slipperiness of genre, Broad tends to organize by name, something he said customers have come to appreciate. The week of the NFL Draft, Rosie’s Records will be recovering from Record Store Day, the biggest day of business for the shop, but Broad still hopes to see people.

“There’s great stuff in Lower, Central and Upper Lawrenceville … If they need some time away from the craziness, come on down,” Broad said. 

Braddock Carnegie Library (Braddock)

• Website  
• Address: 419 Library St., Braddock, 15104
• Cost: Free
• What’s nearby: Golden Treasures, Aunt Cheryl’s Cafe, Shirtnado

Pittsburgh has a large selection of libraries across its various neighborhoods within the Carnegie system of libraries, a project of Andrew Carnegie that spread across the country and even the globe. Many are worth visiting, but perhaps the most special is the Braddock Carnegie Library, America’s first Carnegie library. During the NFL Draft, the library will host writing sessions for children and a documentary film screening. 

The Strip (Strip District)

• Website  
• Address: At and around 19th Street and Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15222
• Cost: Various pricing at vendors 
• What’s nearby: Mancini’s Bread Co., La Prima Espresso Company, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop

Much of the fun in the Strip District comes from traversing Penn Avenue and nosing the various shops. Some are permanently located there, others pop in and out on weekends. Notables include Lucy’s Handmade Clothing Shop, Native Inka’s Shop and Strip District Tees. 

For those looking for more variety, the “Best in the Strip” venue located at 19th and Penn offers space to various vendors on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Pittsburgh Glass Center (Friendship)

• Website  
• Address: 5472 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, 15206
• Cost: Free with suggested $10 donation 
• What’s nearby: Moonlit Burgers, Commonplace Coffee, Allegheny Cemetery

This year, the Pittsburgh Glass Center celebrates its 25th anniversary. Marketing Director Paige Ilkhanipour has been there for 22 of those years. 

“It’s an amazing place to work,” Ilkhanipour said. “Seeing the neighborhood change dramatically since I’ve been here, and we’ve seen artist communities grow leaps and bounds since I started.” 

Folks can, as usual, visit the center for free and watch glass artists at work in addition to seeing finished work on display. During the NFL Draft, however, the center has special programming planned. For $55, from 1-5 p.m. on Apr. 24-26, visitors can create a paperweight or ornament themed after their NFL team of choice. The center will also host other workshops with different pricing to facilitate the creation of football-themed suncatchers, coasters, beads and more. 

“Everything’s black and gold right now, but we realize everybody’s not a Steelers fan,” Ilkhanipour said. “You can come and make blue and orange or make your own team colors.”