North Oakland - Pittsburgh, PA

The community of North Oakland got its name in 1800’s from an abundance of trees found on William Einchenbaum’s farm. After the Great Fire of 1845 in downtown Pittsburgh, the residents of Pittsburgh were forced to move out into the neighboring communities. During this time, the community of Oakland exploded.

As the community grew and prospered, the community transformed from farmland to the academic, health care and cultural center of the city of Pittsburgh. Bringing a diverse combination of universities, hospital, and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

The business districts along Craig Street and Forbes Avenue offer foodies and college students a variety of dining and nightlife options. When in Oakland or the Pittsburgh area, you need to ask yourself one question, "which ethnic cuisine should I try today?"

The Original Hot Dog Shop, also referred to as “The O” by university students, has been an Oakland legend for over 50 years. Crispy, greasy hot fries, and pump hot dogs draw in a diverse customer base. Pittsburgh locals swear by the fries served here. College students enjoy stopping in on their way home from the bars for a slice of cheesy pizza with a small order of fries. This local favorite has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and the PBS special “A Hot Dog Program.”

After a day of visiting the Carnegie Museums, pull up a seat at Fuel & Fuddle. This popular restaurant and bar serves upscale west coast bar food with options to please everyone, including vegans and vegetarians. Locals and college students go crazy over the fire brick oven pizza. When stopping in for a beer with your friends, make it a point to try the world-famous sweet potato fries, or smashed potato pie. For the meat lovers out there, Fuel & Fuddle serves up juicy half-pound burgers. If you can save room for a slice of the nutter butter pie, the rich peanut butter filling with chocolate crumb crust makes this dessert a must-try delicacy.

If you are looking for homemade soup and a great deli sandwich, Eat Unique is the place to go. As you walk in to this cozy spot, you can walk in and find college students gathered together sharing the latest gossip over a fresh mozzarella baguette and bowl of hot creamy tomato soup. Be sure to grab a double chocolate brownie on your way out.

The streets of North Oakland offer residents and students a boisterous bar scene. Whether you are heading down Forbes Avenue or South Craig Street you, will have no problem finding a place to grab a beer. Students from the University of Pittsburgh frequent Bootleggers for a good time and cheap drinks. Its warm atmosphere offers the young adults a place to sit down and drink enjoy a beer without breaking the bank.

Pitt students rave about Hemingway’s Cafe on Forbes Avenue. This cozy little bar is geared towards entertaining the younger crowd with buckets of shots and reasonably priced bar food to go along with it.

Located between Polish Hill and Neville Street, residents of North Oakland have quick, easy access the largest highways in the Pittsburgh area. The well-known West Carson Street turns into Route 51 while the Squirrel Hill tunnels connect commuters to Interstate 376 connecting the eastern and western communities.

Residents of North Oakland get around by foot, public transportation, and the protected bike lanes keeping the big city feel in the neighborhood. Getting to downtown from North Oakland via the PAT bus system only costs residents a few dollar each way, though prices do vary depending on several factors. University of Pittsburgh students can ride for free with their student IDs.

While there are a few taxis here and there, residents of North Oakland and the city of Pittsburgh must call the cab company to arrange a pickup. For those who prefer a move convenient means of private transportation, Uber rides are available through the smart phone app.

North Oakland provides locals with access to several different free, public parks. Locals, students and tourists alike are drawn to the area to visits Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

When it comes to hiking along scenic trails, you will find residents at Panther Hollow Lake. With a calming waterfront view, and several hiking trails, this park offer residents a quiet place to relax away from everyday life.

Head to Kennard Playground for access to tennis and basketball courts, as well as a kid-friendly playground. Frick Park in nearby Squirell Hill allows dogs to play off their leashes, so you and your pooch can get some exercise.

The cost of living in North Oakland is about 15 percent higher than downtown Pittsburgh. Those looking to move to the area should expect to pay around $1,021 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. You can expect to pay about one percent more per gallon of gas than those living in the city of Pittsburgh, and about 17 percent above the national average. Expect to pay between $3 and $5 for a beer at local pubs and bars.

While North Oakland does not boast any high-end or high-value boutiques, you can find just about anything you want along Forbes Avenue. Residents and college students love stopping in Caliban Book Shop to shop for antiques and books. If you are looking for a used or rare book, there is no better place to start than Caliban.

If you're rooting for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, the place to buy your Pitt gear is the University Store. The store sells books and supplies for students, as well as Pitt apparel for men, women and children.

The Phantom of the Attic is a gamer's paradise. The store specializes in meeting all of your comic and gaming needs. Unlike some of the more flashy comic book stores, this local treasure features rows and rows of comic books and graphic novels in a no-frills environment.

Giant Eagle and Trader Joe's serve the greater Pittsburgh area, but local grocers can also be found in the North Oakland community. Ethnic grocers serving the area include Salem's Market & Grill and Groceria Merante.

Pittsburgh provides lots of options for farmers markets in the summer. Pick up fresh produce, meats and other goods at the Mt. Lebanon Farmers Market, which is open every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June to September, or visit Farmers at Phipps, open every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from June to September.