Squirrel Hill South - Pittsburgh, PA Area Guide

Squirrel Hill's early settlement took place in the 1760s close to the banks of the Monongahela River. During the 1800s, Squirrel Hill's focus shifted away from the river to the area closest to Oakland and Shadyside. When the city installed an electric trolley in 1893, Squirrel Hill's growth increased with the building of hundreds of houses. Buses replaced the trolley in 1958, but the opening of the Boulevard of the Allies in 1927 and I-376 and the Squirrel Hill Tunnel in 1953 gave quick and easy access to downtown Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The American Jewish Museum, located in the Jewish Community Center, attracts visitors to its exhibits of contemporary Jewish art. Locals and visitors alike enjoy going to Oakland to see the 35,000-piece collection at the Carnegie Art Museum and the dinosaurs at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History or hear a concert at the Carnegie Music Hall.

Locals refer to the business district at Forbes and Murray Avenues as "upstreet," and that's where Squirrel Hill South residents go to find many options for dining out.

The hole-in-the-wall Cuzamil Restaurante Mexicano gets high marks in a city not known for its Mexican food. Try the combination with two enchiladas and a burrito, choose the filling you want in each, and wash it all down with a well-crafted margarita.

Milky Way Dairy and Vegetarian Restaurant's pizza uses a kosher crust that the regulars love. Try the vegetarian meatball Parmesan or the portabello hoagie for a tasty meatless meal.

Start your dinner at the Thai restaurant Silk Elephant with the corn fritters and a glass of coconut water served with chunks of coconut in the bottom. Choose tapas, entrées or a selection of both; locals recommend the green curry or the gluten-free pad Thai.

If your idea of a night out consists of hanging out in a neighborhood bar having drinks with friends, then Squirrel Hill fits the bill. Locals call the legendary Squirrel Hill Cafe "The Cage," which suits this dimly lit old-school dive bar. It gets thick with cigarette smoke, but if that doesn't bother you, then enjoy the good beer selection, decent prices and laid-back vibe.

Regulars from all walks of life bond over beers and the local sports teams at Silky's Sports Bar and Grill. The cavernous space gets loud, but the better-than-average bar food, a wide choice of beers and the only shuffleboard experience in the area keep people coming back.

If you like a hipper bar scene, head to the Independent Brewing Company for craft beers brewed right in western Pennsylvania. IBC also makes expertly crafted cocktails. Kick back in this non-smoking bar and listen to the music, which consists exclusively of vinyl records.

For a change of pace, catch the latest movie releases at The Manor Theater, head to Shadyside for a trendier bar scene, or cross the river to Homestead for stand-up comedy at the Pittsburgh Improv Comedy Club.

Squirrel Hill residents rely on I-376, known locally as the Parkway, and the tunnel that bears the community's name to connect to downtown Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. You don't really need a car in Squirrel Hill South, since most errands lie within safe and comfortable walking distance, and several bus lines serve the community. It takes about 25 minutes to get downtown by bus.

Bicycling provides another transportation option. Beechwood Boulevard includes dedicated bike lanes and a number of streets are designated as bike-friendly. If you do use a car, parking meters on the main streets in the business district require you to enter your license plate number and pay $1 per hour to park. If you need a ride, use an app to arrange one through Uber or call a cab company for a pickup as it is not easy to hail a cab.

Two large regional parks bookend Squirrel Hill and add to its appeal. Schenley Park, to the west, consists of 456 acres of trails, woods and attractions. Bike or hike the trails, follow one of the two streams that flow into Panther Hollow Lake or play 18 holes at the golf course. Bring a picnic and play horseshoes, or take the kids to any of four playgrounds. College students, families and businesspeople like to hang out on Flagstaff Hill to study, eat lunch, listen to a concert or watch a movie under the stars. Your leashed dog can enjoy the park, too.

To help you keep fit, the Schenley Oval Sportsplex provides a swimming pool, tennis courts, a running track and an ice skating rink in the winter. For a relaxing retreat, wander through the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Fees apply for some of the Sportsplex activities and for admission to the Phipps. Schenley Park hosts annual events, such as the Vintage Grand Prix auto race and the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure.

To the east of Squirrel Hill lies Frick Park, the largest of Pittsburgh's regional parks at 644 acres. Frick Park features wooded trails winding through steep valleys. Learn about nature at the Frick Environmental Center, go mountain biking or take your dog to one of two off-leash exercise areas. Kids love to use cardboard to ride the popular slide built into the rolling hill at the Blue Slide Playground. Another playground includes a wheelchair-accessible play zone.

Every October, Frick Park holds its Bump in the Night event, featuring non-spooky activities that parents and children can do together. Admission is required.

All the things that make Squirrel Hill South an appealing place to live also make it more expensive. Its costs about 26 percent more to live here than the Pittsburgh average, and a one-bedroom apartment costs around $950 per month. Expect to pay 8 percent more than the national average for a gallon of gas.

If you go out for a beer, be prepared to pay at least $4. A bus ride from Squirrel Hill South to Steel Plaza downtown costs $3.50, including $2.50 for the regular bus fare plus $1 for a transfer. You can buy a weekly pass for $25 to take unlimited rides.

Residents in Squirrel Hill South go to the walkable hub at Forbes and Murray Avenues to shop at independent retailers. Locals appreciate the great selection of quality shoes for the whole family at Little's Shoes, but they really love the old-fashioned customer service. The staff at this local landmark learns your name, helps you find the right fit and makes suggestions based on past purchases.

Games Unlimited, another Squirrel Hill institution, offers hard-to-find board games, card games and puzzles. The store owners search out new and unusual inventory and stay ahead of popular trends, carrying games such as Trivial Pursuit and Pokemon before they became popular. The store's borrowing program lets you try out new games for a week to see if you like them.

For high-end men's fashion, visit Charles Spiegel for Men, also referred to as The Garage at Charles Spiegel, where the owner encourages clients to create a distinctive look and stocks new and established designers with a progressive point of view. You can find more shopping options in Shadyside, or head south across the river to the Waterfront Mall in Homestead for national chain stores including Target and Macy’s.

When you need to stock the kitchen, shop at one of two Giant Eagle supermarkets on Murray Avenue - one in the center of town and one farther south in Greenfield - or head to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods Market in East Liberty. For specialty foods, Squirrel Hill South residents go to Young's Oriental Grocery Store on Forward Avenue, Allegro Hearth Bakery on Murray Avenue and Seoul Mart on Fifth Avenue.

The Squirrel Hill Farmers Market does business on Sunday mornings in the Beacon-Bartlett parking lot off Murray Avenue. The market operates from June through November.