From Wikitravel

Bloomfield [1] is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh's East End and often referred to as "Little Italy." Bloomfield is located just east of Downtown, and is surrounded by Shadyside, Friendship, Garfield , Lawrenceville , and Oakland.

[edit] Understand

Despite being known as Pittsburgh's Little Italy, the area was originally occupied by German immigrants in the late 1700s. Irish immigrants later followed after the civil war. In the late 1800s, millworkers in nearby Lawrenceville constructed small row houses designed for single families and businesses in the style of their homeland. Previous to WWI, Liberty Avenue consisted mostly of German businesses. After the war, however, the neighborhood began to take its Italian identity.

Today, well-maintained rowhouses along quaint, narrow streets characterize Bloomfield. Here homes are often passed down through families, and grandchildren usually live just a few blocks from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Bloomfield's name was derived from the many wild flowers that bloomed there years ago.

[edit] Get in and around

By car or public transportation, once you get into Bloomfield, the area is small enough that you can easily manage getting around on foot.

[edit] By car

It is easily accessible via Liberty Avenue, Penn Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard. Liberty Avenue, being the main business district, can be heavily congested most of the day.

Parking is available by meter along Liberty Avenue, though some businesses have their own small private lots. There is also a large parking garage toward the south end of Liberty Avenue, near the auto dealerships.

[edit] By bus

Several bus lines run through the neighborhood. The 54C and 86A run along Liberty Avenue.

[edit][add listing] See

Bloomfield Preservation & Heritage Society Museum and Gallery located at 4727 Friendship Avenue, is the place to go to brush up local history and learn more about the neighborhood.

[edit][add listing] Do

Little Italy Days is held every September and celebrates the neighborhood's Italian heritage. Liberty Avenue becomes filled with street vendors selling Italian food, art, and souvenirs. Live music is also performed, as well as contests and other activities.

Halloween Parade is also held annually. It is the neighborhood's largest nighttime parade.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Bloomfield is home to one of the city's largest, and most active, business districts along Liberty Avenue. Card shops, shoe stores, Italian restaurants, and groceries abound, attracting shoppers not only from nearby neighborhoods but from the whole Pittsburgh region.

Italian Groceries - visit one of Little Italy's specialty groceries for a taste of Italy.

• Donatelli’s Italian Food Center at 4711 Liberty Ave
• Groceria Italiana at 237 Cedarville St

[edit][add listing] Eat

Bloomfield, as Pittsburgh's Little Italy, is best known for its Italian restaurants. However, expect to find a wide variety of other restaurants to meet your needs.

[edit] American

Tessaro's at 4601 Liberty Ave is year in and out rated as the best place in town to get hamburgers. Read the review featured in the Post-Gazette [2]

[edit] Asian

• Orient Kitchen, 4808 Baum Boulevard. +1 412 683-3300. A popular restaurant among Pittsburgh's college students and Asian-American community. The salt-baked squid is not to be missed.

[edit] Bakery

Paddy Cake Bakery at 4763 Liberty Ave is the neighborhood bakery. They have an excellent selection of cookies and cupcakes to go, or you can make larger orders as well.

[edit] Italian

Alexander's Pasta Express at 5104 Liberty Ave is frequently rated as having the best Italian in Pittsburgh. Featuring both dining tables and a bar, the menu allows you to choose from various options to create your perfect pasta.

Cafe Roma at 4770 Liberty Ave.

D’amico’s Place at 4744 Liberty Ave.

Del’s Bar and Ristorante DelPizzo at 4428 Liberty Ave. Overpriced and not really worth it. The owner, Marianne, is a very loud and obnoxious person who can be fun to watch at times but loses her charm in the first three seconds of meeting her. The portions are generous and if you complain the managers will generally either give you a discount or the meal for free.

[edit] Pizza

Angelo's Pizza at 4766 Liberty Ave. Angelo's is a well know first generation Italian family owned and operated pizza establishment. A popular destination for locals, Angelo’s attracts business from all over Pittsburgh and caters to many hospitals and businesses in the area. Angelo’s is well known for their filling portions, insatiable hoagies, hand crafted pizzas with fresh toppings, and one of a kind homemade “Mayonnaise”. Be sure to catch General Manager Rita during the day, she produces the best hoagies and pizzas in Pittsburgh. Angelo’s offers basic cuisine done exceptionally well.

Read what others are saying about Angelo's: http://pittsburgh.citysearch.com/review/8622558

Pizza Bellagio at 315 N Craig St.

Pizza Italia at 4512 Liberty Ave.

[edit] Polish

• Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, 4412 Liberty Avenue (at the corner of Liberty Avenue and the Bloomfield Bridge), +1 412 682-8611. A neighborhood landmark, as it welcomes visitors into the neighborhood with its "Welcome to Bloomfield" mural. The outside is also decorated with murals of famous Poles, as well as crests for major cities in Poland.

On the inside expect to find Polish favorites such as halusky, pierogies, and duck soup. Live music is often featured throughout the week.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact

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