The downtown Pittsburgh restaurants worth knowing cover every kind of meal, from a quick Thai lunch on Penn Avenue to a whiskey-bar dinner on 6th Street. This guide sorts seven of them by occasion, with hours, so you can pick fast. Walter’s BBQ Southern Kitchen isn’t Downtown.
It’s the BBQ spot in Pittsburgh a short drive away at 4501 Butler St in Lawrenceville, and it’s the pick when you want smoked brisket instead. Call (412) 683-7474 with a question, or use the Pittsburgh private party inquiry form to plan a group meal.
Restaurant hours and menus change often. Check each restaurant’s website or call before you go. This guide shares general dining suggestions, and every listing was checked against the restaurant’s own website on September 23, 2026.
Table of Contents
- Downtown Pittsburgh Restaurants at a Glance
- For a Weekday Lunch Downtown
- For Breakfast or Weekend Brunch Downtown
- For a Special Dinner Downtown
- How to Plan a Meal Downtown
- Worth the Short Trip: Barbecue in Lawrenceville
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
- The best restaurants downtown Pittsburgh has to offer change by the hour. Several serve dinner only, and a few close early in the week.
- For a weekday lunch, try Nicky’s Thai Kitchen, Floor 2, Alta Via or Emporio at Sienna Mercato.
- For breakfast or brunch, Sally Ann’s and Floor 2 both open at 8 AM on their brunch or breakfast days.
- For a special dinner, Meat & Potatoes and Butcher and the Rye are evening-only spots.
- For smoked barbecue, Walter’s is a short drive from Downtown in Lawrenceville.
Downtown Pittsburgh Restaurants at a Glance
Downtown is the City of Pittsburgh’s Central Business District, according to the City’s official neighborhood list. Here are the restaurants in this guide and when each one works best.
| Restaurant | Address | Best for | Lunch? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicky’s Thai Kitchen | 903 Penn Ave. | Thai lunch or dinner | Mon to Sat, 11:30 AM to 3 PM |
| Floor 2 | 510 Market Street, Fairmont Pittsburgh | Business lunch, weekend brunch | Mon to Fri, 11 AM to 1 PM |
| Alta Via | 2 PPG Place | Handmade pasta | Daily |
| Emporio: A Meatball Joint | 942 Penn Ave | Meatballs and wood-fired pizza | Thu to Sun, from 11:30 AM |
| Sally Ann’s | 136 6th Street | Sandwiches, pastries, brunch | Wed to Sun, from 8 AM |
| Meat & Potatoes | 649 Penn Avenue | Steak and a big dinner | Dinner only |
| Butcher and the Rye | 212 6th Street | Whiskey and a late dinner | Dinner only, Wed to Sat |
For a Weekday Lunch Downtown
These are the places to eat Downtown, Pittsburgh’s business district, when you have an hour or less.
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen
Address: 903 Penn Ave.
Hours: lunch Monday to Saturday, 11:30 AM to 3 PM, and dinner every day
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen serves traditional Thai, and its Downtown location has a bar with wines, sakes and Thai Singha beer. It serves lunch six days a week, more than any other spot on this list except Alta Via.
Floor 2
Address: 510 Market Street, inside the Fairmont Pittsburgh
Hours: lunch Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 1 PM
Floor 2 says most of its menu is house made and locally sourced. With a two-hour lunch window, it works best for a business lunch you plan ahead.
Alta Via
Address: 2 PPG Place
Hours: lunch daily
Alta Via focuses on wood-fired cooking and handmade pasta. It serves lunch every day, which makes it one of the easier Downtown picks on a Monday.
Emporio: A Meatball Joint at Sienna Mercato
Address: 942 Penn Ave
Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 11:30 AM, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 PM, closed Monday
Sienna Mercato stacks three restaurants in one building. Its ground floor, Emporio, serves handcrafted meatballs and wood-fired pizza, and the building has a rooftop beer garden. Each floor keeps its own hours, so check before you go.
For Breakfast or Weekend Brunch Downtown
Fewer of the spots in this guide open early. These two do.
Sally Ann’s
Address: 136 6th Street
Hours: kitchen open Wednesday to Saturday, 8 AM to 3 PM, and Sunday, 8 AM to 2 PM
Sally Ann’s serves sandwiches, pastries and weekend brunch. It’s a strong pick for breakfast before a meeting midweek.
Floor 2, Weekend Brunch
Floor 2 serves brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM. It’s a calm option for a weekend brunch with out-of-town guests staying nearby.
If you’re open to leaving Downtown for brunch, Walter’s serves a Southern BBQ brunch on weekends in Lawrenceville. The guide to the best brunch in Pittsburgh covers what to check before you pick a spot.
For a Special Dinner Downtown
These two are evening-only, and both are worth planning around.
Meat & Potatoes
Address: 649 Penn Avenue
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 5 PM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 PM to 10 PM
Meat & Potatoes is American comfort food with a big appetite. The restaurant itself tells first-timers to try the tomahawk steak or the Pub Burger.
Butcher and the Rye
Address: 212 6th Street
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 5 PM to 10 PM
Butcher and the Rye is a whiskey bar with rustic American food. Its Whiskey Wall holds more than 600 bottles, so it’s the pick when the drinks matter as much as dinner.
How to Plan a Meal Downtown
The best places to eat in Downtown Pittsburgh are easy to pick once you check three things.
- Check the day. Several spots in this guide close early in the week or serve dinner only. Monday has the fewest options among the spots here.
- Check the window. Floor 2’s weekday lunch runs two hours, and Nicky’s runs until 3 PM. Plan your meeting around the kitchen.
- Book the big dinners. For a group dinner at an evening-only spot, reserve through the restaurant’s own site.
Use this quick match when you know the occasion but not the place:
| Occasion | Pick | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Client lunch on a weekday | Floor 2 | Set lunch window inside a hotel, Monday to Friday |
| Lunch on a Monday | Alta Via or Nicky’s Thai Kitchen | Both serve lunch on Mondays |
| Breakfast before work | Sally Ann’s | Kitchen opens at 8 AM, Wednesday to Sunday |
| Casual lunch with friends | Emporio at Sienna Mercato | Meatballs, pizza and a rooftop beer garden upstairs |
| Birthday or anniversary dinner | Meat & Potatoes | Steak-focused dinner every night of the week |
| Drinks-first night out | Butcher and the Rye | A Whiskey Wall of more than 600 bottles |
| Barbecue or a late bite after 10 PM on a weekend | Walter’s in Lawrenceville | Smoked meat, open until 2 AM Friday and Saturday |
For a group too big for any Downtown table, look at a private room or a caterer instead. Walter’s can host a group at its Lawrenceville restaurant or cater to a room you’ve already rented Downtown.
Worth the Short Trip: Barbecue in Lawrenceville
None of the restaurants in this guide is a barbecue spot. For smoked meat, head up Penn Avenue to Lawrenceville, where Walter’s BBQ Southern Kitchen runs an on-site smoker at 4501 Butler St.
What to Order
- Lunchbox Special, $20. Brisket, ribs or pulled pork, two sides and cornbread.
- The Sandman, $40. A quarter pound each of brisket, ribs and pulled pork, plus jalapeño cheddar sausage, three sides and two cornbread. Split it with a friend.
- From the smoker, by weight. Brisket (fatty or lean) is $16 for a half pound or $32 for a pound.
When to Go
Walter’s is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 2 AM, Saturday from 9 AM to 2 AM and Sunday from 9 AM to 10 PM. On Monday it opens at 4 PM. That makes it a late-night option after a Downtown event on a Friday or Saturday.
Getting there is simple, since Penn Avenue runs from Downtown through the Strip District and into Lawrenceville. Once you’re in Lawrenceville, follow Butler Street to the 4500 block and look for Walter’s.
Bringing a Group
Seating is mostly first come, first served, and Walter’s takes reservations in Pittsburgh for parties of 10 or more. For a bigger event, the tent seats up to 65 guests, and a sectioned patio with a private bar holds 20 more. You can also bring Walter’s to your Downtown office with BBQ catering in Pittsburgh, with one week’s notice.
To see what the kitchen does with that smoker, read about the 14-hour brisket at Walter’s in Pittsburgh.
Eat Downtown, Then Try the Brisket in Lawrenceville
Use the table above to pick your Downtown meal by the day and time. When you want barbecue, take the short drive to 4501 Butler St in Lawrenceville and order something from the smoker. For a table of 10 or more, or to plan catering for a Downtown office, call Walter’s at (412) 683-7474.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I eat in downtown Pittsburgh?
It depends on the meal. For lunch, try Nicky’s Thai Kitchen, Floor 2 or Alta Via.
For brunch, Sally Ann’s or Floor 2. For a special dinner, Meat & Potatoes or Butcher and the Rye.
Which downtown Pittsburgh restaurants are open on Monday?
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen serves lunch Monday through Saturday, Floor 2 serves weekday lunch, and Alta Via serves lunch daily. Emporio is closed Mondays, and several others don’t open until later in the week.
Where can I get a quick lunch in downtown Pittsburgh?
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen at 903 Penn Ave. serves lunch Monday to Saturday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. Floor 2 serves weekday lunch from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Is there barbecue in downtown Pittsburgh?
None of the restaurants in this guide focuses on barbecue. Walter’s BBQ Southern Kitchen is a short drive away at 4501 Butler St in Lawrenceville.
Where can I eat dinner downtown on a Sunday?
Meat & Potatoes serves dinner Sunday from 5 PM to 9 PM, and Nicky’s Thai Kitchen serves dinner every day. Check each restaurant’s website for current hours.
Where can I get whiskey and dinner downtown?
Butcher and the Rye at 212 6th Street pairs rustic American food with a Whiskey Wall of more than 600 bottles. It’s open Wednesday to Saturday from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Is Walter’s open late?
Yes. Walter’s is open until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday, and until 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, except Monday, when it opens at 4 PM and closes at 11 PM.
Can Walter’s cater a lunch at a downtown office?
Yes. Walter’s offers catering trays of smoked meats and sides with one week’s notice, for pickup or delivery. Call (412) 683-7474 to plan an order.
Written by: Walter’s BBQ Southern Kitchen
Last updated: September 23, 2026