Feb 11, 2026 - Food and Drink

Pittsburgh coffee shops with the best views

Ryan Deto

Hand holding a white paper cup with a sleeve in front of a tall old stone cathedral with leafless tree branches framing the scene under a clear blue sky. — Margaux looks out to East Liberty Presbyterian Church, one of the city's most spectacular. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

You don't have to venture up to Mount Washington or rooftop bars to take in a view. Just grab a cup of coffee.

The intrigue: Pittsburgh is sometimes called the Paris of Appalachia, and like the French capital, it has some excellent cafes to get comfortable and watch the world go by.

Between the lines: Limiting scrolling is great for your health, and an amazing view is a good distraction from your feed.

Here are our favorite coffee shop views in the Steel City.

If you have a suggestion for others, email us at [email protected].

Margaux

Massive windows look out onto East Liberty Presbyterian Church, a 91-year-old Gothic masterpiece. In warmer weather, you can drink a coffee al fresco on their sidewalk patio.
5947 Penn Ave. in East Liberty.

Starbucks coffee cup with brown sleeve and white lid on wooden table, city buildings and flag visible through large window in background during daytime. — Gander at some of the best Downtown architecture from this U.S. Steel tower perch. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Starbucks in the U.S. Steel Tower

Up the escalators in the tower's main hall is a cozy Starbucks with incredible views of Steel Plaza, the Omni William Penn Hotel and the Union Trust Building.
600 Grant St. in Downtown.

Hand holding a yellow coffee cup with black lid labeled "YINZ COFFEE" against a backdrop of modern city skyscrapers and a clear blue sky. — A coffee served with two of the city's best modern architecture buildings at Yinz Coffee at 11 Stanwix. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Yinz Coffee at 11 Stanwix

An elevated terrace at the former Westinghouse Tower offers great views of the diamond windows at the United Steelworkers headquarters and the iconic glass spires of PPG Place.
11 Stanwix St. in Downtown.

Paper cup with coffee on wooden table inside cafe, window view of street with cars, pedestrians, and buildings with awnings on cloudy day. — Watch the shoppers stroll along Walnut Street at Heat Check. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Heat Check

Located in a second-floor vintage shop, this coffee shop provides perfect people watching of the shoppers on Walnut Street.
5518 Walnut St. in Shadyside.

Luxurious hotel lobby with ornate white ceiling, large crystal chandeliers, beige walls with arched windows, velvet seating, two women conversing, and a pink floral wall with a neon sign. — Slide over to the Omni's impressive lobby with your Mellon Square Coffee brew. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Mellon Square Coffee

Tucked into the Omni William Penn, this charming coffee shop has decent views of Mellon Square park but even better views of the hotel's Italian Renaissance-style lobby. It's easy to take your coffee and just hang out in the lobby.
530 William Penn Place in Downtown.

View looking up at a spiral staircase with white and brown railings, circular lights, and a decorative stained-glass dome ceiling in shades of yellow and brown. — Look up when inside the Union Trust building so you don't miss the stained-glass dome. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

The Speckled Egg

Just next door in the Union Trust Building is this popular brunch spot with a to-go coffee counter. Grab one of their specialty lattes and sip it under the building's spectacular stained-glass dome.
438 Oliver Ave. in Downtown.

Busy city construction site with workers in neon yellow jackets, leafless trees, tall glass and brick buildings in the background under a clear blue sky. — The view from the Market Square Dunkin' will only improve once renovations of the square are complete. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Dunkin' at Market Square

Don't scoff. Dunkin' is one of the few spots in Market Square that looks out prominently onto the square without anything obstructing the view. Squeeze into the couple of window seats with a donut and a medium regular and linger a couple minutes longer to take it in.
28 Market Square in Downtown.

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