Did you know there are two Mt. Olivers? One is a borough, the other is a city neighborhood, and they sit right next to each other in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
Mt. Oliver Borough is tucked between Knoxville and the city neighborhood that shares its name. (Google Maps)
How did that happen? In the 1800s, southern Pittsburgh neighborhoods had their own municipalities, and Mt. Oliver was under St. Clair Borough. Residents didn’t like the services they got, so they petitioned to manage themselves. When St. Clair Borough was annexed into the city in 1892, Mt. Oliver Borough stood on its own. There was, however, a slice of Mt. Oliver that became a city neighborhood.
A brioche pastry with homemade cream at Brown Bear Bread Cafe in Mt Oliver. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Eat & Drink
🥖 Brown Bear Bread Cafe is a must-visit for homemade bread, pastries, and brewed Commonplace Coffee. Make sure to snag some of their special butters; I thought the lemon thyme was divine.
☕ Try ECHT Coffee House, too. The micro-roastery serves bistro-style food in the same building as ECHT Design Services — a forging, welding, leather, fabric, ceramic, wood, and glass workshop. See their craftsmanship on display when you sit down for a latte and breakfast strata.
🇵🇷 For lunch or dinner, grab empanadas, red beans in sauce, sweet plantains, and house-baked breads from Flavor of Puerto Rico.
This Cheese Queen charcuterie tray serves four to six. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Shop Local
🧀 Your next party needs a charcuterie board or grazing table from The Cheese Queen, led by Megan McGinnis. She shared her cheese expertise with the City Cast Pittsburgh team; 🎧 listen to get her DIY board-building tips. For a sweet addition to your serving platter, get handcrafted chocolates from TC Candy down the street.
Go, See, Do!
🎶 Check out the Summer Events on Main series for live music, local vendors, and Inner Groove pop-ups.
🥃 Experience ECHT Coffee’s side biz in the craft spirit lab with tastings and distillation classes upon request.
🥂 Look for The Cheese Queen events, like the yoga, charcuterie, and non-alcoholic cocktail series. The next one is Sunday, Aug. 13.
