First Pens Game in Pittsburgh

[E-Ramone]

Hi Guys, my brother in law and I are travelling to Pittsburgh from Rochester, NY for the game against Tampa on 3/22. This is our first time in town for a Pens game, and I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for hotels and good bars to hang out near the arena after the game. Thanks!

[Idoit40fans]

There are several hotels in the area, i've always lived/had my mom living in driving distance so i've never used one, but if I did, I guess i'd go to the Double Tree. Its definitely within walking distance. I'm pretty sure there is either a bar in the hotel or in a restaurant in the same building. After the game, it depends how far you want to go, but there are bars in the area in close walking distance. I just leave right after and a lot has changed since I lived there, so someone else can give a better recommendation for bars. I used to always walk across the river to south side if I was going to go to a bar afte rthe game.

[Great58]

I tend to stay on 5th Ave for dinner/drinks and postgame. Blue Line Grill, Souper Bowl, etc.

[PensFanInDC]

We stay either at the double tree for convenience or the holiday inn express on 10th Ave in south side for access to bars. Both are within walking but the holiday inn is about a mile or so walk. However it's at the start of all the bars in south side. Just walk over after the game, drop off stuff/change if you want, and then walk down and stumble back.

[JeanPronovost]

We stay either at the double tree for convenience or the holiday inn express on 10th Ave in south side for access to bars. Both are within walking but the holiday inn is about a mile or so walk. However it's at the start of all the bars in south side. Just walk over after the game, drop off stuff/change if you want, and then walk down and stumble back.

That Holiday Inn will also drive you to the game/pick you up if you give them enough notice.

[E-Ramone]

I've been a fan since the early 90's so this trip has been a long time coming. I've only been able to make it to a bunch of Penguins games in Buffalo over the years so it'll be great to not be a visiting fan for once, although there seems to always be a ton of Penguins fans in Buffalo for games.
It sounds like we'll have plenty of options for having a great time. Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Jim]

What do you consider "a good bar"? A place that serves Bud and Miller? A place that serves crafts? A place that serves only deep fried aps and greasy burgers? A place that serves a full menu? I am more a craft and greasy burger guy... but any recommendation to you should be based on what you usually like to go to...

[dodint]

I always end up going to Cafe Fifth before the games. Decent enough menu that you can view online and its right there. Since I drive in from Latrobe I haven't taken the chance on venturing too far away. If I were staying in the city I'd probably try somewhere new.

[count2infinity]

My wife and I will be there that weekend too (we're going to the blues game the next day). We're staying at the Mariott right next to the Consol. If you check on priceline or hotwire, usually you can get pretty decent deals (ours was something like $70 a night when we booked it, right now hotwire has 3.5 star downtown for 82 a night). Our pregame tradition is Milano's on 5th. They have the best buffalo chicken hoagie I've ever had in my life. It's not traditional buffalo sauce like Frank's Redhot... it's some sort of crushed red pepper paste. I've tried replicating it at home, can't do it.

[PensFanInDC]

We stay either at the double tree for convenience or the holiday inn express on 10th Ave in south side for access to bars. Both are within walking but the holiday inn is about a mile or so walk. However it's at the start of all the bars in south side. Just walk over after the game, drop off stuff/change if you want, and then walk down and stumble back.

That Holiday Inn will also drive you to the game/pick you up if you give them enough notice.

Good to know. If its a pens win and the weather is nice its a fun walk back.

[dodint]

This is a total aside, but if you're ever watching a Pens game in Raleigh there is a German/Polish restaurant called J. Betskis that is also on the PNC Arena shuttle route, so you can get preflight at that bar while eating some really good German/Polish food then hop on the bus and avoid the cluster that is PNC Arena traffic.

[Nuge]

My wife and I will be there that weekend too (we're going to the blues game the next day). We're staying at the Mariott right next to the Consol. If you check on priceline or hotwire, usually you can get pretty decent deals (ours was something like $70 a night when we booked it, right now hotwire has 3.5 star downtown for 82 a night). Our pregame tradition is Milano's on 5th. They have the best buffalo chicken hoagie I've ever had in my life. It's not traditional buffalo sauce like Frank's Redhot... it's some sort of crushed red pepper paste. I've tried replicating it at home, can't do it.

Agreed on that hoagie. It's awesome.

[Fire0nice228]

I would stay on South Side if your looking to party , at the Holiday Inn Express.. I was in the doubletree for a full week about two weeks ago on business and my room was awful. Had a weird odor and was crammed full of furniture, could barely move. A bud light bottle in the hotel bar was 5.00, and the bar closed at 11 or midnight, and it surely won't be a "post pens game" type of crowd..Downtown area shuts down after 5pm for the most part..

Go to Fatheads on Carson at 18th for some different types of beer than the normal ho hum and they have some crazy burgers with ridiculous toppings...drink an iron city and have a primanti sandwich on Carson too if ya want... before the game go over to Consol and go up the hill to Tailgaters next to the hotel and have a few beers...they've got a small area inside and some tables with heat lamp things set up outside, usually kinda busy before the game with Pens fans.

[JeanPronovost]

We stay either at the double tree for convenience or the holiday inn express on 10th Ave in south side for access to bars. Both are within walking but the holiday inn is about a mile or so walk. However it's at the start of all the bars in south side. Just walk over after the game, drop off stuff/change if you want, and then walk down and stumble back.

That Holiday Inn will also drive you to the game/pick you up if you give them enough notice.

Good to know. If its a pens win and the weather is nice its a fun walk back.

Also that hotel serves a good, free breakfast.

[JeanPronovost]

We're staying at the Mariott right next to the Consol. If you check on priceline or hotwire, usually you can get pretty decent deals (ours was something like $70 a night when we booked it, right now hotwire has 3.5 star downtown for 82 a night).

Wow, I'm coming to PIT for that weekend also and I couldn't find anything nearly that good downtown. I guess I'd better brush up on using Priceline.

[count2infinity]

I got ours by bidding. The express deals on priceline and hotwire are in the 80's for 3.5 and 4 stars downtown.

[E-Ramone]

Thanks again for all the input with this. We have a room booked at a hotel near the CEC. I can't tell you which one, but there are two trees involved (Mitch Hedberg)... We'll just check out places after the game and maybe wander to South Side as that sounds like a safe bet. Thanks again, let's go Pens!!!

[llipgh2]

A word about the Blue Line Grill. Go for drinks, skip the food. I thought the food was meh at best.

You can get better food at Milano's or Cafe Fifth Ave.

[PensFanInDC]

Thanks again for all the input with this. We have a room booked at a hotel near the CEC. I can't tell you which one, but there are two trees involved (Mitch Hedberg)... We'll just check out places after the game and maybe wander to South Side as that sounds like a safe bet. Thanks again, let's go Pens!!!

Thats our usual hotel since we have friends that work for Hilton and get us an awesome rate. You have the possibility of getting a room with a pretty cool view of the city. Enjoy your cookie at check in!

[Jim]

If you are staying at the Double Tree I would say go to the Sharp Edge right there on Penn. Most of the places around the arena are basically "local bar" maybe even "local dive bar" level, just with good location.

[count2infinity]

Sharp Edge is fantastic (a little pricey) but fantasatic.

[JeffDFD]

Just a note if you care to look at all or for future reference. The T (subway) is free in the downtown area so if you want to check out the North Shore for other hotels, restaurants, to see PNC Park/Heinz Field, or hit up the casino - it is an easy trip.

The T ends over by the Casino/Heinz Field...then there is a stop closer to PNC and still near Heinz field...then the next stop is in the city (Gateway) where there are some other hotels and restaurants including Market Square...then Wood Street...then Steel Plaza (a short walk from Consol). You could even keep riding it another 2 stops to Station Square where there are hotels/bars/restaurants/other stuff - but you have to pay if you want to go that far.

[E-Ramone]

Hey guys, thanks again for the advice on what to do and where to go. We ended up just hanging out at Sharp Edge after the game was over. Because we were only in town for the night, we didn't care about spending some dough for some good beers. The CEC, the fans, and the whole experience was outstanding. I'm very impressed by the city and the people too. I'm already looking forward to the next time I can attend another game. It didn't hurt that the Pens pulled out the win too.

[dodint]