Alphabet City
Cultural center · North Side
40 W North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Highlights
Bookstore, restaurant, and performance space supporting exiled writers
Bookstore, restaurant, and performance space supporting exiled writers
"There's nothing like a Sunday brunch at 40 North in Alphabet City to help delay the Sunday scaries a bit longer. But this isn’t just your regular stop for eggs benedict and mimosas—it’s one of the more unique brunches you can have in Pittsburgh, since the dining room is in the middle of a bookstore called City of Asylum. That means you can eat things like spätzle with poached eggs as you listen to readings by authors you might recognize from BookTok, or have a brunch date of huevos rancheros with braised lamb before browsing the shelves for some new fiction to take home. They also do great cocktails like a scotch espresso martini topped with orange and warm spices, plus non-alcoholic drinks—go with the tart Mauve with pink peppercorns and bay syrup." - elaine zedack, quayla allen
"There's nothing like a Sunday brunch at 40 North in Alphabet City to help delay the Sunday scaries a bit longer. But this isn’t just your regular stop for eggs benedict and mimosas—it’s one of the more unique brunches you can have in Pittsburgh, since the dining room is in the middle of a bookstore called City of Asylum. That means you can eat things like spätzle with poached eggs as you listen to readings by authors you might recognize from BookTok, or have a brunch date of huevos rancheros with braised lamb before browsing the shelves for some new fiction to take home. They also do great cocktails like a scotch espresso martini topped with orange and warm spices, plus non-alcoholic drinks—go with the tart Mauve with pink peppercorns and bay syrup." - Quayla Allen
A literary sanctuary with free weekly readings, jazz, and conversations, plus a community-minded bookstore and restaurant. Spotlighted by The New York Times, it embodies Pittsburgh’s global outlook from a deeply local North Side base.
A bookstore, performance venue, and cultural refuge for writers in exile, with free readings and concerts most weeks. Spotlighted by The New York Times and The New Yorker, it exemplifies grassroots arts leadership on the North Side.
A literary arts beacon offering free readings, concerts, and films most weeks, supporting writers in exile and local voices. National outlets regularly recognize its mission and impact.
