Happenstance Cafe

The iced oat milk latte is probably the best latte I've ever had. I had it, with the chocolate muffin, multiple days in a row. The employees were fun and visibly happy to work together, the food was great, and the ingredients were all very fresh. There's also a super cute little "secret" back area outside to relax.

I’ve been to Happenstance a handful of times now and every visit is memorable! It has a very friendly atmosphere with great options for food and drinks. I love that you can come by in the daytime for a coffee & a meeting but can also for a glass of wine and a date. The inside is somewhat small, but their back patio boasts plenty of seating where they even host live music and socials from time to time. This business clearly cares about community and their customers enjoying their visit, from the cuisine down to the hospitality! Definitely give it a try sometime. 🥗

Best café in Pittsburgh! Trust me, I’ve been searching for a year now 😅. They offer excellent specialty drinks with actual flavor! These drinks are not just brown water with “flavored syrups” like so many café’s out here. Do yourself a favor and stop by, you won’t regret it. The food is killer too! Happenstance offers abundant and diverse seating to enjoy their specialty takes on old classics. Stop by and treat yourself. I know I’ll be back—soon!

My girlfriend and I went here for lunch and it was absolutely fantastic! There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and all of it is so cute, and was very clearly decorated with love. I got the vegan sandwich with a side salad and she got the pimento BLT with fries, and they were both 100/10. We also got a lavender lemonade and espresso lemonade, which were both amazing as well! I would 100% recommend Happenstance Cafe, this was such an amazing find!

They have tons of seating both indoor and outdoor- food is delicious and reasonably priced. I had the chicken salad sandwich for lunch and was very pleased. Quick service and nice staff- overall great experience.

Happenstance is the cutest cafe!! It was a perfect atmosphere with tons of drink options including happy hour cocktails! The food was great too and big portions! Not only that, the barista and owner were so kind and warm. Every month they highlight a non-profit in the community which is so thoughtful and special. I can’t wait to go back to work remotely from there and attend their events!

It is not happenstance that Happenstance Cafe is so wonderful! Happenstance is such a great addition to the Lawrenceville/ Bloomfield community. It is a fun, quirky spot with lovely decor and very kind service. The food and beverage menu is small but mighty. The cafe utilizes a lot of local vendors and food suppliers. I love to see local businesses working together cooperatively. When we visited I tried a lavender latte. It was made perfectly and tasted great. We tried the chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. It was very good. The chicken salad recipe wasn't traditional and that was a nice surprise. We also tried the fried green tomato, bacon and pimento cheese sandwich. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 star sandwich! Just really, really good. One of the best bites I've had in a long time. The flavor profile was on point. I really recommend trying Happenstance and this particular sandwich!

Cute café located on Penn Ave.  They proudly serve the best selection of Pittsburgh’s coffee, wine and beer along with fresh fare.  They are open daily- offering breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as the morning pick me up and the evening glass to unwind.  Their outdoor space is adorable.  Small tables, intimate setting with twinkling lights and a cozy vibe.  They have an upstairs “library” which is so cool! Tables, chairs, pretty decor, games and books are all in the space, creating a library type vibe! It’s super cute. Tried their espresso martini which was created by one of the workers! It was so good and they used actual espresso and local distillery vodka! Their charcuterie is chefs choice of three cheese and three meats with some olives and nuts and mustard! It was a great portion size and really good selections! With dinner shared a half carafe of wine which was perfect and adorable, plus the wine was from a local winery and very good! For dinner had the fried chicken and croffles which is a crispy fried chicken breast atop a buttery croissant waffle dressed with rich bacon jam and a drizzle of hot honey maple syrup! It was insanely delicious! They use a croissant batter but make a waffle- GENIUS! I can’t wait to stop back for coffee and I will certainly be back for another wine & dinner night with friends!

7/9/25 Ate List: Crispy Chicken Samdwich - 8.9 Honestly, blown away. This is such a great find. Seating options are awesome - split between multiple different spaces indoor and outdoor. All unique. Staff was very friendly. Food was delicious! This was an ideal crispy chicken sandwich. Very tasty. And the fries were wonderful as well. A place where your plate makes you more curious to explore the rest of the menu. Will absolutely be back!

There's a charming little cafe in Lawrenceville called Happenstance Cafe that should be on your radar! They have a taproom, a lovely back patio/garden space, and a spacious second floor upstairs so it's great for groups. Their cozy atmosphere and delicious food and drinks makes this spot a neighborhood gem. I liked everything we got and especially loved my refreshing frose and indulgent fried chicken and croffles (yes, its a croissant waffle!). They also offer coffee and breakfast options!

The best part is their outdoor seating- ambiance is fantastic there and it's very very cute. The food is... quite lacking to say the least. I got the breakfast sammy on an everything bagel. It tasted like an egg, some bacon, and some tomato. Nothing special and I could've easily replicated it at home. There was such little aioli that I didn't taste it. Very disappointing The rose cardamom latte tasted like a sweetened latte that occasionally had some rose flavor. Loved the art and the fact that they don't charge extra for alt milk. I think I'd maybe go back to get a drink and sit outside in the future, but I'm not dying to go back.

Stopped in for a few drinks on the patio on a beautiful evening. The place is quaint and unassuming from the outside. A quick trip to the back of the restaurant there's ample patio seating. The patio is beautiful, covered with lush greenery and seats with umbrellas. It was a perfect place to enjoy some delicious cocktails. The Lavender Lizzy was fresh and well balanced. The glitter added extra pizzazz to the drink. They use PA local wines and spirits which is great. Their new Spanish sangria was a hit and perfect for summer. Service was great and everyone was so friendly.

The food? Absolutely amazing The cocktails? Refreshing with a great selection The back patio? UNREAL. This hidden gem bordering Lawrenceville and Bloomfield is a must stop spot. Their space inside is so cozy with the friendliest staff. Then as you go to the backlit patio, you're ready for a lovely dinner surrounded by soft lights and a garden with the cutest mural for pictures. If you are looking for a friendly game night or fun workspace, their upstairs has several tables you can have a larger group at, or just bring your lap top and type away! I was there for dinner, I'm so excited to go back for brunch!

The owner is so incredibly kind. Quality homemade sandwiches and soup. Loved the chicken salad and also the Rueben. A comfy place to also have coffee and study.

The vibes are so homey and cute here. Love that they have a day time menu and a dinner menu. We came for dinner and they had awesome dishes like the pulled pork mac and chicken and croffles. They were so good! Their drinks are amazing too. They serve local wine and cocktails from local distilleries and breweries. Love the Jackworth and Love, Katie drinks. The wine was fabulous too from Papa Joe's. Loved the Sauvignon blanc and tannat. The staff is so sweet too! Their not so secret garden space is so cute and they also have an upstairs space where events are held. They have game nights and other local community events too. Definitely need to come back for brunch! Such a gem!! Can't wait till they use their pizza oven for pop ups and events in the summer.

The food was fantastic, the coffee was disappointing. My latte was barely warm and lacked flavor, it was like water and milk with a splash of coffee. Service was great, the place is adorable! Inside and outside seating. Parking wasn't too difficult. I would try again.

Service was amazing, the person at the register gave us great recommendations and emphasized the specials. We got the turmeric honey latte due to the high praise and it was yummy. The front room looks cozy but also there's an upstairs and patio for more seating. Both of our choices (pimento BLT & avocado toast) were delicious. Can't wait to try more of their menu!

Happy to have visited Happenstance! We enjoyed wonderful coffee and breakfast plate. Eggs cooked perfectly, great hash browns, crispy bacon and toast. Staff and service warm and welcoming. Outdoor garden seating is lovely. Highly recommend this local gem!!

Support cute and yummy spot with big signage on Penn. I used to live in Lawrenceville and miss it dearly. Every time I'm back to Pittsburgh I look for new things in Lawrenceville and this place did not disappoint. The espresso martini was perfect on a Monday late morning and avocado toast was delicious. Both came fast, the place was not busy and the bathrooms were clean. Parking is what it is!

Happenstance Cafe is a lovely spot on the Laweranceville/Bloomfield border. I thought the espresso martinis were executed well and tasted wonderfully. Fresh espresso really does make a difference! Mama's Buttermilk Chicken Salad was my lunch choice and I was really impressed by the flavor and the croissant itself. Their croissant is absolutely one of the best I've had in PGH. I really enjoyed the pickle and fries too. The vibes here truly were amazing. The staff were very welcoming and even delievered our food to us on the 2nd floor. It was a cold winter day, but Happenstance Cafe warmed me up. I noticed a Happy Hour sign on my way out and I am looking forward to it in the Spring as they have a patio/deck area.

The food was so fresh and delicious and the space was unique, cozy and surprisingly spacious! All of the staff was lovely and accommodating. We are absolutely coming back! 10/10

This was a delightful little place. It's a nicely decorated and cozy little cafe with lots of character. We ordered takeout, but it's definitely the type of place I would like to hang out and do some reading over a few cups of coffee. In addition to coffee, they have a decently sized cafe menu with bagels, sandwiches, salads, and such. Our food was nicely packaged with plenty of fresh ingredients. The vegan sandwich in particular was excellent and perfectly portioned to pair with a salad and share with a friend.

Obsessed with this neighborhood cafe. We always order the breakfast tacos and a breakfast sandwich and leave happy. The green salsa is TO DIE FOR. AND the staff is so friendly, everyone that works there is a delight. The cafe is clean and has a ton of tables inside and outside 15/10

I was so pleased with our visit here! Great menu with a variety of cocktails. The patio outside in the back is gorgeous and so relaxing. A quiet space with beautiful gardens. Would definitely recommend and will be back!

Chose this place for brunch with a friend last Sunday and we weren't disappointed! The space is small, as soon as you walk in, but they have a second floor of seating available. You do have a short walk outside to go up the stairs. So, I could see it being a little inconvenient on a snowy or rainy day. The owner came over and was chatting with us. She was very friendly and told us they've been open for about 6 months. We both ordered coffee and I also purchased a chocolate chip muffin and the yogurt bowl. My friend got a breakfast sandwich on a plain bagel. The coffees and yogurt bowl were out quickly. We waited 10-15 mins for the breakfast sandwich before asking where it was. They had either completely forgotten, or it was sitting in the kitchen for a few mins ready to be taken to the table. They apologized for the delay. The muffin was great; moist and had plenty of chocolate chips. The yogurt bowl was also good for a light breakfast or a snack. The granola had a nice crunch and there were some seeds in there. My friend especially liked the chipotle ? sauce on the breakfast sandwich. I'd come back to try something again and maybe check out the second floor seating.

Cute café located on Penn Ave.  They proudly serve the best selection of Pittsburgh's coffee, wine and beer along with fresh fare.  They are open daily- offering breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as the morning pick me up and the evening glass to unwind.  Their outdoor space is adorable.  Small tables, intimate setting with twinkling lights and a cozy vibe.  They have an upstairs "library" which is so cool! Tables, chairs, pretty decor, games and books are all in the space, creating a library type vibe! It's super cute. Tried their espresso martini which was created by one of the workers! It was so good and they used actual espresso and local distillery vodka! Their charcuterie is chefs choice of three cheese and three meats with some olives and nuts and mustard! It was a great portion size and really good selections! With dinner shared a half carafe of wine which was perfect and adorable, plus the wine was from a local winery and very good! For dinner had the fried chicken and croffles which is a crispy fried chicken breast atop a buttery croissant waffle dressed with rich bacon jam and a drizzle of hot honey maple syrup! It was insanely delicious! They use a croissant batter but make a waffle- GENIUS! I can't wait to stop back for coffee and I will certainly be back for another wine & dinner night with friends!

Trekked up the hill to the Arsenal Cider House but it was closed! Lucky for my wife and I we decided to try Happenstance across the street and we are so glad we did. Great spot and highly recommend.

Phone unfortunately didn't eat first..... IN LOVE with this place. Such a cool concept here, they have like 4 different places to sit, eat, drink, do work. Not to mention, the bartender/cashier was smiling when we walked through the door, good vibes all around!! The food was delicious so we will definitely be back!

had a pimento cheese BLT. Very good sandwich, had fried green tomatoes as the tomatoes and sourdough for the bread. It was a little light on the pimento cheese but I didn't mind that much because I was really in it for the fried green tomatoes. It lacked a little bit of salt but it more than made up for it with the combination of flavors. Sides were just normal, deli sides, nothing to write home about.

What a great cafe! The latte was creamy and delicious and the muffin was super soft! The upstairs of this place is super cozy for a cold winter day! I want to come back here once it is warm and enjoy a drink in their outside patio! Staff is super friendly here as well!

Had the corn beef hash. It was made fresh and was delicious! Small place with a lot of ambiance. The people serving were very nice.

A spot that should be talked about more often! Vibes are excellent upon immediate entry. The decor is cute and cozy and my husband described the second floor as "feeling like you're in someone's home". And the cappuccino was good too!

Cutest, cozy coffee shop, perfect for lunch or a spot to work. The owner, who was very kind, recommended adding a grilled chicken breast to the Vegan sandwich and it was delicious. I love sitting outside on the patio and just discovered their second floor upstairs that has expanded seating.

Came in on a snowy day for a latte and some food, and I found a very nice barista behind the bar and a nice little vibe on the first floor. She made my latte fairly quick, and it was truly the best coffee I've had in quite sometime -- I opted to go upstairs to sit down and do some work and it's honestly such a beautiful space. Relaxing and professional vibe throughout, the breakfast Sammy was incredible (I recommend subbing the croissant for the bread!) met the owner, who invited me to come share the room with a smile and we chatted and she's very nice! Happenstance is my new fav local shop come come!!

The cute little establishment is has a very inviting atmosphere. We got avocado toast and an everything bagel, the cold brew was definitely worth it. This cafe was only 3 months old when we stopped in but we will be coming back soon. The staff are really friendly and welcoming. My partners Avocado toast is ARFID approved.

First time visit. Breakfast sandwiches are delicious ans and so was the coffee. Very nice outdoor space. Definitely coming back when it is warm to advantage of the outdoor area.

Just can't say enough. Happenstance brings back the memories of those warm places that I spent time with friends or just reading a book. Love the ambiance. The staff gels so well together - it played out within the whole experience. For only 3 months in the neighborhood they sure are hitting the mark with their food. Looking forward to my next time there.

Stumbled upon this place on a wait for brunch at another restaurant. Decided to try it out and so glad we did. Amazing food, friendly staff, and honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had. Happenstance has jumped to one of my top 5 eats in the city. And the back patio has the best ambiance. I will be back!

Loved it so much, went back the next day. Food quality is excellent, fresh and local. Their Smashburger is my new favorite. Salads, charcuterie board and Reuben are all excellent. The outdoor patio space is a private and a serene oasis amid the city bustle. Coffees and chai latte are also excellent. Owner Jill and staff are all friendly and hospitable. Really cute pumpkin and Halloween decorations too. It's a real little gem and find.

This is the CUTEST cafe with the friendliest staff!! It has been beautifully decorated and the hidden courtyard is perfection. I had lunch with coworkers and everyone enjoyed their order. I had the Pimento BLT and it was delicious! It comes with fried green tomatoes-so good! I'll definitely be back for a laid back weekend brunch. Can't wait to go back with friends!

The BEST local cafe with amazing food and a cozy atmosphere. Very sweet and attentive team. Definitely a new neighborhood gem!

The workers are extremely sweet and care about you getting the best experience possible! Not to mention the food/ drinks are delicious and the environment is very welcoming

Breakfast sandwich was delicious. Sat on the back patio which was really cute. Menu was limited but food & coffee were great.

Are you kidding me. This was one of the best places I have ever been to. The food was unbelievable. I had the Pimento BLT and "I didn't want the meal to end". Period. The owner Jill is so hard working, to make sure every customer has a world class experience. You do not want to miss this place as every diner is treated like royalty. All I can say is WOW!!