Pittsburgh is an old city with a storied history. Founded in 1758, it was a launching point for explorers and settlers headed west in the early 1800s, growing into an industrial powerhouse through the 19th century. It was home to some of the world’s richest people at the turn of the 20th century, when steel magnates like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick lived alongside entrepreneurs like H.J. Heinz and financiers like Andrew Mellon. That same era saw immigrants flock to Pittsburgh from all over the world to work in the city’s steel mills and factories. This history didn’t just shape the culture of the modern city; the furniture, art, and everyday items left behind by the people of Pittsburgh’s past also give the city a varied stock of antiques and collectibles.
There are over 50 antique shops scattered throughout the Pittsburgh area, ranging from small boutiques with highly curated collections to sprawling multi-vendor markets where you can spend hours checking out all of the unique items on display. If you’re looking for the best places in Pittsburgh to buy antiques, the five spots below consistently get high marks from shoppers and are ideal places to search for your next one-of-a-kind treasure.
Artifacts
With a 42,000-square-foot showroom stocked with 20,000 items from over 35 independent vendors, Artifacts has the variety and large stock of a flea market but with a focus on fine furniture, artwork, and home décor. While they sell new pieces and contemporary designs, as well, their stock consistently features unique antique items, from Turkish rugs to circus posters to elaborately carved antique desks, armoires, and sideboards. A selection of their current stock is available to view on their website, but you’ll find plenty more pieces in-store.
Artifacts is in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood, just a five-minute drive from the stunning skyline views of the West End Overlook. Even if you’re not currently in the market for antiques, it’s worth stopping in to look around because its reputation as a “museum with a price tag” is well-earned. As one Tripadvisor reviewer said, “It’s a great place to visit and see unique items; it was more like a museum of things I would never normally see in any other antique place.” The owners are also consistently praised for being kind and helpful. “Owner is the nicest guy ever and has so many awesome stories,” said another Tripadvisor reviewer, adding, “It’s the kind of place to do multiple laps in because you’ll see something new each pass through. Be sure to look up, down, and all around. There is awesomeness everywhere.” That being said, this might not be the shop to hit if you’re looking for a bargain. The pieces on sale here are high-end and one-of-a-kind, and the price tags reflect this.
McDonough’s Antiques
Lawrenceville is a trendy neighborhood of hip cafes and quirky shops, but not everything on Butler Street is shiny and modern. Hidden next door to Espresso A Mano, one of the best coffee shops in Pittsburgh, is McDonough’s Antiques who first opened its doors in 1991. Pittsburgh Magazine described its collection as a “rustic gold mine” that goes beyond the furniture and décor you’ll find at most stores, also including things like historic books and old license plates. Best of all for bargain hunters, McDonough’s has a reputation for reasonable prices, with one Google reviewer saying, “Prices are by far the fairest I’ve seen in the area. Especially for the quality of some of the items he has.”…