Ellsworth Ave, Shadyside

Don’t get me wrong. I really love visiting Ellsworth Avenue. In its commercial section, there are a number of good restaurants and shops, including CoCo’s Cupcake Café which is a personal favorite of mine. It is also a mini-hub of gay nightlife in the city and is home to a number of bars that are popular with art, music and drama students from nearby universities. It is also convenient to the Walnut Street shopping district of Shadyside and the new EastSide development in East Liberty. The residential part of the street is relatively quiet and contains a mix of houses and apartments. It is near playgrounds and public and private schools. That, plus its safe location make it a good place to raise kids, especially for a family that values an urban environment that retains standalone houses with small yards. Housing can be a little more expensive here, depending upon what you are looking for, but the location makes it worth the extra money. There are gyms, medical facilities, and cultural institutions nearby. Depending upon what side of Ellsworth you live on, much of this is within walking distance, which is good, because all of the attractions make it impossible to park. I would not advise buying or renting in this area if you own a car unless you have off-street parking. It can be a little loud in the commercial area on the weekends, but otherwise, it is a great residential street.