Review: Fairmont Pittsburgh A Gem in The Heart of the City

As a consistent visitor to Pittsburgh, one of my favourite cities, I’ve seen many amazing changes. It’s renowned for its museums, medical centers; parks research centers, libraries, and a diverse cultural district, as well as the most bars per capita in the U.S. I closed out 2015 in Pittsburgh, spending a few nights at the beautiful Pittsburgh Fairmont Hotel.

This lovely property has fabulous amenities, including a spa where you can get a relaxing massage, facials and body treatments. There’s also a state of the art health club, with a sauna, and a steam room. There’s a 24-hour business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby.

But the best amenity is the location, right in the heart of the vibrant business, theater and retail district.

The Fairmont is housed in the PNC Complex, which has 23 floors and 28 luxury condos plus the offices of PNC Financial services (owners of the building). The hotel follows sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Each room is stocked with refillable glass water bottles and filtered water is offered in the Ice machine room on each floor.

The Rooms

The hotel’s 185 comfortable well-appointed rooms and suits, occupy the top 10 floors, providing guests with amazing views of the city. They are the largest guest accommodation in the city and have floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious bathrooms, stocked with fragrant toiletries, bathrobes, a lap-top safe, a large working desk which I loved, high speed internet (wired and wireless) and luxurious beds as well as coffee and tea making facilities.

Pittsburgh’s History Exhibited Throughout the Hotel

When they started building the hotel in 2007, digging through 20 feet of Pittsburgh’s past, they discovered artifacts – objects thrown away in a well at the turn of the century. These artifacts have been incorporated into the décor of the hotel and now line the walls on every floor. Wandering the halls is like a walk through history.

Habitat Restaurant and Andy’s Wine Bar

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Pittsburgh

I took advantage of Fairmont’s top-notch service, as well as their wonderful dining room, the Habitat, located on the second floor, where I dined on the exquisite fare of Executive Chef JD (Jason Dalling). A Vancouver native, Dalling marries his Canadian roots to the locally sourced and seasonal cuisine. On the menu you will find delicious dishes like wild mushroom farro and Pei Mussels.

A city gathering spot is Andy’s, the lobby bar, where locals and guests gather in the evening to mingle, indulge in the light fare and enjoy crafty cocktails. I particularly liked the Rosemary Gin cocktail.

Whether you’re a guest at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, or just a day visitor, you should stop to say hello to the hotel’s canine ambassador, Edie, the resident rescue dog (named for Warhol acolyte Edie Sedgwick) and have a look at the ‘rooming-house artifacts’ unearthed that are now exhibited in the first floor lobby.