Bordering vast and picturesque Schenley Park, Central Oakland is a green and serene neighborhood popular with students of the University of Pittsburgh. Its youthful atmosphere is offset by its rows of historic masonry buildings of various styles. While visiting Central Oakland, get a sense of the local vibe by chatting with the students and apprentices hanging out in the area’s great range of bars and restaurants.

Enjoy the tranquility, as you explore the communal gardens and tree-laden avenues of the Mexican War Streets. This part of Central Oakland gets its name from its beginnings at the time of the Mexican-American War in the 1800s. Inspect the historic terraced homes, which showcase a range of architectural styles, from Greek revival and Italianate to Romanesque and late Victorian.

Gather and meet friends in central Schenley Plaza, where you can see the Forbes Field Outfield Wall that remains from a former baseball arena. On the square’s eastern side stands the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History beside it.

Look around the campus of Carnegie Mellon University and see the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain and University Art Gallery.

Head into the large and scenic grounds of Schenley Park. Its sites include the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink, the Schenley Park Disc Golf Course and the Schenley Park Soccer Field. Let your kids frolic in the Anderson Playground and relax by the lake of Panther Hollow. A highlight is the Phipps Conservatory, which has extensive botanical gardens and a glorious glass house full of colorful and exotic vegetation.

Central Oakland is on the western edge of Schenley Park, in the eastern part of Pittsburgh. From the Downtown Pittsburgh district, drive east for 3 miles (5 kilometers) or travel by bus to one of the stops here.

Explore the surrounding area for the zones of North Oakland, Greenfield and the Technology Center.