Cambria Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh - Downtown

The hotel's lobby is bright and airy, with a high ceiling, dramatic drapes, and clusters of upholstered sofas and armchairs that have a touch of midcentury modern style. The most popular spot at this hotel is the restaurant and bar, designed to appeal to guests attending hockey games, concerts, and other events at the nearby PPG Paints Arena. On game days, the bar is a lively place, with fans dressed in team gear enjoying live music, drinks, and food. Radio stations often broadcast from there on game days, too. Nice weather brings lots of guests out to the patio area, with fire pits and comfy seating, that overlooks the arena and has partial skyline views. The vibe here is energetic, and the hotel generally draws leisure travelers but draws some business travelers, too. 

The hotel is located in an area just outside the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. It's next door to the PPG Paints Arena, home to the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s somewhat isolated from restaurants, shops, and nightlife, although there are a few eateries about eight minutes away on foot. The hotel has a free shuttle that brings guests anywhere within a three-mile radius. It takes about 10 minutes by shuttle to reach Market Square in the city center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. Station Square’s restaurants and shops are a bit farther away requiring a car, and it's roughly a 15-minute drive. Depending on traffic, Pittsburgh International Airport is approximately 35 minutes by car.

Guest rooms were updated during the hotel's 2016 renovation with new bedding, carpeting, flat-screen TVs, and sleeper sofas. The modern suites are bright and contemporary, with soft earth tones accented by black padded headboards, and red and orange bolster pillows and artwork. The geometric-patterned gray carpet is particularly striking, and blond wood furniture and gold walls and drapes cast a warm glow. All units have separate seating areas, and the standard amenities are a big plus. They include desks, sleeper sofas, two flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. King and Double-Queen Suites are available in various sizes including two-bedroom suites that have wet bars. Bathrooms are attractive, with black granite vanities and square basin sinks, large walk-in showers, and some have shower/tub combos. The rooms are quiet, and many feature nice views of the arena and downtown skyline. 

Many of the amenities at this hotel cater to guests attending concerts and sporting events at the arena. An event bar, Share on Centre, that debuted in late 2016 features pre-event drink specials, live music, and locally-sourced food. It also has a large patio overlooking the arena and skyline, with gas fire pits and lounge seating. The hotel’s primary restaurant, Social Circle Bistro, serves American classics for breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner. It also has a full-service bar, and room service is available. Among other highlights is the 24-hour fitness center, which has several pieces of Precor cardio and weight-training equipment, and there's a small indoor pool and a whirlpool. The hotel has a business center and meeting space for up to 300 people. There's also a gift shop that sells snacks and sundries, a guest laundry room, and valet dry cleaning and laundry service. Parking is available for reasonable rates at the attached garage, and the hotel runs free shuttle service within a three-mile radius. Wi-Fi is free throughout.