Subscription boxes are, quite literally, the gift that keeps on giving. If you want to support local businesses and treat yourself, here are some perfectly Pittsburgh subscription boxes and plans you need to sign up for immediately.
Gift shopping? These subscriptions also make great, unique gifts for the loved ones in your life — there’s something for everyone on this list.
These 20 Subscriptions from local Pittsburgh businesses make great gifts!
Flowers and gifts from Pittsburgh businesses
love, Pittsburgh Subscription Box
If you can’t get enough love, Pittsburgh goodness, try their subscription box. You have the option of ordering an annual subscription, or just picking a box for the season. Either way, your box is sure to bring joy to a loved one (or yourself). Boxes are packed with seasonally-themed items and typically include at least three full-sized treasures, along with a few sample items.
[Looking for more local gifts? We’ve got a guide to the best local gift shops – all offering online shopping and pickup options.]
Three Rivers Made Quarterly SubscriptYinz Box
This collective of makers and artists curates gift boxes with a theme. You can get them as a quarterly subscription, or you can make a one-time purchase. No matter which option you choose, you’re getting handmade items that are always high-quality.
Self-Care Senorita: Self-Care Simplified Box
This Self-Care Simplified box makes it quick and convenient to maintain your self-care journey right at home. Through handmade goods and changing themes, these boxes explore several ideas and items that are beneficial for your self-care journey. They’re a great way to support local businesses and your own well-being.
Steel City Tee Club
What’s better than a shirt that references Pittsburgh? Getting a shirt referencing Pittsburgh every month! Make this dream your reality with a subscription to the Steel City Tee Club. Your closet will thank you.
[If you are looking for some more Pittsburgh T-shirt ideas, we put together a list of some of our favorite Pittsburgh T-shirts.]
The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers: Dahlia Subscription
Love flowers? Let your home bloom with a dahlia subscription from The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers. For six weeks in 2021, a dozen mixed dahlias will be kept aside for you, for local pickup at this flower shop. You’ll also get a dahlia print with your subscription.
First Sip Brew Box
This box is a craft beer enthusiast’s dream. Featuring a different brewery every month, the First Sip Brew Box is filled with branded merch, stickers, glasses and more to give you a hop-tastic experience.
[Looking to learn more about local brews? Check out our weekly beer column or follow some of these local beer experts.]
Coffee and tea (plus a coffee & chocolate) subscription boxes
Building New Hope Coffee Subscription
With this coffee subscription, you’re helping to support a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that operates in Pittsburgh and Nicaragua. In Pittsburgh, Building New Hope increases awareness about how fair-trade partnerships can contribute to decreased poverty and increased equity. In Nicaragua, Building New Hope partners with an organic coffee cooperative, provides scholarships for students in need and runs supplemental schools for at-risk youth.
Chocolate & coffee Subscription from Adda Coffee
If you have stopped by one of Adda’s locations, you know they carry an impressive selection of chocolate. The coffee & chocolate subscription includes a bag of beans from Verve Coffee Roasters and two chocolate bars.
If you are looking for more gift ideas, check out Adda Bazaar on Penn Ave in Garfield or online.
Coffee Tree Roasters Coffee Subscriptions
This popular local shop has a variety of coffee subscriptions on tap, so you can get your favorite beans delivered straight to your door every two weeks.
[If you miss visiting your neighborhood coffee shop, check out our list of Pittsburgh coffee roaster that will ship or deliver coffee to your door. ]
Local food subscription from pie to pasta
Black Radish Belly Basket
This basket is the goodness of a weekly meal plan, but delivered right to your door. Deliveries typically happen on Wednesday afternoons, and are best suited for a household of 2-3. Baskets include crockpot-type meals, pasta, a fresh produce/herb bundle and more. You can also make your baskets vegetarian or gluten free — just ask.
Forma Pasta’s Pasta Bundle Subscription
Always craving pasta? Why not get a 3-month subscription? These pasta subscription boxes include just what you need to make every night pasta night for a little while.
East Enders Survival Kit
This survival kit has everything you need from a medley of East End area businesses, including Kate Romaine’s Black Radish Kitchen, Commonplace Coffee and East End Brewing. These fun finds are packaged together in a convenient little subscription box that’s ready for you to pick up every Wednesday at East End Brewing.
[ICYMI check out our interview with Scott Smith, owner of East End Brewing and be sure to watch our video about the annual East End Brewing Keg Ride. ]
Penn Mac’s Cheese of the Month Club
This may sound cheesy, but sometimes you need a gouda food subscription to make your day feta. That’s where Penn Mac’s cheese of the month club comes in. With multiple pricing options and different delivery cadences (you can choose every month or every other month), this subscription is sure to cheese.
Bleu Box
Take the guesswork (and the cooking) out of dinner. Bleu Box delivers fresh meals composed of artisanal ingredients to anyone within a 60-mile radius of Pittsburgh. These dinners are affordable, fresh and convenient — what more could you ask for?
Piebird’s Pie Club
Get delicious pies delivered straight to your door with a pie subscription from Piebird. Whether you choose a 3-month, 6-month or 1-year subscription, you’re sure to be satisfied by a variety of pies.
The Veg Out Project Recipe Series
This meatless meal subscription service takes the hassle out of grocery shopping and meal planning. With this box, you’re saving time and money while improving your health by eating more meatless meals — what’s not to love?
Subscription options from local bookstores
City of Asylum Bookstore’s Subscription Services
City of Asylum ensures that endangered literary writers aren’t silenced by providing sanctuary for them. Their cross-cultural community of writers and readers thrives as a place where ideas and books can be exchanged and discussed openly. With City of Asylum’s translated literature subscription service, you’ll get recent titles from authors around the globe delivered right to the comfort of your home.
City of Asylum also offers a young readers subscription service, to foster and maintain a love of reading in new readers. You can request one of the following tiers for a 6-month or 12-month subscription:
- Babies and Pre-schoolers (aged 0-4)
- Early Reader (aged 5-8)
- Middle grade readers (aged 9-13)
White Whale Bookstore’s Book Subscription Boxes
Another way to gift reading to yourself or a loved one is with book subscription boxes from White Whale Bookstore. Choose from a fiction box, a nonfiction box, a big kid box (children in elementary school) or a new baby box (designed for babies and toddlers). No matter which box you choose, the person receiving it will have a whale of a time.
The Mysterious Book Subscription
This monthly subscription plan allows you to select from nine different theme options, so you can set the mysterious tone for your next book adventure. Whether you choose a cozy theme or prefer something a bit more noir, these books will make you feel like donning a trench coat and taking out your magnifying glass to investigate the matter at hand.
Looking for books from Pittsburgh authors? We’ve got a list of the books and authors that should be on your list.
That’s a wrap on our roundup of subscriptions in Pittsburgh. Are there any you don’t see on this list? Email us at [email protected] with local subscription boxes and services you think we should know about.
This story is brought to you by Square Cafe & My Goodness
Square Cafe/East Liberty & My Goodness/Regent Square
Square Cafe offers a variety of local gift baskets and Square Cafe merch. Located in Regent Square, My Goodness is open for all of your last-minute holiday needs. Stop in for one of My Goodness’ famous biscuit sammies with house biscuits, farm eggs and pick up some local groceries. MyGoodness is also stocked with local food gifts.
Great gift ideas from Square Cafe & My Goodness
- Square Cafe hoodie
- Square Cafe signature mugs
- Pancake kits freshly made batter and toppings ready for your home griddle or stovetop
- Brunch Box
- Gift baskets full of their signature mugs and local coffee, chocolates and treats from their neighbors at The Milkshake Factory.
Direct delivery is available for all subscriptions and gift baskets within Square Cafe/My Goodness’ designated delivery radius.
All of Square Cafe’s menu items are available for takeout and if you need a break from the kitchen, Square Cafe offers holiday catering as well.
