I've only been in Pittsburgh for a week, so I don't want to jump the gun by declaring Lili my favorite coffee shop in Pittsburgh. But considering I've been here maybe half a dozen times already, it's certainly my most-visited. For me, this place is pretty close to perfect.
Pros:
1. Delicious, inexpensive (of course, I'm coming from Chicago and New York, so my idea of inexpensive is a little skewed) drinks. I've had a couple of iced lattes that were really spot on at $2.75
2. Satisfying chai that tastes a little bit different from your standard Oregon Chai concentrate
3. Green Manalsihi Smoothie--all sorts of fruit and spinach and juice, blended to a gorgeous green. Again, reasonable at $3.75
4. $1 day old pastries that honestly do not taste a day old--they could sell them for full price and fool me
5. A front room that is more social/buzzing (though by no means loud) and a back room that is more quiet and perfect for studying
BONUS: Everyone here, from baristas to customers, seems to be a major babe with more tattoos than Pittsburgh has bridges
The only con I can really think of is that it's a bit out of the way for me, but there's a bus stop literally right in front of the store, which makes it pretty convenient. Trying to time the buses can be a little annoying because they come very rarely and I don't have a bus schedule (seriously, does Pittsburgh make bus maps? I've looked everywhere I could think of and haven't found one), but this place is worth it.