Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Send messages & view rates of your favorite venues in one spot.
How bummed would you be if you were a butterfly that could only see primary colors, living in a garden brimming in every hue, shade, and color?
Thank goodness we’re not butterflies, because the beauty of the Phipps Conservatory is breathtaking. Indigenously epic plants, gorgeous greenhouses, and endless inspiration, this garden wonderland is the ideal backdrop for your next corporate gathering. No green thumb necessary.
The Lowdown
Type
Banquet Hall / Event FacilityGardenHistoric BuildingMuseum
Views
CityscapeGardenHistorical MonumentLandscaped GroundsParkSkylineStreetWater FeatureWaterfall
Style
Cultural
Eco
Elegant
Garden Party
Romantic
Victorian
Days Venue is closed
Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

Phipps Conservatory, one of the nation's oldest and largest Victorian greenhouses, provides the perfect location for any special event: wedding ceremony or cocktail reception in the elegant Outdoor Garden; a corporate meeting or group event in the beautiful Special Events Hall; a photography session in the formal French garden.

Capacity

Seated
300
Buffet
250
Standing
1000
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

No

Additional charges

Additional Cost: Catering and Alcohol

Insurance

Additional Insurance May Be Required Depending On The Event

Connect
Call Venue
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
Prior to 1930
Curfew
12 AM
Venue spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Alcohol
Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
Corkage/Bottle Fee – You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol For A Fee
Licensed Server Is Required
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations
Bridal Suites
Kid Friendly Events
Yes
Handicap Accessible
Yes
Amenities
  • A/V Equipment
  • Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
  • Street Parking
  • Wifi
  • Ample Parking Onsite
  • Dining Chairs
Inside Scoop

Phipps Conservatory, one of the nation's oldest and largest Victorian greenhouses, provides the perfect location for any special event: wedding ceremony or cocktail reception in the elegant Outdoor Garden; a corporate meeting or group event in the beautiful Special Events Hall; a photography session in the formal French garden.

Venue Features
The scene:
Phipps’ architectural splendor and delicate floral beauty adapt to any ceremony or tradition. Being your journey in our Welcome Center before entering our exquisite 1893 glasshouse with ever-changing flower displays. The Palm Court, a spacious, tropical and peaceful interior room of the glasshouse, is the focal point of the Conservatory. It is home to palms that stand gracefully at heights of up to 50 feet, as well as statues, benches, and a relaxing central courtyard.
Design:
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a great steel and glass Victorian greenhouse, has been inviting visitors to explore the beauty and mysteries of plants since 1893.
Standout venue features:
The Tropical Forest Conservatory, a 12,000-square-foot complex of paths, tree-top lookout, waterfalls and fish pond, is unrivaled as a special event venue in Pittsburgh. Adjacent to the Tropical Forest is our Special Events Hall that is dedicated to hosting private events. This space features glass walls that offer breath-taking views of the lush Tropical Forest and the vistas of Oakland landmarks.
Awards & Notables
Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.
2014 Best Museum Restaurants in the U.S. - Food and Wine. 2013 Best Event-Rental Spot- Pittsburgh City Paper Best of Pittsburgh Reader’s Poll 2012 Foodservice Sustainability Award- Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability 2010 First LEED®-Certified Welcome Center- Green Building Alliance GreenSCENE Celebration
Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges
This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.
Café Phipps 2014 Food and Wine "Best Museum Restaurants in the U.S."
Celebration Locations
This section outlines the various spaces available within the venue for different types of events.
Tropical Forest Conservatory and Specail Events Hall
The Tropical Forest Conservatory, a 12,000-square-foot complex of paths, tree-top lookout, waterfalls and fish pond, is unrivaled as a special event venue in Pittsburgh.
Outdoor Garden
The Outdoor Garden, one large garden made up of many smaller gardens, provides approximately one acre of outdoor tranquility. The Outdoor Garden includes a perennial garden, a collection of dwarf conifers, a border of pink and white flowering plants, annuals, semi-shade plants, medicinal plants, and an herb garden. Seasonal tents are provided by Phipps to accommodate 200 seated guests. Additional tents can be rented to accommodate up to 250 seated guests for a reception.
Broderie Room
The Parterre de Broderie garden, a smaller scale of the gardens of the chateaux, castles, and palaces of French nobility in the time of Louis XIV, is home to an Italian wellhead and bronze Edmund Ameteis maiden statues. This is a lovely location for weddings attended by 50 or fewer guests.
Venue matched with reports
Weddings
25 Wedding Venues In Pennsylvania To Put On Your Radar
From summer camps in the Poconos to castle-like estates in Philly, Pennsylvania has a wide array of cool wedding venues that range from totally casual to super glam. A state that’s big on history and has plentiful farmland, we’ve roamed across the mountains, through the pastures, and into the cities to bring you the best of PA’s party spots that are totally wedding-worthy.    Reporter: Alyssa Brown | Venue: The Farm At Eagles Ridge
Read roundup
Travel
25 Lush Secret Gardens, Glasshouses & Greenhouses
We’re on a nonstop tour of all venues lush, green, ivy-draped, glass-housed and garden party ready. From historic estates in the English countryside to Jamaican sugar mills to the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, come along as we explore the best greenhouses, gardens and more. Be sure to keep the secret gardens on the DL though -- we wouldn't to spoil the fun. Reporter: Alyssa Brown | Venue: Ballyfin
Read roundup
Travel
The Ultimate East Coast Train Crawl With Your Crew
The East Coast is a blast, and unlike its western counterpart, it’s a whole lot easier to sight-see by train. With smaller states, you can bounce from one big city to another rather timely and seamlessly by rail—and there’s something classic about traveling in such fashion. So we put together an extensive guide for you and your friends, with plenty of options for eating, drinking, staying, and shopping while on the Great American Rail Trip. We figured such an adventure would look something like this: Washington, DC → Pennsylvania → New Jersey → New York City via booking with Amtrak's multi-city ticket. Check it out and then better get a move on. By: Jake Kilroy 
Read roundup
Weddings
Top 40 Greenhouse, Glasshouse, & Conservatory Venues Across The Globe!
Going green can mean a multitude of things when it comes to talking about your wedding, a birthday, or maybe something as simple as an afternoon lunch with your girls. Maybe your wedding dress is made of natural materials, your birthday cake is made with 100% organic ingredients, and you had GMO-free spinach for lunch. Yes, going green can mean all of those things, but the green we’re referring to when talking about these magical days is the location. That’s right, you caught us! Greenhouse and glasshouse venues are full of all sorts of botanicals that you probably didn’t even know existed! Set yourself up to wed, party, or relax all while surrounded by a variety of plants, flowers, trees, gardens, cobblestone pathways, and ocean views! You know that scene in ‘The Sound Of Music’ where Julie Andrews sings, “The Hills Are Alive” and she’s spinning in front of the mountains with her arms wide open because everything is just so wonderful? Check out these 40 incredible greenhouse, glasshouse and conservatory event spaces, we have a feeling you may soon be spinning in joy too.  Written By Jordan Willner
Read roundup
Weddings
Top Glasshouse & Greenhouse Venues in the USA
We don’t throw stones at glass houses, we have parties in them! Here is our round-up of the most glorious greenhouse venues in the USA. Want more? See 25 Lush Secret Gardens, Glasshouses & Greenhouses ➝ 
Read roundup
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Find out more