The short version
Moon Township lies along the Ohio River about 12 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and much of Pittsburgh International Airport is inside it1. Our directory lists 77 places to eat and drink inside the township's 23.88 square miles, 6th among municipalities outside the city23.
At about 3 listings per square mile, Moon is spread out. 42% of listings are independent and 45 are chains2.
University Boulevard
University Boulevard has 28 listings, far more than any other street, followed by Beaver Grade Road (8) and Thorn Run Road (7)2. A 2005 Post-Gazette piece covered the township's slogan, “Explore Our Universe”, a play on Moon's name, on Robert Morris University and on the University Boulevard business corridor1.
Pizza leads with 11 listings, then sandwiches and delis (9), coffee and cafes (8) and burgers (5)2.
An original township, an airport and a missile site
Moon was created in 1788 as one of the original townships of Allegheny County. It may once have covered about 145 square miles, and Findlay, Crescent and today's Fayette townships were split off from it1.
In 1943 the federal government built the Mooncrest housing plan for defense workers at the Dravo Corporation1. The airport arrived in 1951 and shaped development. When the landside terminal moved to Findlay Township in 1991, Moon lost traffic and tax revenue, and it has since turned to cargo, corporate offices and the university1. A Cold War Nike missile battery, site PI-71, is now a nature preserve1. The township is also home to the Air Force Reserve's 911th Airlift Wing, established in 1943, and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 171st Air Refueling Wing1.
FedEx Ground, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nova Chemicals are among the companies headquartered in Moon, as well as the National Weather Service office that serves Pittsburgh1. The Cherrington Parkway extension, opened in early 2008, created more land for office development, and Robert Morris University feeds much of the economy along University Boulevard1.
Groceries, the market and the library
The county farmers market list includes Moon Farmers Market4. Grocery stores here include Giant Eagle #068, Pittsburgh Commissary, and Wal-Mart #46445. The Moon Township Public Library is the local library.
The Sewickley Bridge connects Moon directly to Sewickley across the Ohio River1, which makes a trip to Sewickley's village center an easy add on. On land, Moon borders Crescent, Findlay, North Fayette, Robinson, Coraopolis and Hopewell Township in Beaver County, and it contains the census designated place of Carnot-Moon1.
Who lives in Moon
Moon grew from 24,185 residents in 2010 to 27,240 in 2020 (+13%)67. The median household income is near $113,170, and the median age is 40.7, younger than most big suburbs, which fits a university town. About 22% of homes are rented and 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree8.
Before or after a flight
The airport's runways and much of its facilities are in Moon, but the terminal and about half of the airport's land are in Findlay Township, since the landside terminal moved there in 19911. That means Moon's places to eat are a short drive from the terminal, not inside it.
University Boulevard is the practical choice: it has 28 listings and connects the airport area to Robert Morris University21. Our directory counts 2 Moon listings with a patio and 9 with a full bar2. Coraopolis, which borders Moon to the north northeast, has a walkable older main street and its own guide on this site1.
How Moon compares
Set against the 129 municipalities outside the city on this site, Moon ranks 6th by number of listings and 83rd by listings per square mile. The typical (median) one has 14 listings and about 6 per square mile; Moon has 77 and 323. Its independent share, 42%, is below the median of 75%, and 12% of its listings have a full bar, against a median of 27%.
For getting around, 2% of working residents walk to work and 1% take transit; the medians across these municipalities are 1% and 2%8. 21% work from home, against a median of 19%8. Moon has 23 active transit stops, 55th on this list, and about 1,880 scheduled trips a week (74th)9.
Picks, inspections and new places
This week's Spotlight picks are Pizza Decasa (pizza), Appian Way Cafe and Lounge (coffee & cafes), The Hangar (bars & pubs), Eggs N'at (breakfast & brunch), Casa Amigos Tequila Bar & Grill (Mexican & tacos), and Hyeholde Restaurant (european). Each is independent and its latest county inspection on file reads “Inspected & Permitted”10. Picks rotate every week.
We matched 39 of Moon's 77 listings to Allegheny County Health Department records from Aug 11, 2025 to Jul 28, 202610. 1 of those has a most recent placard of “Follow Up Required”, which usually means a recheck was scheduled; it does not mean a place is closed. 11 facilities here passed a preoperational inspection in that window, including Papa John's -Moon, RMU Hale Market / Just Baked, and Avenue C @ ACAA.
Getting there
Moon has 23 active transit stops and 2 route codes (21 and G3), with about 1,880 scheduled trips a week9. The busiest stop is Hwy Rt 51 at Valley Ambulance (188 weekly trips). Park and ride lots: Thorn Run Park & Ride and University Boulevard Park & Ride5. Only about 1% of working residents take transit8.
We matched 39 Moon listings to county health inspection records10.
Moon by the numbers
Counts from our directory2. Land area from Census TIGER/Line county subdivisions3.
Listings by category
Main food streets: University Boulevard (28), Beaver Grade Road (8), Thorn Run Road (7), and Moon Clinton Road (5).
New and changing
These Moon facilities had a preoperational inspection from the Allegheny County Health Department between Aug 11, 2025 and Jul 28, 2026. That inspection happens before a food facility opens, changes owners or reopens after major work10.
- Papa John's -MoonInspected & Permitted
- RMU Hale Market / Just BakedInspected & Permitted
- Avenue C @ ACAAInspected & Permitted
- Seven Brew Drive Thru CoffeeInspected & Permitted
- Springhill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh AirportInspected & Permitted
- Laurel Foodsystems @ PIT Airport Field MaintenanceInspected & Permitted
- AIU Moon PreK Counts @ Sharon Presbyterian ChurchInspected & Permitted
- L&K BakehouseInspected & Permitted
Things to do nearby
Libraries and museums
- Moon Township Public Library
Source5 County asset inventory as of March 2020; not every record verified.
Transit details
Transit
23 active stops, about 1,880 scheduled trips a week, by bus. Busiest stop: Hwy Rt 51 at Valley Ambulance (188 weekly trips). Park and ride: Thorn Run Park & Ride and University Boulevard Park & Ride5.
Source9 Check PRT for live times.
How working residents commute
Percent of workers 16+, 2020-2024 estimates8.
Who lives here
Survey estimates for small towns have wide margins of error.