Overview
Big-city culture and small-city charm combine in Rochester, a mid-sized city on the shore of Lake Ontario. The birthplace of amateur photography, Rochester was synonymous with Eastman Kodak for much of the 20th century, but the city's fame was established well before George Eastman came on the scene. Today, its historical treasures complement modern family-friendly attractions that rival those found in much larger communities. In Rochester, you can find the only museum in the world dedicated to play; award-winning music, dance, and acting ensembles; a dense festival calendar covering nearly every weekend of the year; minor-league sports of the highest caliber; and a trio of majestic waterfalls right in the middle of the city. The gateway to the scenic and culinary delights of New York's Finger Lakes region, Rochester is the perfect place to begin your exploration of Western New York.
31 sights · 73 things to do · 69 places to eat · 20 bars & cafés · 14 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rochester
Mount Hope Cemetery
Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony and other historic figures are buried in this beautiful Victorian cemetery. Also a great place for running or walking. Guided tours are available periodically throughout the year; the…
Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
The oldest remaining lighthouse on Lake Ontario sits high above the Rochester harbor, and visitors can climb to the top of it to see the light, the lens – and the view. Now if, when you get to the lighthouse, you wonder …
George Eastman Museum
The world's oldest photography museum, the George Eastman Museum could really be considered three museums in one. First, and most visible, is the George Eastman House, the mansion built by the founder of Eastman Kodak, r…
Memorial Art Gallery
The premier art museum in the area, with over 12,000 items, from artists both obscure and renowned. A real Baroque Italian organ resides inside. The Centennial Sculpture Park on the grounds is open 24/7.
Rochester Contemporary Art Center
This non-profit arts center supports local artists, in part by exhibiting their work to the public. But it's not just local artists you'll find in the gallery; they regularly host works from around the world. It's also a…
Rochester Museum and Science Center
A science museum filled with hands-on exhibits and activities. Fantastic for kids, but a lot of it is fun for parents, too. Major hands-on exhibits include Wonders of Water, How Things Work, and Illumination: The World o…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 19°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ROC Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester — 4 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BUF Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Buffalo — 59 mi away (major hub). Directions
To travel to/from the airport:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $100–$160 a night (typical $120), from 9 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $20 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$140, mid-range ~$200, comfortable ~$330.
Options are grouped as Within the city limits, In the immediate suburbs in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Genesee Valley Park, Mount Hope Cemetery, Highland Park
- Lunch The Distillery - Mount Hope
- Afternoon Lamberton Conservatory, The Strong National Museum of Play
- Dinner Mt. Hope Family Diner
- Evening Swiftwater Brewing
Day 2
- Morning Cobb's Hill Reservoir Park, Rochester Medical Museum and Archives, Artisan Works
- Lunch Amore
- Afternoon Stone-Tolan House Museum, George Eastman Museum
- Dinner The Revelry
- Evening Comedy @ the Carlson
Day 3
- Morning Maplewood Park, Seneca Park, Seneca Park Zoo
- Lunch Atlas Eats Kitchen and Bake Shop
- Afternoon Turning Point Park, Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
- Dinner Monte Alban - Titus
- Evening Vertex
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Dining in Rochester is typical of most mid-sized American cities. The immediate suburbs are crawling with large chain restaurants, but you can find more original fare in the city proper, and in outlying areas away from the biggest commercial strips.
There is one mainstay of local cuisine that travelers with a large stomach and no fear of cholesterol should absolutely try: the famous Garbage Plate of Nick Tahou's Hots. For a few dollars, a "Plate" comes with your choice of meat served on top of macaroni salad, home fries, and onions, topped with "hot sauce" and ketchup and/or mustard. Most suburbs of Rochester have a local "Hots" (Penfield Hots, Empire Hots, etc.); each of them, not to mention nearly every other burger joint and diner around town, has its own variant on the "Plate", and its own local partisans who declare it to be the best. And while most folks won't claim Tahou's has the best plates, they are still the originals.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
With more than 210,000 residents (2020), Rochester is the fourth-largest city in the state of New York, after New York City, Buffalo, and Yonkers. Lake Ontario lies to its north, with the Genesee River flowing northward through the city and over a set of three waterfalls. The historic Erie Canal also runs along the city's borders.
But Rochester is much more than just its waterways. The city loves to celebrate its long history of industry and invention, taking pride in the many innovators and social reformers that have made their marks here. It also looks to the future, to the new places to which today's innovations will lead. And when it's time to relax, few cities of its size can compare when it comes to the variety and quality of its cultural and recreational events.
Above all, the city's primary trait may be perseverance. Epitomized by the yearly collective slog through another snowy winter, this perseverance also manifests itself in the way Rochester has reinvented itself over the years. Even today, as the city tries to chart its course through the 21st century, its people plunge forward with that same determination, carrying with them not just the hope, but the certainty that springtime will arrive and with it, growth.
History
Rochester has always been defined by water. It was born in the early 19th century as a small village on the Genesee River, a few miles south of Lake Ontario. The village was constructed around flour mills that took advantage of the three waterfalls on the river for power. When the Erie Canal was built a few years later, it was routed through Rochester, and the small village became 'America's first boomtown' a major trade center for grain being shipped east and goods being shipped west. It soon garnered the nickname "'The Flour City'", and its products were known as far away as England.
As time went on, and farmland opened up in the Great Plains, Rochester's flour industry faded, to be replaced by a succession of others, including clothing, shoes, boats, and horticulture. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Rochester's nurseries and gardens had led to a new nickname: "The Flower City", celebrated each year with the famous Lilac Festival each May. Rochester also became a center for social progressivism. The great abolitionist orator Frederick Douglass made his home here for many years, and suffragist Susan B. Anthony was a lifelong resident.
In the early 1900s, the modern city began to take shape, molded in large part by the philanthropy of George Eastman, whose Eastman Kodak camera company became the area's largest employer. The Eastman School of Music, the Eastman Theatre, the George Eastman Museum, and numerous other buildings and institutions remain today as testaments to his influence and generosity.
Since World War II, Rochester has seen a decline in population but has also seen periods of urban renewal funded by industry. In the 1960s and 70s, the city became known as the leading jazz' town in upstate New York, a legacy recalled today by the annual Rochester International Jazz Festival in June. Around the turn of the century, Rochester started calling itself "the World's Image Center", based on the local prominence of imaging giants Kodak and Xerox and optics company Bausch & Lomb. Those "Big Three" have all downsized in the years since, however, forcing yet another Rochester reinvention.
The industrial decline has been painful, but it has been countered by a rise in world-class historical and cultural attractions as the city learns to take advantage of what makes it unique.
Climate
Rochester is unashamedly part of the Snow Belt of the United States competing every year with its upstate neighbors for the coveted Golden Snowball Award (for most snowfall). Although snowfalls in Rochester were once legendary, the lake-effect snow lately has favored Syracuse and Buffalo. Indeed, Rochester has experienced several winters in the 21st century with less than six feet of snow. (Yes, that's low.)
Visitors are often surprised by the sheer amount of snow Rochesterians will put up with. It takes multiple feet of snow or biting cold frostbite-in-ten-minutes temperatures to close schools; anything less and you just put another layer on and grab the shovel. And forget about work or college being canceled; unless the governor has declared a state of emergency, you'll find commuters dutifully plunging forth across barely-plowed roads and highways. And sometimes, even then....
Simply stated, snow is a daily fact of life in Rochester winters, and the traveler must be prepared to deal with it as the locals do: with a hearty grumble of resignation, the assertion that "at least we don't have earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes", and the knowledge that better days lie ahead.
Fortunately, those "better days" are truly gems, and few cities appreciate them more when they arrive. "The weather is beautiful" headlines can often be found in the news media when a wave of pleasant weather hits. July and August can be very humid at times, but relief is rarely more than a few days away. May, June, late August, September, and early October have the most comfortable temperatures. Outside of those months, partly sunny days alternate with overcast conditions and heavy precipitation, ranging from light fluffy snow to heavy wet glop to cold damp drizzle.
But all this emphasis on winter should not overshadow Rochester's short but beautiful springs, warm summers, and very colorful autumns. Rochesterians make the best of winter, but they really take advantage of every nice day the rest of the year—and so should you.
Listen
Home to the Eastman School of Music, Rochester has helped many well known musicians begin their careers. Among them, native son and flugelhornist Chuck Mangione (1940–2025) may have had the greatest influence in the wider culture. His jazz stylings, along with those of his brother Gap, were cultivated as a teenager in the jazz clubs downtown, including the legendary Pythodd Room, and his recordings are imprinted with the fabric of the city.
Among those recordings, the most Rochester of them is probably Friends and Love, a 1970 live concert recording with Mangione leading the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and a host of other local legends including pianist Gap Mangione, drummer Steve Gadd, saxophonist Gerry Niewood, and vocalists Don Potter and Bat McGrath.
Visitor information
Place VisitRochester
The official visitor's association for the Greater Rochester area. In addition to English, brochures are available in eight foreign languages: Chinese (simplified), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. VisitRochester has information centers in the following locations:
Place Visitor Information Booth
Although only staffed during the listed hours, the booth's brochures can be picked up anytime.
Place Tim Hortons Iceplex Booth
Only staffed during major events, but the brochures are available anytime.
Get in
By plane
Go Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
It's a very nice medium-sized airport, newly remodeled in 2025, with three runways and two concourses. Southwest and Delta see the most passengers, but American, United, and JetBlue also have multiple daily scheduled flights, mostly from their hub airports. There are direct flights from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Low-cost airlines Allegiant, Avelo, and Breeze also fly from vacation destinations in the South: Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington (North Carolina), Charleston (South Carolina), Greenville/Spartanburg (South Carolina), Myrtle Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers (Florida), Lakeland (Florida), Punta Gorda (Florida), Sarasota/Bradenton (Florida), Nashville, and New Orleans.
To travel to/from the airport:
- RTS Route 23 (West Ave./Airport) ($1 for a single trip, $3 for a day pass) operates between the airport and the RTS Transit Center downtown. Buses come every 30 minutes on weekdays or every 60 minutes weekends and nights.
- Taxis cost $2 plus $3/mile; $10 minimum; $2.50/add'l passenger. Monroe County Airport Taxi Service is the only taxi company contracted to have cars waiting for arriving passengers.
- Rental cars from most of the major agencies are obtainable at the airport.
- Hotel shuttles are free from many of the hotels on the west or south sides of the city.
- Ride hailing services vary in cost based on destination, type, time of day, and a variety of other factors. You can access these services via their websites or via their respective mobile applications on compatible IOS or Android devices. The most popular services in the Rochester area are Lyft and Uber.
By car
Because Rochester is so close to Lake Ontario, the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) doesn't pass through the city: it runs a few miles to the south, through the southern suburbs. It still provides the quickest route into the area from the east and west, though. Whichever way you're coming, you'll take I-490 to get into the city proper; it leaves the Thruway eastbound at Exit 47, passes through downtown Rochester, then rejoins the Thruway at Exit 45.
Exit 46, between them, is for I-390, the primary route into Rochester from points south. I-390's south end is at I-86, and it also connects with U.S. Route 15 out of Pennsylvania.
From the northeast, if you don't want to head south to the Thruway, most drivers will take State Route 104, a former federal route that constitutes the main rural drag through the northern part of Western New York. 104 also works if you're coming from the northwest—the northern part of the Niagara Frontier—but an alternative is the Lake Ontario State Parkway, which starts 35 mi northwest of downtown and follows the lake shore to the Rochester harbor.
By train
Go Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station
The station's immediate environs are not particularly accommodating to pedestrians. You'll probably be fine if you're walking from, say, the transit center, but use caution after dark and don't try to venture north across the railroad tracks. The new station, though, is up-to-date and modern, if a bit sterile; its parking lot is well lit and quite safe. Be prepared for delays and be aware there's not a whole lot to do to kill time in or around the station. There is some minimal retail and amenities like charging outlets. A few taxis will often be waiting at the station around the scheduled arrival times, or you may want to arrange for a rental agency to pick you up.
- Routes stopping at Rochester:
- Empire Service operating twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers.
- Maple Leaf operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.
- Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City include Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, and Croton-on-Hudson.
By bus
Place Adirondack Trailways
Service from New York City, Syracuse, Buffalo, Niagara Falls (New York), Niagara Falls (Ontario) and Toronto.
- Greyhound and FlixBus stop at 120-124 Pleasant St, at St. Joseph's Park across from the St. Joseph's Garage; a very short walk to the RTS hub.
By boat
With the Erie Canal, Genesee River, Lake Ontario, and Irondequoit Bay, waterways are a rare but not unheard-of method of getting to Rochester.
Coming from Lake Ontario, you have two main options. Irondequoit Bay has a large number of slips throughout its several miles of coastline, but the bay is only open April through October. (Then again, who's out boating in November or March?) You can also head up the Genesee River, where you have a few options. On the west bank, 3-hour courtesy dockage is available right in front of the terminal building, while the nearby Port of Rochester Marina has 30 transient slips (as well as 54 seasonal slips, for you long-term visitors) and a whole host of amenities, including a ship store, utilities, and laundry. The cost for a transient slip is the length of your boat in feet times $2.50 per day. The east bank has commercial marinas like Shumway Marine, with similar amenities, as well as mechanics in case your boat needs some repairs.
If you're entering from Canada, you must immediately report your arrival to U.S. Customs. Nominally, this must be done in person – tricky for boaters, since Rochester's customs office is at the airport! Fortunately, there are alternatives. Most conveniently, the CBP ROAM app lets you report directly from your phone. If you can't use the app for whatever reason, there are tablets available at the Port of Rochester Marina and at Shumway Marine.
If you're on the Erie Canal coming from points east or west, you can often moor in one of the villages along the way, including Pittsford, Fairport, and Brockport, although these are all a few miles outside of Rochester. You could also take the canal to the river, then turn north; you can tie up at Brooks Landing near the University of Rochester, or at Corn Hill Landing just south of the I-490 bridge. Both landings are on the west side of the river.
Get around
Most people will tell you that a car is a virtual necessity for getting around Rochester. Although largely true, especially taking into account the suburbs, the adventurous can manage to see a lot of attractions on foot or bicycle, and the patient can take advantage of the municipal bus system to traverse the entire county.
Of course, in winter all bets are off. Driving becomes potentially hazardous, biking becomes impossible, and walking is very much hit-or-miss.
Rush hours in Rochester are approximately 7AM–8:30AM and 4:30PM–6PM on weekdays, though travelers from more crowded cities might not even notice.
By car
Six major rental agencies have desks at the Greater Rochester International Airport: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. Most also have locations scattered throughout the city and surrounding towns, and they will usually come pick you up if you're coming in from, say, the Amtrak station. Contact your preferred agency for details and locations.
Those who balk at needing a car to get anywhere in the Rochester area can at least take heart that it is a very drivable city. A common local maxim is that the travel time between any two points in or around the city is twenty minutes. The expressway system was designed in the 50s, when Rochester's population was booming; this growth slowed to a stop soon afterward, leaving a network of high-capacity roads that rarely see congestion. You'll encounter some mild rush-hour slowdowns, especially on Interstates 390, 490, and 590, but visitors from more populous areas will scoff at what Rochesterians call "traffic".
Construction and severe winter weather can disrupt Rochester's normally placid roads, however. In winter, pay close attention to traffic advisories, and if they say "no unnecessary travel"—they mean it. Most of the time, though, drive slowly and carefully and you'll be fine. It takes locals a snowfall or two to remember this every November, so be extra-cautious early in the season.
Outside of downtown, any place you want to go will have its own parking lot of some sort. Downtown, you'll find a mix of dedicated lots, street parking, public lots, and parking garages. Most surface lots are $5/day or thereabouts, with higher prices near the Blue Cross Arena on game/concert nights. The garages are generally priced reasonably as well. Street parking is free evenings and weekends; the same is true at some of the garages, though special events will negate that.
Expressways
The highway system is designed as two loops, the unofficial "Outer Loop" and the official "Inner Loop", with feeders coming in from the west, east, and south. (North is Lake Ontario—no highways there!) As of November 2014, the Inner Loop is no longer continuous; this urban expressway used to circumscribe the nominal downtown area, although some "downtown" attractions—Frontier Field, High Falls, and most of the museums, for example—lie outside the Inner Loop. The portion of the loop that remains is now a fairly straightforward spur off of I-490, a convenient way to access the northern side of downtown.
I-490 runs east-west right through the middle of the city and formed the bottom portion of the once-complete loop. It is the feeder expressway that connects the Outer and Inner Loops on both the east and west sides of the city, eventually connecting up with Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway, on both ends (several miles out).
The Outer Loop runs very close to the official city limits. I-390 comes up from the south (where it connects with the Thruway), then turns sharply west at a junction with I-590, which heads east. The two spurs curve out and up to the north to form the bottom part of the loop, until they each reach I-490 on either side of the city. Their Interstate designations end there, but the highways each continue north as State Routes 390 and 590. 390 passes State Route 104 and continues north as an expressway to the Lake Ontario State Parkway, just west of the Rochester harbor. 590 also passes Route 104, but then becomes an unnumbered surface boulevard for the rest of its run to the lake, at Seabreeze near Irondequoit Bay.
New York State Route 104 is a major east-west route and forms the northern part of the Outer Loop, although it's only an expressway on one side, from the river east. It's also the main feeder route from the northeast and northwest.
Surface roads
The expressways will get you close to your destination, but navigating the surface streets is necessary as well. Rochester's early founding as a milling village means that its major avenues were laid out to facilitate traffic to outlying and neighboring settlements—namely, in a radiating pattern. In general, "avenues" radiate outward from downtown and "streets" connect the avenues, but this is not set in stone and there are almost as many exceptions as there are examples.
The only place it's really tricky to drive is downtown. There is a small selection of one-way streets, just few enough to confuse you when you encounter one. There are also some turning restrictions on weekdays, especially for turning onto Main Street; watch the signs carefully. Outside of downtown, you shouldn't have any problem navigating the surface streets; most are well signed.
By bus
The area bus system is the Regional Transit Service (RTS), run by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA). While the buses are clean, efficient, comfortable, and cheap, the low frequency and inconvenience of the bus routes can make using the service frustrating.
The bus routes are designed as a hub-spoke system, optimized for travelers headed to and from downtown. The hub in this case is the downtown RTS Transit Center between North Clinton Avenue and St. Paul Street, just north of Main Street. As a result, travelers trying to get from one suburb to another often have to ride one bus all the way into the city, then another all the way back out. The system works great for getting to the center of downtown, but the typical rider will be faced with a walk or another bus ride to get the rest of the way to his or her destination.
If the bus routes are convenient for you, though, RTS service is hard to beat, especially when the roads get slushy in winter. Every RTS bus has a bicycle rack on front, which can provide some flexibility if you're willing to bike to a bus stop.
Fares are $1 per ride, or $3 for an all-day pass. You can also prepay with RTS Go via card or mobile app; debits are capped at $3 per day and $56 per month. Cards are sold at the transit center and online. Discounted fares are available for children and seniors (although you'll need a Medicare or RTS low-fare card for the senior discount). Kids under five ride free, and youngsters must be at least age 11 to ride without an adult. The $1.00 fare is valid for an hour so you can change buses without paying again; be sure to ask the driver for a transfer ticket.
Bus schedules are available online and throughout the city, especially at transit hubs and information centers.
RTS also operates an On Demand service within seven separate suburban areas. Using the RTS On Demand app, you can schedule a pickup anywhere within an On Demand zone and the wheelchair-accessible vehicle will take you anywhere else within that zone. If you're going to or from a connection hub (which lets you connect to the regular RTS Connect bus routes), the fare is only $1; it's $3 if you want curb-to-curb service.
By foot
Downtown Rochester is very walkable, at least for eight months out of the year. Traffic is light outside of rush hours, and crosswalks are plentiful. You will still see some remnants of the Rochester Skyway, once an extensive system of enclosed elevated walkways and underground tunnels connecting numerous buildings downtown, but there's not much left. Its continuity was severely disrupted when Midtown Plaza closed in 2008, and subsequent walkway removals resulted in just a couple of disjointed connections remaining, mostly from parking garages to office buildings.
On the surface streets downtown, most areas are relatively safe, but be careful in the northeastern area (bounded by E. Main Street, East Avenue, the Inner Loop, and N. Clinton Avenue), especially at night.
Outside of downtown, there are a number of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, including Park Avenue and the South Wedge, but they are not well connected to each other, or to downtown. Safety and navigation become issues the farther out you get from tourist attractions and recreation areas. Especially at night, you'll want vehicular transportation available.
One exception to the general lack of walkability is the Genesee Riverway Trail, an almost-completed walking and biking route along the river. Once completed, this trail will take you from the Erie Canal on the south edge of the city all the way to Lake Ontario at the harbor. It also connects with other trails, especially the Genesee Valley Greenway south of the city.
Outside of the city, the inner suburbs are similarly hard to walk in, but there are pockets of village-like atmospheres where walking can be pleasant, such as Twelve Corners in Brighton and the Titus-Hudson area of Irondequoit.
By bicycle
Rochester has (outside the winter months) a bike-share program operated by Veo. They have e-bikes and electric scooters available throughout the city (either at some set locations or wherever previous users left them). The cost is $1 to unlock plus a small per-minute fee, and you'll need the VeoRide app to unlock the vehicle and pay.
Whether you use Veo or bring your own bike, much of the advice above for pedestrians applies to you as well. A network of paths runs through the city and its suburbs, including the Genesee Riverway Trail, El Camino Trail and the Pittsford Trail System, which are fully accessible for bicycles. The low traffic in Rochester is a boon for cyclists, allowing brave ones to take to the highways (but stay off the expressways!). Also, as noted above, all RTS buses have bike racks mounted on the front, which can be a great convenience.
By taxi
You can hire a taxi, but you'll need to call ahead to have one pick you up unless you're at the airport or the Amtrak station. Prices are set by the city at $0.50 per 1/6 mi, plus $2.00 per additional passenger ($2.50 to/from the airport). $10.00 minimum to/from the airport; $5 minimum otherwise. Local limousine companies can provide more luxurious transportation for a somewhat higher fee.
Uber and Lyft provide ride-hailing service throughout the county, though availability is sketchy overnight.
By boat
Most boating in Rochester is exclusively recreational in nature, but you may find it a convenient way to travel between destinations.
The Genesee River is not navigable through downtown; you can go downstream from the south (Erie Canal) as far as the Anthony-Douglass Bridge (I-490), or upstream from the north (Lake Ontario) as far as the Lower Falls, but the three waterfalls and the downtown area are no-go. That still leaves some options, however. Mooring is available at the harbor near Lake Ontario and at Brooks Landing and Corn Hill Landing between the canal and downtown. The Erie Canal passes along the southern city limits, providing access from points east and west to the upper river. It's doable, but be sure to plan for the additional transportation you'll need once your boat is docked.
The Erie Canal is drained every November and not refilled until the end of April.
See
Rochester may not be the most popular place for sightseeing, but the Genesee River gorge and its three waterfalls are certainly worth a trip. For nature lovers, the most scenic of the city's parks is probably Highland Park, although Genesee Valley Park has more recreation options.
Where Rochester shines is in its selection of cultural attractions; the variety and quality compare favorably to cities twice its size. The most prominent of these is the Strong National Museum of Play, absolutely a can't-miss attraction if you have young kids with you or enjoy a sense of nostalgia. The Rochester Museum and Science Center also has fun hands-on exhibits and an adjacent planetarium. History buffs will want to stop by the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, one of the most important sites in the country for students of the women's rights movement. And fans of photography will be awe-struck by the collections at the George Eastman Museum.
Parks
Famed landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted designed Rochester's first large public parks, which today comprise Highland, Genesee Valley, Maplewood, and Seneca Parks. Each remains a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, supplemented with an array of smaller city parks.
See Cobb's Hill Reservoir Park
Cobb's Hill provides a great panoramic view of downtown. Located on the corner of Culver and Monroe, it is an easy walk from the cafes on Park Ave. Large duck pond, baseball diamond, tennis courts and a nice (although steep) trail to the top of the hill, where the reservoir is located. A path popular with runners circles the reservoir. Adjacent to Washington Grove, 26 acres of old-growth Oak–Hickory forest right in the middle of the city.
See Genesee Valley Park
At the confluence of the Genesee River and the Erie Canal, the park is a great place to step off onto the Genesee Riverway Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, and the Erie Canalway Trail (see below). It's also known for its golf course, one of the major public courses in the area.
See Highland Park
Most famous for its hundreds of lilacs, Highland Park is the site of the annual Lilac Festival. Even when the lilacs aren't blooming, though, there are countless other examples of Rochester's horticultural tradition. There is a Sunken Garden behind the Warner Castle, and the Highland Park Bowl, a natural amphitheater, hosts concerts and films during the summer. Adjacent Beikirch Park hosts the county's Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the AIDS Remembrance Garden.
See Maplewood Park
Maplewood is often overlooked, but it's an important piece of the park system. A long, thin park designed by Olmstead as Seneca Park West, it has three distinct areas. The southern park is home to the beloved Maplewood Rose Garden and (with a hike down to river level) has lovely views of the Lower Falls. You can also access Lower Falls Park and see the Middle Falls via the Genesee Riverway Trail. Be sure to check out the sculpture called "The Seat of Remembering and Forgetting". At the northern end you'll have nice views of the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the river gorge, and a pedestrian bridge lets you cross the river to Seneca Park. In between is a wooded trail with some recreation space.
See Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park (Manhattan Square)
This urban park near the Strong Museum features a unique concrete amphitheater with a distinctive metal superstructural sculpture, some play equipment, and a public outdoor skating rink that (in warmer months) converts to a reflecting pool with fountains. It's a major gathering space for Rochesterians and hosts the ROC Holiday Village every December.
See Seneca Park
While it's best known for the Seneca Park Zoo, the rest of Seneca Park largely maintains its Olmsted design focused on pastoral fields and river overlooks. Trout Lake, formed by damming a natural spring, is a gem. You can access Maplewood Park and the Genesee Riverway Trail via pedestrian bridge over the river.
See Turning Point Park
No other park (at least, without a beach) gets you as close to the water as Turning Point, named for the large basin where ships coming upstream from Lake Ontario could turn around before reaching the Lower Falls. The park's long trail (part of the Genesee Riverway Trail) includes a southern descent down the gorge to water level, a beautiful curving boardwalk over the river basin, and a northern wooded trail heading toward the harbor. Lots of nature to be found here, including some wetlands. Pastoral and serene.
Ontario Beach Park and Durand-Eastman Park are also important locations, but they're better known for their beaches and are covered below.
Museums and galleries
Rochester's art scene flies a bit under the radar, but there's a lot around if you're willing to look for it. For a nice sampling, you can check out First Friday, a monthly event in which small galleries throughout the city open their doors to expose works from lesser known artists to the public (6PM-9PM, first Friday of every month). Or wait until June, when the Rochester Contemporary Art Center sponsors the annual 6x6 exhibition of tiny 6 in square tiles, each created anonymously by a different local artist (or celebrity!); only after they're auctioned off to benefit RoCo do the buyers find out the names of the artists!
See Artisan Works
A non-profit organization housed in a huge warehouse, Artisan Works comprises a labyrinth of hallways and levels where every square inch is covered with art in all media (but mostly painting and sculpture). Everything is for sale. The gallery provides studio space to dozens of artists, some of whom may be working when you visit, and all of whom are happy to chat about what they're making. Also within is the Triangle Theater, a 30-seat movie theater which features films by student and local filmmakers.
See Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
The oldest remaining lighthouse on Lake Ontario sits high above the Rochester harbor, and visitors can climb to the top of it to see the light, the lens – and the view. Now if, when you get to the lighthouse, you wonder where the shore is, it's half a mile (almost a kilometer) northeast. That's how much land has been added to the northern shore of New York since the lighthouse was built in 1822. The museum inside the keeper's house has a lot of displays on Rochester's harbor history.
See George Eastman Museum
The world's oldest photography museum, the George Eastman Museum could really be considered three museums in one. First, and most visible, is the George Eastman House, the mansion built by the founder of Eastman Kodak, restored to appear much as it did when he was alive, illustrating the life of Rochester's elite in the early 20th century. Second, the museum hosts regular rotating exhibits highlighting the history of photography and film. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the museum houses an enormous archive of photographs, film, and related technology, among the largest in the world. Other institutions regularly send film here for conservation. Guided tours of the house are available, and the exhibits can be toured at your own pace, but access to the archives is restricted to serious researchers only. Films are presented regularly in the museum's Dryden Theatre (see below).
See Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)
This non-profit arts center supports local artists, in part by exhibiting their work to the public. But it's not just local artists you'll find in the gallery; they regularly host works from around the world. It's also a gathering place for the local arts community, so dropping by isn't just about viewing the art; it's also about connecting with the artists.
See Rochester Museum and Science Center
A science museum filled with hands-on exhibits and activities. Fantastic for kids, but a lot of it is fun for parents, too. Major hands-on exhibits include Wonders of Water, How Things Work, and Illumination: The World of Light and Optics. Don't miss the enormous mastodon skeleton in Expedition Earth, or the musical Tesla coils in the Electricity Theater. Other permanent exhibits focus on the people of the Haudenosaunee, 19th-century Rochester, and the Underground Railroad. The Strasenburgh Planetarium is next door; get a $4 discount on combined admission when you purchase in person.
See Strasenburgh Planetarium
The planetarium adjacent to the RMSC offers a variety of large-format films and planetarium shows using their state-of-the-art star projector. Laser shows set to music are also quite popular. A few space-related exhibits occupy areas outside the star theater. Purchase tickets in person to save $4 on combined admission with the RMSC.
- RMSC also operates the Cummings Nature Center in Naples.
See Seneca Park Zoo
Rochester's zoo is nestled inside the Olmsted-designed Seneca Park. While small—the entire zoo can easily be enjoyed in an afternoon—a lot of value is packed into the small area. The zoo has the only African elephants in the state, part of their Step Into Africa exhibit that includes a rhinoceros, giraffes, lions, baboons, and zebras. The Rocky Coasts exhibit, with polar bears, sea lions, and penguins, is another highlight.
See The Strong National Museum of Play
This downtown children's museum, the only one in the world with a specific focus on play, is the place to visit if you have kids from 1-12. You can easily spend a whole day here, or visit a couple of times to enjoy everything. This museum focuses on learning through play and features tons of interactive exhibits, including some focused on well-known themes like Sesame Street. The kid-sized Wegmans supermarket is always a must-do. One nice feature is that most exhibits have information for adults to read (such as on how fairy tales have changed with the times) while the kids do things like climb on a pirate ship. Older visitors (those who can remember the 1980s) may also enjoy the classic arcade cabinets in the eGameRevolution exhibit. The Strong is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The museum's Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden costs $6 extra and has a limited number of timed tickets available each day.
See Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
This is the house where the women's rights activist lived for many years, and where she was arrested after voting illegally in 1872. The museum highlights Anthony's influences, the many reforms she worked for (suffrage, abolition, temperance, education, and a purse of her own among them), her friendship with Frederick Douglass, and her trial for voting. Tours last up to an hour. Don't forget to check the gift shop!.
See Wall\Therapy
Public art came to Rochester in a (literally) huge way in 2012, in which Wall\Therapy invited urban artists from all around the globe to come and use the city's blank walls as canvases. It started in the Public Market neighborhood, then in 2013 moved to El Camino and the South Wedge. Later years saw other neighborhoods throughout the city receive new murals. You can see a map of locations on the website. No admission needed; just stroll around and gawk.
Neighborhoods
See East Avenue
Don't miss a drive down historic East Ave; with the mansions of Rochester's past barons still mostly intact, you can really see a history lesson of the Rochester area. Another great place to see off of East Ave is the Sandringham/Ambassador Drive neighborhood; some of the greatest residential architecture in Rochester can be viewed here.
See High Falls
The majestic High Falls of the Genesee are what attracted settlers to the area in the first place. A 96-foot (29 m) waterfall in the center of downtown is certainly a unique sight; viewing is best from the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge. But also take a walk around the old warehouses on the west bank between the bridge and the falls; this is the area known as "High Falls" and home to a very nice museum/visitor's center and some very old milling equipment.
See Park Avenue
There are a lot of great trendy shops in this district, and it's serviced by the RTS service. However, it's definitely not an entire day activity, and things close relatively early.
See South Wedge
A triangular neighborhood bordered by the Genesee and Interstate 490. The South Wedge is what some may call an "up and coming" neighborhood. Many nightlife options and a growing number of shops and businesses. Close to Alexander Street, the University of Rochester and Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Do
You might sometimes catch residents complaining that there's not much to do around Rochester, but a little research reveals a wealth of opportunities, even during the long winters. Nearly everything is family-friendly, too; Rochester is consistently ranked one of the best cities in the world for visiting with kids. In addition to the many parks and museums, kids will have a great time at Seabreeze Amusement Park in Irondequoit, near the mouth of the bay (see listing, below).
Do Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Rochester's convention center is centrally located and, true to its name, right on the river. It's connected via Skyway to the South Avenue Garage (and thus to the Hyatt Regency Hotel). It also connects via Skyway to the former Rochester Riverside Hotel, which will, with luck, reopen someday.
Festivals
Once May rolls around, snow becomes less likely, and Rochester's renowned festival season begins. Pretty much every weekend from May through October, there's at least one festival of some sort going on in Rochester or its suburbs. Rochester's festivals run the gamut, focusing on such diverse subjects as horticulture, music, crafts, and food—and admission is free for almost all of them!
The flagship festival is, of course, the Lilac Festival, which has been drawing visitors from out of town to Highland Park for over a century. Newer, but no less popular, is the Rochester International Jazz Festival, which has quickly grown into one of the country's top jazz festivals. Less well-known outside of Rochester is the Corn Hill Arts Festival, but it epitomizes the local festival scene and shouldn't be missed if you're in town in mid-July. Rochester's diversity is on display in the many cultural festivals around the city and the local areas, including Greek, Puerto Rican, and Ukrainian festivals. (The local Oktoberfest, which was a huge event held in Irondequoit for decades, is now a bit smaller and held in Webster.)
Among the suburban festivals, be sure to check out Fairport Canal Days in early June. Of the many festivals centered on the Erie Canal, this may be the best, and it's held in the quintessential canal town.
The closest Renaissance Festival is in Sterling, Cayuga County. It's about 45 minutes away, but it's worth the trip. It's open weekends from July through mid-August every year.
The listings below are only a sampling of the top festivals.
April
Do Imagine RIT
Rochester Institute of Technology's innovation and creativity festival showcases what happens "when the left brain and right brain collide," featuring hundreds of student projects from every corner of the university. Robotics, music, sign language, virtual reality, ecology, and weird science are just a few of the many subject areas covered; in fact, most of the projects take elements from multiple disciplines and combine them in innovative ways. Plenty of food, hands-on exhibits, and kids' activities make for an unbeatable value for a day out.
May
Do Rochester Lilac Festival
For ten days every May, Rochester's flagship festival celebrates the community—and its flowers—in beautiful Highland Park, designed by renowned landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted. The park's world-famous lilac collection was started by horticulturist John Dunbar in 1892 with 20 varieties. Today, over 500 varieties of lilacs cover 22 acres of Highland Park's 155 acres. The usual summer festival staples are all here, such as kiddie rides and food vendors, but also tons of activities, a parade, a craft show, a festival-sponsored 5K race, and a packed schedule of music and entertainment. You can even buy Highland Lilac perfume!
June
Do Rochester Cocktail Revival
Modern and classic cocktails are making a comeback, even in often-staid Rochester. Rochester's bars and bartenders get together to share cocktail culture, ideas, and recipes with each other and with the general public. Six days of events at venues throughout the city, and (of course) drink specials at more than 30 cocktail and spirits bars around town.
Do Rochester International Film Festival (Movies on a Shoestring)
One of the only film festivals devoted to short films, this annual event has been a fixture in Rochester for almost 70 years. It's only three days long, but you can see dozens of films in that time if you attend all four sessions. Many of the filmmakers attend to talk about their films.
Do Harborfest
Ontario Beach Park likes to kick off the summer beach season with Harborfest weekend, a great excuse to visit the park and enjoy the amenities. In addition to the usual carousel rides and beach activities, you'll find a sand sculpture contest, a beach volleyball tournament, a classic car show, live music and food trucks. Saturday night sees a boat parade of lights. Charlotte businesses offer specials all weekend.
Do Rochester International Jazz Festival
Founded in 2002, the RIJF quickly became the centerpiece of Rochester's festival schedule. Held in almost two dozen venues, all within walking distance of each other, the nine-day festival offers a mix of free and ticketed events for people of all ages. It attracts fans from the U.S. and around the world who come to hear one of the most multidimensional, international, and diverse artist lineups presented at a major music festival.
July
Do Corn Hill Arts Festival
The Corn Hill neighborhood, with some of the city's oldest and prettiest homes, is just south of downtown along the river. This festival celebrates the neighborhood's long history with over 400 arts and crafts exhibitors, plus the standard live musicians and food vendors.
Do Rochester Pride
Rochester's been celebrating the LGBTQ+ community for decades, particularly an annual picnic in July, so that's the spot on the calendar that all of the local Pride celebrations have come to take place. Alongside the main festival and parade there are a variety of other community events that join the celebration each year. Usually held on Park Avenue.
August
Do Park Ave Summer Stroll
Park Avenue is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods of the city, and this festival showcases its artisans, merchants, and artists. It's a scaled-back version of the Park Ave Festival that ran for decades but got a bit too big—and a bit too far from its founding principles of neighborliness and fun. The Summer Stroll has been instituted in its place to restore the original community feel.
Do Clarissa Street Reunion
Many years ago, Clarissa Street was known as "Rochester's Broadway", home to the best jazz clubs in the city. Urban renewal in the 1960s and 70s left its unfortunate mark on this neighborhood, but every August people come back for one day to celebrate the place it used to be. Live music is the main draw, but you'll also find a parade and other typical festival fare.
September
Do KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival
Organizers of this festival hoped to attract 15,000 attendees when it started in 2012; they got 33,000, and 50,000 the next year. The festival features a wide-ranging slate of artistic performances, from theater to dance and music, at venues throughout the East End, including a magnificent and rare Spiegeltent from Belgium. This was the first Fringe Festival in Upstate New York, and now it's one of the biggest in the country. Its free outdoor spectacle performances are a unique feature that you won't find at most other festivals.
October
Do Fashion Week of Rochester
Rochester is not known for its role in the world of fashion, but one group has dedicated themselves to showing that fashion touches everyone's lives. With affordable ticket prices, accessible events, and a sense of fun and charity, Fashion Week goes all over the city to bring fashion to the masses. It's becoming a big event around town, with boutique crawls, fun parties, and of course runway shows.
December
Do ROC Holiday Village
Rochester has tried several times over the years to host winter festivals, to varying degrees of success. The current version focuses on the holiday season, with all activities concentrated within Martin Luther King Jr. Park near the Strong. There's free ice skating (and free skate rentals) at the pond, a shopping village, a large lodge with drinks and entertainment, private igloos available for rent, and of course visits with Santa. Locals might get more out of it than visitors, but it's still a great way to have some fun in the cold.
Spectator sports
Rochester's sports scene is in flux. The city was once the best in the country for minor-league sports. The first decade of the 21st century saw the city with as many as seven professional sports teams, including high-level lacrosse and women's soccer teams. There was even talk of Rochester getting a team into Major League Soccer, thanks to the runaway popularity of the Rochester Rhinos.
But today, as in many cities, the situation is quite different. No MLS team ever materialized. The Red Wings and Amerks remain beloved, but all the other teams have folded or relocated. Even the lacrosse Knighthawks are a replacement for the original, now-departed team.
But that's just context for talking sports with locals. Don't let it keep you from checking out the excellent competition, especially since tickets won't break the bank, unlike major-league sports.
Do Rochester Red Wings (baseball)
A Rochester tradition since 1899, the Red Wings are the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals. ESL Ballpark is a beautiful 90s ballpark situated downtown with convenient $6 parking. The general manager and his team can't control the product on the field, but they hit it out of the park when it comes to promotions and the gameday environment. Free fireworks shows set to music are just one of the possibilities to accompany a game. Food options at the park are a bit better than the average, too—there's the usual hot dogs and beer (white hots and Genny, since this is Rochester, after all), but maybe you'd like to try the beef on weck, rice bowls, mac and cheese, or the "Home Plate" (the stadium's take on the Garbage Plate).
Do Rochester Americans (hockey)
Known fondly as the "Amerks", Rochester's storied hockey team is the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial is an old building, but it was renovated in the 1990s and is now a fine downtown hockey arena. One of the oldest and most successful teams in the league: hockey night in Rochester is still a fun time, especially in the playoffs.
Do Rochester Knighthawks (lacrosse)
The K-Hawks are a top-tier indoor lacrosse team, featuring some of the best talent in the world. If you've never seen an indoor lacrosse match, a National Lacrosse League game is a great introduction. The original Knighthawks won back-to-back-to-back NLL championships (2012–14) and had several future Hall-of-Famers on the roster, but all that left town for Halifax in 2019. The new team, which was created as an expansion team in 2019, is now owned (as of 2025) by the Seneca Nation of Indians. It's struggled to reach the same heights as the old team, but the fan base is returning and the results are improving.
Do Rochester Lancers (soccer)
The state of American professional soccer below MLS is constantly in flux, and so it goes in Rochester as various teams try to recapture the magic of the Rhinos. The Lancers, named after the city's very successful 1970s team, play in the UPSL, a massive multi-level semi-pro league with hundreds of teams throughout the country.
Do Flower City Union (soccer)
Also in the local semi-pro soccer scene Flower City Union won the 2023 NISL championship before deciding to move to the NPSL, which plays a more regionalized schedule with less travel. They play at the Rhinos' old digs, the massive soccer-specific stadium on Broad Street northwest of Innovative Field.
Do RIT Tigers (hockey)
Who needs football? Rochester Institute of Technology has hockey! Rochester's only Division I college teams play a hard-hitting and very successful brand of hockey, and they've already made waves in just a short time at the top level, including a Frozen Four appearance for the men in 2010. The Gene Polisseni Center on campus combines the old-school atmosphere of the Tigers' previous barn with plenty of modern amenities. The legendary Corner Crew cheering section harasses opposing goalies all night, every night. This classic college hockey atmosphere is worth experiencing.
Do Buffalo Bills Training Camp (football)
The closest the Rochester area gets to major-league team sports is the Bills' annual summer training camp, held since 2000 in northern Pittsford. There's lots to do besides just watch practices, too; you can participate in interactive games, peruse the merchandise, or try to get some autographs. You can get a lot closer to the players here than at the stadium in Orchard Park!
Film
As befits the home of Eastman Kodak, Rochester is a destination for film buffs. The flagship film festival, the High Falls Film Festival, is no more, though The Little Theatre continues its legacy with its Women In Film series. The local LGBTQ+ film festival, ImageOut, continues, along with the venerable Rochester International Film Festival for short films. (See the Festivals section above for details on those.) Polish and Jewish films are also highlighted in local series.
Rochester has a few multiplexes remaining, but it's also home to some charming small cinemas, where the atmosphere is almost as important as the films.
Do Dryden Theatre
The George Eastman Museum knows that part of preserving the history of film is showing films to audiences. That's the role of the Museum's Dryden Theatre. The Dryden shows a wide variety of Hollywood classics, international and independent films—literally something different every night of the week. The programming is thoughtful and cutting-edge, with frequent visits by directors and actors. Nearly all films begin at 7:30PM and are preceded by a brief film talk.
Local multiplexes are Cinemark Tinseltown in Gates, Regal Eastview in Victor, AMC Webster, and Apple Cinemas in Greece and Pittsford.
Live theatre and music
The prominence of the Eastman School of Music means that some of the world's best musicians have passed through Rochester during their school years, and many have stuck around to enrich the city's cultural life. If big arena concerts make it to Rochester, they usually go to the Blue Cross Arena. But there are many smaller venues in the city as well.
Do Auditorium Theatre (Rochester Broadway Theatre League)
Housed in an historic Masonic temple building, the Auditorium Theatre is Rochester's Broadway roadhouse; the Rochester Broadway Theatre League brings to town several touring productions each year. The theater is aging and acoustically imperfect, but it's due for extensive renovations soon (now that RBTL owns the whole building), and it's the only area theater with the space to put on the big shows. Other concerts and performances dot the schedule throughout the year; see the web site for upcoming events.
Do Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre that has entertained audiences since the 1950s, providing a local showcase for actors and actresses, theater artists and technicians who have chosen to make Rochester their home. They're performance space on East Main is near the Auditorium Center.
Do Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Theatre dates back to George Eastman's time and contains three halls within its space.
Do Kodak Hall
The main hall is what most people think of when they think of the Eastman Theatre, and it's the best place to catch the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (see below), one of the top mid-sized city orchestras in the country. Opened in 1922, it was designed by George Eastman as a concert hall and movie house. Today, after renovations to improve sightlines and comfort, it seats 2,400. It's by far the best large performance space in Rochester, with the expected variety of events going on all year.
Do Kilbourn Hall
Kilbourn, which also opened in 1922, is one of the finest small concert halls in the world, and it serves as the primary performance space for Eastman School of Music students. As such, audiences are in for a treat, in the form of free recitals and concerts throughout the year, as elite music students exhibit their talents on stage.
Do Garth Fagan Dance
The Tony-award winning choreographer Garth Fagan has his own dance troupe in Rochester, his adopted hometown. When they're not touring the country, they put on a variety of performances both around the city and at their studio space. Truly world-class dancers provide a show you can't match in any other city this size.
Do Geva Theatre Center
Geva, the city's premiere professional theater company, hosts a variety of productions on its two stages, housed in a converted armory! The yearly production of A Christmas Carol is a popular family tradition. Cafe on site. Discounts are available for students and seniors.
Do Hochstein Performance Hall
Hochstein Performance Hall is part of Hochstein School of Music & Dance, which has served as a community center for Greater Rochester since 1920. Located in the heart of the city, the elegant 857-seat Performance Hall offers free recitals and performances regularly, including the long-running "Live from Hochstein" Broadcast and Concert Series.
Do Kodak Center (Theatre on the Ridge)
Part of the sprawling industrial complex once known as Kodak Park, Kodak Center is a live performing arts, event, and conference center featuring a 1,978-seat main theater with the biggest stage in Rochester, 180-seat Studio Theater, 48-seat Club Theater, conference rooms, a gymnasium, and many other spaces. Numerous musical, stand-up comedy, and dramatic acts are featured throughout the year. The center also hosts the Kodak Visitor Center where visitors can learn about the history of Kodak. There is a 1,000+ spot parking lot located across the street for patrons and a 30 minute visitor lot directly next to the theater.
Do MuCCC (Multi-use Community Cultural Center)
The MuCCC is a non-profit 80-seat theater housed in a converted church. Its purpose is to host theater groups without permanent spaces of their own, such as the Rochester Community Players and several Black theater companies.
Do Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
One of George Eastman's greatest legacies, the Rochester Philharmonic is an outstanding orchestra, especially for a city the size of Rochester. The RPO's main performance space is the Eastman Theatre (see above), but they get around town to other venues, especially in the summer. Pops conductor Jeff Tyzik, once Doc Severinsen's arranger for the Tonight Show Band, has taught the RPO to swing like few other professional orchestras can, but their classical chops are equally noteworthy.
Do Theater at Innovation Square
The former Xerox Auditorium is adjacent to what used to be Xerox's world headquarters. Xerox Tower is now Innovation Square, and the auditorium—once used for board meetings and the like—is now a beautiful and intimate performance venue with very good acoustics. It seats 700 but feels like 300.
Do Water Street Music Hall
Long the most popular music club in the area, the venerable Water Street is back after several years in somewhat different forms. The main hall has room for 1,000 revelers, and the venue is careful with its booking to avoid some of the capacity and rowdiness problems of the past. There are not many places like it in Rochester. Jack's on Water Street is an attached restaurant and occasional (smaller) performance venue.
In addition to Montage and Water Street, there are other bars and clubs that present live music frequently, most notably The Bug Jar. See Drink, below.
Gaming
Rochester is in the midst of a mini-boom in spaces designed to get together with friends and have some fun playing games. Time will tell how many of them last, but for now you have several options, and some of them have surprisingly good food and drinks to go along with the games.
Do Dice Versa
There are some other bars and restaurants around that have a handful of board games for patrons to borrow, but it's safe to say no place has as huge a collection as Dice Versa, with over 300 games stacked on their shelves. True, you have to pay a cover charge to play games, but (during the week) you can game all day if you want (Friday and Saturday there's a 3-hour limit). The food (sliders, mac and cheese, flatbreads, and apps) is tasty and it's easy to eat way too much of it during a long gaming session. Their drink menu is also inventive and fun; try the Potion Shop, which lets you roll a 20-sided die to have fate choose the contents of your shot glass.
Do Nerdvana
If Dice Versa is a gaming lounge with food, Nerdvana is a restaurant and bar with games. When you check in for a meal, you'll be asked "Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation?" and be seated at a table with your chosen video game console attached to a built-in screen and loaded with a variety of games. Play all you want while you wait for your food (or while you eat, they don't judge). They also have a big selection of board games (only somewhat smaller than Dice Versa's library) if that's more your speed. And don't worry—you can also play at the bar. The food menu is varied and includes some nice twists, and the cocktail menu is equally good.
Do The Playhouse // Swillburger
Equal parts burger joint, casual bar, and retro arcade, The Playhouse // Swillburger offers a little something for everyone. The food is counter-service, but everything on the menu (burgers, fries/tots, and shakes) is highly regarded. Arcade machines ($0.50–$1 each) are vintage and thus prone to breaking down, but they do their best to keep them in repair. 21+ after 10PM.
Do Radio Social
Bowling used to be big in Rochester; all the local manufacturers had after-work bowling leagues back in the 70s and 80s. There are still alleys around but many of the big ones have closed. Radio Social, though, combines 34 bowling lanes with all sorts of other indoor and outdoor games like giant Jenga, shuffleboard, and cornhole. It's not just gaming, though; this place has an executive chef! The kitchen does serve up pizza and burgers, but it specializes in inventive Middle Eastern fare. The bar has the expected beers on tap, but also unique craft cocktails and a nice selection of wine. 21+ after 9PM.
The Strong National Museum of Play (see #Museums and galleries, above) also maintains a selection of playable vintage video games and pinball machines. And don't forget Millennium Games (see the Buy section, below), which has a huge tabletop game room (and some snacks) inside their enormous retail store.
Golf
Golf experienced immense popularity in Rochester starting in the mid-20th century, culminating in the Ryder Cup coming to town in 1995, not to mention hosting the LPGA Championship from 2010 to 2013. Interest has waned a bit since then, but major men's tournaments continue to show up periodically to play at storied Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, home to one of the best golf courses in the world. (The next major tournaments scheduled for Oak Hill are the 2027 U.S. Amateur, the 2035 PGA Championship, and the 2037 U.S. Women's Open.)
Golf's historic popularity locally isn't just about the pros, though; it's also reflected in the number of high-quality public and semi-public golf courses to be found in the area. Most of them are in the rural suburbs, of course, but there are a few close in to the city:
If your tastes run a bit smaller, maybe try miniature golf.
Do Parkside Whispering Pines
This historic course (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) dates all the way back to 1930, making it one of the oldest (if not the oldest) surviving miniature golf courses in the United States. 18 old-style holes, including a windmill (of course) and one hole where you have to pitch the ball instead of putting it. Adjacent to the Parkside Diner if you want to grab a bite to eat before or after putting.
Do Clubhouse Fun Centers
Back in the 1980s, these two miniature golf establishments were Putt-Putt Golf and Games locations. Today they're locally owned. Putt-Putt's trademark orange metal rails are gone, and the courses now incorporate water and sand hazards for a more natural feel. The courses are fairly well maintained with smooth greens and no moving obstacles. Both locations have arcades inside.
Do Clubhouse Fun Center - Greece
The Greece location has three scenic courses. There's also a batting cage outside.
Do Clubhouse Fun Center - Henrietta
Henrietta's location has two courses and a go-kart track outside.
Beaches and boating
For a city with so many waterways, it's surprising that waterfront activities are so far down the list for most visitors. True, neither the river nor the canal is suitable for swimming (and the lake only barely so), but boating can be a great way to spend an afternoon.
There are two beaches in the city proper:
Do Durand-Eastman Park
George Eastman and Dr. Henry Durand donated their summer-cottage lakefront properties to the city in 1909, and the park is now a popular summer getaway for everyone. Its beach is open for swimming during the summer, and it's less often closed due to water conditions than Ontario Beach. Also has a golf course and other standard park amenities.
Do Ontario Beach Park
Located at the northernmost reaches of the city, Ontario Beach is the most popular beach area in Rochester. Algae problems of prior years have largely been alleviated, but occasionally the beach may still need to be closed. When conditions allow, swimming is open 11AM-7PM daily during the summer. If you can't go in the water, though, there are other things to do; in particular, the 1905 Dentzel carousel should not be missed. There's also pickleball, ice skating on a synthetic ice rink, a playground, and five picnic shelters. No pets.
Boats can be launched at the Port of Rochester where the river empties into the lake; on Irondequoit Bay; or along the canal in many surrounding suburbs like Pittsford and Fairport.
If you don't have your own boat, try booking a river cruise:
Do Riverie
Riverie is a 35-passenger cruise boat that offers river cruises throughout the summer (and sometimes late spring and early fall). Cruises include guide narration focusing on the history and importance of the river and the Erie Canal. Some cruises include music and/or a boxed lunch; alcohol, soft drinks, and snacks can be purchased on board. Also check out Rochester By Water's other vessel: the Sam Patch packet boat, which offers canal cruises out of Pittsford.
Hiking
Three major (albeit under-improvement) multi-use trails pass through the Rochester area, and they all meet up inside Genesee Valley Park.
Do Genesee Riverway Trail
This not-quite-completed trail runs along the river, north from the canal, through downtown, and all the way to the lake. You'll get a good look at the gorge along the northern section, and it can be a nice way to get downtown if your legs (and shoes) are up to the task. One highlight is the wide boardwalk over the Turning Point basin 2 mi south of the lake.
Do Erie Canalway Trail
This trail, which will eventually stretch across the state, is being created from the former Erie Canal towpath, where the mules would walk to tow the barges along. Though the walking paths are open year-round, the canal is drained, kept empty, and less scenic between November and May. During the winter time, however, the canal trail is virtually deserted, and provides an excellent place to snowshoe and cross-country ski.
Aside from the trails, there's not much hiking to do without heading for the suburban parks, though the various city parks might tide you over.
Winter sports
Winter sports are not as popular in Rochester as one might think given the climate, but there are plenty of opportunities. The nearest downhill ski resort is Bristol Mountain north of Naples (or south of Canandaigua) in Ontario County; it's a popular day trip for Rochesterians.
In good (meaning cold) weather, the city maintains an outdoor rink at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Square Park, near the Strong Museum. Several indoor ice rinks around Rochester offer public skating sessions, though mostly in the fall and winter:
There are also some public skating hours at rinks in the suburbs, such as the Webster Ice Arena.
Other
Do Genesee Brew House
While one of the largest breweries in the country, Genesee had no visitor's facility until September 2012. Now it's up and running and a major landmark on the east side of the river. The Genesee Brew House is a visitor's center, brew pub, and gift shop rolled into one. Genesee beers are on tap, of course, but there's also a pilot brewery for small batches of experimental brews; you can try a flight of four beers for $10, a portion of which goes to charity. Schedule a tour of the pilot brewery, or check out the visitor's center to explore the long history of beer in Rochester.
Do ROC City Skatepark
Nestled inside a cloverleaf onramp, in the shadow of the Frederick Douglass – Susan B. Anthony Bridge, the ROC City Skatepark finally opened in 2020 after more than 20 years of dreaming and over 12 years of actual planning and construction. The half-acre (2,000 sq m) park is designed for all types of wheeled sports from BMX to skateboarding to scooters, and the city hopes it serves as a big tourism draw for enthusiasts.
Do RocVentures Climbing Gym
One of the first and largest indoor rock-climbing gyms in the country, RocVentures remains a local institution. Some apparatus only requires brief training, so even beginners can give it a try, but there are also courses and training equipment for experts to improve their skills. Great exercise and fun, too.
Do Seabreeze Amusement Park
At the junction of Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario, Seabreeze combines the features of an old-fashioned amusement park with the technology and thrills of a modern water park. The fourth-oldest amusement park in America. The carousel is from 1996 but features hand-carved horses and was built in the old style. Don't miss the historic Jack Rabbit roller coaster, the fourth-oldest operating coaster in the world.
Do The Warrior Factory
If you've ever seen any of the Ninja Warrior competition programs on TV, you've seen the sorts of activities that go on at The Warrior Factory. The owners have set up a gym that can be used both by serious "ninja" competitors and by casual weekend warriors. They even have kid-sized obstacles for youngsters just starting out. The obstacles, many of which replicate ones you've seen on TV, are a fun way to test your strength and improve your athleticism. This is the original location; the company has expanded to Syracuse, Buffalo, and Hamilton.
Learn
Place Flower City Arts Center
Three institutions housed in a single non-profit entity, the Flower City Arts Center is focused on providing studio space and training for artists. The main attraction for visitors are the classes, which are held year-round and teach budding artists the finer points of photography, pottery, printing, and more. Classes tend to extend over several weeks, though, so they're most useful for long-term travellers. If you happen to already be an experienced artist and need studio space, you might consider buying a membership, starting as low as $25. Members can rent studio space on an hourly basis.
Place Printing & Book Arts
Place Ceramics
Place Photography & Digital Arts
Place Rochester Arc & Flame Center
If it's glass or metal, the AFC can teach you how to make it with fire. Welding, smithing, glass-shaping — it's all here. Though they also offer classes for pros, amateurs can have fun with the flames too. They even cater to couples, with frequent date-night specials.
Place Rochester Brainery
Looking for a quick infusion of knowledge? Or maybe you have something to teach the fine residents of Rochester? Either way, the Brainery serves to connect teachers and learners at venues throughout the area. From food and drink, to arts and crafts, to science and history, most classes take up just a single evening session. Their offerings change continually, so check back often.
Buy
Shopping around Rochester is dominated by the major suburban commercial strips: Route 104 (Ridge Road) in Greece and Route 252 (Jefferson Road) in Henrietta. You'll also find major big-box retailers along Route 104 in Irondequoit and Webster, Route 31 (Monroe Ave) in Brighton and Pittsford, and Route 96 in Victor. Rochester and its suburbs once had five indoor shopping malls but now have only two: [https://www.themallatgreeceridge.com/ The Mall at Greece Ridge] in Greece and Eastview Mall in Victor. Pittsford Plaza is an upscale and very large strip mall on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford.
Within the city proper, you won't find many large chains, but rather a wide array of independent shops and boutiques. Park Avenue is a particularly rich location for such shops, as well as great dining options. Along with University and Monroe, the three Avenues make for lovely local shopping, with gift shops, bookstores, and other surprises. You'll also find quaint shopping districts in Charlotte near the harbor and along Exchange Boulevard on the east side of Corn Hill.
Also in the city is one of the nation's best public markets:
Shop Rochester Public Market
Established in 1905, the public market features over 300 stalls where independent sellers ply their wares, from cheap locally grown produce to handmade crafts and other curiosities. Many vendors even sell prepared foods, with regulars lining up early to place their orders. Great fun to just walk around, but good luck getting out without buying anything. Often overlooked by locals, yet always super-crowded; get there early for the best selection, or late for the best prices. Outside of normal market hours, the Market regularly hosts community garage sales, food truck rodeos, and free concerts.
One unique space you won't want to miss is [http://www.villagegatesquare.com/ Village Gate Square] on North Goodman Street between University Avenue and East Main Street, part of the "Neighborhood of the Arts". It doesn't look like much from the outside, but on the inside it's an old industrial space filled with small independent retail shops and eclectic restaurants. The upper floor also houses space for artists' workshops, so it's almost like a free art gallery up there.
Some other places of note for shoppers:
Shop Archimage
Great gift shop with an eclectic selection. They sell children's toys, cards, jewelry, incense, stones, musical instruments, chimes, housewares, unconventional clothing items, and more. All at a variety of price points; it's not all cheap kitsch and it's not all pricey luxury. Well worth a stop in to browse, if nothing else.
Shop The Bop Shop
The legendary Bop Shop made its name at the Village Gate but has been at this larger location on Monroe Avenue since 2012. The shop is still crammed to overflowing with vinyl records, cassette tapes, and compact discs covering every era and every style. True music-lovers can spend hours pawing through the racks and uncovering treasure after treasure—albums they either never knew existed, or haven't seen in decades. The staff are all highly knowledgeable collectors and they love to talk music with customers. Often hosts jazz concerts; see web site for schedule.
Shop Cheesy Eddie's
Quite simply, Cheesy Eddie's makes great cheesecakes in a variety of flavors. In addition, their carrot cakes are widely considered the best in the area by a wide margin—deliciously moist with a perfectly balanced cream cheese frosting. Or try the Delights: two cookies sandwiching a dollop of cream cheese frosting.
Shop Cheesy Eddie's (Henrietta)
This outlet location near Palmer's Market and Lori's Natural Foods is more convenient for south-siders.
Shop Fleet Feet Sports
In 2014, Fleet Feet Rochester was named one of the top 50 running stores in the country. Probably the best place in the region to get running shoes, precisely fitted to your feet and gait. The owners also run YellowJacket Racing, so they really know their stuff, and they tirelessly promote running (and walking) for fun and fitness. There's another store in Victor and one in Buffalo (Fleet Feet Syracuse has different owners).
Shop House of Guitars
The "Great, Great House of Guitars" has a huge selection of new and used records, CD's, and cassettes, most of which you won't be able to find anywhere else. The store is also a shrine to music and musicians, with an extensive collection of instruments for sale. Some of the biggest rock and pop musicians in the world go out of their way to come to this store, because of the selection and the knowledgeable, well-connected staff. The proof is on the walls, which are *covered* with photos and memorabilia from those visits.
Shop Krudco
Open since 1994, Krudco is the oldest skateboarding shop in the state. Aaron Costa's little shop has been the center of the Rochester skateboarding scene from the start, so it's a great place to meet fellow skaters as well as buy equipment and apparel. Conveniently, the store is just steps from the ROC City Skatepark.
Shop Millennium Games
In 2023, this long-standing game store moved to a new 28,000-sq-ft (2600-sq-m) location, making it (as far as anyone can tell) the largest game store in the country. (Maybe even the world; it's hard to find reliable data.) Inside is an enormous game room ($10 per person, which comes back to you as store credit) but also shelves upon shelves of board games, card games, roleplaying games and accessories, LEGO sets, puzzles, and disc golf supplies. Regular board gaming, RPG, and CCG events attract scores of players.
Shop Parkleigh
Epitomizing the Park Avenue vibe, Parkleigh is a gift shop par excellence and a local institution. One of the oldest retailers of MacKenzie-Childs ceramics, they also specialize in gourmet coffee and tea. You'll also find toys, games, books, jewelry, apparel, stationery, and all kinds of sweets and treats. (Note: the MacKenzie-Childs store is across Goodman Street at 235 Park Ave; its hours are the same except it's closed on Sundays.)
Shop Record Archive
A Rochester icon with probably the biggest selection of used vinyl records in the city. It doesn't have a great selection of newer records, but it will wow you with its extensive collection of used records. The Record Archive also hosts many concerts on a stage located in the middle of its spacious warehouse. Famous among locals for the dancing-record-guy commercials.
While the usual generic liquor stores abound, there are specialty shops that are worth a second look:
Shop Beers of the World
A huge selection of both macro and micro brews from all over the world, plus home-brewing supplies. Also has a large display filled with good cigars. Word to the wise: the owners are quite stand-offish, especially to first time customers and some of the beers are not that fresh. Watch out for dust! Another store is in Batavia.
Shop Century Liquor and Wines
In the highly regarded Pittsford Plaza, Century Liquor has a very large selection of wine and liquor, including vintage. Receives tour buses from the nearby vineyard- and winery-laden Finger Lakes, which is the second largest wine producing area in the U.S.
Eat
Dining in Rochester is typical of most mid-sized American cities. The immediate suburbs are crawling with large chain restaurants, but you can find more original fare in the city proper, and in outlying areas away from the biggest commercial strips.
There is one mainstay of local cuisine that travelers with a large stomach and no fear of cholesterol should absolutely try: the famous Garbage Plate of Nick Tahou's Hots. For a few dollars, a "Plate" comes with your choice of meat served on top of macaroni salad, home fries, and onions, topped with "hot sauce" and ketchup and/or mustard. Most suburbs of Rochester have a local "Hots" (Penfield Hots, Empire Hots, etc.); each of them, not to mention nearly every other burger joint and diner around town, has its own variant on the "Plate", and its own local partisans who declare it to be the best. And while most folks won't claim Tahou's has the best plates, they are still the originals.
A "hot", by the way, is simply a hot dog, but they come in two varieties: red hots (traditional hot dogs) and white hots. White hots are filled with uncured and unsmoked meats, which causes the color difference. The flavor is similar to a mild sausage. Zweigle's is the local brand; don't even bother with any other brand if you're going to try a white hot. "Hot sauce", rather than the expected mouth-scalding pepper blend, is usually a mildly spicy meat sauce to put on hots, especially on garbage plates.
Of course, if you do want mouth-scalding sauce, Buffalo-style chicken wings are almost as popular here as they are in Buffalo. (Surprisingly, neither Anchor Bar—the inventor of the dish—nor Duff's succeeded in their attempts at entering the Rochester market; Bar Bill Tavern on Empire Blvd is the latest Buffalo chain to make the attempt.) Most any bar, bar-like establishment, or pizza joint will have "wings" on their menu (no need to specify "Buffalo wings"; it's assumed). Everyone has a favorite location for wings, but Jeremiah's Tavern has some awards to back up their claim.
If you're looking for something a little more traditional, Rochester's beaches spawned a great set of local burger joints (most of which don't call them burgers; they're "ground steak sandwiches"). The two big local chains are Bill Gray's, with their flagship location at Seabreeze, and Tom Wahl's, which started south of the city in Avon. While they're both owned by the same family now, they do maintain differences: Tom Wahl's is famous for their root beer floats and homemade ice cream, and Bill Gray's has incorporated Abbott's Frozen Custard into several of their locations. Both have great burgers and classic old-time atmospheres.
Speaking of Abbott's, it's the place to go for ice cream—only it's not ice cream; it's frozen custard, which is richer and creamier than regular ice cream. With about a dozen locations around Rochester (not counting Bill Gray's), you have no excuse not to drop in and try some.
DiBella's is a chain of local sub shops that many locals swear by, though true fans note a recent decline in quality. DiBella's restaurants have a classic 1950s atmosphere, with lots of neon, chrome, and checkerboard patterns. The sub rolls are made fresh in-house each morning, and they're solid and big enough to hold all the toppings you could want. The "Godfather" and "Dagwood" subs are quite popular.
For pizza, everyone has a different favorite. The local style is a doughy, medium-rise pie somewhat similar to Neapolitan pizza. The oldest local chain, dating from 1947, is Pontillo's, but quality varies widely from location to location. The best Pontillo's pizzas are truly outstanding, but the worst are truly bad. More consistent quality can be found at another large local chain, Salvatore's, though pizza aficionados may be disappointed. Mark's Pizzeria is also popular, and Cam's is expanding and popular with college students. True New York-style pizza is hard to find, though the Pizza Stop on State Street downtown probably comes closest.
It's not just pizza, either. Rochesterians love all sorts of Italian food; it seems like around every corner is another favorite neighborhood Italian-American restaurant, at least in the suburbs. You'll also find a lot of places owned by Greeks, from greasy spoons like Nick Tahou's to classy family restaurants, although they usually toss in plenty of Italian and traditional American entrees as well. A staple at local Greek- and Italian-American restaurants is Chicken French. It's a breaded chicken breast sauteéd in a lemon-wine sauce. It's so popular that veal and even artichokes can be found "Frenched" on local menus.
All this focus on the lower end of the dining spectrum shouldn't obscure the upscale dining available, mostly in the downtown area. The options are neither as exclusive nor as pretentious as those in other, bigger cities like New York, but that doesn't mean you won't want reservations, and you will want to dress up a bit.
Finally, no trip to Rochester is complete without stopping in to a local Wegmans supermarket. No joke: residents frequently take their out-of-town guests to Wegmans, not necessarily to buy anything, but just to see the place. "Wait," the guests say, "you're taking us to a grocery store?" But Wegmans is something special, and Rochesterians are justifiably proud of their hometown grocer. Customer service is paramount at Wegmans, consistently ranked one of the best companies to work for in the U.S. The stores are attractive, clean, and well-stocked. Wegmans was among the first big grocery chains to feature in-store dining; their Market Cafes include pizza, wings, subs, sushi, soups, and salads, all very popular for weeknight takeout dinners. Of course it's all made in-store from Wegmans-branded grocery items. Wegmans' sub shops were modeled after DiBella's, complete with fresh-baked rolls.
There's only one Wegmans left in the city proper, but the suburbs are loaded with them. The flagship location is on Monroe Avenue adjacent to Pittsford Plaza.
Budget
Rochester's cheapest options are epitomized by the burger joints that sprung up along the lake shore in the middle of the 20th century—Bill Gray's, Vic & Irv's, and Don's Original at Sea Breeze near Irondequoit Bay; and Schallers west of the river. The greasy spoons like Tahou's are also easy on your wallet (if not your arteries). The Rochester Public Market (see the Buy section, above) hosts many vendors who sell prepared foods, including a number of ethnic specialties like empanadas; in many ways it's like an enormous food court.
For an actual food court, check out Mercantile on Main inside the Sibley Building downtown. Far from the chain restaurants found at malls, the vendors here are small, local entrepreneurs. In many cases, they're just starting out in the restaurant business and refining their concepts. They're a bit like food trucks in that respect, but in a consistent location with good breakfast and lunch foot traffic.
Speaking of food trucks, Rochester was a latecomer to the scene, but it's exploded with a variety of creative trucks appearing around the county. You'll find them downtown at lunch, of course, but also at most festivals and at occasional food truck rodeos (such as the one held monthly during the less-frigid months at the Public Market). The most well known food trucks in Rochester are Effortlessly Healthy, Macarollin', Marty's Meats, Neno's Gourmet Mexican Street Food, Rob's Kabobs, Tuscan Woodfired Pizza, and Wraps on Wheels, but there are many more plying the streets.
Eat Bill Gray's
The largest local burger chain may also be the best, with a wide-ranging menu of burgers, hots, wings, and "plates". With ten locations in and around the city (and three more in Webster, Ontario, and Brockport), you won't have to go far to find one. In a delicious local partnership, most locations have Abbott's Frozen Custard stands right inside, and some have a game room as well.
Eat Bill Gray's Seabreeze
The original location, at Seabreeze.
Eat Bill Gray's at the Skyliner Diner
This location is housed in the tiny 1950s-type Skyliner Diner, long and narrow like a train car. The diner is in turn located inside the Strong National Museum of Play. Museum admission is now required to get to the restaurant, which sits near the carousel in what was once the entrance lobby.
Eat Bill Gray's Port of Rochester
Inside the Port of Rochester terminal building. No Abbott's since there's a separate Abbott's in the same building.
Eat Campi's
This tiny joint northeast of the airport was once featured on Adam Richman's Man vs. Food Nation, and they focused on Campi's signature dish, the massive Steak Bomber. Take a huge pile of sliced chuck, top it with caramelized onions and other veggies, add Rochester's meaty hot sauce, and put it all on a circular toasted roll twelve inches (30 cm) in diameter.
Eat Dogtown (Dogtown Hots)
A dog-themed restaurant known for garbage plates and hot dogs with a huge variety of toppings. Tahou's will always be the original, but many locals hold up Dogtown's garbage plates as the best in town.
Eat Don's Original
One of "Hot Dog Row" burger joints in the Seabreeze neighborhood. Motto: "Where Quality Predominates". They have another location in Penfield at Lloyd's Corners.
Eat DiBella's Old-Fashioned Submarines
The best subs in Rochester, at least according to many locals. It's the rolls, freshly baked in-house, that do it, but they also don't skimp on the fillings. 1950s-style decor makes it a fun place to meet friends for lunch. Five locations in the city and inner suburbs. Other locations locally in Webster and Fairport; in the Buffalo, Syracuse, Ithaca, and Albany areas; and further afield more than two dozen others in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
Eat DiBella's Italian Market
The chain's flagship location is bigger than the others but (at least since the pandemic) serves essentially the same menu.
Eat Hedonist Artisan Ice Cream
With an ever-changing eight-flavor lineup, Hedonist offers premium small-batch ice cream in the South Wedge. The goodies are made on-site with local ingredients, including cream from Pittsford Dairy. It's outstanding ice cream, but you'll pay for the indulgence.
Eat Highland Park Diner
Rochester's last classic diner. A 1948 Orleans diner restored in 1986 to an art deco style. Their motto is "real food, served real well at real prices". A neighborhood joint with very good food. Friendly, personal service (the owner himself often takes orders) and fantastic Sunday breakfast/brunch menu: berries & peaches stuffed French toast, tasty savory omelets and a glorious eggs Benedict. Be sure to ask for "sweet cheese" on your waffles, pancakes & French toast.
Eat Jay's Diner
The pandemic affected even this popular college hangout, which used to be open 24 hours. It's still a popular place for a cheap but filling meal.
Eat Malek's Bakery
Located in the Twelve Corners area of Brighton, this longstanding Jewish (and Kosher) bakery makes European-style breads and pastries. Challah, rye, and pumpernickel are their daily breads (but don't forget the bagels), while pastries include several flavors of babka, danishes, and kuchen. Under new management as of 2024, they're expanding their menu to include other common breakfast and lunch items.
Eat Mark's Pizzeria
Mark's Pizzeria has been around since 1982, when founder and president Mark Crane started selling pies in Palmyra. The chain has grown and shrunk throughout the years, but remains the most popular pizza in Rochester, consistently winning the Democrat & Chronicle Rochester Choice Award for best pizza. Seven locations in and around the city, plus many suburban locations, and some as far as Newfane and Auburn.
Eat Mark's Texas Hots
This is where drunk college kids stumble off of Monroe Ave. to eat a garbage plate. The garbage plates from establishments that reside inside the city limits of Rochester have a decidedly more flavorful character than those in the suburbs. Mark's is the only diner you might ever visit that has a bouncer. Go if only for the spectacle.
Eat Nick Tahou Hots
Tahou's is the origin of Rochester's authentic cuisine, the garbage plate. For a few dollars, the plates come with your choice of meat, macaroni salad, home fries, onions and special sauce. The most common plate can be ordered by as quickly as possible saying "Cheeseburger plate, mac salad, home fries, everything!".
Eat The Pizza Stop
As if a little slice of Brooklyn has been transported to Rochester, the Pizza Stop makes pizzas the way they do downstate; even NYC transplants approve! In addition to the thin Neapolitan style, they make a mean thick Sicilian as well, and their stuffed pizza is just over-the-top ridiculous. There's another location in Pittsford Plaza that is operated independently.
Eat Salvatore's Old-Fashioned Pizzeria
This chain, founded by local legend Salvatore "Soccer Sam" Fantauzzo, advertises that they "deliver everything... but babies!" But primarily, they deliver pizza, and they've become very successful doing so. Pizza experts scoff at the quality of their pies, but with about 30 locations in Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, and Wayne Counties, they must be doing something right. You can even get Salvatore's pizza at Innovative Field and the airport. (Not to mention a location in Jacksonville, Florida!)
Eat Salvatore's Pizza
The original Salvatore's location.
Eat Schallers
Another Rochester burger joint that grew up along the beach, though this one was in Greece not Seabreeze. Excellent ice cream here. A second location is on East Ridge Road in Irondequoit.
Eat SEA Restaurant
Vietnamese cuisine (the SEA stands for "South-East Asia"), specializing in pho. Very large portions. Second location at 1675 Mt Hope Ave that's open Sunday and Monday.
Eat Shiki
Looks like nothing from the outside, an easily miss-able hole-in-the-wall place on South Clinton. But inside the tiny space is a little haven, authentically Japanese, with rice-paper screens and the most perfectly prepared sushi in Rochester. The only staff are the friendly Japanese owners who will offer lots of guidance if you ask.
Eat Steve T. Hots and Potatoes
Just as authentic as Nick Tahou's (the "T" stands for Tahou), but in a safer part of the city and open later.
Eat Tom Wahl's
Unlike the other local burger joints, Tom Wahl's started in Avon, way to the south in Livingston County. That location, which dates to the 1950s, is now an historic landmark. The chain is now owned by the Bill Gray's folks, and it's somewhat smaller than its sibling chain, with only seven locations. The food is similar, though Tom Wahl's has a smaller menu more focused on ground steak and other sandwiches. Root beer floats are a specialty, featuring homemade root beer and (at some locations) homemade ice cream.
Mid-range
The middle ground is where most of Rochester's restaurants lie. A variety of ethnic cuisines are available, if you're willing to look around a bit.
Eat Abyssinia
Probably the oldest Ethiopian restaurant in Rochester, Abyssinia remains a beloved favorite. The menu is simple but the quality is excellent. The injera flatbread is particularly well regarded.
Eat Amore
Wegmans replaced their old East Avenue store—the only one left in the city proper—with a brand new one, even carving out space along the crowded East Ave for this new restaurant. Amore serves up Italian classics—made mostly with Wegmans-brand ingredients—in a peaceful and casually elegant atmosphere. It's isolated from the rest of the store, so don't worry about dodging shopping carts or dealing with the noise of the grocery.
Eat California Rollin'
If less traditional, more experimental/Western, sushi sounds interesting to you, pay a visit to this excellent sushi restaurant and bar. A special each day of the week; the best values for your buck are the Wednesday $27 all-you-can-eat maki rolls and the Sunday 3-for-$23 deals.
Eat Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is where everyone you ask will send you for barbecue; it's a small Syracuse-based chain that Rochesterians have adopted as their own. Amazing ribs, chicken, and black beans and rice among many other things. Expect to wait though! Average wait for a table is easily an hour, they don't take reservations, and unless your whole group is there you can't get on the list. They're a tad vigilant about it, but the place pushes so much business through they can afford to do so. The Dino is a must when in Rochester, if only for some of the sauce.
Eat The Gate House
This restaurant, named after its location in Village Gate Square, specializes in burgers and flatbread pizzas, but with a distinctly upscale twist. High-quality ingredients creatively applied to these staple menu items make the Gate House a very popular place for dinner before a show at the nearby Auditorium Theatre. Of course, this is Rochester, so you can even get a fancy version of a garbage plate. Reservations recommended.
Eat The Hideaway
A cozy eatery in the heart of the Park Avenue neighborhood, offering traditional fare with a focus on high-quality local ingredients. Parking can be tricky, as there's no dedicated lot; try Parkleigh next door.
Eat Hose 22
Housed in a former firehouse (and fully leaning into that theme in the decor), Hose 22 offers up great American grill fare and pizza, just a notch above your typical bar and grill.
Eat Jines
According to the jingle, "Sooner or later, everyone dines at Jines," which may only be a slight exaggeration. Jines is one of a cluster of restaurants at the corner of Park and Berkeley, each with very popular sidewalk tables (at least in nice weather), which makes this a particularly lively and inviting stretch of Park Avenue. Jines was part of the wave of Greek-American diners that opened in the 60s and 70s, though this is more "family restaurant" than "greasy spoon". The atmosphere and service are familial (the Gines family still runs the place), and the menu is extensive, hearty, and not without its creativity.
Eat The King and I
Located in Henrietta, a sprawling suburb that features mostly grimly terrible chain restaurants, this fantastic Thai spot features reasonable prices, lightning quick service (seriously, it's like they know what you're going to order before you get there) and food that always tastes uncannily fresh and yummy. The ambiance is not great, with a huge cavernous dining room and terrible, terrible art on the walls, but the food is consistently good and you can always get takeout. Make sure to try the Thai iced tea. No need to bother with reservations. Open for lunch and dinner.
Eat Lovin' Cup
This is a hip little cafe with lively staff; an inventive menu of salads, bowls, burgers, and sandwiches; an extensive bar menu; and regular live music events, including weekly open mics. Some evening concerts may have a cover charge or even require advance tickets, so check the schedule before you decide to roll in at 7 or 8 for dinner.
Eat Monte Alban Mexican Grill
A local chain of Mexican restaurants with a broad and accessible menu. Authenticity may not be high, but the flavor is there and the portions are generous. Sometimes you just want some tacos and a margarita. Additional locations in Penfield and Webster.
Eat Mt. Hope Family Diner
A cozy little diner on the edge of Collegetown and URMC, frequented by U of R students and hospital workers alike. Excellent chocolate mint cake. Be careful not to miss the turn if driving from the north.
Eat Olives Greek Taverna
Located in Rochester's snootiest suburb, you wouldn't expect the best deal in Rochester, but this charming restaurant will give you the most bang for your buck. Authentic and carefully prepared, don't miss the huge village platter (an appetizer that can be easily shared by two or more), gyros and well-spiced kebabs. Lots for vegetarians, and unbelievable sweet potato fries. Reservations only taken for 3 or more. On the weekends they're basically required, or you'll wait hours for a table.
Eat The Owl House
The Owl House has long been known as a vegan-friendly restaurant, although they do have non-vegan dishes. They will do what they can to accommodate any dietary restriction, particularly vegan and gluten-free. Even the brunch menu is predominately vegan and gluten-free; remarkable for a meal that often includes waffles and eggs. It's a tiny little converted house nestled in a row of bigger houses, so consider making a reservation. Outdoor patio is first-come-first served, weather permitting.
Eat Plum House
This popular Japanese restaurant specializes in sushi, particularly their sushi rolls, each of which has a rather unique moniker. The Yummy Yummy Roll is highly recommended, but you can also try the Red Dragon Roll, BFF Roll, or of course a Rochester Roll. Other typical Japanese-American dishes are available as well.
Eat Seoul House
Features extensive Korean menu -- Korean BBQ, scallion pancakes, spicy stews, etc. All meals come with lots of tasty extras, like fermented black beans and kimchee.
Eat Trata (The Restaurant at the Armory)
An old military armory is the setting for this trendy hotspot that blends bar food with upscale entrees in a modern industrial setting. Everything about Trata is a unique mix of influences. There's a rooftop bar and some amazing outdoor seating available; inside there are more bars and seating across three floors of space.
Eat Whiskey River Pub and Grill
The former Steel River BBQ still has their popular smoked wings, but they've expanded into the historic building next door and now offer a variety of entrees in their dining room, along with classic pub fare in the bar area.
Bars and Grills
There are a few sports bars around that are more well known for their food than their drinks. They get crowded when there are big events to show on TV (most notably Bills games), but they can be a good place for a family dinner too.
Eat The Distillery
Two locations close to the city and one in Victor (New York). The food—including steaks—is hearty fare with decent variety and some international flavor.
Eat Jeremiah's Tavern
Originally a neighborhood bar on Monroe Avenue, Jeremiah's has since added some suburban locations. It's best known for its wings, but it also has a large menu of tasty entrees and sandwiches. In addition to Monroe Ave and Henrietta, there's one in Penfield (the Gates location closed but they're hoping to reopen in a nearby spot).
Eat Tully's
Upstate NY chain sports bar with an enormous menu. The real attraction is the chicken tenders and honey mustard which are nothing like the frozen variety served at most sports bars. There are dozens of televisions which makes it a good place to watch a game.
Splurge
Rochester's reputation as a staid company town is slowly dissolving, and more and more restauranteurs are opening upscale establishments to cater to a growing taste for more adventurous cuisine and more personalized service. Rochester's local chefs are no doubt ready for the challenge, as the improving business climate brings more businesspeople on expense accounts to the city.
Eat The Alexander
This Victorian home has seen a sequence of restaurants fill its space since 1949, starting with what was once Rochester's most upscale restaurant, the Rio Bamba. This latest iteration has an airier atmosphere and a compact New American menu with fairly accessible prices. The Alexander is also aiming to provide distinctive event spaces within the building.
Eat Atlas Eats Kitchen and Bake Shop
While the Bake Shop offers light sandwich fare and breakfast dishes, the real attraction here for foodies is their Edible Atlas dinner series. Every two weeks, the kitchen selects a whole new cuisine to present to intrepid diners, be it Mexican, Korean, Greek, or anything else the chefs can think of. The menu is set in advance; all you have to choose is your beverage. You'll want to get reservations, though, as the restaurant offers only 18 seats for each dinner (one on Friday and one on Saturday). If you can't get a seat, try the takeout version (though you'll need a reservations for that, too).
Eat Avvino
An understated facade on busy Monroe Avenue belies the lively and slightly quirky atmosphere inside. (Check out the 18,000 pennies lining the floor of the lobby.) The food and service are top-notch, and the menu changes seasonally to incorporate local ingredients as much as possible. Mostly American fare with some Italian influences, like house-made pasta.
Eat Char Steak and Lounge
The Strathallan's signature restaurant is one of the finest dining options in Rochester. Upscale American entrees and steaks in a contemporary lounge setting. Breakfast is quite a bit more conventional to cater to overnight guests.
Eat CRISP
Texas-tinged upscale comfort food in an ultra-relaxed atmosphere.
Eat Good Luck Restaurant
Despite the name, this isn't some Chinese takeout joint. One of the most eclectic, see-and-be-seen restaurant/bars in Rochester. The menu is ever-changing, but a few staples are always there, including the full pound hamburger. Other options often involve rabbit, duck, and squid, to give you an idea. Even the more pedestrian options are made with high-end ingredients.
Eat Lento
With a name that means "slow", Lento prides itself on taking no shortcuts in the preparation of fine meals. Everything on the menu is made in-house, from primarily local ingredients whenever possible. (Check out the web site to see their list of local suppliers.) The care taken in preparation is reflected in the quality of the food.
Eat Max Chophouse
Not an ideal destination for vegetarians, this offshoot of the other Max restaurants focuses firmly on red meat, with a bit of seafood for flavor.
Eat Max of Eastman Place
Considered one of the top restaurants in Rochester, with an elegant atmosphere and a (French-inspired) menu to match. Popular as part of a night out at the Eastman Theatre.
Eat Next Door Bar & Grill
This restaurant is owned by Wegmans and showcases what Wegmans chefs can do. The menu focuses on sushi and seafood, with some land-based entrees as well, but it changes seasonally. The cocktails are something special and are made with the freshest ingredients possible since the flagship Wegmans store is located across the street.
Eat Phillips European
The food is only ok, heavy, traditional European—good for a business lunch or unadventurous out of town guests—but the desserts are spectacular, with emphasis on pies, tortes, tarts, cakes and specialty cheesecakes. Examples include their Baileys and Creme Torte and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake. The mere mention of a trip here for coffee and dessert will get Rochesterians salivating. A full dessert menu is available in the restaurant, but the cakes can also be ordered whole and picked up.
Eat Redd
Rochester native Richard Reddington is a world-renowned chef, working in some of the best kitchens in San Francisco before opening his own restaurants in the Napa Valley. His original Redd earned a Michelin star for seven years in a row. But he closed that place in 2018 and returned home to open up a reimagined Redd here in Rochester. He's aimed for elevated cuisine in an "unpretentious" but energetic atmosphere—and largely succeeded, judging by the crowds. The menu is international in flavor but also includes his upscale versions of pizza and wings.
Eat The Revelry
Creative contemporary Southern/American fare in a very cool renovated industrial setting. Enjoy the lively bar and its scintillating decor, the breezy and fresh patio, or the somewhat quieter upstairs dining room. Not a place for comfort food; in fact, the menu occasionally errs on the side of weirdness, but it changes seasonally so it's always worth taking a chance.
Eat ROAM Cafe
A casual and cozy spot on Park Avenue for intimate Italian-American dinners.
Eat Rooney's
Nestled in Rochester's Swillburg neighborhood, near the Highland Park Diner, Rooney's doesn't look like much on the outside. Inside, though, is one of the city's best-kept secrets. Upscale dining in a rustic-romantic atmosphere makes this an excellent choice for anyone wanting to impress a guest. The menu is upscale American—veal, duck, lamb, swordfish, etc.
Eat Tapas 177
True to the name, Tapas 177 focuses on appetizers and shareables, but they also have a variety of entrees in the $30-35 range. On the drinks side, they specialize in huge martinis. The vibe promotes relaxation after a busy day at the office.
Eat Tournedos Steakhouse
One of the most expensive restaurants in the entire Greater Rochester area. The menu represents all of the high-end standards without going overboard on the creativity. The service is regarded by locals as impeccable. Lunch is a prix fixe three-course menu.
Drink
The big local brew is Genesee, along with its label-mates Genny Lite and Genesee Cream Ale. Don't believe the wags who tell you the beer is "brewed from the waters of the Genesee"; although the river is clearer than it used to be, you won't find its influence in the local beverages. Genny isn't as popular around town as you might expect for the eighth-largest brewery in the country, but it's working at making a comeback, and few locals would turn down a Cream Ale or Original Honey Brown if offered one. As the saying goes: if a bar doesn't serve Genny, even if no one you know drinks it, it's not a real bar. A visitor's center and tasting room is located inside the Genesee Brew House (see the Do section).
Microbreweries have become big in Rochester, thanks in part to an early start by some key players and more recent changes to state law. Genesee was once the only brewery in the city; now there are dozens.
Sitting as it does at the edge of the Finger Lakes, Rochester is also a good place to get some high-quality wine. Finger Lakes wines can be found in many restaurants throughout the city and its suburbs, although just as many forgo the local stuff in favor of the same old Californian and European selections. If you can, seek out the places that serve local wine; it gives you a better taste of the region and is better for the environment to boot.
Bars & clubs
Rochester nightlife has gotten somewhat more localized in the last two decades. Some once-busy bar districts now consist of a few isolated outlets that people go to and then leave, rather than hopping from bar to bar.
Nonetheless, there's still a wide variety of bars around, from trendy, to sports bars, to dive bars. Rochester is known for it wide selection of cocktails and micro-brewed beers. Visit any mid-range to upscale bar/restaurant and they will probably have a great selection. Ask for their martini menu!
Some great times to drink in Rochester include during the Rochester Cocktail Revival (see #Festivals, above) and the Rochester Real Beer Expo, both in June.
Drink Bug Jar
The walls display various works of art created by local artists, and the stage area/dance floor has an entire roomful of furniture arranged on the ceiling. Drink specials and live entertainment are featured here nightly, presenting popular local and national musical artists.
Drink Cheshire
This speakeasy-style bar serves up classic pre-Prohibition cocktails and inventive newly crafted ones with a sophisticated style.
Drink The Daily Refresher
The founders of this newspaper-themed tavern (with a speakeasy feel) call their establishment a "gastro-lounge", with a focus on custom cocktails and artisan foods.
Drink Lux
Lux is something of an alternative bar in Rochester and trades on being in the South Wedge to add cred to the atmosphere. Lots of tattoos and piercings and a good PBR special. The back yard is great. They have hammocks in the summer time and a huge wood burning stove for the winter. This place is something you would expect to find in Brooklyn not Rochester.
Drink Marge's Lakeside Inn
Once a speakeasy during Prohibition, this joint was one of the first in the area to get a liquor license after it was repealed. Today, it's a wild and raucous neighborhood bar; there's no food, but folks come for the drinks and the atmosphere. The deck extends out onto the beach for a great view of Lake Ontario. Parking is non-existent; you'll have to jockey for a spot on the south side of Culver. 21+ only.
Drink The Old Toad
Great English beer, poor English food, friendly English staff. A unique atmosphere with reasonable prices, the Toad is an excellent place to get sloshed.
Drink ROAR
Explicitly intended as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, ROAR offers a surprisingly broad menu for an entertainment venue. But the real attractions are the performances. It's most well known for its frequent drag shows, but you might also find line dancing, dinner shows, or just a live band on stage.
Drink Turcott's Taproom (formerly Lola's Bistro and Bar)
Turcott's Taproom is an English-style pub.
Drink Vertex
Goth/alternative dance club with a distinct no-judgement atmosphere. Come as you are, as long as how you are is ready to move on the dance floor. Generally a safe place for people who might get some side-eye out on the street.
Drink Wall Street Bar and Grill
You can get meals here—with waitstaff, no less—but the drinks are the attraction. In keeping with the name, drink prices fluctuate based on popularity, just like stock prices. Keep an eye on the price ticker; buy low and sell high!
Craft drinks
Craft beer and brewpubs
The craft beer scene is rapidly growing and Rochester is no exception. Home to a diverse and rapidly expanding selection of breweries, here are some great places to check out.
Drink Rohrbach Brewing Company
Although Rohrbach's is a bit out of the way, their beer is worth the trip. Certainly the highlight is the Scotch Ale, and if you don't want to travel all the way to the actual brewpub, any number of establishments in the city will have it on tap, including Frontier Field. However, if there, do try as many of the beers as possible, as it is some of the best craft-brewing in upstate NY. You can get a sampler of glasses before you decide. The food is also quite good and leans toward German fare such as sauerbraten and bratwurst.
Drink Swiftwater Brewing
Great location in the South Wedge neighborhood just across the street from the Genesee River. Swiftwater is one of the most popular and fastest growing Rochester breweries. They typically have around a dozen of their beers on tap as well as a guest tap for cider. Like most breweries their focus is IPAs and they do them very well, but you won't be short on variety when you visit here.
Wine bars
A handful of excellent wine bars have popped up in Rochester.
Drink Flight Wine Bar
Dressy, sophisticated, and urbane, Flight might be the most well known wine bar in the city. As you might guess, they specialize in wine "flights"—tastings of a selection of wines based around a theme. You can try three different wines made from the same grape, or perhaps three different grapes from the same region. It's not just wine, either: cheese, chocolate, and even olive oil are presented in flights of three.
Cider
With so many apples grown in Western New York, it was only a matter of time before craft hard cider started being produced locally. Now there's a cider-only bar in the city:
Drink Mullers Cider House
This cider-only bar has a dozen ciders on tap and over 100 more in bottles, as well as knowledgeable staff who can help you make a selection. As far as bar food goes, the house specialty is kettle corn, presented in seasonal varieties.
Spirits
Drink Black Button Distilling
Black Button uses local ingredients to make corn whiskey, wheat vodka, and gin at their distillery. Tours and a tasting bar are the amenities available for visitors.
Comedy
Drink Comedy @ the Carlson
The only dedicated comedy club in Rochester at the moment, tucked in behind Radio Social in an old manufacturing facility. Strong lineup of comedians, including occasional well-known national figures.
Coffeeshops & cafes
Rochester has its share of Starbucks locations, although the mega-chain is not yet ubiquitous. Much more popular around Rochester is the coffee at Canadian donut shop Tim Hortons.
But venture beyond the big chains and you'll find a number of cozy little coffee shops perfect for lounging around and meeting new people, or mooching the free Wi-Fi.
Drink Boulder Coffee Company
An independently owned coffee shop with regular live music. Their web page lists upcoming acts. Drinks and snacks are typical coffee shop prices. Free WiFi on the premises.
Drink Equal=Grounds
A coffee shop with a great open-minded atmosphere and an LGBTQ+ gift shop. The coffee, smoothies, and pastries are temptations. Grab a board game and enjoy.
Drink Java's Cafe
Another downtown coffee shop, more popular with the art house crowd, as well as those headed to (or from) the Eastman Theater. They also sell a variety of large homemade cookies in a variety of styles. At lunch time, an adjacent cafe-style restaurant serves for soup and sandwiches. Local art adorns the walls and local bands of questionable quality occasionally perform. Other locations at RIT and the Public Market as well as the YMCA in Pittsford.
Drink Joe Bean Coffee Roasters
A coffee roaster and full service coffee and espresso bar. Joe Bean has been mentioned among the best coffee shops in the country. They serve some food as well, but the real attraction is the java, which is fair trade and eco-friendly, and roasted right in-house. The focus at Joe Bean is on coffee education; they believe that good coffee can be savored and analyzed like good wine, and they even offer classes on how to make your own.
Cannabis
Recreational marijuana is legal in New York State. There are a large number of dispensaries already open in Rochester, but for on-site consumption, the business is just getting started and no specific lounges have established themselves yet.
Sleep
There are fewer than a dozen traditional hotels within the Rochester city limits, and only a couple within the Inner Loop. The city hotels aren't cheap, but most travelers will be staying in one of the numerous suburban hotels. No matter where you stay, though, you probably won't be far from an expressway, which means you can get pretty much anywhere you want to go in 20 minutes or less.
Many—maybe even most—hotels in the area offer free shuttle service to and from the airport. Several of them even have "Airport" in their names, but pay attention to the map; they may be miles away in reality.
Within the city limits
If you look around, there are also a number of bed-and-breakfasts in the city, but they don't publicize themselves much.
Stay Courtyard by Marriott Rochester Downtown
This property was the site of the first downtown motel in the United States, first opened in 1954 as part of the "Treadway Inn" chain. The motel had its ups and downs, and though a complete renovation in 2014 brought renewed life, it was finally torn down in 2019 and replaced with this brand-new Courtyard. The owner has aimed for more of a full-service feel here compared to the typical Courtyard by Marriott, and hopes are that the popular Erie Grill (the previous hotel's upscale eatery) will be returning soon. In the meantime, Courtyard's signature Bistro offers a selection of hot breakfast and dinner items in a casual, communal space.
Stay Hampton Inn & Suites
Pool, fitness center, lobby lounge—all these things are fine, but the main attraction here is that it's right outside the Strong National Museum of Play. If you're headed there with kids from out of town, it'd be hard to beat this location. And do keep that fact in mind if you're looking for a quiet night's sleep without kids.
Stay Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
The developers of this five-story property converted three existing historic buildings into a modern 106-room hotel, in the process uncovering and restoring some unique architectural details dating back nearly a century. Their on-site restaurant is Drifters, featuring higher-end comfort food made with local ingredients, and a wine list heavy on Finger Lakes vintages.
Stay Inn on Broadway
Romantic, turn of the century, old world city architecture inside the Inner Loop. Gracious low-key service. Beautifully decorated suites, artfully articulated interior finishes. Beloved by its many guests. Highly regarded, wonderful on-site restaurant, Tournedos (see #Eat).
Stay School 31 Lofts
The former Rochester School 31 has been converted into some unusual uses since the 1980s. It's now got a television studio on the first floor and several whimsical loft-style hotel rooms on the second floor.
Stay The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa
The only traditional hotel near the Neighborhood of the Arts, the Strathallan is almost legendary around Rochester. In the early 2000s, it started to lose its reputation as the best large hotel in Rochester, but a $10 million renovation and expansion project in 2012 seems to have restored its former glory. Now affiliated with Hilton's DoubleTree brand, the hotel has added a pool, as well as new meeting space on its top floor, with some beautiful views of the city. Char Steak and Lounge (see #Eat) is the hotel's upscale restaurant.
In the immediate suburbs
The innermost suburbs are loaded with chain hotels of every size and shape; here are a few of particular note.
Stay safe
Like most other cities, Rochester is generally safe but there are areas that are more prone to crime than others. Potentially dangerous areas exist in the northeast and southwest city neighborhoods. However, there is nothing in these neighborhoods of any particular interest to non-residents so it is unlikely that the average visitor would encounter these areas. Use common sense and situational awareness and crime will not be a problem.
The suburban areas of Rochester generally enjoy a low crime rate.
Call 911 in case of emergency. You can also text 911; be sure to provide a very specific location, as the dispatcher won't automatically receive location information.
There are two primary healthcare networks in the region, Rochester Regional Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center. If you need medical assistance, there are several local hospitals:
The region also has numerous urgent care facilities, open during business hours, that can handle minor medical needs to relieve pressure on the hospital emergency rooms. Notable among these:
Place Behavioral Health Access & Crisis Center
Rochester Regional Health operates this facility, which serves a similar purpose as urgent care centers, but for mental health. They can treat non-life-threatening mental health issues (including addiction and relationship problems) or at least connect you with other resources.
The US Border Patrol has a significant presence in Rochester (arguably more so than Buffalo, which is physically located on the US-Canadian border) and regularly patrol public transit and long distance buses and trains. Persons approached by an officer will be asked their country of citizenship and if not a US Citizen, for their passport, I-94 card or visa (if applicable.) Having these documents handy will prevent delays, see United States of America#Border Patrol.
Go next
First and foremost, you'll want to check out the many attractions in Rochester's immediate suburbs, especially the canal communities of Fairport and Pittsford on the east side and Brockport and Spencerport to the west. There's also much to be seen in suburbs such as East Rochester and Victor.
Rochester is also the perfect jumping-off point for forays into the incredible Finger Lakes region of New York. Several destinations in that region stand out:
- Canandaigua — only a little over half an hour from Rochester by car, this small city offers excellent lake-front activities, a nice small water park, and the beautiful Sonnenberg Gardens
- Letchworth State Park — "The Grand Canyon of the East" features a second set of three waterfalls on the Genesee, mirroring Rochester's trio; the Mount Morris Dam is also a sight to see
- Seneca Falls — a cradle of the women's rights movement, this village houses the Women's Rights National Historical Park and is a great place to visit after seeing Susan B. Anthony's home in Rochester
Only about 90 minutes away from Rochester is one of the world's greatest natural attractions, the spectacular Niagara Falls; if you've never been, you owe it to yourself to take this easy day trip. You could also swing by Buffalo, the state's second-largest city and home to historic architecture, major league sports, and plenty of Buffalo wings. To the east, Syracuse is also 90 minutes away.
For onward travel, New York City and the scenic Adirondack mountains are both a six hour car trip to the east. Cosmopolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is even closer by and can be reached by a three-hour drive around Lake Ontario.
Nearby
East Rochester
City / town · 8 listings · 7 mi away
Henrietta
City / town · 18 listings · 7 mi away
Fairport
City / town · 10 listings · 10 mi away
Spencerport
City / town · 7 listings · 10 mi away
Bushnell's Basin
City / town · 5 listings · 10 mi away
Victor
City / town · 11 listings · 16 mi away
Brockport
City / town · 6 listings · 17 mi away
Avon
City / town · 7 listings · 19 mi away
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