Ellicottville offers the perfect combination of outdoor adventures, boutique shopping, craft beverages, and delicious dining. The main attraction in Ellicottville is the Holiday Valley Resort, which offers skiing, tubing, and snowboarding during the winter season and an 18-hole golf course and mountain biking in the summer. It’s a two-hour drive from Rochester to Ellicottville, whether you take the New York State Thruway or wind your way through the scenic rolling hills of Wyoming, Allegany, and Cattaraugus Counties.
In April 2024, Ellicottville was chosen as one of USA TODAY’s 10 charming main streets across the US that you can’t miss. “These 10 places with charming main streets—nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S.—offer more than just a road; these streets are living history, have a vibrant culture, and serve as the hearts of their communities.”
USA TODAY
Plan Your Day Trip to Ellicottville
Breakfast
Katy’s Cafe and Dina’s are excellent breakfast choices, open early in the morning.
Morning
Begin your day by walking outdoors. Griffis Sculpture Park is a whimsical art park in bucolic Cattaraugus County, roughly nine miles north of Ellicottville, where you’ll find over 250 large-scale sculptures integrated into the natural landscape. Little Rock City in Salamanca’s Rock City State Forest, 15 minutes south of Ellicottville, is free to explore. You could spend 20 minutes or two hours wandering through the boulders, some as large as houses. Nannen Arboretum is a lovely eight-acre Japanese-inspired arboretum with over 200 trees and bushes, several themed gardens, and a paved 0.25-mile trail around Lake Nipponica.
Lunch
After your morning adventures, you can’t go wrong choosing The Gin Mill, Balloons Restaurant, Madigan’s, Monroe Street Brick and Brew, or Hidalgo Grill Mexican Restaurant to enjoy a meal. Alternatively, explore the menus of the numerous bars and taprooms, like Ellicottville Brewing Co., Ellicottville Tap + Bottle & Taqueria, Finnerty’s Taproom, Steelbound Brewery & Distillery, or experience a light cheese and charcuterie pairing at the Winery of Ellicottville.
Afternoon
Discover the unique shops along Washington and Monroe Streets, including the Purple Doorknob, Kazoo II, Gado-Gado, Alexandra, and Ava Grace Fashions. Enjoy a sweet treat from Watson’s Chocolates and a hot beverage from Ellicottville Coffee Co. while you explore the village. Alternatively, you can continue your outdoor adventures at the Sky High Adventure Park at Holiday Valley. The Aerial Park is the largest in New York state and the third largest in the country, covering a five-acre section of the woods. The Climbing Forest is a 3-D climbing wall that lets you ascend to 40 feet. The park also offers a mountain coaster, chairlift rides, and mountain biking trails.
Dinner
Before heading home, stop for an early dinner at Silver Fox Restaurant & Steak House, Villaggio, or West Rose.
Signature Events
Learn more about current events by visiting ellicottvilleny.com before your trip.
Summer Music Festival
Early July
This festival is a vibrant three-day musical celebration held throughout the village and at the Holiday Valley Resort. It features diverse performances, ranging from musical theater and classic rock ’n’ roll to captivating renditions by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jazz & Blues Weekend
Late July
This annual free event is held in various venues, including restaurants, bars, and street-side stages.
Rock N’ Roll Weekend
Mid-September
Throughout this free end-of-summer celebration, 15 regional bands perform at outdoor stages, bars, and restaurants over a four-block radius. In addition to live music, the event also features a car and truck show and a vintage pinup contest—a fashion show encouraging attire themed on trends from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
Fall Festival
Mid-October
Holiday Valley’s Fall Festival offers a weekend filled with family fun, including scenic chairlift rides, mountaintop cookouts, music, vendors, and arts and crafts. Most activities occur between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Contact Information
Alexandra 10 Washington St., (716) 699-5621, alexandragiftsonline.com
Ava Grace Fashions 22 Monroe St., (716) 699-1105, avagracefashions.com
Balloons Restaurant 20 Monroe St., (716) 699-4162, balloonsrestaurant.com
Dina’s 15 Washington St., (716) 699-5330, dinas.com
Ellicottville Brewing Co. 28 Monroe St., (716) 699-2537, ellicottvillebrewing.com
Ellicottville Coffee Co. 16 Washington St., (716) 217-4047, ellicottvillecoffee.com
Ellicottville Tap + Bottle & Taqueria 20 Washington St., (716) 699-9172, ellicottvillebrewing.com
Finnerty’s Taproom 5 E. Washington St., (716) 699-1226, finnertystaproom.com
Gado-Gado 26 Monroe St., (716) 699-2128, gadogadoellicottville.com
The Gin Mill 26 Washington St., (716) 699-2530, ellicottvilleginmill.com
Griffis Sculpture Park 8810 Rohr Hill Road, East Otto, (716) 667-2808, griffissculpturepark.org
Hidalgo Grill Mexican Restaurant 32 W. Washington St., (716) 699-1141
Holiday Valley Resort 6557 Holiday Valley Road, (716) 699-2345, holidayvalley.com
Katy’s Cafe 38-48 Pittsburgh-Buffalo Highway, (716) 699-8860
Kazoo II 21 Washington St., (716) 699-4484
Little Rock City Rock City State Forest, Little Rock City Road, Little Valley, dec.ny.gov
Madigan’s 36 Washington St., (716) 699-4455
Monroe Street Brick and Brew 21 Monroe St., (716) 699-1051, monroestpizza.com
Nannen Arboretum 28 Parkside Drive, nannenarboretum.com
Purple Doorknob 11 Washington St., (716) 699-2084, purpledoorknob.com
Sky High Adventure Park 6773 Holiday Valley Road, (716) 699-4444, holidayvalley.com
Silver Fox Restaurant & Steak House 23 Hughey Alley, (716) 699-4672, thesilverfoxrestaurant.com
Steelbound Brewery & Distillery 6600 US-219, (716) 699-2042, steelboundevl.com
Villaggio 7 Monroe St., (716) 699-2199, villaggioevl.com
Watson’s Chocolates 27 Washington St., (716) 699-2805, watsonschocolates.com
West Rose 23 Washington St., (716) 699-9113, westrose.restaurant
Winery of Ellicottville 14 Monroe St., (716) 699-1055, wineryofellicottville.com
Explore More
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Griffis Sculpture Park features more than 250 sculptures that are whimsical, fantastical, and delightful, all integrated into the landscape.
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Where are your favorite places to visit in Ellicottville?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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