frog pond rochester banana caramel pancakes

248 Highly Recommended Restaurants, Diners, Cafes, Pubs, Bakeries, and Bars Around Rochester

This list represents 40+ years of experience dining in the Rochester area, as well as recommendations of highly recommended restaurants from friends and colleagues. I had planned to stop at 52 (a new place to try every weekend) but the passionate recommendations kept coming in!

Rochestarians frequent these establishments because the food and atmosphere is consistently amazing. These are places the locals go several times a year, if not more, and recommend them to friends and visitors. Some of these food destinations are well-established, loved by generations, while others are quickly becoming favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.

Hettie's Delites Cafe
Hettie’s Delites Cafe

Highly recommended restaurants
in the City of Rochester

  1. Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
  2. Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
  3. Arnett Café
  4. Bitter Honey
  5. Black Button Distilling
  6. Boulder Cafe & Lounge 
  7. Boxcar Donuts & Fried Chicken
  8. Brooklyn Ramen
  9. Butapub
  10. Cafe Sasso

49 New York State Parks Within a 2-hour Drive of Rochester

Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a 2-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them each unique!

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Highly recommended restaurants White Swan interior
White Swan
  1. Captain Jim’s
  2. Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant
  3. Cheesy Eddie’s
  4. Country Sweet
  5. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
  6. Dogtown
  7. Donuts Delight
  8. Edibles Restaurant & Bar
  9. El Latino
  10. Flavors of Asia
  11. Fiorella

77 Hiking Trails Around Rochester

Here are a few less populated, rustic, or unusual trails around Rochester that will inspire you to take a hike. A diverse collection of rail-trails, waterside trails, and inland trails.

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Frog Pond
Frog Pond
  1. Flight West Wine & Whiskey Bar
  2. Frog Pond
  3. Genesee Brew House
  4. Golden Fox
  5. Golden Port
  6. Good Luck
  7. Harry G’s NY Deli & Cafe 
  8. Hettie’s Delites Cafe
  9. Highland Park Diner
  10. Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
  11. James Brown’s Place

40 Quirky Roadside Attractions

Spend a day checking out these unique and unusual roadside attractions, like shoe trees, a skeleton army, and a metal dragon, within 2 hours of Rochester.

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Highly recommended restaurants: Hose 22
  1. Java’s Cafe
  2. Jay’s Diner
  3. Jeremiah’s Tavern
  4. Jim’s on Main
  5. Jines Restaurant
  6. Joe Bean Roasters
  7. John’s Tex Mex
  8. La Casa
  9. Magnolias Deli & Cafe
  10. Mamasan’s

Top 38 Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester

Ice cream, gelato, Italian ice, frozen yogurt, and custard—we love these shops for their outstanding atmosphere, taste, variety, and innovation.

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Highly recommended restaurants Nosh
Nosh
  1. Mark’s Texas Hots
  2. Max’s Chop House
  3. Mr. Theo’s Restaurant & Lounge
  4. Mt Hope Family Diner 
  5. Mullers Cider House
  6. Nosh
  7. Owl House
  8. Park Ave Pub
  9. Pizza Stop
  10. Pomodoro Grill & Wine Bar
  11. Railway Station Diner

22 Craft Breweries in Monroe County

It can be overwhelming to consider all of the craft beverage artisans that call Western NY home. So, let’s focus on the ones we have in our backyard.

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Red Fern
Red Fern
  1. Red Fern
  2. Roam Cafe
  3. Rocco
  4. Rocky’s
  5. Roncone’s Italian Restaurant
  6. Rooney’s
  7. Rubino’s
  8. Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
  9. SEA Restaurant
  10. Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine
  11. Zoc’s Gourmet Burgers and Shakes

8 Rochester-Area Restaurants Featured on the Food Network and Travel Channel

Tonight, you can dine at restaurants that Zimmern, Bourdain, Fieri and other Food Network and Travel Channel hosts have enjoyed. Bon Appétit!

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Strong Museum of Play Bill Grays Skyliner Diner exterior
Bill Gray’s Skyliner Diner in the Strong National Museum of Play

Highly recommended restaurants
with multiple locations

  1. Abbott’s Frozen Custard
  2. Benucci’s
  3. Bill Gray’s 
  4. Core Life Eatery
  5. DiBella’s
  6. Itacate 
  7. Mr Dominic’s
  8. Schaller’s Drive-In
  9. Six-50 
  10. Tai Chi Bubble Tea
  11. Texas de Brazil
  12. The Distillery
  13. Tom Wahl’s
  14. Village Bakery

6 Authentic Dining-Car Diners

Diners were modular–manufactured in one place and moved by rail to the final location. They were designed to look like a train’s fine dining car.

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Small Family Restaurants around Rochester, NY: Whiskey River Pub and Grill
Whiskey River Pub and Grill in Charlotte

Highly recommended restaurants
in Monroe County

Brighton

  1. Amaya Indian Cuisine
  2. Basha Mediterranean Eatery
  3. Cerame’s Italian Villa
  4. Char Broil
  5. Chen Garden
  6. Delmonico’s
  7. Grinnell’s Restaurant
  8. Phillips European
  9. Plum Garden
  10. Ristorante Lucano
  11. Sodam Korean Restaurant
  12. Thali of India
  13. The Beer Market
  14. The King and I

Brockport

  1. Brockport Diner

Chili

  1. Acropolis Family Restaurant
  2. Leaf & Bean Coffee Co

East Rochester

  1. Guacamole Authentic Mexican Taqueria
  2. Landmark Family Restaurant
  3. Lemoncello Italian Restaurant & Bar
  4. Leo’s Bakery & Deli
  5. New Yorker’s Pancake & Grill

Fairport

  1. Donnelly’s Public House
  2. Durf’s Family Restaurant
  3. McArdle’s Restaurant
  4. Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
  5. Riki’s Family Restaurant

21 Historic Inns & Hotels Around Rochester

These historic inns around Rochester offer unique dining experiences. Unlike bed & breakfasts, their dining rooms are open to the public. Unlike restaurants, they offer lodging. And their food is as extraordinary as their stories.

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585 Rockin Burger Bar
585 Rockin Burger Bar Thanksgiving Balls

Gates

  1. 585 Rockin’ Burger Bar
  2. Agatina’s
  3. Edoya
  4. Fatso’s Bar & Grille
  5. Mesquite Grill
  6. Mr Beenz Diner 
  7. Shmeg’s Restaurant

Greece

  1. Bernard’s Grove
  2. Orien’s Café
  3. Patti’s Pantry

Henrietta

  1. Bob’s Diner
  2. Lovin’ Cup
  3. Mamma G’s
  4. Naan-tastic
  5. Pi Craft
  6. Tandoor of India

Hilton

  1. Jo’s Diner

Irondequoit

  1. Atlas Eats
  2. Don’s Original
  3. Eastridge Family Restaurant
  4. Pasta VillaRidge Donut Cafe
  5. Savoia Pastry Shoppe
  6. Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub
  7. Thai Mii Up

North Chili

  1. North Chili Family Restaurant

Penfield

  1. Five Mile Café
  2. George’s Family Restaurant
  3. The Original Steve’s Diner
Village Coal Tower
Village Coal Tower

Pittsford

  1. Back Nine Grill
  2. Burger Bar by Wegmans
  3. JoJo’s Bistro & Wine Bar
  4. Label 7 Napa Eatery & Bar
  5. Next Door by Wegmans
  6. Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery
  7. Simply Crepes
  8. Village Coal Tower Restaurant

38 Culinary Trails and Self-Guided Tours

From beer, wine and cheese culinary trails to barn quilt, cobblestone and history tours, these itineraries help you plan your ultimate day trip!

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Small Family Restaurants Scottsville Diner
Scottsville Diner

Scottsville

  1. Artisan Coffeehouse
  2. Salvatore’s Saloon 
  3. Scottsville Diner

Spencerport

  1. Sullivan’s Charbroil
  2. Union Street Eatery

7 Wineries with Scenic Keuka Lake Views

There are sophisticated publications out there dedicated to the intricacies of wineries, vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms in the Finger Lakes Region.

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Castaways on the Lake
Castaways on the Lake

Webster

  1. BC’s Chicken Coop
  2. Castaways on the Lake
  3. Charlie’s Restaurant
  4. Empire Pizza
  5. Garlic Pit
  6. Jade Palace
  7. Maa’s Diner
  8. Mama Lor’s Café
  9. Mario’s Homemade Pasta Kitchen
  10. Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant
  11. Nucci’s Italian Steak and Seafood
  12. Nutcracker Family Restaurant
  13. Proietti’s Italian Restaurant
  14. T’s Family Restaurant
  15. The Waffle Factory


Highly recommended restaurants
outside Monroe County

Cartwrights Maple Tree Inn
Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn

Angelica

  1. Black Eyed Susan Acoustic Café
  2. Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn 
Hunter Dinerant
Hunter’s Dinerant in Auburn

Auburn

  1. Hunter’s Dinerant
  2. Peppermints

Baldwinsville

  1. B’Ville Diner
  2. Canal Walk Café

Bath

  1. Chat-A-Whyle Restaurant 

Belfast

  1. Ace’s Country Cupboard
Diner-car diners Swan Street Diner interior
Swan Street Diner

Buffalo

  1. Amy’s Place
  2. Bertha’s Diner
  3. Daisies Café
  4. Kenmore Village Restaurant
  5. Lake Effect Diner
  6. Swan Street Diner

Caledonia

  1. Cozy Kitchen
  2. Reminisce Soda Fountain

Canandaigua

  1. Macri’s Deli & Café

Clarence

  1. Emilys Family Diner

Corning

  1. Donna’s Restaurant

Cuba

  1. Moonwinks

Darien Center

  1. Johnny Bear’s Restaurant

Derby

  1. Super Freeze Drive In

East Aurora

  1. Riley Street Station

Farmington

  1. El Jimador
  2. Park Place Restaurant

Geneseo

  1. Euro Café Real Food & Deli

Geneva

  1. Water Street Café

Holley

  1. Sam’s Diner

Honeoye

  1. Mill Creek Café

Hornell

  1. The Texas Café
Moosewood

Ithaca

  1. Lincoln Street Diner
  2. Moosewood

Jamestown

  1. Johnny’s Lunch

Lakeville

  1. 3 Legged Pig BBQ
  2. Lakeville Family Restaurant


Farmers Creekside Tavern and Inn
Farmer’s Creekside Tavern and Inn

LeRoy

  1. D & R Depot Restaurant
  2. Farmer’s Creekside Tavern & Inn

Rochester Railfans: Trains, Depots, Rail-Trails, Models, & Clubs

Rochester railfans are incredibly lucky that passionate preservationists before us saw the value in retaining structures we can still appreciate today.

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Lewiston Silo
The Silo

Lewiston

  1. The Silo

Lima

  1. Lima Diner

Liverpool

  1. Heid’s of Liverpool
Ember Wood Fire Grill

Livonia

  1. Ember Wood Fire Grill

Lockport

  1. Lock 34 Bar & Grill
  2. Sunny’s Family Restaurant
  3. Tom’s Diner


Caboose Lyons NY
The Caboose in Lyons NY

Lyons

  1. The Caboose

Macedon

  1. Log Cabin Family Restaurant

Medina

  1. Country Club Family Restaurant

Montour Falls

  1. Classic Chef’s
Small Family Restaurants Roots Cafe Naples
Roots Cafe in Naples

Naples

  1. Bob & Ruth’s Vineyard Restaurant
  2. Roots Café

Newark

  1. Bee Tee’s Drive-In

Olean

  1. Beef’n’Barrel
  2. Chuck Wagon

Ontario

  1. Heintzelman’s BBQ Pit

Oswego

  1. Dahls Diner
  2. Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In
  3. The Coffee Connection
  4. Mom and Pop’s Soda Shop

Painted Post

  1. Jelly Beans Restaurant

Palmyra

  1. Chill & Grill
  2. Yellow Mills Diner
Penn Yan Diner
Penn Yan Diner

Penn Yan

  1. Andy’s BBQ Shack
  2. Penn Yan Diner
  3. Skyline Trading Post

Perry

  1. Country Kitchen & Pizzeria

Portville

  1. Sprague’s Maple Farms

Sanborn

  1. Tina’s Place
Skaneateles Lake Doug's Fish Fry
Doug’s Fish Fry

Skaneateles

  1. Doug’s Fish Fry

Sodus

  1. El Rincon
  2. Hots Point

Sylvan Beach

  1. Canal View Café


Syracuse

  1. Mother’s Cupboard
  2. Stella’s Diner
  3. The Gem Diner

Tonawanda

  1. The Dockside Bar & Grill
Felicia's Atomic Brewhouse and Bakery
Felicia’s Atomic Brewhouse and Bakery in Trumansburg

Trumansburg

  1. Felicia’s Atomic Brewhouse and Bakery

Victor

  1. Chit Chat Café

Warsaw

  1. Silverlake Family Restaurant
Connies Diner
Connie’s Diner in Waterloo

Waterloo

  1. Abigail’s Restaurant
  2. Connie’s Diner
  3. Mac’s Drive-in
  4. Star Diner

Weedsport

  1. DB’s Drive In


Wellsville

  1. Texas Hot

Williamson

  1. Orbakers Drive In
  2. Original Candy Kitchen

Youngstown

  1. Youngstown Village Diner
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