Outdoor Dining Around Rochester

Sidewalk cafés, waterfront patios, and rooftop decks

When Rochester warms up, we all head outside. From sidewalk patios and rooftop lounges to vineyard terraces and food stalls at the Public Market, there’s no shortage of places to eat, drink, and enjoy the sunshine.

This guide features restaurants and food destinations with outdoor seating, organized by their unique experience. We’ve also highlighted places serving full meals at breweries, distilleries, cideries, and wineries.

Sidewalk & Patio Seating

For people-watching and sunny strolls before or after your meal:

• 110 Grill – Contemporary American grill at Eastview Mall with a fire-pit patio.
• 20 Deep Winery – Sleek Mendon winery pouring estate reds on a hillside deck.
• Alexander – Eclectic cocktail pub on Alexander St. with sidewalk tables.
• Avvino – Creative New-American dining and a leafy, tucked-away courtyard.
• Bar Bantam – Mid-century lobby bar/café with plaza seating at The Metropolitan.
• Bill Gray’s Seabreeze – Lake-adjacent burgers, dogs & Abbott’s custard on a breezy patio.
• Blu Wolf Bistro – Hearty comfort plates and craft beer on a bustling Park Ave corner.
• Branca Midtown – Wood-fired Italian steakhouse with a second-floor urban balcony.
• Brown Hound Downtown – Farm-driven brunch & dinner spilling into MAG’s sculpture-garden patio.
• BTB Wood-Fired Pizza Bar & Grill – Greece Ridge pies, wings and umbrella tables.
• Burnap’s Farm Market & Garden Café – Orchard-side salads, sandwiches & pies among flowers.
• Casa Larga Vineyard – Hill-top winery with panoramic vineyard terraces.
• Champps Americana – Eastview sports-bar balcony overlooking the courtyard.
• Char Steak & Lounge – Upscale steakhouse at the Strathallan with courtyard seating.
• Cheesecake Factory – Pittsford Plaza mega-menu under striped patio umbrellas.
• Chick’n Out – Nashville-hot chicken and biscuits at courtyard picnic tables.
• Classic Kitchen & Cocktails – Elevated comfort fare & craft drinks on a roomy Pittsford patio.
• Cottage Hotel of Mendon – 1830s tavern offering pub grub on a creek-side deck.
• CRISP Rochester – Southern-style fried chicken and biscuits on shaded sidewalk tables.
• Cristo’s Wood Fire Pizza & Pasta – Greece wood-fired pies, pasta & pergola-shaded patio.
• Deer Run Winery – Conesus-lakefront tasting deck with live-music sunsets.
• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Legendary riverside smokehouse with a smoker-scented deck.
• Don’s Original – Classic burgers & frozen custard with Lake Ontario breezes.
• Dorado – Coastal-Mexican tacos & ceviche on Park Ave sidewalk seats.
• Dragonfly Tavern – Firehouse-inspired gastropub with a brick Park Ave patio.
• Edibles Restaurant & Bar – New-American martini spot with lush back-garden seating.
• Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters – Pittsford Plaza roastery café with umbrella patio tables.
• Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn – Long-running pub serving Irish-American fare on a covered deck.
• Flight Wine Bar – Riverside flights & small plates on Corn Hill Landing’s deck.
• Good Smoke BBQ & Pub – Webster competition-winning barbecue with a spacious wood deck.
• Grappa Italian Nouveau – Rustic-chic cucina boasting a sprawling rooftop terrace.
• Gate House – Gourmet burgers & pizzas enjoyed in Village Gate’s courtyard.
• Hattie’s Rooftop – Skyline lounge for cocktails and fried-chicken sliders al fresco.
• Hideaway – Comfort food & craft drinks on a string-lit Park Ave patio.
• Hollerhorn Distilling – Farm-to-table plates & spirits overlooking Naples hills.
• Hose 22 Firehouse Grill – 1916 firehouse turned grill with a roomy brick patio.
• I-Square – Irondequoit eco-friendly town square with rooftop and plaza seating.
• Jack’s Extra Fancy – Funky cocktail den with Irish-pub flair & people-watching patio.
• Jeremiah’s Tavern – Neighborhood wing house featuring a wrap-around deck and TVs.
• Jines Restaurant – Long-time diner favorite for breakfast & lunch on Park Ave.
• JoJo Bistro & Wine Bar – Wine-centric New-American fare with canal or village patios.
• Katboocha – Artisanal kombucha taproom with colorful sidewalk picnic tables.
• Label 7 Napa Eatery & Bar – California-inspired plates on a canal-view Pittsford deck.
• La Casa – Festive South Wedge taqueria with side-street patio tables.
• Leaf & Bean – Chili
• Leonore’s – Thai-leaning open-fire kitchen with an intimate Park Ave patio.
• Lila’s – Playful Mediterranean plates and $1-oyster happy hour on a bright patio.
• Living Roots Wine & Co. – Urban winery pouring FLX & Aussie blends in a garden patio.
• Locals Only – Trendy brunch café with sidewalk seats on Alexander St.
• Lovin’ Cup – Live-music café pouring local beers on a covered pergola patio.
• Lucky’s – Retro arcade-bar eats with a laid-back, picnic-table backyard.
• Magnolia’s Deli & Café – Soups, salads & sandwiches under string lights on Park Ave.
• Mama Lor’s Café – Webster breakfast staple with a sunny roadside patio.
• Marshall Street Bar & Grill – College-area sports pub with classic grub and sidewalk seating.
• Max of Eastman Place – Elegant New-American dining in an atrium courtyard downtown.
• Mendon 64 – Upscale-casual American plates & craft cocktails on a wrap-around porch.
• Mendon Main St Café – A cozy café serving scratch-made pastries at front bistro tables.
• Mercantile on Main – Downtown food hall spilling into Sibley Plaza’s outdoor tables.
• Mercury Coffee Co. – South Wedge
• Native Eatery & Bar – Locally sourced dishes overlooking Washington Square Park.
• Neutral Ground Coffeehouse – Corn Hill café with porch swings and river views.
• Neutral Ground Coffeehouse (Pittsford) – Canal-side sister shop with porch seating.
• New York Kitchen – Culinary center, tasting room & lake-view deck.
• Next Door by Wegmans – Chef-driven sushi & steaks with a hidden garden patio.
• Nine Spot Brewing – Hyper-local craft beers enjoyed in a picnic-table biergarten.
• Normal BBQ – Texas-style smoked meats served at market-side picnic tables.
• Other Half Brewing FLX – Trend-setting brewery taproom with expansive lawn seating.
• Owl House – Vegan-friendly gastropub featuring an intimate backyard patio.
• P.F. Chang’s – Asian-fusion chain with shaded mall-side seating.
• Park Avenue Pub – Classic steak-and-martini house with a candle-lit courtyard.
• Pearson’s – Long-standing neighborhood bar & grill with a wrap-around deck.
• Radio Social – Retro-chic bowling lounge, Mediterranean eats & a fire-pit patio.
• Rheinblick – Authentic German fare and Main St. sidewalk Biergarten in Canandaigua.
• Restaurant Good Luck – Share-plate pioneer with a twinkle-lit brick side patio.
• Red Fern – Creative vegan café with a petite Park Ave garden.
• Rohrbach Beer Hall on Atlantic – Production brewery taproom with picnic-table yard.
• Rohrbach Buffalo Road Brewpub – Original brewpub offering hearty fare on a covered deck.
• Rohrbach Railroad Street Beer Hall – Public-Market beer hall with garden tables.
• Roam Café – Festive Italian-American plates enjoyed on Park Ave’s sidewalk patio.
• Root31 Café – Fresh bowls & smoothies with shaded front-plaza tables.
• Roux – Neighborhood French bistro dishing classics at linen-topped sidewalk tables.
• Sager-Stoneyard Pub – Brockport canal-deck pouring Stoneyard beers and pub grub.
• Salt – Contemporary New-American kitchen with a cozy walled garden patio.
• Salena’s Mexican Restaurant – Margaritas & mole in Village Gate’s hidden courtyard.
• Schutt’s Apple Mill – Historic cider mill with orchard picnic tables and doughnuts.
• Simply Crêpes – Sweet & savory crêpes on patios in Pittsford, Webster & Canandaigua.
• Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine – Fresh gyro plates beneath shaded harbor-view tables.
• Sogo Sushi & Hibachi – Greece Ridge conveyor-belt sushi & hibachi with mall-side patio.
• Strangebird – Sour-focused brewery featuring a covered Mt Hope beer garden.
• Taichi Bubble Tea – Ramen & bubble-tea counter with patio mall seating.
• Tapas 177 – Romantic brick-walled courtyard serving global small plates & salsa dancing.
• Texas Bar-B-Q Joint – Low-and-slow brisket enjoyed at rustic picnic tables.
• Thirsty Turtle Sports Bar – Victor family sports bar with wrap-around deck and live music.
• Tin Cup Social – Golf-themed gastropub sporting fire-pit patios by the canal.
• Tony D’s – Coal-fired pizza & pasta with a riverside deck on Corn Hill Landing.
• Tournedos Steakhouse – White-tablecloth steaks with seasonal sidewalk seating at Inn on Broadway.
• Unwine’d – Casual wine & charcuterie lounge with a canal-view patio.
• Velvet Belly – Seafood-forward raw bar with a covered deck overlooking High Falls.
• Veneto Wood-Fired Pizza & Pasta – Old-world pies & pasta served on a Park Ave patio.
• Vern’s – Casual Italian-American pastas and natural wine on a breezy Park Ave patio.
• Village Bakery & Café – Eastview artisanal breads & lattes at umbrella sidewalk tables.
• Windjammers – Charlotte harbor pub for seafood baskets & rooftop lake views.
• Ziggy’s – Retro slice-shop and beer bar with picnic-table outdoor seating.

Waterfront & Canal Views

Relax beside the Genesee River, Erie Canal, or Lake Ontario:

• Aladdin’s Natural Eatery – Light Mediterranean cuisine on the Pittsford canal. 
• The Beachcomber – Conesus Lake-front seafood, tiki drinks, and weekend bands. 
• Bella Vista Ristorante – River-view Italian plates minutes from Niagara Falls. 
• Belhurst Castle – Castle patio overlooking Seneca Lake with estate wines. 
• Bill Gray’s – Classic burgers & Abbott’s custard with Ontario breezes. 
• California Rollin’ – Lakeside sushi and sake at the Port of Rochester. 
• Captain Jack’s Goodtime Tavern – Dock-and-dine bar with a lively Sodus Bay patio. 
• Castaways on the Lake – Two-tier Lake Ontario deck for seafood, steaks & sunsets. 
• Clutch Kitchen & Bar – Comfort fare on the canal steps from Spencerport’s lift bridge. 
• Custom House Bar & Grill – Elevated American plates with Erie Canal views. 
• Dockside Bar & Grill – 1890 canal warehouse turned casual grill in North Tonawanda. 
• Donnelly’s Public House – 30 craft taps and pub classics on Fairport’s canal bend. 
• Erie Grill – Refined New-American dining with an intimate Erie Canal patio. 
• Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn – Irish-American staple with a wrap-around porch at Honeoye Creek. 
• Genesee Brew House – House beers, pub grub & a rooftop deck over High Falls. 
• Geneva on the Lake – Boutique resort fine dining with sweeping Seneca Lake vistas. 
• Griffon Brewery & Gastropub – Craft beers & inventive fare on a Niagara River patio. 
• Hedges 9 Mile Point – 1928 Lake Ontario landmark for sunset dinners & jazz. 
• La Luna – Rustic-chic Italian events space beside dramatic High Falls. 
• Lulu Taqueria – Bold tacos & mezcal near Fairport’s lift bridge, canal-side patio. 
• Nolan’s Snack Shack – Dock-up lobster rolls & chowder on Canandaigua Lake. 
• Pane Vino on the River – Upscale Italian plates with Genesee River skyline tables. 
• Pelican’s Nest – High-energy dockside bar & grill on the Genesee River. 
• Pleasant Beach Hotel – 110-year-old inn serving Little Sodus Bay seafood on the deck. 
• Ports Cafe – Seasonal Finger Lakes menu overlooking north Seneca Lake. 
• The Porterhouse – Waterfront steaks & scotch on Fairport’s canal. 
• Rabbit Hole Tavern – Corn Hill Landing pub with Genesee River & skyline views. 
• River Grill – Casual eats & nightly bands on a Niagara River deck. 
• Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In – Iconic Lake Ontario fry shack with picnic tables & sunsets. 
• Sand Bar at The Lake House – Breezy Canandaigua Lake spot for burgers, beer & boat docking. 
• Sapalta – Farm-to-table plates paired with Finger Lakes wine on Plum Point. 
• Schooners Riverside Pub – Seasonal gazebo & deck over the Genesee River. 
• Silk O’Loughlin’s – Chill riverside bar for burgers, wings & live tunes. 
• Six50 on the Bay – Wood-fired pizza, cocktails & fire pits on Sodus Bay. 
• Skipper’s Landing – Waterfront seafood, tiki bar & outdoor deck on Sodus Bay. 
• The Shores Waterfront Restaurant – Niagara River marina-side seafood & American classics. 
• The Silo Restaurant – Historic coal-silo eatery slinging burgers & shakes by the river. 
• South Bay Bar & Grill – Casual Irondequoit Bay deck for wings & cold drinks. 
• TK’s on the Falls – Pizza & wings on a patio beside Honeoye Falls. 
• Top of the Falls Restaurant – Floor-to-ceiling views of Niagara Falls. 
• Union Tavern – 200-year-old bay-front tavern with pub fare & porch rockers. 
• Whiskey’s Upper Deck – Coming soon to the Port of Rochester with live music & river views. 

Of special note, you can enjoy a meal onboard the Colonial Belle, Sam Patch, Riverie, and other scenic boat tours!

Rooftop & Elevated Views

Great food and better views from rooftops around Rochester and the Finger Lakes:

• Aladdin’s Natural Eatery – Light Mediterranean cuisine with second-story patio seating overlooking Monroe Ave. 
• Center City Terrace & Lounge – 4th-floor Hyatt venue offering skyline views, cocktails, lawn games, and plenty of fire-pit seating. 
• The Distillery – High-energy sports bar chain serving wings, burgers & drafts on a casual upper deck. 
• Hattie’s Rooftop Bar – Ninth-floor Strathallan lounge with craft cocktails, fire pits, and 360° city vistas. 
• KiX ON MAIN – Elevated comfort food and cocktails on a covered rooftop deck above Main St. in Canandaigua. 
• Nick’s Chophouse – Laid-back “Skydeck” for pub fare, martinis, and downtown Canandaigua views. 
• NY Beer Project – Lively Victor beer hall featuring craft pints on a sprawling rooftop beer-garden balcony. 
• The Revelry – Refined Low-Country-inspired cuisine and cocktails on a street-front patio in NOTA. 
• Swan Dive – Playful second-story patio serving inventive small plates, pizza, and craft drinks. 
• TRATA (The Restaurant At The Armory) – Three-floor modern American hotspot with a chic rooftop for beers and burgers. 

Rochester Public Market District

Fresh, flavorful, and full of character, this bustling public space is not just for shopping for local produce. The Rochester Public Market is also home to some of the city’s most beloved food vendors and restaurants. Many offer outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a bite on a sunny day.

Market Vendors with Outdoor Seating

• Cherry’s European – Pierogi, stuffed cabbage, and hearty Polish dishes are served from a vibrant yellow stall with shaded seating.
• Juan & Maria’s Empanada Stop – A Rochester favorite serving empanadas, rice bowls, and homemade lemonade with picnic table seating nearby.
• Railroad Street Grill – Smash burgers and sandwiches just off the market’s Railroad Street entrance, with nearby benches and picnic tables.
• Zimmerman’s Hots – Classic hot dogs, burgers, and breakfast sandwiches with a few covered outdoor tables.

Sit-Down Restaurants in the District

• Bitter Honey – Bright, bold Mexican food with a mezcal-forward cocktail list and festive patio space off Railroad Street.
• Cure – Refined French-style cuisine with a peaceful garden-side patio in the market’s quieter corner.
• Fiorella – Handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza in a cozy space with charming sidewalk seating.
• Public Provisions – A full-service cafe and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.

Bring-Your-Own Food Spots

Some establishments focus on beverages but welcome patrons to bring their own food or have it delivered to them. These venues offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy your favorite meals alongside their drink offerings.

• Marge’s Lakeside Inn – Lake Ontario’s quirkiest beachfront bar. The sandy beach and live music create a unique, laid-back experience.
• Fattey Beer Company – This taproom offers a wide selection of beers in a relaxed setting.
• Half Pint Pub – Located at the corner of Park Ave. and Oxford St., this cozy bar is a popular spot for those looking to enjoy a drink with their preferred takeout.
• Lock 32 Brewing Company – Pittsford brewery offers a selection of craft beers to enjoy canalside.
• Three Heads Brewing – This brewery offers a variety of craft beers and encourages guests to bring their own food or have it delivered to their location. They even provide menus from local restaurants to make ordering easy.

Do you have a favorite that’s not listed here?

Please let me know so we can add it to the list. This guide is continuously updated to celebrate the best places to dine outdoors around Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Ontario.

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.