Guidebook for Ithaca
Essentials
If you haven't been to a Wegmans, you must go. It's a lifestyle for upstaters
143 locals recommend
Wegmans
500 S Meadow St If you haven't been to a Wegmans, you must go. It's a lifestyle for upstaters
P&C Fresh - Ithaca
315 Pine Tree RdGreenStar
770 Cascadilla StFood Scene
Coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and ice cream
Press Cafè
118 W Green StExcellent lattes
Many locations with excellent coffee and espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and a selection of pastries
184 locals recommend
Gimme! Coffee
430 N Cayuga StMany locations with excellent coffee and espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and a selection of pastries
Coal Yard Cafe
143 Maple AveCreative breakfast and lunch options
Hound and Mare
118 N Aurora StYour go-to for egg sandwiches
Easy location for quick breakfast and lunch. Several locations offer beer and wine, too.
110 locals recommend
Collegetown Bagels
420 College AveEasy location for quick breakfast and lunch. Several locations offer beer and wine, too.
Fast-casual. Excellent vegan and vegetarian options.
23 locals recommend
Luna Inspired Street Food Downtown
113 N Aurora StFast-casual. Excellent vegan and vegetarian options.
The Rook
404 W State StCreative food and cocktails with great service
A romantic and cozy restaurant serving seasonal dishes , sourced locally. One of the first in the area to do it, and they’ve been doing it well for almost 2 decades. You also get to check out downtown T-burg after a bit of a drive to see the other side of Cayuga.
113 locals recommend
Hazelnut Kitchen
53 E Main StA romantic and cozy restaurant serving seasonal dishes , sourced locally. One of the first in the area to do it, and they’ve been doing it well for almost 2 decades. You also get to check out downtown T-burg after a bit of a drive to see the other side of Cayuga.
Mehak
410 Eddy StreetOur favorite Indian cuisine
Maru Ramen
512 W State StThe best ramen in town, hands down
Saigon Kitchen
526 W State StCraving pho? Gotta go here!
Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine
113 S Cayuga StBYOB for a corking fee
Soft-served ice cream. Open April-September, CASH ONLY.
26 locals recommend
Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream Shop
200 W Seneca StSoft-served ice cream. Open April-September, CASH ONLY.
Cayuga Lake Creamery
8421 NY-89Get the same delicious ice cream without the drive up the lake
Cayuga Lake Creamery at The Dewitt Mall
Get the same delicious ice cream without the drive up the lake
Cornell Dairy Bar
411 Tower RdEta Pie
Creative toppings and yummy
In a strange setting, in an old hospital-turned-apartments building, but excellent and creative Italian food.
51 locals recommend
Gola Osteria
115 S Quarry StIn a strange setting, in an old hospital-turned-apartments building, but excellent and creative Italian food.
Franco's Pizzeria
Best NY style crust (for a good price)!
Drinks & Nightlife
Delicious, large selection of their beer, including seasonal varieties and a daily cask in a large warehouse, with a smaller back room with a stage and an outdoor patio. Best beer in town, but we are also partial because the owners are former co-workers of ours. You can also get kombucha, wine, board games, and snacks from their bar, and Silo Food truck is on-site and will deliver to your table (but independent from the brewery). Kids are welcome until 7:30 pm.
50 locals recommend
Liquid State Brewing Company
620 W Green StDelicious, large selection of their beer, including seasonal varieties and a daily cask in a large warehouse, with a smaller back room with a stage and an outdoor patio. Best beer in town, but we are also partial because the owners are former co-workers of ours. You can also get kombucha, wine, board games, and snacks from their bar, and Silo Food truck is on-site and will deliver to your table (but independent from the brewery). Kids are welcome until 7:30 pm.
Bar Argos
408 E State StThe most creative cocktails, but only open until 10 pm.
Grab a pint, or a cocktail, and a board game. The best place for outdoor seating and drinking downtown.
53 locals recommend
The Westy
516 W State StGrab a pint, or a cocktail, and a board game. The best place for outdoor seating and drinking downtown.
Beer; tasting room and pavilion; daytime hours. Live music and a food truck on certain days. Huge field with picnic tables. Let your kids run wild!
29 locals recommend
Hopshire Farm and Brewery
1771 Dryden RdBeer; tasting room and pavilion; daytime hours. Live music and a food truck on certain days. Huge field with picnic tables. Let your kids run wild!
Ithaca Beer Co.
122 Ithaca Beer DrBeer; serves food; great outdoor seating and yard games.
South Hill Cider
550 Sandbank RdThe Watershed
121 W State StA bit hard to find but creative cocktails and a chill vibe
It’s in an usual location and doesn’t look like much from the outside but GO THERE! Excellent beer selection, food, and outdoor seating in their backyard with picnic tables.
10 locals recommend
Brewer's Cafe & Taproom
8735 1384 Dryden RdIt’s in an usual location and doesn’t look like much from the outside but GO THERE! Excellent beer selection, food, and outdoor seating in their backyard with picnic tables.
Parks & Nature
An impressive waterfall that you can see from the road, or take a brief walk (<0.25 mi) along pebbles to get up close.
156 locals recommend
Ithaca Falls Natural Area
Lake StreetAn impressive waterfall that you can see from the road, or take a brief walk (<0.25 mi) along pebbles to get up close.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods RdBlack Diamond Trail
Black Diamond TrailRoy H Park Preserve
831 Irish Settlement RdCornell Botanic Gardens
124 Comstock Knoll DrTaughannock Falls Overlook Visitors Center
2381 Taughannock Park RdMonkey Run, Cayuga Trail
Shopping
Pedestrian-friendly space for shopping, dining, and concerts.
48 locals recommend
Ithaca Commons - Seneca St station
Pedestrian-friendly space for shopping, dining, and concerts.
Buy vegetables, fruit, flowers, and other goods from local farms and sellers. Great place to grab some breakfast or lunch while you peruse the stands and look on the lake.
266 locals recommend
Ithaca Farmers Market
545 3rd StBuy vegetables, fruit, flowers, and other goods from local farms and sellers. Great place to grab some breakfast or lunch while you peruse the stands and look on the lake.
Arts & Culture
Cayuga Nature Center
1420 Taughannock BlvdJohnson Museum of Art
114 Central AveSciencenter
601 1st StLet your kids go wild
Corning Museum of Glass
1 Museum WayMuseum of the Earth
1259 Trumansburg Rd