Things To Do

Recommended Eats & Drinks

- Dogtown (Garbage Plate) - This is a "delicacy" unique to Rochester. Dog Town is hands down the best. Make sure to get the home fries, mac salad, and all the fixings on it - Burger or Red Hot plate are up to you. If you're really brave try it with the Rochester White Hot. - Village Bakery (Breakfast/Lunch) - Mad Hatter (Breakfast) - Jines (Breakfast/Lunch) - Locals Only (Breakfast/Lunch) - Pearsons (Breakfast/Coffee) - Ugly Duck (Coffee) - Carnegie Cellars (Wine/ Dinner) - Strange Bird (Brewery/Lunch or Dinner) - Sager (Brewery/ Lunch) - Apogee Wine Bar (Wine/ Dessert) - Swan Market (Lunch) - Forno Tony (Lunch) - Pittsford Dairy - Park Avenue (Ice Cream) For other dinner options, anything on Park Avenue (e.g. Verns, Furoshiki), in the Public Market (Fiorella, Cure, Public Provisions), or in the Village Gate (e.g. Good Luck, Polizzis) are delicious. We recommend making reservations.

Places to explore

The Strong National Museum of Play

This is a fun place for everyone to visit. There is a newly opened interactive video game area, and plenty of fun to be had for every age. We love going here during their "happiest hour" events. They also are the home of the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Record Archive

A great spot for Music enthusiasts or anyone looking for some fun browsing. This is a staple in Rochester, and a fun place to walk through and get lost in. We love going to their Wednesday music happy hours. Definitely worth a visit!

ARTISANworks

A very unique destination in Rochester, and right up the street from the Church, ARTISANworks is a self-funded, not-for-profit art space of over 40,000 square feet in a renovated factory with nearly 500,000 pieces of artwork, antiques, automobiles and memorabilia. A number of the artists displayed create art live on site. They offer tours from 12-5 Friday-Sunday.

Rochester Public Market

Another of our favorite destinations, this Market has it all. There are any number of vendors on any given Saturday with fresh produce, meat, etc. The market also has a large number of restaurants, and is a great Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner destination. If you go for breakfast, try the Paolo's Burrito Place - Food truck, or Public Provisions.

Cobbs Hill Park

This is a great spot for a walk, and to get an awesome view over downtown Rochester. This park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (Designer of Central Park in NYC).

Highland Park

This park was also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, and is the location of the multitude of Lilacs bushes Rochester is now famous for. There is a conservatory that has a $5 entrance fee that is always nice to walk through.

Rochester International Jazz Festival

The yearly Jazz fest will be kicking off on the 21st, and offers any number of free or ticketed concerts on 20 stages over 9 days throughout downtown Rochester. The city will be busier than usual as people come from all over to experience the Festival.