Guidebook for Syracuse
Food Scene
A very popular coffee shop in Syracuse, and ranked in People magazine's "Top 24 Coffee Shops in America". Unless you arrive early it can be hard to get a seat inside. They offer light lunches and yummy snacks as well.
31 locals recommend
Recess Coffee
110 Harvard PlA very popular coffee shop in Syracuse, and ranked in People magazine's "Top 24 Coffee Shops in America". Unless you arrive early it can be hard to get a seat inside. They offer light lunches and yummy snacks as well.
Considered the best Mexican restaurant in Syracuse, Alto Cinco has a great menu, is renown for their burritos, and enjoyable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a drink and a snack. Indoor, outdoor, and bar seating make it work for just about any time and any size group.
42 locals recommend
Alto Cinco
526 Westcott StConsidered the best Mexican restaurant in Syracuse, Alto Cinco has a great menu, is renown for their burritos, and enjoyable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a drink and a snack. Indoor, outdoor, and bar seating make it work for just about any time and any size group.
They claim "Best Texas BBQ outside of Texas", and I could believe it. Expect a 1-2 hour wait at almost any time to get a table, but it is worth it. Grab a beer and order of fried green tomatoes while you wait. Insanely popular and famous throughout New York (and beyond). Great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and live music certain nights of the week, starting at 8 or 9pm.
83 locals recommend
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
246 W Willow StThey claim "Best Texas BBQ outside of Texas", and I could believe it. Expect a 1-2 hour wait at almost any time to get a table, but it is worth it. Grab a beer and order of fried green tomatoes while you wait. Insanely popular and famous throughout New York (and beyond). Great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and live music certain nights of the week, starting at 8 or 9pm.
Syracuse has two local breweries: Middle Ages and Empire. Empire Brew Pub, in Armory Square, offers a great menu in a lively atmosphere. They have a famous Sunday morning Jazz Brunch. Pretty sure it is always first-come-first-served, so arrive early if you want to avoid a wait! Great food, reasonable prices.
17 locals recommend
Empire Brewing Company
120 Walton StSyracuse has two local breweries: Middle Ages and Empire. Empire Brew Pub, in Armory Square, offers a great menu in a lively atmosphere. They have a famous Sunday morning Jazz Brunch. Pretty sure it is always first-come-first-served, so arrive early if you want to avoid a wait! Great food, reasonable prices.
Saturday morning CNY Regional Market is what a real farmer's market is like: crazy low prices from farmers across CNY and Pennsylvania selling farm-fresh produce. 8am-1pm, but things start wrapping up by noon.
18 locals recommend
Regional Market Commons
2100 Park StSaturday morning CNY Regional Market is what a real farmer's market is like: crazy low prices from farmers across CNY and Pennsylvania selling farm-fresh produce. 8am-1pm, but things start wrapping up by noon.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with good and affordable lunch and dinner menu + great happy hour deals (4-6pm M-F). Weather permitting they have a back patio as well. Cozy, comfortable, and affordable.
12 locals recommend
Beer Belly Deli & Pub
510 Westcott StBar with good and affordable lunch and dinner menu + great happy hour deals (4-6pm M-F). Weather permitting they have a back patio as well. Cozy, comfortable, and affordable.
Live music most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Pretty much always has a cover charge or tickets to attend performances.
14 locals recommend
Westcott Liquor
111 Harvard PlLive music most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Pretty much always has a cover charge or tickets to attend performances.
Shopping
Great selection of vintage-style clothes and jewelry, mostly for women. Fun to go in and explore. Known throughout central New York as "the place to go for ball gowns", so it is mobbed during Prom season.
7 locals recommend
Boom Babies
489 Westcott StGreat selection of vintage-style clothes and jewelry, mostly for women. Fun to go in and explore. Known throughout central New York as "the place to go for ball gowns", so it is mobbed during Prom season.
Lots of great boutiques, restaurants, and bars around Armory Square.
58 locals recommend
Armory Square
241 W Fayette StLots of great boutiques, restaurants, and bars around Armory Square.
One of the biggest malls in the US, Destiny offers everything for the passionate mall shopper: retail, dept. stores, dining, fast food, movies, entertainment venues, kids activities and play spaces (most with fees).
115 locals recommend
Destiny USA
1 Destiny USA DrOne of the biggest malls in the US, Destiny offers everything for the passionate mall shopper: retail, dept. stores, dining, fast food, movies, entertainment venues, kids activities and play spaces (most with fees).
Parks & Nature
15 minute drive to this fabulous State Park that offers spectacular views, walking trails of various lengths and difficulty (longest is about 90 minutes), picnicking, and a park for kids. If there is a charge it is relatively inexpensive (though I've only been when it is free).
28 locals recommend
Clark Reservation State Park
6105 E Seneca Turnpike15 minute drive to this fabulous State Park that offers spectacular views, walking trails of various lengths and difficulty (longest is about 90 minutes), picnicking, and a park for kids. If there is a charge it is relatively inexpensive (though I've only been when it is free).
In the summer this offers some great swimming opportunities in the beautiful Green Lakes with guarded beaches and swimming areas. There are also great hiking and biking trails around the Park. About a 20 minute drive.
124 locals recommend
Green Lakes State Park
7900 Green Lakes RdIn the summer this offers some great swimming opportunities in the beautiful Green Lakes with guarded beaches and swimming areas. There are also great hiking and biking trails around the Park. About a 20 minute drive.
Arts & Culture
The Everson is home to approximately 11,000 works of art: American paintings, sculpture, drawings, video, graphics and one of the largest holdings of international ceramics in the nation.
54 locals recommend
Everson Museum of Art
401 Harrison StThe Everson is home to approximately 11,000 works of art: American paintings, sculpture, drawings, video, graphics and one of the largest holdings of international ceramics in the nation.
This is a great science museum and activity center for kids from very young to early teens. It has an amazing multi-story climbing structure, many interactive exhibits, an IMAX theater, and a planetarium.
53 locals recommend
Museum of Science and Technology (MOST)
500 S Franklin StThis is a great science museum and activity center for kids from very young to early teens. It has an amazing multi-story climbing structure, many interactive exhibits, an IMAX theater, and a planetarium.
Essentials
Price Chopper
2515 Erie Blvd EClosest and most convenient super market with great prices.
Wegmans flagship store with an amazing selection of pre-prepared food. Wegmans is considered the top grocery store in the Syracuse area.
84 locals recommend
Wegmans
6789 E Genesee StWegmans flagship store with an amazing selection of pre-prepared food. Wegmans is considered the top grocery store in the Syracuse area.
Trader Joe's is the place to go for great prices on great store-brand products with a reasonable selection of fresh produce.
11 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3422 Erie Blvd ETrader Joe's is the place to go for great prices on great store-brand products with a reasonable selection of fresh produce.
Price Rite is just barely walkable if you're in Syracuse without a car. It is about a mile away, though you have to cross some busy intersections to get there. It is a budget grocery store with a lot of character. We shop there regularly, but it probably won't be what you're used to!
Price Rite of Syracuse
1625 Erie Blvd EPrice Rite is just barely walkable if you're in Syracuse without a car. It is about a mile away, though you have to cross some busy intersections to get there. It is a budget grocery store with a lot of character. We shop there regularly, but it probably won't be what you're used to!