Guidebook for Ithaca
Food Scene
Southwestern cuisine. Well rounded menu and good drinks. Half off bottles of wine after 9pm. Salsa nights every Wednesday.
76 locals recommend
Agava Restaurant
381 Pine Tree RdSouthwestern cuisine. Well rounded menu and good drinks. Half off bottles of wine after 9pm. Salsa nights every Wednesday.
Local neighborhood restaurant featuring creative spins on American comfort food. Good gluten free and vegetarian options. A separate beer garden located in back. Outdoor patio seating during the summer.
94 locals recommend
Northstar House
202 E Falls StLocal neighborhood restaurant featuring creative spins on American comfort food. Good gluten free and vegetarian options. A separate beer garden located in back. Outdoor patio seating during the summer.
Gourmet French cuisine. One of the top restaurants in Ithaca. Best French fries around.
35 locals recommend
Le Café Cent-Dix
110 N Aurora StGourmet French cuisine. One of the top restaurants in Ithaca. Best French fries around.
Gourmet Italian cuisine run by the same owners as Cent Dix. Also one of the best restaurants in town.
40 locals recommend
Mercato
108 N Aurora StGourmet Italian cuisine run by the same owners as Cent Dix. Also one of the best restaurants in town.
American cuisine featuring local ingredients and outdoor seating. Rated the best new restaurant in 2016.
58 locals recommend
The Rook
404 W State StAmerican cuisine featuring local ingredients and outdoor seating. Rated the best new restaurant in 2016.
Tapas and wine. There is something for everyone. Go with a group and sample everything.
84 locals recommend
Just A Taste
116 N Aurora StTapas and wine. There is something for everyone. Go with a group and sample everything.
Fine dining Italian Bistro featuring a balcony overlooking the gorge and six mile creek. Check out their Sunday brunch menu!
51 locals recommend
Gola Osteria
115 S Quarry StFine dining Italian Bistro featuring a balcony overlooking the gorge and six mile creek. Check out their Sunday brunch menu!
Cajun, seafood and raw bar with a great happy hour 4-6. Live music every Tuesday and Sunday. Half off bottles of wine on Monday nights. Open late.
108 locals recommend
Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar
635 W State StCajun, seafood and raw bar with a great happy hour 4-6. Live music every Tuesday and Sunday. Half off bottles of wine on Monday nights. Open late.
Farm to table restaurant with delicious and inventive creations. Features a tasting menu every Monday night - 4 courses for $40. Add drinks with each course for an additional $15. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
113 locals recommend
Hazelnut Kitchen
53 E Main StFarm to table restaurant with delicious and inventive creations. Features a tasting menu every Monday night - 4 courses for $40. Add drinks with each course for an additional $15. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Vietnamese. Cheap and delicious. One of the most popular spots in Ithaca.
111 locals recommend
Saigon Kitchen
526 W State StVietnamese. Cheap and delicious. One of the most popular spots in Ithaca.
The original home of the best selling cookbook. Completely vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian.
114 locals recommend
Moosewood Restaurant
215 N Cayuga StThe original home of the best selling cookbook. Completely vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian.
One of the best places for brunch/lunch in Ithaca. They close at 2pm, so go easy. It's hidden in the Dewitt Mall.
44 locals recommend
Cafe Dewitt
215 N Cayuga StOne of the best places for brunch/lunch in Ithaca. They close at 2pm, so go easy. It's hidden in the Dewitt Mall.
Collegetown restaurant, open for brunch and lunch. Check out their website for live music in the Hayloft.
33 locals recommend
Carriage House Cafe
305 Stewart AveCollegetown restaurant, open for brunch and lunch. Check out their website for live music in the Hayloft.
The best ice cream in Ithaca. They only serve 4 flavors of hard ice cream. Don't overlook their homemade soft serve.
26 locals recommend
Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream Shop
200 W Seneca StThe best ice cream in Ithaca. They only serve 4 flavors of hard ice cream. Don't overlook their homemade soft serve.
A must stop for when you're touring wineries on Cayuga Lake. Right up their with Sweet Melissa's for best ice cream. Lot's more flavors though!
44 locals recommend
Cayuga Lake Creamery
8421 NY-89A must stop for when you're touring wineries on Cayuga Lake. Right up their with Sweet Melissa's for best ice cream. Lot's more flavors though!
Best ice coffee in Ithaca. Ice-cubes are made with coffee so your coffee is never watered down. They also have a tap room in back.
15 locals recommend
Ithaca Coffee Company
311 E Green StBest ice coffee in Ithaca. Ice-cubes are made with coffee so your coffee is never watered down. They also have a tap room in back.
Gimme! Coffee
430 N Cayuga StNearest cafe to the house. The best espresso in town.
Local farmers market open every Saturday and Sunday. Pick up the cayuga waterfront trail in Stewart park and walk over. Or grab a kayak and paddle across the lake and down the inlet.
266 locals recommend
Ithaca Farmers Market
545 3rd StLocal farmers market open every Saturday and Sunday. Pick up the cayuga waterfront trail in Stewart park and walk over. Or grab a kayak and paddle across the lake and down the inlet.
A staple in Ithaca. Search there multiple locations for a wide selection of sandwiches, bagels, and baked goods.
110 locals recommend
Collegetown Bagels
420 College AveA staple in Ithaca. Search there multiple locations for a wide selection of sandwiches, bagels, and baked goods.
Franco's Pizzeria
527 West State StreetMy favorite pizzeria. Great selection of gourmet toppings.
Opened in May of 2018, this has become one of my favorite spots. Excellent latin american food and a great selection of mezcals and tequilas.
12 locals recommend
Bickering Twins Restaurant & Tequila Bar
114 N Cayuga StOpened in May of 2018, this has become one of my favorite spots. Excellent latin american food and a great selection of mezcals and tequilas.
Delicious homemade ramen at reasonable prices. There buns are also great if you need something quick to go.
17 locals recommend
Maru Ramen
512 W State StDelicious homemade ramen at reasonable prices. There buns are also great if you need something quick to go.
Arts & Culture
State Theatre of Ithaca
107 W State StBeautiful large theater featuring national touring acts.
Entertainment & Activities
Local movie theater featuring independent films and customizable gourmet pop corn. An Ithaca favorite.
93 locals recommend
Cinemapolis
120 E Green StLocal movie theater featuring independent films and customizable gourmet pop corn. An Ithaca favorite.
Parks & Nature
Tallest waterfall in the US, East of the Colorado River. Very easy and flat walk into the falls. Great place to access Cayuga Lake for swimming.
507 locals recommend
Taughannock Falls State Park
1740 Taughannock BlvdTallest waterfall in the US, East of the Colorado River. Very easy and flat walk into the falls. Great place to access Cayuga Lake for swimming.
Beautiful state park with a winding creek through the gorge. Lots of steps and lots of small swimming holes.
373 locals recommend
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Beautiful state park with a winding creek through the gorge. Lots of steps and lots of small swimming holes.
Another gorgeous state park featuring many waterfalls and lots of steps. The trail at upper Treman is built into the cliff face. Lots of swimming holes to explore by going off the trail and walking up the creek.
333 locals recommend
TREMAN STATE PARK
105 Enfield Falls RdAnother gorgeous state park featuring many waterfalls and lots of steps. The trail at upper Treman is built into the cliff face. Lots of swimming holes to explore by going off the trail and walking up the creek.
The gem of all the state parks in the area. Beautiful narrow gorge with tunnels and stone bridges.
437 locals recommend
Watkins Glen State Park
1009 N Franklin StThe gem of all the state parks in the area. Beautiful narrow gorge with tunnels and stone bridges.
Beautiful 2 mile loop with a steep descent/ascent depending on which direction you start. Features a couple small waterfalls that do tend to dry up by mid summer. Trail head is located off of Townline Rd.
6 locals recommend
Lick Brook
Beautiful 2 mile loop with a steep descent/ascent depending on which direction you start. Features a couple small waterfalls that do tend to dry up by mid summer. Trail head is located off of Townline Rd.
One of largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Ithaca!
156 locals recommend
Ithaca Falls Natural Area
Lake StreetOne of largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Ithaca!
This short trail along one of the gorges runs from downtown near the commons up to Cornell.
128 locals recommend
Cascadilla Gorge Trail
Cascadilla Gorge TrailThis short trail along one of the gorges runs from downtown near the commons up to Cornell.
A beautiful swimming hole just outside the center of town.
6 locals recommend
Wells Falls (Businessman's Lunch Falls)
A beautiful swimming hole just outside the center of town.
My favorite bar in Ithaca. Live music on weeknights. Wednesday often has some of the best jazz in the area. During the summer months, they have a rotating lineup of food trucks through the week. Grab a drink, some grub and sit out on the beautiful patio.
70 locals recommend
Argos Inn - Ithaca's Boutique Hotel
408 E State StMy favorite bar in Ithaca. Live music on weeknights. Wednesday often has some of the best jazz in the area. During the summer months, they have a rotating lineup of food trucks through the week. Grab a drink, some grub and sit out on the beautiful patio.
The sister lounge to Argo's Inn. Community seating is highly encouraged. Great drinks. Great staff. Great service.
11 locals recommend
Argos Warehouse Lounge & Event Space
416 E State StThe sister lounge to Argo's Inn. Community seating is highly encouraged. Great drinks. Great staff. Great service.
One of the best places to hear live music in Ithaca. This is on the cayuga water front trail. It's a 2 mile walk from the house.
20 locals recommend
The Haunt
702 Willow AveOne of the best places to hear live music in Ithaca. This is on the cayuga water front trail. It's a 2 mile walk from the house.