A Quiet Reset at Recess Coffee on Montgomery St.
On the road, I find myself gravitating towards a good coffee shop. I have always loved sitting down in a warm café with a cortado or cappuccino to get a sense of the ambiance, the people, and the flow of the city.
Fortunately, while going with the flow on my way to lunch, I stumbled upon Recess Coffee on Montgomery St. in the Historic Courier Building in Downtown Syracuse. It was a hot day strolling around town, and the high temperatures were catching up with me. This felt like an opportunistic moment to sit down, hang out, and try a local roast.
The Whiskey Coop: An Elegant and Casual Experience at the Armory Square
The Whiskey Coop at the Armory Square in Downtown Syracuse is both spacious and elegant, while simultaneously offering a casual and relaxed experience for visitors seeking a well-crafted meal and a stellar selection of spirits.
The FLX, Keuka Lake, and Living Roots Wine & Co.
While there are many wineries worth mentioning across the Finger Lakes, there is one winery that is raising the bar and producing some phenomenal vintages both regionally and internationally. Living Roots is a local and internationally acclaimed winery with roots stemming from the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia, to their tasting rooms in Rochester, NY, and on Keuka Lake in the FLX.
Raise a Glass to Happy Hour at Farmhouse Table Midtown
Farmhouse Table Midtown’s happy hour game is magnificent. It runs from Wednesday to Friday, 5 pm to 8 pm. They feature a robust cocktail menu and serve dishes that bring the farm-to-table quality. If you’re a fan of bourbon, try the Boulevardier, think Negroni, but with bourbon rather than the traditional gin. However, the real star of the show is the Cubano Sliders on the happy hour menu. They are made with roasted and tender pork belly, Dijon mustard, dill pickles, and ham, all packed between fluffy-buttery and slightly crisp buns made in Roc.
Never a Bad Time at Bar Bad Ending
In many ways, Bar Bad Ending pays tribute to thirsty night owls and uplifts the fringes of the local music scene. It’s underrated but glorified, it is edgy but warm and welcoming because at its core, it is a community space where members gather over a few drinks, a few laughs, great food, and live to jam the night away.
Montgomery Court Coffee is Elevating the Scene on Park & Colby
Montgomery Court Coffee is flooded with natural light and accented with lush, thoughtfully placed plants that make you want to stay a long while. It’s equal parts cozy and modern, the kind of place where mornings feel intentional. The art and murals on the walls give the space an artistic presence. It is a coffee shop that invites you to stare at the walls every time you visit and you’ll still find something new to explore.
Clownboy Coffee Rocks — No Joke!
Clownboy Coffee is a third-wave queer-owned coffee shop that focuses on using vegan-friendly alternative milks for drinks and some delectable roasts for espresso. This includes alt-milk from Minor Figures and Califia Farms, and roasts by Sightseer Coffee, a women-grown and owned coffee roaster from Austin, Texas, and Blind Tiger Coffee originating out of Old Town, Maine.
Enjoying the Immaculate Vibes at Fattey Beer Company
Fattey Beer Company is a sanctuary for craft beer lovers that pours some of the most delectable craft brews in Downtown Rochester, NY. Located across the way from the Strong National Museum of Play, Fattey brings some of the chillest vibes to the city. It is a great place to meet up with friends for a drink, listen to eclectic music, and enjoy the lovely views of a thriving side of downtown.
Celebrate the Full Moon at The Spirit Room
The Spirit Room on State St. is Rochester’s most eclectic bar and entertainment venue. The space is famous for its macabre performances, poetry readings, karaoke, and open mic nights, and blues and folk performances that occur every week.
Book Eater: An Ode to the Book Lovers of Our Generation
Opening their doors in June of 2023, Bookeater, a cafe and bookstore located at 836 S. Clinton Ave, has been satisfying the community’s craving for literature with a mixture of good reads and cozy vibes.