Guidebook for Ithaca
Food Scene
My absolute favorite restaurant and best food in Ithaca. Small plates so you can have “just a taste” of everything! Beautiful back patio! They don’t take reservations and are always busy, so likely you will have a wait. Put your name on the list and grab a drink at one of the many bars nearby. Worth the wait!
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Just A Taste
116 N Aurora StMy absolute favorite restaurant and best food in Ithaca. Small plates so you can have “just a taste” of everything! Beautiful back patio! They don’t take reservations and are always busy, so likely you will have a wait. Put your name on the list and grab a drink at one of the many bars nearby. Worth the wait!
Closet dinner option to the house - great for meat eaters. Lovely atmosphere and delicious comfort food. Only a 7-minute walk from the house!
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The Rook
404 W State St Closet dinner option to the house - great for meat eaters. Lovely atmosphere and delicious comfort food. Only a 7-minute walk from the house!
Delicious Cajun food, beautiful bar (live music sometimes), and yummy oysters.
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Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar
635 W State StDelicious Cajun food, beautiful bar (live music sometimes), and yummy oysters.
The most epic grocery store in Ithaca! Open 24-hours and less than 10-minutes walking from the house.
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Wegmans station
The most epic grocery store in Ithaca! Open 24-hours and less than 10-minutes walking from the house.
Reliable and quick take out (you can eat in as well, but atmosphere isn’t great). Great to bring home and eat on the front porch and watch the world go by.
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Taste Of Thai Express
209 S Meadow StReliable and quick take out (you can eat in as well, but atmosphere isn’t great). Great to bring home and eat on the front porch and watch the world go by.
Pretty good Vietnamese food—always crowded. I prefer to order take-out and bring the food to eat next door at the Westy (a bar with great beer, awesome outdoor patio, and they let you bring your own food – also, no liquor license at Saigon so if you want a drink with dinner you won’t want to dine in!).
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Saigon Kitchen
526 W State StPretty good Vietnamese food—always crowded. I prefer to order take-out and bring the food to eat next door at the Westy (a bar with great beer, awesome outdoor patio, and they let you bring your own food – also, no liquor license at Saigon so if you want a drink with dinner you won’t want to dine in!).
Our neighborhood coffee shop - nice atmosphere for working and/or socializing and great coffee. Great to sit outside when the weather is nice!
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Gimme! Coffee
430 N Cayuga StOur neighborhood coffee shop - nice atmosphere for working and/or socializing and great coffee. Great to sit outside when the weather is nice!
Franco's Pizzeria
527 West State StreetGreat little spot for pizza -- dine in or take out!
The State Diner
428 W State StClassic diner for a quick and hearty breakfast! Walking distance.
Drinks & Nightlife
Nice outdoor seating, inside there's pool and darts, great beer list and popcorn! Live music some nights.
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The Westy
516 W State StNice outdoor seating, inside there's pool and darts, great beer list and popcorn! Live music some nights.
Worth the walk – incredibly creative cocktails in a beautifully renovated building with beeswax finished plaster walls, antique furniture, and custom zinc-top finished bar. Great place to grab a drink while waiting for a table if eating out on the commons.
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Bar Argos
408 E State StWorth the walk – incredibly creative cocktails in a beautifully renovated building with beeswax finished plaster walls, antique furniture, and custom zinc-top finished bar. Great place to grab a drink while waiting for a table if eating out on the commons.
Nice cocktails and cozy atmosphere, conveniently located nearby the State Theater and my favorite vintage store: The Vintage Industry! Local drinks.
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The Watershed
121 W State StNice cocktails and cozy atmosphere, conveniently located nearby the State Theater and my favorite vintage store: The Vintage Industry! Local drinks.
Rhine House
632 W Seneca StA little more rough around the edges, but a great beer list!
Fun bar, usually music and dancing, sometimes live music, karaoke, drag shows….just depends on the night! Beer “garden” in alley outside (no garden, just a place to smoke cigarettes and drink at the same time).
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Lot 10 Bar and Lounge
106 S Cayuga StFun bar, usually music and dancing, sometimes live music, karaoke, drag shows….just depends on the night! Beer “garden” in alley outside (no garden, just a place to smoke cigarettes and drink at the same time).
Located on the commons above Trader K’s, this is a conveniently located rustic, Western style bar with good beer and popcorn. Small stage used for live music, comedians, drag shows, and other kinds of entertainment, depending on the night!
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The Range
119 E State StLocated on the commons above Trader K’s, this is a conveniently located rustic, Western style bar with good beer and popcorn. Small stage used for live music, comedians, drag shows, and other kinds of entertainment, depending on the night!
Shopping
A must-see and explore -- eclectic, fun, and unique vintage and antique items in an excellently curated space!
The Vintage Industry
215 W State StA must-see and explore -- eclectic, fun, and unique vintage and antique items in an excellently curated space!
Essentials
CVS
625 W Clinton StThe closest pharmacy and convenience store! 5-minute walk.
Arts & Culture
State Theatre of Ithaca
107 W State StExcellent historic music/theatre venue!
Incredible art museum on Cornell's campus and great view of Cayuga lake from the Asian Art Collection on the 5th floor.
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Johnson Museum of Art
114 Central AveIncredible art museum on Cornell's campus and great view of Cayuga lake from the Asian Art Collection on the 5th floor.
Check out the Cornell Costume & Textile Collection on Level T of the Human Ecology Building (37 Forest Home Drive) -- always excellent exhibits of historical dress and textiles.
Cornell University - College of Human Ecology
37 Forest Home DriveCheck out the Cornell Costume & Textile Collection on Level T of the Human Ecology Building (37 Forest Home Drive) -- always excellent exhibits of historical dress and textiles.
Getting Around
The Shortline Bus from NYC drops here -- Greyhound busses from all other places. About a 20-minute walk from my place.
Ithaca Bus Station
The Shortline Bus from NYC drops here -- Greyhound busses from all other places. About a 20-minute walk from my place.
Greyhound: Bus Station
131 E Green StGreyhound bus station!
The TCAT busses pick up and drop off here -- this is a main bus terminal. Also, the Big Red Bullet bus from NYC picks up and drops off here as well.
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Tompkins County Public Library
101 E Green StThe TCAT busses pick up and drop off here -- this is a main bus terminal. Also, the Big Red Bullet bus from NYC picks up and drops off here as well.
Parks & Nature
Great hike from downtown up to the Cornell Campus. Excellent waterfalls, gorgeous trails, beautiful views.
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Cascadilla Gorge Trail
Cascadilla Gorge TrailGreat hike from downtown up to the Cornell Campus. Excellent waterfalls, gorgeous trails, beautiful views.
Beautifully curated gardens, a lovely arboretum, lots of exciting plants and trails.
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Cornell Botanic Gardens
124 Comstock Knoll DrBeautifully curated gardens, a lovely arboretum, lots of exciting plants and trails.
TREMAN STATE PARK
105 Enfield Falls RdWonderful hiking trails and swimming area!
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Wonderful swimming area and nice hiking trails.
Stewart Park
71 Stewart ParkGreat park for sunsets and picnics.