A Weekend in Rochester, New York: The Ultimate Itinerary

Have you ever visited Rochester, New York? It's such an underrated gem of a city. Even though we don't live too far away, just across the Canadian border, we haven't spent much time in Rochester until now. We're going to show you how to spend an amazing weekend in Rochester, NY.

And yes, it's easy to spend an entire weekend here, if not longer. If my itinerary seems a little too jam-packed for you (gotta make the most of our time here!), you might want to extend your stay.

And if you stay for three days in Rochester, that's even better! I'm going to show you the top attractions and museums, best activities, great places to get outoors, and my favorite restaurants and breweries.

Alright, are you ready? Let's dive into my 2 days in Rochester itinerary, which you're welcome to experience for yourself in its entirety.

A Weekend in Rochester, NY: Day 1

It's day one of our trip to Rochester and we're starting the morning out strong at the Rochester Public Market. We'll be dividing our time between visiting an interesting museum, the shops and cafes of a local neighborhood, and devouring delicious food and drink.

Rochester Public Market

Rochester Public Market is a historic farmers market, serving the community since 1905. Located both indoors and outdoors, the market connects farmers directly with members of the public.

Purchase fresh produce, specialty foods, baked goods, beverages, handcrafted wares and general merchandise. There's something for everyone. It's a great way to support local small businesses and local agriculture.

The Rochester Public Market has limited hours and isn't open every day of the week, though it is open year round. You can visit on Tuesday and Thursday from 6am to 1pm, and Saturday from 6am to 3pm. It's closed on federal holidays.

The streets surrounding the Rochester Public Market are home to other small businesses and artists' galleries. Dellarious is an artist's shop with prints, magnets, postcards, and more; everything is Rochester-themed. Don't miss getting a print or a fridge magnet featuring David Bowie's mugshot when he famously got arrested in, you guessed it, Rochester.

The Yards Collective is another really cool art gallery, established by a group of female-identifying makers. There are permanent studio spaces, a gallery, and a shared workspace. Don't miss saying hello to their sweet rescued pigeons, Jean Jacket and Gordy.

We also popped into Java's Cafe for an iced latte. They've been roasting coffee in Rochester since 1992. Their beans are sustainably sourced and the coffee is awesome. There's a cozy indoor space with tables and booths, as well as an outdoor patio.

George Eastman Museum

The George Eastman Museum is the world's oldest photography museum. It was founded in 1947 and it's located on the estate of George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film.

The museum is divided into a few areas: Eastman's historic home and gardens, the main exhibition galleries on photography and cinema, and the beautiful 500-seat Dryden Theatre. Over 300 films are shown ever year at the Dryden Theatre (we'll have to return to watch one!).

As one of the world's oldest film archives and the oldest photography museum, you can bet that there's a massive collection here. The museum houses several million objects, including over 400,000 photographs and 14,000 photos from the beginning of photography (and the largest collection of daguerreotypes outside of France).

There are always at least three temporary exhibitions in the main galleries, so it's possible to visit many times and always experience new art based on cinema and photography.

Eastman's 1905 Colonial Revival mansion is a National Historic Landmark. Tour around his lavish home and gardens. Stroll through the elaborate conservatory, library, great hall and billard room. Don't miss the Italianate Terrace Garden, among other gardens outdoors, with 23 garden beds and more than 90 varieties of plants and flowers.

Lunch at Squatcho's

Squatcho's is a vegan pizzeria in downtown Rochester that we were really excited to try. They have quite a few pizzas, including options to build your own. If you aren't in the mood for pizza, there are plenty of salads, sides, vegan wings, burgers, and even a vegan garbage plate (a famous Rochester creation!).

We ordered one of their pizzas and went with the Madonn, which apparently is one of the more popular options on the menu. There's marinara, spinach, mozzarella, sundried tomato and house tofu ricotta.

When I saw the pizza chef piping on blobs of that tofu ricotta, I knew that we were in for a treat. This is a pizza that I'll be dreaming about for a long while. I wish I could order this all the time!

Explore Neighborhood of the Arts

Neighborhood of the Arts (aka NOTA) is an artsy district in Rochester that combines a welcoming community with creative expression. We noticed murals splashed across buildings and public art dotted around its city streets.

There are also quite a few intriguing boutiques, cafes and restaurants in NOTA, notably in the Village Gate Square shopping complex and the surrounding streets, like University Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.

Go for a walk, pop into a coffee shop, and shop until you drop, all while admiring sculptures and street art along the way.

The Unreliable Narrator

The Unreliable Narrator (love that name, by the way!) is a queer-owned local independently owned bookstore in Village Gate Square, Rochester. Naturally, there are shelves upon shelves of books. But I didn't expect the shop to have so many witchy and nerdy finds.

This is one of the coolest bookstores I've ever visited. Their website describes it as "part bookstore, part cabinet of curiosities".

When we walked into the front door, Justin and I immediately noticed an entire table devoted to Twin Peaks books and merchandise. We're both massive Twin Peaks fans, so I already had my hands filled with stickers, matches and keychains.

I love how everything is displayed in the store. There's an entire shelf devoted to cats. And then there's a section with trinkets entirely related to Lord of the Rings. The back shelf is decorated with curiosities, oddities, and even has a rolling wooden ladder.

Needless to say, I came away with quite a few trinkets, stickers and goodies from The Unreliable Narrator. I can't wait to shop here again.

Get Caked Bakery

It's time for a sweet treat! Let's head over to Get Caked Bakery, also inside the Village Gate Square complex. Owners Kelly and Andy opened their bakery in 2013 to bring traditional homemade baked goods to the community.

Many of their recipes happened to be dairy-free and vegan, so naturally they included many vegan treats in their offerings. When Kelly was diagnosed as having Celiac's disease, they quickly pivoted to include gluten-free desserts, too.

Get Caked Bakery is the perfect stop for those who have allergies, food sensitivies, dietary preferences, or you simply love a delicious baked good. We tried a few different cupcakes and a brownie. Everything was so yummy and had the perfect amount of sweetness for our tastes.

Pretty Apothecary

Pretty Apothecary is a gift shop in Rochester with a thoughtfully curated collection of treasures and vintage gems. There are items for your home and distinct wares for you. We saw everything from home decor to stickers and hats and throwbacks to pop culture.

I also really enjoyed the "Mini Mystery Art Machine" in the front of the shop. Put in a dollar and you'll receive a random piece of mini artwork in each capsule. I got a cute little felt ghost!

Melo Coffee

Melo Coffee & Kitchen is a charming cafe in the NOTA district. We popped by the coffee shop for an iced latte that was really refreshing and flavorful.

While I only ordered a coffee, they also serve all day breakfast, gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads and artisan toasts made using locally sourced ingredients. The cafe is also bright and colorful with large windows and art displayed on all the walls.

Stacy K Floral & Winter Swan Coffee

Another unique shop in NOTA is Stacy K Floral, a floral studio with flowers, plants and gifts. As visitors from Canada, we weren't in the market for any flowers or plants, though I'd definitely consider shopping here if you live in the USA and don't need to drive back across the border.

We loved the wide variety of gifts, jewelry, bath and body products, and more. I bought a little jar of nail polish here that was the perfect shade.

After we browsed the boutique, we went for coffee at Winter Swan Coffee located inside Stacy K Floral. They had so many unique espresso beverages to choose from. I ordered a Dalgona iced coffee, which had Korean Dalgona honeycomb candy on the top that slowly melted into the latte for sweetness. It was so good and I'd never seen anything quite like it.

Park Avenue

Now we're on to our next vibrant neighborhood in Rochester, Park Avenue. The atmosphere is quite lively here, with shops, restaurants and patios lining Park Avenue itself. There are massive trees and it's even a nice place just to go for a walk.

While we didn't spend too much time here (we returned the following evening to dine at Red Fern, a vegan restaurant on Park Avenue), we did browse a pair of cool boutiques that are worth mentioning.

Figgy Studio + Shop

Figgy Studio + Shop started as a handmade jewelry business. Ever since they opened their brick and mortar location on Park Avenue, they've expanded to carry items from 60+ local artists and small business owners.

There are cute trinkets, new and vintage clothing, accessories, and of course, custom jewelry. There are so many things to look at, and we spent quite a bit of time browsing every shelf.

Parkleigh

Parkleigh is the ultimate gift store in Rochester. Their motto is "Have fun, feel good, buy stuff". And there is plenty of stuff!

The store spans several different rooms and they're all filled everything under the sun: jewelry, accessories, coffee and tea, jams and sauces, cards and stationary, toys, Jellycats, candy and chocolate and more.

If there's a gift you're searching for, I'm pretty sure you'll find it at Parkleigh. This shop is a destination in itself.

Strangebird Brewing

Strangebird is a brewery and restaurant in Rochester. Justin and I went to Strangebird to grab a pint before dinner, and we grabbed a table in the garage-type room where the beer is brewed.

They produce award-winning craft beer in all styles and types. At the bar, there's 24 rotating taps of hand crafted brews. Though Justin and I opted for refreshing lagers, there's really something for every taste.

Dinner at The Owl House

The Owl House is a long standing restaurant in Rochester inside a cute blue house with dining spaces spread across both floors of the home. Before this trip, my experiences visiting Rochester included both the Museum of Play and The Owl House, and that's all.

I've dined at The Owl House on several occasions going waaaaay back since they've always been such a vegan-friendly establishment. They create imaginative dishes that are full of flavor for both omnivores and herbivores.

In many occasions, you can order a dish with animal products or order the vegan version of it, which is never an after thought. They also take care to ensure there are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan versions of many meals.

Their menu changes with the seasons and sometimes their specials become regular dishes. We ordered a roasted potato appetizer, an Asian tofu bowl, and the hot chick'n sandwich.

Bowling at Radio Social

Radio Social is an entertainment venue in Rochester that's a great spot for date night or an outing with friends. The two of us went bowling at Radio Social and had such a fun time (who doesn't love a bit of bowling?).

Radio Social is a massive space with 42,000 square feet filled with many bowling lanes, indoor and outdoor games (ie. shuffleboard, corn hole, etc.) and arcade games. They also offer Middle Eastern food, craft cocktails and whiskey and other drink offerings at the bar.

A Weekend in Rochester, NY: Day 2

It's day two of our weekend in Rochester, and we're starting out strong with a boardwalk stroll at a beautiful natural space by the river. Then, we'll spend time exploring two more museums (that couldn't be more different from one another), spotting more natural wonders of Rochester, and of course, more yummy meals and beverages!

Turning Point Park

To start the day, we drove to Turning Point Park to enjoy Rochester's great outdoors. Notably, this park features a 3,572 foot boardwalk bridge over the banks of the Genesee River.

Turning Point Park is perfect for walking or cycling. The trail is divided into three parts:

• A boardwalk over the Genesee River Turning Basin
• A 2,968 ft trail that repurposes an old railroad bed
• A 3,406 ft land trail next to the Genesee Marina

And then it connects to the Genesee River Trailway with another 16 miles of trails! Park your car at the parking lot at 260 Boxart Rd., or there's plenty of street parking if it's full.

Brunch at Voula's

Voula's is an authentic Greek restaurant in Rochester, serving up breakfast, lunch or brunch. Our server was so welcoming and kind and the service was super fast. I started with a frappe coffee with plant-based milk that was really delicious.

Then, we ordered a couple of vegan dishes from their brunch menu. Voula's is super vegan-friendly with many dishes on their menu marked with a little V (vegan) or VO (vegan option).

Justin ordered the tofu scramble: their original recipe tofu scramble with celery, onions, carrots, and bell peppers topped with crumble feta served with lemon potatoes and crostini toast. I got the Baklava Pancakes: three cinnamon-spiced pancakes topped with whipped halva rose butter, toasted pistachios, and a baklava syrup.

Memorial Art Gallery

Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is a must for lovers of art and culture. There are 7000 years of art history all in one place. Their permanant collection houses 13,000 objects as has been noted as "the best balanced in the state outside of metropolitan New York City."

The 14-acre outdoor campus space is home to magnificent works of public art. Then, there's art and objects going back thousands of years from many cultures from around the world. Modern art lovers, there's also a fair share of contemporary works, too.

We were fortunate enough to visit when a musician was performing on MAG's Italian Baroque organ from 1770. It's the oldest playable Italian Baroque organ in North America, and it's simply stunning.

On May 1st, 2027, MAG will be free for everyone to attend. The Free for All, Forever initiative was fueled by community support and ensures that everyone will have access to the art and culture here without needing to pay an admission fee.

Walk the Erie Canal Footpath

If you're seeking another scenic walk, it's possible to walk along the footpath of the Erie Canal. One of the best places to experience this is a short drive from Rochester in the town of Pittsford.

There are rows of trees lining the waterway and places to stop along the way for coffee, gelato and other sweet treats. For an alternative activity, there are guided boat tours on the Erie Canal to catch glimpses of the scenery from new perspectives and learn about the history of the area, too. This is a great thing to do in Rochester for the whole family.

To go for a walk here, park in the large parking lot at Neutral Ground Coffeehouse (there are several other businesses here as well) in Pittsford.

The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play is the ultimate destination celebrating all things relating to toys, games and play. And it's not just for kids, it's fun for people of all ages. There's nearly 150,000 square feet of interactive exhibits containing the world's largest collection of toys, dolls and games.

It's easy to spend hours and hours here. We spent several hours here discovering the spaces with the video games and arcades this time around.

In addition, there's the Toys Hall of Fame, the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, Wegmans Super Kids Market, an area for Sesame Street, the Berenstain Bears, and so much more. Depending on whether or not you have kids (and their ages) will likely determine which areas of the Museum of Play you visit.

As for the video games sections, here's what to expect:

• ESL Digital Worlds Level Up: Grab a wristband and jump into dozens of mini games that test your physical skills AND your brain.

• ESL Digital Worlds High Score: The evolution of video games, rare artifacts, giant versions of classic games and even the World Video Game Hall of Fame!

• Infinity Arcade: A time machine back to the 70s and 80s with classic arcade games, pinball and Skee Ball.

• Console Central: Play the console games you grew up with, including Super Mario on a gigantic Nintendo controller!
• Pinball Playfields: There's more than 80 years of pinball history with rare artifacts and many playable games.

High Falls

Did you know that there's a waterfall right in the middle of downtown Rochester? High Falls is a 96 foot high waterfall, the tallest of three waterfalls on the Genesee River.

The best places to view High Falls are from the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge and the rooftop of Genesee Brew House. We viewed High Falls from both locations and it was totally worth it!

Top tip (as provided by some comments on my Instagram post): If you're able to time it out correctly, High Falls is a wonderful place to watch the sunset.

Genesee Brew House

Head over to Genesee Brew House, not only for the view of High Falls, but for the excellent beer, too! Genesee Brewery is one of the largest and oldest continuously operating breweries in the whole country.

The Genesee Brew House is located at the same site as the original brewery going back more than 100 years ago. The Brew House shares the history of the brewery with exhibits and a gift shop.

There's also a full restaurant and of course, you can order their beer too. I tried a beer flight while I was there for samplings of several different varieties since it was my first time drinking Genesee Brewery's beer. Every beer was distinct from one another and it was hard picking a favorite.

Dinner at The Red Fern

Here's our final stop of our weekend in Rochester, NY. We ventured back to the Park Avenue neighborhood to dine at The Red Fern. It's a 100% vegan restaurant, established in Rochester in 2013.

They serve American cuisine and classics gone plant-based, like mac n cheese, quesadillas, nachos, Caesar salads, and even a vegan version of Rochester's famous Garbage Plate.

We ordered a Caesar salad, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a Buffalo chick'n wrap. Everything was really tasty and you'd never miss the meat. The Red Fern also caters for many allergies, including gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free and more. If you have room for dessert, there's a huge dessert fridge at the front of the restaurant with many sweet treats.

Where to Stay in Rochester, New York

Justin and I spent two nights at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, located right downtown in the middle of it all. We received a pretty incredible room upgrade to one of the biggest hotel rooms we've ever had!

Our room, the "Rochester Suite" had way more amenities than I could have ever anticipated: a kitchenette, a pool table and a bar. There was a separate bedroom, a living space, a dining room table and two bathrooms.

My favourite part of this hotel room was the spacious balcony. We had the best views of downtown Rochester right from our own private balcony.

The check-in process was fast and easy, and we were fortunate to have an early check-in as well. The front desk staff are really nice and helpful, too.

There's a large parking garage attached to the hotel for a fee, though you can add a parking pass on to your booking reservation that allows in and out access for a flat daily rate.

My only complaint about this hotel is that the elevator can be a bit slow, especially in the morning. We loved staying at the Hyatt Regency Rochester and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

More Places to Stay in Rochester

Looking for alternate places to stay in Rochester? Here are tons of apartments and hotels in Rochester where you can spend the night.

Use the handy map below to compare properties. Enter your travel dates for more accurate information. Click each property to learn more and book your stay.

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