Guidebook for Ithaca
Food Scene
great bagels, sandwiches, desserts and coffees. It's a real tradition for Cornell students, faculty, and staff.
110 locals recommend
Collegetown Bagels
420 College Avegreat bagels, sandwiches, desserts and coffees. It's a real tradition for Cornell students, faculty, and staff.
An excellent and inexpensive lunch buffet and a good dinner menu. Lots of options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. casual dining.
8 locals recommend
Mehak
410 Eddy StreetAn excellent and inexpensive lunch buffet and a good dinner menu. Lots of options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. casual dining.
Korean food -- my favorite and the favorite of my Korean colleagues. Good for lunch and dinner.
Four Seasons
404 Eddy StKorean food -- my favorite and the favorite of my Korean colleagues. Good for lunch and dinner.
Cajun influenced food with a bar and live music some nights. Parking can be tough, but if you come late enough, the wine store behind it might be closed, leaving places in their lot.
108 locals recommend
Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar
635 W State StCajun influenced food with a bar and live music some nights. Parking can be tough, but if you come late enough, the wine store behind it might be closed, leaving places in their lot.
Traditional Ithaca, known for it's Friday fish fries and other casual food. An old bowling machine and pinball machine seem to keep kids busy and it's certainly safe enough to let them play while you eat.
53 locals recommend
Glenwood Pines
1213 Taughannock BlvdTraditional Ithaca, known for it's Friday fish fries and other casual food. An old bowling machine and pinball machine seem to keep kids busy and it's certainly safe enough to let them play while you eat.
This is our favorite biking destination because it's a great point to take a break and really eat. It's also a nice drive from Ithaca and near Bakers Acres, a great garden shop and place for apple picking in the fall. I strongly suggest the specials -- the breakfast lasagna, sometimes available Saturday, is fantastic as are so many other specials. This is hearty food, so don't expect to get a good salad.
Linda's Corner Diner
1173 Auburn RdThis is our favorite biking destination because it's a great point to take a break and really eat. It's also a nice drive from Ithaca and near Bakers Acres, a great garden shop and place for apple picking in the fall. I strongly suggest the specials -- the breakfast lasagna, sometimes available Saturday, is fantastic as are so many other specials. This is hearty food, so don't expect to get a good salad.
A great outlet for local farmers, cooks, bakers, and craftspeople. Everything is truly local. Both organic and traditional farms are represented. Benches along the shore where you can sit and eat. There is also a boat tour from the dock.
266 locals recommend
Ithaca Farmers Market
545 3rd StA great outlet for local farmers, cooks, bakers, and craftspeople. Everything is truly local. Both organic and traditional farms are represented. Benches along the shore where you can sit and eat. There is also a boat tour from the dock.
Very close to the apartment, the Coal Yard Café serves very good breakfasts and lunches in an interesting, welcoming atmosphere. Open 8-2 M-F and 9-2 on Saturday. Unfortunately, it's closed on Sunday.
26 locals recommend
Coal Yard Cafe
143 Maple AveVery close to the apartment, the Coal Yard Café serves very good breakfasts and lunches in an interesting, welcoming atmosphere. Open 8-2 M-F and 9-2 on Saturday. Unfortunately, it's closed on Sunday.
Parks & Nature
Nice hike to the falls and if it has rained heavily recently [or there's a lot of spring run-off] the falls can be impressive. On the other side of Rte. 79 is a lakeside section of the park with a beach.
507 locals recommend
Taughannock Falls State Park
1740 Taughannock BlvdNice hike to the falls and if it has rained heavily recently [or there's a lot of spring run-off] the falls can be impressive. On the other side of Rte. 79 is a lakeside section of the park with a beach.
Three houses downhill from the house is a trail into Cascadilla gorge and you can follow this along the stream all the way downtown. Beautiful views.
128 locals recommend
Cascadilla Gorge Trail
Cascadilla Gorge TrailThree houses downhill from the house is a trail into Cascadilla gorge and you can follow this along the stream all the way downtown. Beautiful views.
At the base of Cayuga Lake, this is a nice place to sit and ponder. There is also a playground and carousel for kids.
113 locals recommend
Stewart Park
71 Stewart ParkAt the base of Cayuga Lake, this is a nice place to sit and ponder. There is also a playground and carousel for kids.
Really beautiful gorge walk. If you only have one car, you'll have to do a lot of stairs in one way or the other [depending on whether you park in the upper or lower lot]. if you can drive there in two cars, you can leave one on the bottom, drive to the top and hike down. then leave the care you left at the bottom to retrieve the car at the top.
373 locals recommend
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Really beautiful gorge walk. If you only have one car, you'll have to do a lot of stairs in one way or the other [depending on whether you park in the upper or lower lot]. if you can drive there in two cars, you can leave one on the bottom, drive to the top and hike down. then leave the care you left at the bottom to retrieve the car at the top.
Sightseeing
A cute little town, north of Ithaca, that sits on Cayuga Lake. The town is home to Wells College, from which Pleasant Rowland, founder of the American Girl line, graduated. Rowland bought and renovated many of the buildings and turned a rundown town into a lovely place to wander. The Aurora Inn, home to many weddings, has a public dining room with a very nice view. Good for brunch, lunch and dinner. There are two wineries to visit on the way up; Treleaven and Longpoint and one winery has a tasting room in Aurora. A few miles passed Aurora is MacKenzie Childs pottery, which has a large showroom and fascinating house tour.
22 locals recommend
Aurora
A cute little town, north of Ithaca, that sits on Cayuga Lake. The town is home to Wells College, from which Pleasant Rowland, founder of the American Girl line, graduated. Rowland bought and renovated many of the buildings and turned a rundown town into a lovely place to wander. The Aurora Inn, home to many weddings, has a public dining room with a very nice view. Good for brunch, lunch and dinner. There are two wineries to visit on the way up; Treleaven and Longpoint and one winery has a tasting room in Aurora. A few miles passed Aurora is MacKenzie Childs pottery, which has a large showroom and fascinating house tour.
Shopping
This is the historic downtown of Ithaca, turned into a pedestrian mall. Some interesting stores and architecture. There are also a number of restaurants -- from pizza parlors to nicer restaurants [Madeline's, Mia's, Taste of Thai]. Just off the Commons on Aurora St. are a good Mexican option [Viva Taqueria] and a place for burgers and beer [Ithaca Ale House].
156 locals recommend
Ithaca Commons
171 E M.L.K. Jr. StThis is the historic downtown of Ithaca, turned into a pedestrian mall. Some interesting stores and architecture. There are also a number of restaurants -- from pizza parlors to nicer restaurants [Madeline's, Mia's, Taste of Thai]. Just off the Commons on Aurora St. are a good Mexican option [Viva Taqueria] and a place for burgers and beer [Ithaca Ale House].
Great multi-dealer antique shop. Good variation in style and price level. Always things worth looking at.
23 locals recommend
Found In Ithaca
227 Cherry StGreat multi-dealer antique shop. Good variation in style and price level. Always things worth looking at.
Arts & Culture
It's got a great view of the area from it's fifth floor, but it's really worth going for the art. Both permanent collection and special exhibits are interesting and well curated.
148 locals recommend
Johnson Museum of Art
114 Central AveIt's got a great view of the area from it's fifth floor, but it's really worth going for the art. Both permanent collection and special exhibits are interesting and well curated.
Everything Else
Great multi-dealer antique shop. Good variation in style and price level. Always things worth looking at.
23 locals recommend
Found In Ithaca
227 Cherry StGreat multi-dealer antique shop. Good variation in style and price level. Always things worth looking at.
Entertainment & Activities
Cinemapolis
120 E Green StThe art cinema location in town. Particularly high quality popcorn.