Restaurant and Bar Scene
These are all recommended.
The Plymouth has been around for decades and is one the best local places, having grown twice from the main room, to the north and south, so you can always find a table. In summer it has a great outdoor courtyard. Lots of fun. Great for drinks and delicious pub food. Open til two a.m., serving food til 1 a.m., with daily happy hours from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
9 locals recommend
The Plymouth Tavern
1109 State StThe Plymouth has been around for decades and is one the best local places, having grown twice from the main room, to the north and south, so you can always find a table. In summer it has a great outdoor courtyard. Lots of fun. Great for drinks and delicious pub food. Open til two a.m., serving food til 1 a.m., with daily happy hours from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant
They deliver or you can eat in. Their avocado salad is wonderful.
The chef-owners provide delicious homemade cooking with a New Orleans flair, along with homemade desserts. Full bar. On weekends call ahead for reservations.
26 locals recommend
Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro
1402 W 10th StThe chef-owners provide delicious homemade cooking with a New Orleans flair, along with homemade desserts. Full bar. On weekends call ahead for reservations.
Voted second best pizza in the state. Fabulous squares of pizza. Add one of their fresh and delicious gardens salads that are enough for two, and make it a meal. Dine in, delivery, and take out. BYOB. Share the square!
7 locals recommend
Virgil's Plate
1001 W 6th StVoted second best pizza in the state. Fabulous squares of pizza. Add one of their fresh and delicious gardens salads that are enough for two, and make it a meal. Dine in, delivery, and take out. BYOB. Share the square!
A wonderful bar/restaurant with old-fashioned service. Very friendly
7 locals recommend
Colony Pub & Grille
2670 W 8th StA wonderful bar/restaurant with old-fashioned service. Very friendly
Dave's Diner
26 N Park RowSweet full-service breakfast places, seven days a week. Closes at 3 p.m.
Great spot open at 8 a.m. for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Outdoor tables in summer. Relaxing scene.
15 locals recommend
Brew Ha Ha at the Colony
2612 W 8th StGreat spot open at 8 a.m. for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Outdoor tables in summer. Relaxing scene.
The Juice Jar
2620 W 8th StFresh everything!
The tavern is a former schoolhouse, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Killer cocktails, and fabulous charcuterie menu. Cozy atmosphere set in the timber-and-stone basement. You can enter through the front and go down the stairs, or drive around back and enter at ground level. Open Thursday through Saturday at 5:00 p.m. It is a twenty-minute drive from downtown.
The Schoolhouse
6610 W Lake RdThe tavern is a former schoolhouse, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Killer cocktails, and fabulous charcuterie menu. Cozy atmosphere set in the timber-and-stone basement. You can enter through the front and go down the stairs, or drive around back and enter at ground level. Open Thursday through Saturday at 5:00 p.m. It is a twenty-minute drive from downtown.
A very hospitable hotel on the public dock promenade, The Sheraton features a nice lobby bar with fireplace, a lovely dining room, and in summer there is patio dining overlooking the bay.
Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel
55 W Bay RdA very hospitable hotel on the public dock promenade, The Sheraton features a nice lobby bar with fireplace, a lovely dining room, and in summer there is patio dining overlooking the bay.
On the Bayfront Promenade, the Marriott has nice outdoor patio seating overlooking the bay in summer, and an interesting indoor dining and bar area.
Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront
2 Sassafras PierOn the Bayfront Promenade, the Marriott has nice outdoor patio seating overlooking the bay in summer, and an interesting indoor dining and bar area.
Rum Runners is a super casual, lively summer bar serving pub food and often has live music. At the east end of the public dock promenade, it is literally at the water's edge, where you can watch the boats go bay and see the sunset.
14 locals recommend
Rum Runners
133 E Dobbins LandingRum Runners is a super casual, lively summer bar serving pub food and often has live music. At the east end of the public dock promenade, it is literally at the water's edge, where you can watch the boats go bay and see the sunset.
On the public dock, the atmosphere is great at Smuggler's, and the outdoor patio is wonderful in summer, but the food and service can be hit or miss.
6 locals recommend
Smugglers' Wharf
3 State StOn the public dock, the atmosphere is great at Smuggler's, and the outdoor patio is wonderful in summer, but the food and service can be hit or miss.
Activities
Things to do and see!
This is a fabulous museum and well worth a visit. Check their calendar for fun events.
30 locals recommend
Erie Art Museum
20 E 5th StThis is a fabulous museum and well worth a visit. Check their calendar for fun events.
Erie Zoo
423 W 38th StA very nice zoo, (though I prefer animals roaming free in nature...).
This lovely state park is an absolute must. A very special place of natural beauty, with wonderful swimming beaches, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and paddle boarding.
87 locals recommend
Presque Isle State Park
64 Old Lake RdThis lovely state park is an absolute must. A very special place of natural beauty, with wonderful swimming beaches, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and paddle boarding.
Lots of fun things to do, including an indoor driving range, and golf lessons with the great Dave Smith.
eriebanksportspark.org
Family First Sports Park
8159 Oliver RoadLots of fun things to do, including an indoor driving range, and golf lessons with the great Dave Smith.
eriebanksportspark.org
A lovely city with great walking trails and the perfect place for a picnic on the grass, or to cool your toes in Cascade Creek. There is an amphitheater with events during the summer. The Erie Blues & Jazz Fest is held here the first weekend in August. There are nice free tennis courts on the Sixth Street side, lighted at night.
10 locals recommend
Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier
1501 W 6th StA lovely city with great walking trails and the perfect place for a picnic on the grass, or to cool your toes in Cascade Creek. There is an amphitheater with events during the summer. The Erie Blues & Jazz Fest is held here the first weekend in August. There are nice free tennis courts on the Sixth Street side, lighted at night.
This is an historic reproduction of the original Brig Niagara that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry flew his standard that said, "Don't give up the ship!" The Niagara sails in tall ships festivals all over the world, so she is not always in port.
9 locals recommend
Flagship Niagara League
40 E Front StThis is an historic reproduction of the original Brig Niagara that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry flew his standard that said, "Don't give up the ship!" The Niagara sails in tall ships festivals all over the world, so she is not always in port.
Wintergreen Gorge
3399 Cooper RdAmazing hiking in a beautiful gorge, very close to the city.
If you enjoy miniature golf, this is a beautiful little scenic course at the top of the public dock. A very fun little spot.
Harbor View Miniature Golf
36 State StIf you enjoy miniature golf, this is a beautiful little scenic course at the top of the public dock. A very fun little spot.
yogaErie
2560 W 8th StYoga classes seven days a week. Nice Zen studio.
www.yogaerie.com
Food scene
Very nice grocery store. Lots of great takeout items, including sushi, prepared meals, brick oven pizza, subs, and bakery.
22 locals recommend
Wegmans
6143 Peach StVery nice grocery store. Lots of great takeout items, including sushi, prepared meals, brick oven pizza, subs, and bakery.
Giant Eagle Supermarket
2501 W 12th StThis is the closest full-service grocery store.
Bello's is an old-fashioned little grocery store known for its meat department. In the Colony Plaza.
6 locals recommend
Bello's Shur-Fine Food Mart
2650 W 8th StBello's is an old-fashioned little grocery store known for its meat department. In the Colony Plaza.