Discover Downtown Rochester

Getting off work late and hungry? Meeting up with night owl friends? Looking for evening food options for other reasons? Whatever your motive for searching for evening eats, the following downtown Rochester restaurants can curb those hunger pangs!

Spring is often associated with renewal. And so begins another season of holidays like Easter, Ramadan, and Passover, among others. Check here for how to celebrate these spring holidays with downtown Rochester businesses' help!

Culinary cultures of the world will spice up your lunch life when you decide to dine out at the 1st Avenue Food Court. If you didn’t know downtown Rochester had one, let us share about the international flavors—from Indian to Mexican to Chinese and everything in between—that can be found within feet of each other!

Blarney: We are into March already! That means everyone can be Irish for a day with St. Patrick's Day March 17. To help you celebrate, here are the St. Patrick's Day festivities in downtown Rochester!

Delicious. Hot. Gooey. What else could we be talking about other than a s'more, a tasty treat of graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate. How do you make the perfect one, you ask? Our friends at Kraus-Anderson will help you make a perfect s'more while at Social-ICE FAM JAM February 25 with these three tips.

"All you need is love." Let's amend that to all you need is love and Valentine's Day plans from downtown Rochester businesses! Whether you have a significant other or are single, celebrate the international day of love with these special events, promotions, or meals in downtown Rochester.

"Special menu. Special price. Special week." That's the tagline of the inaugural Rochester Restaurant Week, so how about making a special trip to downtown Rochester for a special dine-out experience? These 13 downtown restaurants are participating in this very special event January 16-22!

No matter your reason from a multitude of motivations (participating in dry January, expecting a little one, or being disinterested in drinking, to name a few), feel good knowing you can enjoy a night out without the alcohol. Allow the following downtown Rochester restaurants take care of your thirst for a non-alcoholic beverage with these refreshing mocktails!

Whether you enjoy it as a brunch cocktail or as a supposed cure after a party-hardy night, the bloody mary has been a staple on drink menus since the 1920's. This unusual concoction of tomato juice and alcohol, along with other add-ons, can be found on these downtown Rochester bar and restaurant menus!

Hosting a meeting or group get-together and need a catered lunch? Lucky for you, you can trust the downtown Rochester's restaurants with the following possibilities. Get a delicious dinner that you didn't have to prepare (other than the ordering!).

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and everyone's filled with good cheer. Celebrate in person with coworkers, friends, or family at any of these spacious downtown places to host a festive holiday party!

It's that time of year again: when the streets are all aglow and there are holiday happenings around every corner. Here is a round-up of all the holiday feasts and festivities happening in downtown Rochester from December 1 to January 1!

T-time means something different when we're talking about this November holiday. With Thanksgiving comes all kinds of scrumptious foods, good times, and fall fun. Here is a list of all things Thanksgiving-related happening in downtown Rochester.

No tricks with the Halloween happenings in downtown Rochester. Go trick or treating for these special events from your neighbors (i.e. downtown businesses).

Go for extraordinary! With more than 25 new vendors at Thursdays Downtown this year, five of them offer products the likes of which the event has not yet seen. Let's check out what you can find at their booths and when and where to find them at Thursdays Downtown.

While you may come for the live weekly entertainment and food, the Thursdays Downtown vendor market is all about art, jewelry, bakery and farmers market items, and so much more. Nearly 100 total vendors are onsite for you to stroll through, admire the works, and take home a unique find. Here are all the categories of vendors onsite at Thursdays Downtown this season.

With more food and beverage vendors than ever before, Thursdays Downtown has delectable delights and beautiful beverages for whenever hunger and thirst strike. Here are the recommended menu items from this year's Thursdays Downtown vendors.

Whether your dad is outdoorsy, a foodie, or somewhere in between, downtown Rochester businesses are sure to have a perfect gift or experience for the father figure in your life. Check out these special events and gift ideas for Father's Day 2022!

If you're late for a very important date with a Summer in the City activity, have no fear! Grab-and-go or made to order, here are the to-go options from nearby downtown restaurants to save the day while you savor the fun.

As a nurse, you care for our community in times of need. Now let this community give back to you during National Nurses Week May 6 through 12, 2022! Downtown businesses are showing its appreciation for nurses with these kind offers.

Did you know in most languages, the word for a mother begins with the letter "m"? It's true! With a multitude of monikers for a mom, here are the ways from downtown Rochester businesses to show appreciation for your one-and-only mother figure in your life.

In August 2021, John McGivern and his film crew visited Rochester to record stories of what makes Rochester special. We spy many faces and places from downtown Rochester in this featured episode of John McGivern's Main Streets! Can you spot them all?

Eggs, bunnies, or flowers: no matter what you associate with the season, downtown Rochester businesses have something for everybody. Here are all the ways to celebrate spring in downtown Rochester with special meals, events, and more.

Cheers: this is the week Social Lights is here! Still undecided about which specialty cocktails to sample? No problem! Spin this wheel to find out which of the five bars' themed drinks is your winner.

They are crispy, golden nuggets of deliciousness. Any idea as to what it could be? If you guessed tater tots, you are correct. Grab your buds and head to these downtown restaurants for some of the best spuds (i.e. tater tots)!

Love isn't just at first sight or something tangible. It's felt with the heart. If you need a gift or experience to show your sweetheart, friend, or family member just how much you care, here are some ways downtown businesses can help you express your feelings this Valentine's Day!

It's the hap, happiest season of all! From the glowing light displays to the decadent fragrances to the jolly experiences, here are a few ways to celebrate the holidays in downtown Rochester!

Let's give thanks for downtown Rochester's restaurants, for they are providing either the complimentary sides to your turkey or the full meal deal. Get your tastebuds ready for a cornucopia of Thanksgiving meal options from downtown Rochester eateries.

A record $19.8 billion was made from 2020’s Small Business Saturday nationwide. But small businesses are more than just a sales number. They’re the people who make your experience in downtown Rochester meaningful. Do something impactful for them and their business by shopping small November 27. It’s a big deal to small businesses. Here are the ways to support these participating Small Business Saturday businesses in downtown Rochester.

Don't be scared there's nothing to do in downtown Rochester: plenty of spooky fun is being planned for Halloween 2021!

Interact with Thursdays Downtown in a whole new way! Many of the vendors offer a chance to be more engaged with the foods, products, and aromas that make the event worth experiencing. Here's how to do just that!

Gather 'round for a round of drinks—alcoholic and non-alcoholic—from Thursdays Downtown vendors! Quench your thirst with smoothies or fresh-squeezed lemonade or enjoy the night with an adult beverage. Here are the ones to try this year at Thursdays Downtown.

Food is something that unites us. We gather around the table with family or meet up with friends for it. Luckily, Thursdays Downtown offers the opportunity for all this as well as delicious eats! Dig into these delectable dining options from onsite food vendors and be together in downtown Rochester.

Here comes the sun and the summer savings! Downtown Rochester's Summer Sale features deals on clothing, decor, food, and so much more. Mark down July 19 to 24 in your calendar for these Summer Sale markdowns.

Whether he's an accountant, banker, mechanic, or teacher by trade, his most important job is being a dad at the end of the day. Celebrate him with these downtown Rochester business specials, meals, and much more to make his day special!

Whether she's your birth mother, stepmom, grandma, or other mother figure, show her how much you love her this Mother's Day. Here are the specials, gift ideas, and Mother's Day meals from downtown Rochester businesses.

Peeps, have we rounded up some Easter specials to share from downtown Rochester businesses! From brunches to Easter basket gift ideas, here are some ways to make Easter 2021 egg-tra special this year.

All the delicious Easter food without the hassle of cooking. Sounds like a plan! These downtown Rochester restaurants are offering full to-go meals ready to serve up for your Easter brunch or dinner.

Top ‘o the mornin’ to ya! (We’re just a wee bit excited for St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Rochester.) We hope you are, too, for these pots of gold at the end of the rainbow (i.e. the St. Patrick's Day specials from downtown Rochester businesses)!

Single? In a relationship? Married? No matter your relationship status, take advantage of these Valentine's Day specials from downtown businesses to spoil your significant other or simply treat yourself!

Downtown bars and restaurants are typically the stars of SocialICE with their elaborately themed ice bars and specially crafted cocktails. They will shine again in 2021 with the Improv-ICE Buy a Meal, Give a Meal campaign! Find how to bolster downtown dining establishments and help those in need in the Rochester community at the same time.

"Let It Snow!" is now past. It's time for "Let It Sale! with downtown Rochester's Winter Clearance January 19-23, 2021! Find hot markdowns on cool merchandise from these participating businesses.

Say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021! Celebrate with the following food and fun from downtown Rochester businesses.

If you're in need of a little holiday cheer, check out these holiday spirit-lifting happenings in downtown Rochester. Then, perhaps the holidays will mean a little bit more for you in 2020.

What's the best kind of Thanksgiving? The one for which you don't have to cook! A full Thanksgiving meal is made easy with these to-go ready-made meals from downtown Rochester restaurants. All that's up to you is whether you or they get the credit for such a delicious meal!

250+ businesses. 44 blocks. Three hours of free ramp parking. Endless combinations of fun!

When you shop, dine, or support a service business, the free parking program allows you to explore downtown Rochester for three hours with free ramp parking through October 31. With so much that can be experienced, here is a quick guide to three-hour downtown Rochester itineraries for your enjoyment!

First Avenue Food Court

Where is the First Avenue Food Court? This can be a common question for those who have yet to discover this Downtown Rochester gem. The First Avenue Food Court offers incredible food options. This includes on-the-go versions of Rochester restaurant favorites or unique cuisine all over the world. Wondering how to get there? You can find the First Avenue Food Court by entering from the street level on First Avenue or 2nd Street. In addition, you can also head up to the second floor of University Square and just pop around the corner. Make sure to add the First Avenue Food Court to your Downtown Rochester destination list. It is worth discovering and exploring!

Are you looking for something to do this weekend for Cinco De Mayo or maybe you are looking to wear your Kentucky Derby hat; Downtown Rochester is filled with options and we have compiled them here! 

St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away on March 17 and several Downtown bars and restaurants are getting into the spirit!