Rochester

Black Button Distilling

Black Button uses local ingredients to make corn whiskey, wheat vodka, and gin at their distillery. Tours and a tasting bar are the amenities available for visitors.

Tue noon-6PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-8PM

Boulder Coffee Company

An independently owned coffee shop with regular live music. Their web page lists upcoming acts. Drinks and snacks are typical coffee shop prices. Free WiFi on the premises.

Mon-Thu 7AM-11PM, Fri 7AM-midnight, Sat 8AM-midnight, Sun 8AM-11PM

Bug Jar

The walls display various works of art created by local artists, and the stage area/dance floor has an entire roomful of furniture arranged on the ceiling. Drink specials and live entertainment are featured here nightly, presenting popular local and national musical artists.

Cheshire

This speakeasy-style bar serves up classic pre-Prohibition cocktails and inventive newly crafted ones with a sophisticated style.

Mon-Thu 5PM-11PM, Fri Sat 5PM-midnight·$12 (every drink)

Comedy @ the Carlson

The only dedicated comedy club in Rochester at the moment, tucked in behind Radio Social in an old manufacturing facility. Strong lineup of comedians, including occasional well-known national figures.

Equal=Grounds

A coffee shop with a great open-minded atmosphere and an LGBTQ+ gift shop. The coffee, smoothies, and pastries are temptations. Grab a board game and enjoy.

Flight Wine Bar

Dressy, sophisticated, and urbane, Flight might be the most well known wine bar in the city. As you might guess, they specialize in wine "flights"—tastings of a selection of wines based around a theme. You can try three different wines made from the same grape, or perhaps three different grapes from the same region. It's not just wine, either: cheese, chocolate, and even olive oil are presented in flights of three.

Tue-Thu 4-10PM, Fri Sat 4PM-?·Flights $13-20

Java's Cafe

Another downtown coffee shop, more popular with the art house crowd, as well as those headed to (or from) the Eastman Theater. They also sell a variety of large homemade cookies in a variety of styles. At lunch time, an adjacent cafe-style restaurant serves for soup and sandwiches. Local art adorns the walls and local bands of questionable quality occasionally perform. Other locations at RIT and the Public Market as well as the YMCA in Pittsford.

Daily 7AM-midnight

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters

A coffee roaster and full service coffee and espresso bar. Joe Bean has been mentioned among the best coffee shops in the country. They serve some food as well, but the real attraction is the java, which is fair trade and eco-friendly, and roasted right in-house. The focus at Joe Bean is on coffee education; they believe that good coffee can be savored and analyzed like good wine, and they even offer classes on how to make your own.

Lux

Lux is something of an alternative bar in Rochester and trades on being in the South Wedge to add cred to the atmosphere. Lots of tattoos and piercings and a good PBR special. The back yard is great. They have hammocks in the summer time and a huge wood burning stove for the winter. This place is something you would expect to find in Brooklyn not Rochester.

Marge's Lakeside Inn

Once a speakeasy during Prohibition, this joint was one of the first in the area to get a liquor license after it was repealed. Today, it's a wild and raucous neighborhood bar; there's no food, but folks come for the drinks and the atmosphere. The deck extends out onto the beach for a great view of Lake Ontario. Parking is non-existent; you'll have to jockey for a spot on the south side of Culver. 21+ only.

Wed-Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat Sun 7PM-2AM

Mullers Cider House

This cider-only bar has a dozen ciders on tap and over 100 more in bottles, as well as knowledgeable staff who can help you make a selection. As far as bar food goes, the house specialty is kettle corn, presented in seasonal varieties.

Mon-Fri 4-11PM, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-10PM

ROAR

Explicitly intended as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, ROAR offers a surprisingly broad menu for an entertainment venue. But the real attractions are the performances. It's most well known for its frequent drag shows, but you might also find line dancing, dinner shows, or just a live band on stage.

Wed Thu 5PM-midnight, Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat 9PM-2AM

Rohrbach Brewing Company

Although Rohrbach's is a bit out of the way, their beer is worth the trip. Certainly the highlight is the Scotch Ale, and if you don't want to travel all the way to the actual brewpub, any number of establishments in the city will have it on tap, including Frontier Field. However, if there, do try as many of the beers as possible, as it is some of the best craft-brewing in upstate NY. You can get a sampler of glasses before you decide. The food is also quite good and leans toward German fare such as sauerbraten and bratwurst.

Swiftwater Brewing

Great location in the South Wedge neighborhood just across the street from the Genesee River. Swiftwater is one of the most popular and fastest growing Rochester breweries. They typically have around a dozen of their beers on tap as well as a guest tap for cider. Like most breweries their focus is IPAs and they do them very well, but you won't be short on variety when you visit here.

The Daily Refresher

The founders of this newspaper-themed tavern (with a speakeasy feel) call their establishment a "gastro-lounge", with a focus on custom cocktails and artisan foods.

Tue-Thu 4PM-midnight, Fri Sat 4PM-2AM

The Old Toad

Great English beer, poor English food, friendly English staff. A unique atmosphere with reasonable prices, the Toad is an excellent place to get sloshed.

Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2AM, Sat noon-2AM, Sun 5PM-2AM·$4 draft/bottle beers, $6 well drinks

Vertex

Goth/alternative dance club with a distinct no-judgement atmosphere. Come as you are, as long as how you are is ready to move on the dance floor. Generally a safe place for people who might get some side-eye out on the street.

Thu-Sat 10PM-2PM

Wall Street Bar and Grill

You can get meals here—with waitstaff, no less—but the drinks are the attraction. In keeping with the name, drink prices fluctuate based on popularity, just like stock prices. Keep an eye on the price ticker; buy low and sell high!

Mon-Sat 11AM-2AM, Sun noon-2AM

Turcott's Taproom

formerly Lola's Bistro and Bar

Turcott's Taproom is an English-style pub.

Daily 11AM-2AM