Local guidebook
Food scene
This incredible Italian restaurant is the heart of Syracuse's Little Italy and is located just a few doors down from the apartment. This restaurant/bar is owned by a fourth-generation local Little Italy restauranteur and the food is exceptional. You can dine in or order food to go.
Francesca's Cucina is an upscale and vibrant place full of guests. They offer indoor dining as well as outdoor dining in the warmer months. The outdoor courtyard is a beautiful location that must be seen and experienced. Reservations are recommended (they book up) and can be made on their website.
25 местните препоръчват
Francesca's Cucina
545 N Salina StThis incredible Italian restaurant is the heart of Syracuse's Little Italy and is located just a few doors down from the apartment. This restaurant/bar is owned by a fourth-generation local Little Italy restauranteur and the food is exceptional. You can dine in or order food to go.
Francesca's Cucina is an upscale and vibrant place full of guests. They offer indoor dining as well as outdoor dining in the warmer months. The outdoor courtyard is a beautiful location that must be seen and experienced. Reservations are recommended (they book up) and can be made on their website.
Dinosaur BBQ is a Syracuse icon that has been a part of the area for decades. The food is really, really good and cannot be missed by fans of pit-smoked bbq.
Dinosaur is a nationally-acclaimed barbecue joint with locations in Syracuse, Harlem, and Brooklyn, but the Syracuse location is the original that started it all.
This lively restaurant/bar is located half a mile away from the apartment and has a really fun atmosphere. The staff is sassy and the decor is no-frills with really good bbq and southern-style food. They have live blues bands that play and offer indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining options.
The restaurant is really popular and it can be hard to get a table so we recommend going early to be put on the wait list for a table.
83 местните препоръчват
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
246 W Willow StDinosaur BBQ is a Syracuse icon that has been a part of the area for decades. The food is really, really good and cannot be missed by fans of pit-smoked bbq.
Dinosaur is a nationally-acclaimed barbecue joint with locations in Syracuse, Harlem, and Brooklyn, but the Syracuse location is the original that started it all.
This lively restaurant/bar is located half a mile away from the apartment and has a really fun atmosphere. The staff is sassy and the decor is no-frills with really good bbq and southern-style food. They have live blues bands that play and offer indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining options.
The restaurant is really popular and it can be hard to get a table so we recommend going early to be put on the wait list for a table.
If you are a fan of wood-fired pizza then Apizza is the restaurant for you. It has a large custom wood oven right in the dining room and you can watch as they make the pizzas.
The food is great and the atmosphere is charming. They offer specialty cocktails and good wine to enjoy with your meal.
Apizza has indoor and outdoor seating as well as takeout.
15 местните препоръчват
Apizza Regionale
260 W Genesee StIf you are a fan of wood-fired pizza then Apizza is the restaurant for you. It has a large custom wood oven right in the dining room and you can watch as they make the pizzas.
The food is great and the atmosphere is charming. They offer specialty cocktails and good wine to enjoy with your meal.
Apizza has indoor and outdoor seating as well as takeout.
This unassuming Vietnamese restaurant is very well known for incredible Banh mi sandwiches and is conviently located right across the street. People come from all over the area to enjoy this hidden gem. Many rave about the fresh french bread and balanced spicy flavors.
Ky Duyen Cafe
488 North Salina StreetThis unassuming Vietnamese restaurant is very well known for incredible Banh mi sandwiches and is conviently located right across the street. People come from all over the area to enjoy this hidden gem. Many rave about the fresh french bread and balanced spicy flavors.
This local Ethiopian restaurant has garnered national recognition for its incredible meals. In 2020 EthioEritrea Restaurant was awarded a spot on the CNN top 20 Best Restaurants In The World list.
This eatery is located less than 3 blocks away and has dine-in, take-out and delivery options. It has an unpretentious vibe and is known for great flavors and vegitarian options.
Ethiopian Eritrean Restaurant in Syracuse NY
505 North State StreetThis local Ethiopian restaurant has garnered national recognition for its incredible meals. In 2020 EthioEritrea Restaurant was awarded a spot on the CNN top 20 Best Restaurants In The World list.
This eatery is located less than 3 blocks away and has dine-in, take-out and delivery options. It has an unpretentious vibe and is known for great flavors and vegitarian options.
Harrison Bakery (1306 W. Genesee St.) on the city’s West Side, a Syracuse institution since 1948 best known for serving the half-moon cookie. The half-moon is a spongy, fluffy sugar cookie topped with half vanilla frosting and half chocolate frosting that first originated in Central New York a century ago. Pro tip: Call ahead and ask when a fresh batch will be available. They are heaven when they are super fresh.
Harrison Bakery Inc
1306 W Genesee StHarrison Bakery (1306 W. Genesee St.) on the city’s West Side, a Syracuse institution since 1948 best known for serving the half-moon cookie. The half-moon is a spongy, fluffy sugar cookie topped with half vanilla frosting and half chocolate frosting that first originated in Central New York a century ago. Pro tip: Call ahead and ask when a fresh batch will be available. They are heaven when they are super fresh.
Downtown has a great food hall named Salt City Market (484 S. Salina St.). The spacious downtown food court features a dozen different vendors serving cuisine from Burma, Vietnam, the Middle East and southern and soul food options. The market reflects the growing diversity of Syracuse and the role new arrivals from around the world have played in broadening the city’s culinary scene.
15 местните препоръчват
Salt City Market
484 S Salina StDowntown has a great food hall named Salt City Market (484 S. Salina St.). The spacious downtown food court features a dozen different vendors serving cuisine from Burma, Vietnam, the Middle East and southern and soul food options. The market reflects the growing diversity of Syracuse and the role new arrivals from around the world have played in broadening the city’s culinary scene.
Neighborhoods
The historic warehouse district of Armory Square is a great entertainment area with lots of restaurants, bars, and nightlife. This Syracuse favorite is located about 3/4 of a mile away and draws people from all over Syracuse and the suburbs.
Armory Square has lovely little boutiques and coffee shops to enjoy during the day. At night it comes alive with people enjoying the eateries, pubs, wine bars, nightclubs, and cigar lounges.
It is a fun area to walk around anytime but especially fun in the evening on weekends when they shut down the main street to traffic. Many people hop around from venue to venue all evening enjoying the scene.
58 местните препоръчват
Armory Square
241 W Fayette StThe historic warehouse district of Armory Square is a great entertainment area with lots of restaurants, bars, and nightlife. This Syracuse favorite is located about 3/4 of a mile away and draws people from all over Syracuse and the suburbs.
Armory Square has lovely little boutiques and coffee shops to enjoy during the day. At night it comes alive with people enjoying the eateries, pubs, wine bars, nightclubs, and cigar lounges.
It is a fun area to walk around anytime but especially fun in the evening on weekends when they shut down the main street to traffic. Many people hop around from venue to venue all evening enjoying the scene.
If you are looking for a place to take a walk and enjoy a good coffee I recommend the Franklin Square district. Franklin Square is a former industrial neighborhood that was completely transformed into a lovely residential and commercial area. The old brick factory buildings have been beautifully converted into loft apartments and upscale office space.
There are wide sidewalks and a peaceful little park in the center of the square. Overlooking the park is a popular local coffee shop named Freedom of Espresso. It is a great place to enjoy a specialty roast coffee with a pastry. There is also a small bakery cafe named Boulangerie. They are a popular lunch spot that has great sandwiches.
If you enjoy athletic activities like climbing, yoga, and fitness classes there is also a large indoor rock climbing facility/gym named Central Rock Gym. They offer day passes for non-members and welcome newbies as well as experienced athletes.
8 местните препоръчват
Franklin Square
If you are looking for a place to take a walk and enjoy a good coffee I recommend the Franklin Square district. Franklin Square is a former industrial neighborhood that was completely transformed into a lovely residential and commercial area. The old brick factory buildings have been beautifully converted into loft apartments and upscale office space.
There are wide sidewalks and a peaceful little park in the center of the square. Overlooking the park is a popular local coffee shop named Freedom of Espresso. It is a great place to enjoy a specialty roast coffee with a pastry. There is also a small bakery cafe named Boulangerie. They are a popular lunch spot that has great sandwiches.
If you enjoy athletic activities like climbing, yoga, and fitness classes there is also a large indoor rock climbing facility/gym named Central Rock Gym. They offer day passes for non-members and welcome newbies as well as experienced athletes.
If you are looking for young and fun nightlife "The Hill" at Syracuse University is a great spot. Located primarily along Marshell Street, adjacent to the University campus, this district is a popular hangout for students.
The Hill is a vibrant area that is always buzzing with activity. It is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops that primarily cater to the University crowd.
Marshall Street
Marshall StreetIf you are looking for young and fun nightlife "The Hill" at Syracuse University is a great spot. Located primarily along Marshell Street, adjacent to the University campus, this district is a popular hangout for students.
The Hill is a vibrant area that is always buzzing with activity. It is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops that primarily cater to the University crowd.
This area is known as Syracuse's Little Italy. Here you’ll find a number of Italian restaurants and bakeries– legacies of an ethnic enclave that initially settled the area more than a century ago.
There’s nearby Columbus Bakery (502 Pearl St.), where loaves of Italian bread baked at the back of the room cool on shelves just behind the front counter much as they have since 1895. They still use the same historic oven and the bead is generally sold hot. Pro tip: order 2 loaves because the smell is so good you cannot help but tunnel out the warm soft interior of a loaf for immediate snacking.
Two blocks away there is Biscotti Café, (741 N. Salina St.).
This Italian bakery offers a variety of cannoli, gelato, and other Italian confectionery options. Pro Tip: Cannolis are hands down the best when freshly filled upon order. The crispy shell will turn soggy if filled in advance as many inexperienced bakeries do.
Lombardi's Imports is a specialty Italian food market that is a great place to find products from all over Italy. They have been providing authentic Italian goods for over 50 years. Many people come for the imported cheese in particular.
Di Lauro’s bakery (502 E DIVISION ST.) has been serving fresh bread and pizza to Little Italy for over 100 years. Still owned and operated by the same family, they take pride and use the original century-old recipes which have no preservatives or artificial ingrediants. The focaccia, ciabatta, cinnamon bread, pizza, and rolls are all well known. If you like to make homemade pizza their pizza dough is great.
And then there’s Francesca’s (on this block at 545 N. Salina St.), one of Syracuse’s most popular restaurants known for two Central New York regional specialties: chicken riggies (rigatoni pasta served with chunks of boneless chicken, peppers and onions and tossed in a spicy pink sauce) and Utica Greens (cooked escarole tossed with chicken stock, olive oil, garlic, prosciutto, cheese and baked in the oven with bread crumbs). Pro tip: Make a reservation online because they frequently book up completely.
Little Italy Syracuse
This area is known as Syracuse's Little Italy. Here you’ll find a number of Italian restaurants and bakeries– legacies of an ethnic enclave that initially settled the area more than a century ago.
There’s nearby Columbus Bakery (502 Pearl St.), where loaves of Italian bread baked at the back of the room cool on shelves just behind the front counter much as they have since 1895. They still use the same historic oven and the bead is generally sold hot. Pro tip: order 2 loaves because the smell is so good you cannot help but tunnel out the warm soft interior of a loaf for immediate snacking.
Two blocks away there is Biscotti Café, (741 N. Salina St.).
This Italian bakery offers a variety of cannoli, gelato, and other Italian confectionery options. Pro Tip: Cannolis are hands down the best when freshly filled upon order. The crispy shell will turn soggy if filled in advance as many inexperienced bakeries do.
Lombardi's Imports is a specialty Italian food market that is a great place to find products from all over Italy. They have been providing authentic Italian goods for over 50 years. Many people come for the imported cheese in particular.
Di Lauro’s bakery (502 E DIVISION ST.) has been serving fresh bread and pizza to Little Italy for over 100 years. Still owned and operated by the same family, they take pride and use the original century-old recipes which have no preservatives or artificial ingrediants. The focaccia, ciabatta, cinnamon bread, pizza, and rolls are all well known. If you like to make homemade pizza their pizza dough is great.
And then there’s Francesca’s (on this block at 545 N. Salina St.), one of Syracuse’s most popular restaurants known for two Central New York regional specialties: chicken riggies (rigatoni pasta served with chunks of boneless chicken, peppers and onions and tossed in a spicy pink sauce) and Utica Greens (cooked escarole tossed with chicken stock, olive oil, garlic, prosciutto, cheese and baked in the oven with bread crumbs). Pro tip: Make a reservation online because they frequently book up completely.
Shopping and Entertainment
The largest shopping mall in New York, and the 8th largest mall in America, is located 1.5 miles away. Destiny USA mall has TONS of shopping as well as indoor entertainment areas like rope-climbing facilities, bowling allies, arcades, movie theaters, escape rooms, laser tag arena, go-carts, indoor play park, WonderWorks amusement park, mirror maze, and more.
115 местните препоръчват
Destiny USA
1 Destiny USA DrThe largest shopping mall in New York, and the 8th largest mall in America, is located 1.5 miles away. Destiny USA mall has TONS of shopping as well as indoor entertainment areas like rope-climbing facilities, bowling allies, arcades, movie theaters, escape rooms, laser tag arena, go-carts, indoor play park, WonderWorks amusement park, mirror maze, and more.