Guidebook for Watkins Glen
Food Scene
Rooster Fish Brewing Pub
223 N Franklin StReally great food and brews, good wine list!
Nickel's Pit BBQ Watkins Glen
207 N Franklin StREALLY GOOD BARBECUE!
Great for typical pizza shop takeout in the back, lovely traditional Italian-American style restaurant in front. Large portions, hearty food, nice wine list, full bar. You will leave with leftovers!
70 locals raden deze aan
Jerlando's Ristorante & Pizza Company
400 N Franklin StGreat for typical pizza shop takeout in the back, lovely traditional Italian-American style restaurant in front. Large portions, hearty food, nice wine list, full bar. You will leave with leftovers!
Can be a bit pricey, because you are paying for the view! Great spot to eat inside or outside on the patio.
34 locals raden deze aan
Seneca Harbor Station
3 N Franklin StCan be a bit pricey, because you are paying for the view! Great spot to eat inside or outside on the patio.
Fine dining in a beautiful setting, or outdoor on their deck. A bit pricey but worth it! Kid friendly too.
21 locals raden deze aan
Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars
5435 NY-14Fine dining in a beautiful setting, or outdoor on their deck. A bit pricey but worth it! Kid friendly too.
Besides a lovely winery with award winning wines, Fox Run offers a French insipired food market offering salads, cheeseboards, hot flatbreads, and other lunch items. Place your order, buy a flight, a glass, or a whole bottle and enjoy the lake view on their small patio or their large rear vineyard patio.
68 locals raden deze aan
Fox Run Vineyards
670 NY-14Besides a lovely winery with award winning wines, Fox Run offers a French insipired food market offering salads, cheeseboards, hot flatbreads, and other lunch items. Place your order, buy a flight, a glass, or a whole bottle and enjoy the lake view on their small patio or their large rear vineyard patio.
One of our top 3 favorite wineries for purchasing wine, well worth the 40 minute trip for their globally recognized reislings and other wines. They have an eclectic kitchen offering forward thinking cuisine such as pork belly sandwiches and other farm fresh offerings.
55 locals raden deze aan
Ravines Wine Cellars - Keuka Lake
14630 NY-54One of our top 3 favorite wineries for purchasing wine, well worth the 40 minute trip for their globally recognized reislings and other wines. They have an eclectic kitchen offering forward thinking cuisine such as pork belly sandwiches and other farm fresh offerings.
A wonderful winery offering Italian inspired dry reds, white, and semi dry whites. Café offering amazing pizzas and other Italian lunch specialties. Panoramic views of the lake and large tasting room. Well worth the drive, this can be the first start of a day of tasting on a tummy full of delicious pizza!
49 locals raden deze aan
Ventosa Vineyard
3440 NY-96AA wonderful winery offering Italian inspired dry reds, white, and semi dry whites. Café offering amazing pizzas and other Italian lunch specialties. Panoramic views of the lake and large tasting room. Well worth the drive, this can be the first start of a day of tasting on a tummy full of delicious pizza!
Sightseeing
Great lake tours on a vintage vessel. See the lake from a unique perspective!
51 locals raden deze aan
Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises
1 N Franklin StGreat lake tours on a vintage vessel. See the lake from a unique perspective!
Drinks & Nightlife
Wonderful tasting room and small plates owned by Atwater Winery, yet not limited to their own wines. Open later than most of the winery tasting rooms!
65 locals raden deze aan
Graft wine + cider bar
204 N Franklin StWonderful tasting room and small plates owned by Atwater Winery, yet not limited to their own wines. Open later than most of the winery tasting rooms!
Check out Friday Night Music Series, and other events at Hector Wine Company. This winery is one of our top 3 favorites for our wine purchases. Also has a nice farmers market for fresh breads, cheese, and charcuterie.
55 locals raden deze aan
Hector Wine Company
5610 NY-414Check out Friday Night Music Series, and other events at Hector Wine Company. This winery is one of our top 3 favorites for our wine purchases. Also has a nice farmers market for fresh breads, cheese, and charcuterie.
Atwater is one of our top 3 favorites for our wine purchases. The have an exhilarating view from their tasting room deck, with specialty wine "cocktails" and wines by the glass available until sunset. One of the best places to catch the famous lake Sunset!
37 locals raden deze aan
Atwater Estate Vineyards, LLC
5055 NY-414Atwater is one of our top 3 favorites for our wine purchases. The have an exhilarating view from their tasting room deck, with specialty wine "cocktails" and wines by the glass available until sunset. One of the best places to catch the famous lake Sunset!
Two Goats offers their own amazing brews, along with other offerings and a full bar. Very nice wine list as well. They have one sandwich, and it can't be missed - slow cooked roast beef on a hearty roll, with their famous creamy horseradish sauce and kettle cooked chips. THE BEST VIEW FOR THE SUNSET!
132 locals raden deze aan
Two Goats Brewing
5027 NY-414Two Goats offers their own amazing brews, along with other offerings and a full bar. Very nice wine list as well. They have one sandwich, and it can't be missed - slow cooked roast beef on a hearty roll, with their famous creamy horseradish sauce and kettle cooked chips. THE BEST VIEW FOR THE SUNSET!
Parks & Nature
Park at (or walk to) the entrance, and catch the shuttle "to the top," then hike down the gorge trail to experience numerous, varied, breathtaking waterfalls and scenery. This trail does involved a descent down numerous stairs and is often damp if not downright wet. There is a clear path with secure footing, though, and we always recommend going from top down (although hiking from the entrance up, and taking the shuttle, or turning around and hiking down, is an option too.)
437 locals raden deze aan
Watkins Glen State Park
1009 N Franklin StPark at (or walk to) the entrance, and catch the shuttle "to the top," then hike down the gorge trail to experience numerous, varied, breathtaking waterfalls and scenery. This trail does involved a descent down numerous stairs and is often damp if not downright wet. There is a clear path with secure footing, though, and we always recommend going from top down (although hiking from the entrance up, and taking the shuttle, or turning around and hiking down, is an option too.)
This roadside stop is a must do! Hector Falls is located directly on route 414, and can be viewed from the car, or, from the roadside. Please use caution, do not park on the bridge, and be careful should you cross. Also keep a good hold of your phone or camera, don't drop it into the falls!
22 locals raden deze aan
Hector Falls
This roadside stop is a must do! Hector Falls is located directly on route 414, and can be viewed from the car, or, from the roadside. Please use caution, do not park on the bridge, and be careful should you cross. Also keep a good hold of your phone or camera, don't drop it into the falls!
Beautiful public beach and park, with playground and skateboard park. Nominal parking fee.
26 locals raden deze aan
Lakeside Park
686 NY-414Beautiful public beach and park, with playground and skateboard park. Nominal parking fee.
Essentials
TOPS Friendly Markets
504 1/2 S Franklin Stopen 24 hours, with a full grocery, beer and wine, camping supplies, prepared foods, clothing for the entire family, drugstore items, and a McDonalds! Also bottle deposit return machines in the lobby.
40 locals raden deze aan
Walmart Supercenter
515 E 4th Stopen 24 hours, with a full grocery, beer and wine, camping supplies, prepared foods, clothing for the entire family, drugstore items, and a McDonalds! Also bottle deposit return machines in the lobby.
Restaurants we recommend
We are thrilled to host you in our home!
Restaurants that I have personally tried and recommend:
Within walking distance (down and back two blocks of pedestrian stairs, found to the left when exiting the driveway) are below. For reference, our home is at Jackson and second street (parallel to 200 N Franklin Street).
Graft - small plates, all local wines and beer, really high end yet casual. "Creative, simple, seasonal small-bites, snacks, salads, sandwiches and desserts". Fills up fast and the daily fresh food sells out fast. Get there early - 5 or 5:30. Highly recommended for foodies - 204 N Franklin Street
Rooster Fish Brewing Co - eclectic burgers, sandwiches, full bar, craft beers, and local wine - 223 N Franklin Street
Nickel's BBQ -really great, farm fresh BBQ with housemade sauces and rubs ; same beers/bar as Rooster Fish, local wines, and Bubbly Candeo on tap (local semi sweet sparkling) - 205-207 N Franklin Street
Seneca Harbor Station - standard, good, restaurant fare with some specialties. Slightly pricey due to the location directly on the harbor - great views. Standard full bar/beers, a few local wines - 3 N Franklin
Jerlandos - standard Italian American fare - large portions, good. Very standard bar, a few local wines - 400 N Franklin Street
Thai Elephants - truly authentic Thai cuisine, BYOB. Super friendly, fun, and good - 133 E 4th Street (half block further east from stairs)
Within driving distance, in order of proximity:
East side of lake:
Elf and the Oak - really innovative, yummy, mostly organic and farm fresh breakfast and lunch. Limited, rotating beers and wines, sometimes sell out, always fresh coffee and chilled teas, sodas, waters - 4221 NY 414
Stonecat Cafe - similar to Elf and the Oak, more formal lunch and dinner, local ingredients, full bar, local beers, wine - 5315 NY 414
Red Newt Bistro (in Red Newt Winery) - farm to table bistro with European flair, featuring their own wines - 3675 Tichenor Road
West side:
Veraisons at Glenora - higher end fare with great views. Local wines, honestly can't remember if they have beer or a bar, because we always have wine. Have only had lunch there, very good.
There are several other restaurants, that we have not tried, you can just google or check TripAdvisor.
Rooster Fish Brewing Pub
223 N Franklin StNickel's Pit BBQ Watkins Glen
207 N Franklin StBubbly Candeo ON TAP!