Rochester Nightlife: Bars, Breweries, Live Music & Late-Night Eats

When the sun sets in Rochester, the music turns up, drinks are poured, and the dancing begins! From craft breweries and distilleries to live music venues, wine bars, and late-night dining, Rochester offers something for every night owl.

Local Sips: Breweries & Distilleries in Rochester

Craft beer connoisseurs will want to taste a beer or two at one of Rochester’s breweries. Genesee Brewing in the heart of downtown, Sager-Stoneyard Pub or Three Heads Brewing in the Neighborhood of the Arts, Rohrbach Beer Hall in the Rochester Public Market district, or the Rohrbach Brewpub on Rochester's westside, and the award-winning Strangebird Brewing in the Monroe Avenue neighborhood. 

For something a little stronger, visit Iron Smoke Distillery, a small batch, farm-to-table distillery in Fairport, NY. Their tasting room doubles as a fully licensed bar and features local wine, beer, and spirits. Visitors can catch weekly live concerts and entertainment on their sideshow stage.

Live Music, Dancing & Entertainment

Music is part of Rochester’s identity and what would our nightlife be without live music and dancing? 

The Lovin' Cup Bistro and Brewpub features live entertainment most nights of the week, including live music, trivia, beer and wine tastings. Stop by on Sunday evenings for a jazz show.

Local wine bars like Flight Downtown, Vine & Tap and Legacy Wine Bar regularly feature jazz musicians and other live music. 

20 Deep Winery in Mendon and Horizons Modern Kitchen & Wine Bar located within the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa are other great spots to find live local music. 

And for something different, check out Radio Social. Radio Social is a bowling alley, restaurant, bar, music venue, and social club located in Rochester's historical Stromberg-Carlson warehouse. The facility features 34 bowling lanes, lounge areas, a variety of indoor and outdoor games, a full-service restaurant, and two bars.

Rochester's East & Alex entertainment district are home to several popular local bars and nightclubs. Look for popular local spots for cocktails on Park Avenue, in Center City and in the Village of Fairport's Cannery District. 

Late-Night Eats

A night of fun and entertainment can build quite the appetite. No need to resort to the drive-thru! Rochester has plenty of local fare visitors can enjoy to end their evening on a tasty note. 

Marshall Street Bar and Grill is a friendly, neighborhood restaurant with great drink specials and a full menu of delicious food, including deep-fried favorites like green bean fries, chicken fingers with waffle fries, and beer battered hot dog bites! You can even try their spin on the Rochester Garbage Plate, the Volcano Plate. The bar and kitchen are both open every day until 2:00 a.m.

If you’re craving a plate of comfort food, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is the place to be. Serving real pit BBQ with a side of smoking live Blues, the restaurant is open until midnight and 1:00 a.m. on weekends.