Stories, tips, and local perspectives from across the Finger Lakes.
Red Brick Pub anchors Fall Street in historic Seneca Falls, right in the heart of a downtown that also houses the National Women's Hall of Fame and the It's a Wonderful Life Museum. The address — 57 Fall Street — puts it squarely in the walkable center of town, and the vibe inside matches the […]
Potters Farm to Fork sits on Route 31 in Port Byron, about 20 minutes west of Auburn, and it is quietly the most-awarded restaurant in the entire Finger Lakes Finest rankings. Gold for best all-around restaurant three years running. Gold for breakfast, lunch, brunch, wings, sandwiches, and plates. The trophy case is absurd for a […]
Point of the Bluff Vineyards sits on one of the most dramatic pieces of real estate in the entire Finger Lakes — a promontory on County Route 76 in Hammondsport that juts out over Keuka Lake with panoramic views that would be worth the drive even without the wine or the music. But it is […]
With a range of THC and tobacco products, the Native-owned Pipekeepers specializes in premium flower, concentrates, edibles, and pens alongside cigarettes and accessories.
Parker's Grille & Tap House has been accumulating FLX Finest hardware for four consecutive years — Gold for Best Sports Bar in 2022, 2023, and 2025, Gold for Best Bloody Mary in 2024, plus Silver nods for Bloody Mary, specialty cocktails, and even margaritas. Operating across multiple locations, Parker's has the rare distinction of being […]
There is a short list of Finger Lakes restaurants where the setting alone justifies the price, and Nolan's is at the top of it. Sitting directly on Canandaigua Lake at 726 South Main Street, about three miles south of downtown, the restaurant has a sprawling deck over the water where boats pull up to the […]
Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Skaneateles is the Finger Lakes' closest approximation of a European destination spa, and its back-to-back Silver awards for Best Day Spa in 2022 and 2023 underscore a reputation that extends well beyond the region. The property on West Genesee Street Road draws its design inspiration from the French countryside — […]
Geneva's Hamilton Street has become the town's most interesting dining corridor, and Monterrey Mexican Restaurant at number 315 is a major reason why. Repeat Gold for Best Mexican Restaurant (2024 and 2025) and consistent recognition for Best Margaritas tell you that this is not a Tex-Mex chain operation filling a gap — it is a […]
Mac's Drive-In is the kind of place that makes people argue about whether nostalgia counts as a flavor. It does. This seasonal roadside stand on Waterloo-Geneva Road has been serving burgers, hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream to Finger Lakes families for generations, and the consistency is the point. You order at the window, eat […]
Sitting right on Lakefront Drive in Geneva, Long Pier Ice Cream & Rentals holds one of the most enviable locations in the Finger Lakes: steps from Seneca Lake, directly on the waterfront path that connects the town pier to the state park. Founded in 2005 by the Mirras family, it has grown from a seasonal […]