Where to drink well in Rochester by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Rochester. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
Living Roots Wine and Co on University Ave is Rochester's only urban winery and won Best Wine Bar in Best of Rochester 2025, making Finger Lakes wines.
Tip: Bar stools are first-come only; reserve a high-top for groups via Tock. Kitchen closes 1 hour before bar close; drinks until 30 minutes prior.
Carnegie Cellars Wine Bar and Kitchen on W. Main St won Best Local Wine List in Best of Rochester 2025, with global wines and a seasonal kitchen.
Tip: The wine flights are the easiest way to sample the list. Kitchen closes an hour before the bar.
Vine and Tap on Lake Ave in Rochester pours a rotating selection of Finger Lakes and Upstate New York wines and beers in a neighborhood bar near Charlotte.
Tip: The Finger Lakes wine selection rotates frequently. Food-friendly pours from small Upstate producers. Check their social media for the current bottle list.
Char Bar at the Strathallan Hotel on East Ave holds the 2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, the only such honor in greater Rochester, with a deep cellar.
Tip: The full wine list runs hundreds of references. Hattie's sushi operates in the same space Thursday through Saturday. Open for lunch and late evening beyond kitchen service.
Good Luck on Anderson Ave in Rochester runs a curated wine list alongside one of the city's strongest cocktail programs and a seasonal kitchen.
Tip: The bar team does both cocktails and wines with equal care. Ask the bartender for a wine recommendation with whatever is on the seasonal food board.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on Court St in Rochester has a strong bar program alongside its BBQ kitchen in a 1905 railroad station with river views and live blues.
Tip: The bar occupies the original railroad waiting room. Beer list focuses on craft and regional pours. Live blues on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Revelry on University Ave in Rochester runs a cocktail and wine program alongside its seasonal kitchen, open until 02:00 on weekends in the arts district.
Tip: Friday and Saturday are late-night bar destinations. Sunday brunch a more relaxed option. Good Finger Lakes wine selection by the glass.
Branca Midtown on E. Broad St in Rochester has a focused Italian wine list with Neapolitan pizza and pasta, the bar staying open after kitchen close.
Tip: Bar stays open past kitchen closing hours. The Italian wine list is one of the more focused in the city. Aperitivo cocktails a good start to an evening.