14 Best Bars in Ithaca

“Standard looking pub type restaurant with a good beer and drink menu. Food menu has the typical items (burgers, wings, salads, etc...).I had the boneless wings with the ale house sauce and my wife got crab cakes and onion rings. They both were much better than what you find at other places. Ale House sauce was just spicy enough and had great flavor. The crab cakes were the real deal and not crab with breading and filler.Service was good and very friendly.“

“Great bar selection!So, Monks is a hotel restaurant / bar, but don't let that turn you off from it. It kept me away for far too long. Not sure how 'affiliated' it is, but you do notice the physical relationship.First things first; there's actually a great alcohol selection and if you're thirsty, it worth the stop to tip a couple alone. Nice tap selections, but an the surprising star is their extensive liquor selection, and not just the cheap options. One of the few places in Ithaca with a rum selection. Also worth the mention is the extensive whisky and bourbon options.The friendliness of the bartenders got me to take a look at their menu, it's simple and could be called 'small' (but I'd much rather a place do a few things well than throw 100 ok options). I've 'interacted' with a few staff members there and they have all been super friendly and responsive.So far I've only had the burger (it's very good and I'm not sure I'm ready to stray yet). A thick juicy pattie (I think I've seen smash on the menu, but this was a standard thick one). I added bacon and it topped perfectly. A little pricey for the total ($22), but it was cooked and seasoned perfectly and it's only a little above average priced here. The burger itself was $18 and the bacon another $4. I wish there was more than two stips for that.TLDR; Great bar, very good food, friendly staff, but with a boring / steril atmosphere.There are a lot of great bars and burgers in Ithaca and I will definitely be back. I tend to eat a couple burgers a week and Monks will make it into the rotation.“

“I'm from 10 minutes outside of Utica NY and I drive for Uber and Lyft so I'm always in Ithaca and Maru Ramen is the place to go, food is absolutely delicious and affordable. I always stop by Maru Ramen whenever I am in town.Parking: It's not to hard to find a place to park hereKid-friendliness: Kids can accompany there family.“

“Really cool spot. Visiting from Nyack, Ny and it's my first time learning about Kava and having the full experience. I don't know how I haven't heard about this before! I felt super relaxed and I loved how people could just come together, and share the moment. Had great conversation, and no judging eyes. Do not leave Ithaca without coming here at least once!“

“The best places are the one you stumble upon at random. The Bike Bar was exactly that, after walking around the campus for a few hours my wife and I stumbled upon this bar and absolutely loved it. The staff was super friendly and accommodating with their knowledge on craft beer selection. We also enjoyed the jazz band that had played there that night. Very clean, very friendly, and a very fun place to hang out! We definitely will be going back again!“

“Vibey, cozy, unique spot with huge selection of specialty liquors and fabulous staff. They do have snacks. I saw some cured sausages, cheese and sweet treats like Via's cookies.Since it's November, my current fave things to get there are the warm drinks! Hot Buttered Rum and Boozy Hot Cocoa!YUM!“

“My family and I went to the restaurant to celebrate my grandson & his mother's birthdays. I've eaten there before also with family. The food so good not super hot only what you add makes it hot. You can tell the food was fresh and very delicious. The server Kristopher was very courteous, and very helpful. We all appreciated his service. The restaurant did well hiring him. We live in Horseheads but Zocalo is our go to restaurant when we are in Ithaca.Parking: The restaurant is in a mall, so there's plenty of parking.Wheelchair accessibility: I and my daughter-in-law have Wheelchairs. The person who sat us provide a table where both our chairs fit well.“

“Their sonic tonic is top notch. For hard cider aficionados, there are limited options. There are plenty of picnic tables in the backyard surrounded by lights. The bar has a pool table and popcorn is free. Chill atmosphere. Would definitely go again!“

“Ashley Cake, creator & owner of the wonderful Watershed, has converted the downstairs space into a terrific venue for terrific music, spoken word, comedy,open mikes, you name it. Lots of great taps, wine, etc. The staff is great, and there’s something different going on almost every evening. And it has rapidly become my favorite place…Check it out!“

“I'm sad I didn't know about this place sooner. The people are friendly, the service is great, the drinks are tasty, and well-behaved dogs are welcome inside! I wouldn't bring your pup on a night that's likely to be busy, though. Pool tables and a fireplace in the back. What's not to love?“

“The Chanty is a staple and landmark for historical downtown Ithaca.Every visit here is chill and cheap.The ? sign is your signal to stop in and hang in an intimate place offering: darts, pool, and good ol juke player.Feels more local folk than college kids. A plus for us OG ithaca workers.It's been almost ~20 years since I started going . It was always the place to go after work drink and an '5 o'clock somewhere' place on a day off.The Chanty is an easygoing classic place to just have a drink with your friends.“

“The atmosphere was great, energy but not too loud. The service was quick and friendly.The food was great except steak was undercooked. Credit to the server who noticed this, but I opted to eat it as is.Otherwise, everything was great and would happily recommend.“

“Be prepared to get into a waiting list.The vibe was good but not super cool. It’s not too loud so you can enjoy talking beside the food.I tried the turkey breast sandwich and it was casual and fresh but not something really surprising. The portion size was medium if you are hungry don’t go for it. However, the red’s cocktail is also exciting to try out. 51$ for a sandwich, French fries, and 2 glass of cocktails.The staff care and pay attention to you if you want to call them.A good normal place that you can spend your casual time easily. But a bit expensive for a casual and a twice a week to go place.“

“I have been here twice now and both times have been nothing short of exceptional. The food is delicious! This recent time my boyfriend and I shared chicken wings as an appetizer. Very tender and crispy with great flavor, we loved their homemade blue cheese dressing. I got the blackened salmon with grits. I’m not a giant fan of grits, but these I would come back for again and again. My boyfriend had the impossible burger, which I had a bite of, and was delicious. Crazy to think it was meatless! The food was cooked extremely well. I loved their selection of non-alcoholic drinks. I had a citrus spritzer that was delicious and refreshing. The wait staff were all so nice and helpful for questions we had. The music that was on was not overwhelming and added to the wonderful chill atmosphere. I look forward to coming back in the summer to try their summer menu.“