You unpacked the boxes — now here is where students at University of Rochester (Rochester, NY) actually eat, shop, bank, and hang out. Bookmark this for your first month.
The Distillery sports bar & grill
Student favorite on Mt Hope Ave, walkable from campus
Grappa Italian
Upscale-casual College Town spot for family-visit dinners
Mochinut mochi donuts & boba
Trendy treat shop in College Town
Insomnia Cookies late-night cookies
Warm cookie delivery until 3 AM from College Town
Taichi Bubble Tea boba & poke
Popular study-break stop in College Town
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que BBQ
Famous downtown Rochester BBQ, about 10 minutes away
Wegmans (East Ave) grocery
Rochester's beloved hometown grocer, about 10 minutes
Target (Henrietta) big-box
Hylan Drive, roughly a 10–15 minute drive
Walmart Supercenter big-box / grocery
Marketplace Drive, Henrietta, about 10 minutes
CVS Pharmacy pharmacy
In College Town, walkable from River Campus dorms
Chase Bank
Branch at the Medical Center; ATM in Rush Rhees Library
Advantage FCU
Medical Center branch adjacent to campus, multiple ATMs
ESL Federal Credit Union
Rochester's largest local credit union
Canandaigua National
Regional bank branch located in College Town
Strong Memorial / UR Medicine hospital
Major medical center directly adjacent to River Campus
Barnes & Noble College Town bookstore
Textbooks, UR apparel, and electronics
Spectrum Store internet / mobile
TV, internet, and mobile services in College Town
T-Mobile mobile
Phone plans and repairs in College Town
Genesee Riverway Trail
Scenic running and biking path along the campus riverfront
Rochester Public Market
Historic Saturday market with cheap produce and food stalls
Park Ave
Walkable strip of cafes, boutiques, and brunch spots
Highland Park
Famous lilac gardens and green space near Mt Hope
Museum of Play
World-class interactive museum downtown — great group outing
Hand-checked August 2026. Hours and locations change — give places a quick look before you head out. Some links on this site earn us a commission at no cost to you.