David & Laini’s Schenectady Guidebook
Food scene
Great cocktails and upscale dining with beautiful interior and outdoor spaces, incl fire pits in cooler weather.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Daley's On Yates
10 Yates StGreat cocktails and upscale dining with beautiful interior and outdoor spaces, incl fire pits in cooler weather.
Amazing New Orleans food and fancy cocktails. Nice outdoor seating in summer months and a beautifully designed interior.
The Nest
512 State StAmazing New Orleans food and fancy cocktails. Nice outdoor seating in summer months and a beautifully designed interior.
Local brewery with good food and bustling bar scene. Great outdoor dining on the Mohawk River.
170 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Druthers Brewing Company
381 BroadwayLocal brewery with good food and bustling bar scene. Great outdoor dining on the Mohawk River.
New huge industrial-style brewery downtown with wood-fired pizza and other food. Live music many nights, line dancing Tuesdays. Lots of outdoor space, too.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Frog Alley Brewing Co.
108 State StNew huge industrial-style brewery downtown with wood-fired pizza and other food. Live music many nights, line dancing Tuesdays. Lots of outdoor space, too.
Excellent Moroccan tagines & delicious baklava, great friendly service, back patio. Good takeout option, too.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tara Kitchen
431 Liberty StExcellent Moroccan tagines & delicious baklava, great friendly service, back patio. Good takeout option, too.
Funky breakfast & lunch spot on the pedestrian Jay St. Great salads & sandwiches, ice cream, etc.
Ambition Coffee & Eatery, Inc
154 Jay StFunky breakfast & lunch spot on the pedestrian Jay St. Great salads & sandwiches, ice cream, etc.
Hyperlocal market with basic produce, dairy, craft beer, and artisan goods.
The Schenectady Trading Company
10 North Center StreetHyperlocal market with basic produce, dairy, craft beer, and artisan goods.
Market 32 by Price Chopper
1640 Eastern PkwyClosest big grocery store
Niskayuna Consumers Co-op Inc
2227 Nott StGreat local coop with everything you might need.
Chez Nous
707 Union StreetNew restaurant that just opened. Homemade pastas.
Old-timey spot for soft serve, hot dogs, hamburgers and fried fish
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jumpin Jack's Drive-In Inc.
5 Schonowee AveOld-timey spot for soft serve, hot dogs, hamburgers and fried fish
Sightseeing
Beautiful area of hiking trails (2.5ish miles) in an old growth forest. The latter half of the trail runs along a beautiful stream.
Lisha Kill Preserve
2518 Rosendale RdBeautiful area of hiking trails (2.5ish miles) in an old growth forest. The latter half of the trail runs along a beautiful stream.
Hourly kayak rentals by the harbor *note the address here marks a different location.
Pickup kayaks from Mohawk Harbor Way, near Druther’s.
Tuesday – Friday from 11am to 6pm and 10am to 6pm on weekends.
More info here: https://www.discoverschenectady.com/listing/upstate-kayak-rental/210/
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Upstate Kayak Rentals
Front StreetHourly kayak rentals by the harbor *note the address here marks a different location.
Pickup kayaks from Mohawk Harbor Way, near Druther’s.
Tuesday – Friday from 11am to 6pm and 10am to 6pm on weekends.
More info here: https://www.discoverschenectady.com/listing/upstate-kayak-rental/210/
Great hiking area with beautiful sweeping views, waterfalls, playgrounds, picnic tables, etc.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-State Park yeJohn Boyd Thacher
830 Thacher Park RdGreat hiking area with beautiful sweeping views, waterfalls, playgrounds, picnic tables, etc.
Top Broadway shows and more in a former Vaudeville theater from the 1920s.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Proctors
432 State StTop Broadway shows and more in a former Vaudeville theater from the 1920s.
One of our favorite spots for apple picking in the fall with the best cider donuts.
Riverview Orchards
660 Riverview RdOne of our favorite spots for apple picking in the fall with the best cider donuts.
Apple picking, cidery, brewery, Biergarten, great food, farm animals, etc. Check their website for events: https://www.indianladderfarms.com/calendar/
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Indian Ladder Farms
342 Altamont RdApple picking, cidery, brewery, Biergarten, great food, farm animals, etc. Check their website for events: https://www.indianladderfarms.com/calendar/
Every Sunday 10-2 outside by City Hall; moves inside Proctor’s in the winter.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Schenectady Greenmarket
105 Jay StEvery Sunday 10-2 outside by City Hall; moves inside Proctor’s in the winter.
Music
Rustic Barn Pub
Second Sunday bluegrass jam. Open mic every Thursday.
Iconic music venue where Bob Dylan and many other famous musicians have played.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Caffe Lena
47 Phila StIconic music venue where Bob Dylan and many other famous musicians have played.
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ungaphoswa
Other recommendations
Sunday Farmer’s Market….. Running/Biking/Walking on the Mohawk-Hudson Trail….. Tennis in Central Park….. Strolling around the GE Realty Plot….. Jackson’s Garden at Union College….. Jay Street Pedestrian Walkway