Rochester’s food scene is shaped by its visitors. A city that welcomes patients and their families from all over the world has a surprising range of restaurants, and most of the best-known options are downtown, close to hotels and the clinic. This guide covers what the tourism board and local sources highlight, though menus and hours change, so check before you go.
Coffee and quick bites
Fiddlehead Coffee Co. serves coffee, light bites and specialty drinks at the Kahler Grand Hotel and in the Miracle Mile shopping area. Bravo Espresso is among the cafes in the Galleria at University Square. For lunch, Salad Brothers is a popular spot for soups, salads, sandwiches and garlic rolls. Skylight Commons offers on-campus dining at subway level in the Mayo Building, and the Center Cafe in the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center serves patients and guests. For a classic snack, look for Carroll’s Corn, known for its Triple Mix gourmet popcorn popped fresh daily.
Contemporary American
Downtown has several restaurants that fall into this category, including Bleu Duck Kitchen, Chester’s, Pittsburgh Blue, The Tap House, Red Cow and Crave. The Tap House is known for about 50 rotating beers and a rooftop patio with a fireplace. CRAVE sits on the second floor of Hotel Indigo, with a retractable glass roof. Olde Brick House is another downtown option in the Galleria area.
Italian and Asian
Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar, Terza, Salute! Wine Bar and More and Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria cover Italian cooking. For Asian flavors, ThaiPop serves Southeast Asian food and drinks, while Mango Thai is noted for its spring rolls, and Bebap and Wabi Sabi Express round out the options.
Beer, cocktails and music
Rochester’s craft brewers include Forager Brewing Company, Little Thistle Brewing Company, Kinney Creek Brewery and LTS Brewing Company. If you prefer a guided approach, the Rochester Trolley and Tour Company’s microbrewery trolley tour visits four brewery pubs with beer flights, and its wine trail trolley tour visits three wineries, including Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery. Kathy’s Pub offers live music indoors, with rooftop performances in summer, and Bitter and Pour is a downtown speakeasy.
Markets and festivals
A summer Thursday market and music event downtown brings food vendors and crafts, and a Saturday farmers market operates at Graham Park, outdoors in the warm months and indoors in the cold. Rochesterfest in June adds food vendors in Soldiers Field Park. Check dates, since schedules change from year to year.
Eating well on a medical trip
If you or your companion has dietary restrictions, call ahead and ask about substitutions. Many downtown restaurants are used to guests with special needs and can accommodate gluten-free, low-sodium or soft-food diets, but confirm. Hotels with kitchenettes let you prepare simple meals, and grocery stores are a short ride away. Takeout is common, and delivery apps serve the downtown area.
Budget tips
Lunch specials and counter-service spots keep costs down. Hotels with included breakfast save money on mornings. Happy hours at taprooms are popular, and the free outdoor events in summer provide entertainment without spending. Carry a refillable bottle and snacks for long appointment days.
Day-trip food
In Lanesboro, Parkway Avenue shops sell local treats such as Amish cashew crunch and Spring Grove soda, and the town has cafes and restaurants serving hearty Midwestern meals. Wabasha’s riverfront main street has cafes near the National Eagle Center. Plan lunch around these small towns, because restaurants outside Rochester close earlier.
Seasonal treats
Minnesota has its own food calendar. In autumn, orchards and farm stands in the countryside sell apples and cider, in early summer you may find rhubarb treats at small-town festivals, and winter calls for soup and a warm taproom. Rochester’s covered walkways make a winter food crawl possible without going outdoors. If you travel to Lanesboro for the Rhubarb Festival in early June, you will find pies, jams and drinks made from the local favorite. Ask restaurant staff what is in season, and be flexible, because menus change. Many downtown places stay open late on event nights, while smaller cafes close by mid-afternoon, so plan your main meal accordingly and keep a snack in your bag.
