16 Best Things to Do in Geneva, NY

July 1, 2020 - Updated

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Sitting on the shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region, Geneva is a charming small-town getaway with a rich farming history. Many of the top attractions here have their roots in the area's agricultural heritage; the area's many wineries and breweries tend to grow their own products or source it locally, and there's a seemingly endless selection of restaurant serving delicious seasonally inspired cuisine. The beautiful Seneca Lake State Park attracts visitors who want to enjoy the great outdoors, and if you're interested in history, you can visit Rose Hill Mansion or the Johnston House and Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum.

1.Seneca Lake State Park

Encompassing just over 140 acres, Seneca Lake State Park is located on the north end of the lake, and it's a wonderful place for year-round outdoor recreation. Amenities include a swimming beach, six pavilions, and plenty of picnic tables, and families with children will also appreciate the playground and the "Sprayground", which features more than 100 water spray jets. Boat launches and two marinas are available for anyone who wants to get out on the water to boat or fish, and when the lake freezes over in the winter, it's an excellent spot for ice fishing.

1 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-2331

2.Ravines Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake

Ravines Wine Cellars was the first winery in the Finger Lakes region to pursue a traditional European winemaking approach, and the tasting room and vineyard on Seneca Lake is their original location. They're best known for their dry white wines, particularly their bone-dry Riesling, but they offer an excellent selection of red and sparkling wines as well. Most of their wines can be sampled in their year-round tasting room, which also serves a small menu of local cheeses, chocolates, and seasonally inspired small plates on most weekends. Tours and elaborate food pairing experiences are available by appointment.

400 Barracks Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-7007

3.Rose Hill Mansion

Dating back to 1837, the Rose Hill Mansion is a gorgeous Greek Revival home that overlooks Seneca Lake. The mansion was inhabited by the Swan Family between 1850 and 1890, and many of the rooms are furnished just as they would have been during the family's time here. The mansion is open to the public between the beginning of May and the end of October, and guided tours are offered multiple times a day Tuesday through Sunday. If you want a souvenir, you can stop by the gift shop to pick up an old-fashioned children's game, a historic book, or a local handicraft.

3373 NY-96A, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-3848

4.Zugibe Vineyards

Boasting 40 acres of beautiful vineyards home to more than ten different grape varieties, Zugibe Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery that offers a delightful assortment of dry and semi-dry wines. The tasting room is open year-round, and guests can choose between a dry flight and a sweet one. There's also a seasonal bistro, which is open for dinner on Thursdays and lunch on Saturdays between late May and the end of September. Live music is held on these Thursday evenings as well, and guests are welcome to bring a blanket and relax on the lawn with a glass of wine or beer.

4248 E Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-585-6402

5.Smith Opera House

Originally known as the Geneva Theater, the Smith Opera House has been the heart of the community's arts scene since it was built in 1894, and it's immediately recognizable thanks to its elegant brick exterior. The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, and the ornate interior has been carefully restored to its original grandeur, giving visitors the feeling that they've truly stepped back in time. A variety of different live performances are held here, including live music, children's plays, and dance shows, and there's also a historic movie theater that sometimes screens films.

82 Seneca St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-5483

6.Bottomless Brewing

Housed inside an old dairy barn, Bottomless Brewing is located on the northeast edge of Seneca Lake, and it's one of the most popular stops on the Finger Lakes wine and beer trail. All their craft beers are made on-site and are available on tap in the tasting room, and guests can enjoy a pint, participate in a tasting, or even fill a growler to bring home. The food menu includes appetizers, chicken wings, sandwiches, and design-your-own cheese boards, and gluten-free and vegetarian options are available by request. On Sundays, there's also a special brunch menu with mimosas and bloody marys to drink.

3543 E Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-325-4380

7.Ventosa Vineyard

Located on a gorgeous 65-acre property overlooking Lake Seneca, Ventosa Vineyard is an Italian-style winery that aims to make visitors feel like they've been transported to Tuscany. Dry red wines crafted according to Old World traditions are their specialty, but they also offer some excellent white wines and sweet dessert wines, and many of their wines are made entirely with grapes grown right in their own vineyards. The tasting room and bistro are open year-round, and live music performances are held once a week, although tastings aren't available after 5 p.m. on live music nights.

3440 NY-96A, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-719-0000

8.Billsboro Winery

Specializing in dry vinifera wines, Billsboro Winery is owned and operated by a husband and wife team with a serious passion for wine. Their tasting room is housed inside a historic barn surrounded by majestic walnut trees, and guests are always welcome to stop by during opening hours to sample some wines and learn from the knowledgeable tasting room staff. Special wine and chocolate tastings are available upon request, and during the summer, a Pizza on the Patio event is held every other week. The winery is open year-round except for a two-week break in early January.

4760 W Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-9538

9.Lake Drum Brewing

Made up of a collective of artisan beer makers, Lake Drum Brewing is a unique brewing company that believes in pushing the limits of the craft beer revolution. As a farm brewery, at least 60% of the ingredients for each beer are grown locally, and the company also makes an effort to source all of the ingredients for their ciders from growers in New York State. Their beer portfolio includes everything from sours to IPAs to pale ales, and the ciders range from dry to semi-sweet. The tasting room is open seven days a week, and live music is sometimes played on the weekends.

16 E Castle St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-1200

10.GAEL Brewing Company

Owned by an Irish immigrant, GAEL Brewing Company is an Irish-American microbrewery that makes Old World style beers with a modern twist. All their beers are brewed on-site, and there's something to suit almost every taste, including smoky red ales, hearty stouts, and refreshing pale ales. Beers are available by the pint as well as in tasting flights, and if you want some to take home, you're welcome to fill up a growler. The tasting room is open year-round, and it occasionally hosts special events like beer bingo, live music, and dining experiences in partnership with local chefs.

4180 NY-14, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-220-0190

11.The Johnston House and Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum

Constructed by a Scottish immigrant in 1822, the Johnston House and Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum offers a fascinating introduction to 19th-century farming techniques. John Johnston, the original property owner, was the first farmer in America to use drain tiles on his farm, and three rooms of the house are dedicated to exhibits about innovation in agriculture and the immigrant experience. Three different rooms are furnished with period items, and there's also a large collection of drain tiles from throughout the centuries. The museum is open on weekends between the beginning of May and the end of October, and admission is by donation.

3523 E Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-3848

12.WeBe Brewing

Established in 2018, WeBe Brewing is one of the newest breweries in Geneva, and it produces a wide variety of small-batch craft beers. They source their ingredients locally and regionally whenever possible, and they've even partnered with a local farmer to recycle their spent grains so that nothing is wasted in the beer-making process. Their tap room is housed inside a restored car garage, and they usually have a dozen different beers on tap, which guests can enjoy by the pint or sample as part of a tasting. Local wine, cider, and soda are available for non-beer drinkers, and there's also a small food menu.

796 Pre Emption Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-325-4834

13.Kindred Fare

Inspired by the seasonal foods of the Finger Lakes region, Kindred Fare is a welcoming restaurant with an open kitchen and an ever-changing menu. Everything is created in-house, including the fresh pastas, the sausages, and the breads, and the drink menu offers carefully handcrafted cocktails, draft beer, and both local and international wines. There's a private event space that can be booked for catered gatherings of up to 36 people, and on Monday nights there's usually a special themed prix fixe menu with free corkage for anyone who wants to bring their own wine.

512 Hamilton St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-787-0400

14.Cosentino’s Ristorante

Known for their friendly service and their authentic homemade Italian food, Cosentino’s Ristorante is a family owned and operated restaurant that always offers a welcoming dining experience. The menu includes plenty of pasta, meat, and seafood dishes, and a prime rib special is offered on Fridays and Saturday evenings. There's also an excellent wine menu with both red and white options, many of which are come from wineries right in the Finger Lakes region. Both indoor and outdoor tables are available, and there's also a private dining room that can be booked for larger groups.

1 Railroad Pl, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-1638

15.Uncle Joe's

Proudly owned and operated by the same Italian family that runs Cosentino’s Ristorante, Uncle Joe's was their original family business, and the quality of food and service has remained just the same as it was in 1978. Pizza is their specialty, but there are plenty of other options to choose from as well, including subs and sandwiches, pasta dishes, and a special haddock dinner platter with your choice of side. The entire menu is available for take-out, and if you provide enough advance notice, you can order some of their most popular dishes in a special "party size".

99 N Genesee St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-1199

16.Red Jacket Orchards

Occupying a 600-acre property on the shore of Seneca Lake, Red Jacket Orchards is a family orchard with more than 300 acres of apple trees and 250 acres of land used to grow apricots, plums, strawberries, and other delicious fruits. Fresh seasonal fruits grown on the property are available for purchase in the on-site farm store, and while you're here, you can pick up some homemade baked goods, local cheese, and other specialty food items from the Finger Lakes region. The orchard also sells their own brand of cold-pressed juices, which can be purchased at their own store and at other stores in the area.

957 Rtes 5 & 20 Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-2749

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