Estimated Read Time: 12 Minutes

Downtown Erie, PA is home to some of the region’s newest and best dining experiences. Local breweries, cafés, bakeries, and restaurants serve everything from elevated comfort food to creative new flavors, making downtown a must-visit destination for food lovers. If it’s been a while since your last visit, you’ll discover a downtown is growing with new locally owned eateries bringing fresh energy to the district. In the past five years, nearly a dozen new restaurants have opened their doors in the downtown area. Use this guide to explore some of the best patios, breakfast spots, new restaurants, and more in downtown Erie.

Best for Cocktails and Mocktails

Luminary Cocktails & Bottle Shop
For cocktails with a local twist, head to the new Luminary Cocktails & Bottle Shop on State Street. The downtown outpost serves cocktails made with spirits distilled right here in Erie, along with bottles and flights for those looking to take a taste of Luminary home. Try one of the signature mules, made with Luminary’s in-house vodka and locally made ginger beer from The Brewerie.

Twisted Elk Outpost
Twisted Elk Outpost brings the brewery's craft beer and creative cocktail menu to downtown Erie in a cozy taproom setting. Try the standout Velvet Rack or Root Runner cocktails or grab a rotating Twisted Elk beer on draft.

Best for Sweet Treats and Coffee

Café 7-10
For a coffee-and-dessert stop with a personal touch, Café 7-10 serves homemade sweets, coffee and tea in a cozy downtown setting. Their cheesecake is a favorite, with rotating flavors that make it tempting to try something new each visit.

Bakery on 5th
This bakery puts a Turkish and French-inspired spin on traditional recipes, with an impressive case of pastries, desserts and savory bites. Don't leave without trying one of their pistachio-filled croissants or a cup of Turkish coffee.

Purrista Cat Café
Purrista Cat Café pairs locally sourced coffee and baked goods with a separate Cat Lounge where visitors can spend time with adorable, adoptable cats. It’s a downtown coffee stop that doubles as a one-of-a-kind Erie experience.

Best for Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch

Calamari’s Squid Row
Known for its casual atmosphere and generous portions, Calamari’s is a longtime Erie favorite for a satisfying Sunday brunch. A must-try is their breakfast pizza loaded with cheddar cheese, mozzarella, ham, bacon, scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, and tater tots.

Dave’s Diner
One of Erie’s most believed retro-themed diner is back in downtown Erie, complete with the red booths, checkered floors, and the classic red Chevy that doubles as the host stand. Grab a plate of their popular Cajun Eggs or stick with a classic breakfast and finish your meal with one of their old-fashioned shakes. Dave’s serves breakfast all day alongside homemade soups, sandwiches and other homestyle favorites, making it a fun stop for a taste of classic diner comfort food.

Franco’s Café
This welcoming downtown spot is great for a quick meal and casual dining. The salad bar is always a good idea and offers seemingly endless toppings. You can also find sandwiches, paninis and homemade soups.

Best Patios

Cloud 9 Wine Bar & Restaurant
Grab a seat outside at Cloud 9 and settle in with a glass of wine or craft beer. With a location adjacent to UPMC Park and Warner Theatre, it’s a great happy hour spot to grab some tapas or drinks before a show or game. The Brie Wedge features a walnut crusted cave ripened Brie with a seasonal fruit compote and sliced baguettes to create a perfect bite.

Serafini’s Trattoria
This newly opened restaurant brings its family’s Italian recipes to the heart of downtown Erie. Settle in under the patio’s twinkling lights with a plate of homemade pasta and a glass of wine for a meal that feels like a little trip to Italy.

The Brewerie at Union Station
Housed in historic Union Station, The Brewerie combines craft beer and hearty pub fare with loads of Erie history. Its outdoor patio is nestled next to the train tracks making it a great place to enjoy a locally brewed pint and a burger when the weather is warm. During the fall months, the brewery offers Haunted History tours where you can learn about Erie’s train history and a few ghosts who roam the halls.

Best New Restaurants

Oba Sushi
Oba Sushi brings fresh, artfully prepared Japanese cuisine to downtown Erie, with a menu of sushi, sashimi and creative specialty rolls. Try the signature Oba Special roll with spicy tuna, spring mix, avocado, cucumber topped with salmon, tuna, baked baby shrimp, bay scallops, tobiko, scallions and spicy mayo, or keep it classic with sashimi or a sushi combo.

Serafini’s Trattoria
The Serafini family is bringing its longtime love of Italian cooking back to downtown Erie with Serafini’s Trattoria. Serafini’s Traditional Spaghetti entrée features spaghetti made in-house and topped with their signature slow-simmered sauce. Expect homemade Italian classics from family recipes, and a welcoming atmosphere that puts a fresh spin on a familiar Erie favorite.

Empanissah’s
For a taste of Puerto Rican cuisine, stop by Empanissah’s for golden, hand-folded empanadas made with savory and sweet fillings. The family-owned restaurant puts its own spin on traditional Latin flavors, making it an easy and delicious addition to the downtown food scene.

Best for Entertainment

Hazards Mini Golf Social Pub
Hazards combines drinks, games and food for a bar experience that's anything but ordinary. Challenge your friends to a round of indoor mini golf, grab a drink at the bar and make a night of it.

Flagship City Food Hall
More than a place to grab a bite, the Food Hall is a downtown gathering place. With independently owned food businesses under one roof and weekly events such as karaoke night, you can grab food from one kitchen, a drink from another and enjoy a night of entertainment without leaving the building.

Voodoo Brewing Company – Erie Pub
Set inside the historic Boston Store, Voodoo Brewing Company – Erie Pub brings craft beer, pub fare, and lively entertainment to downtown Erie. Grab a pint of Good Vibes, a West Coast IPA with tropical fruit notes, then stick around for one of the pub’s weekly events. Wednesdays feature open mic night, while Thursdays are trivia night with DJ Bill Page from 7 to 9 p.m.

Best Bars

Plymouth Tavern
A true downtown Erie institution, Plymouth Tavern is the kind of neighborhood bar where everyone seems to know each other.  Here you can grab a drink, enjoy a basket of fresh popcorn from the cart, and settle in for the evening. Its laid-back atmosphere and longtime local following make it a classic Erie stop.

Calamari’s Squid Row
With a lively atmosphere, full menu and plenty of drinks to choose from, Calamari’s is a downtown favorite for grabbing a drink before or after exploring Erie. Its casual vibe makes it an easy place to meet up with friends.

Best Breweries

Lavery Brewing Company
Lavery Brewing is a must-stop for craft beer lovers, pairing house-brewed beer with a food menu made for lingering over a pint. Their flagship brew, Dulachan IPA, is brewed with notes of grapefruit, citrus, and pine. Lavery is also known for their unique vegan-friendly menu items, which change weekly.

Erie Ale Works
Erie Ale Works keeps things local and laid-back with small-batch craft beer served in its neighborhood taproom. Stop in to sample their signature blonde ale, the Tattooed Lady. This light, crisp and refreshing beer is always on tap, and rotating food trucks stop by throughout the week.

Twisted Elk Outpost
Twisted Elk Outpost offers a taste of Twisted Elk Brewing in the heart of downtown Erie. The Apple Pie Ale from Twisted Elk’s fruit beer series is curated from fresh cut apples, pure vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon. Pro tip: there is no food service at the Outpost, but visitors are welcome to bring in food from neighboring businesses, such as the Flagship City Food Hall.

Best Asian, Mediterranean & Latin Cuisine

Habibi
Habibi is a hidden gem for homemade Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Try the hummus, cheese fatayer, or one of the restaurant’s popular kabobs, or order the Sweetheart Platter for a little taste of everything. Bonus: Habibi is BYOB with no corkage fee.

Like My Thai
Like My Thai brings bold Thai flavors and plenty of spice to downtown Erie. From drunken noodles and curries to Korean-inspired favorites, the menu is a great choice for anyone who likes their meal with a little (or a lot) of heat.

SobaEra-Tsaocaa
SobaEra offers a taste of Japanese cuisine downtown, with a menu that puts noodles and Japanese-inspired dishes front and center. From the vibrant flower wall in the front of the restaurant perfect for a photo op to the cat robot that delivers your meals, the dining experience is just as exciting as the food.

Dina’s Authentic Dominican Kitchen
Dina’s brings the flavors of the Dominican Republic to Flagship City Food Hall. Try the classic La Bandera, a customizable plate built with your choice of protein, rice and a side, or cool things down with a fresh mango or pineapple juice.

Empanissah’s
Specializing in Puerto Rican empanadas with flaky, golden crusts and flavorful fillings. Each one is handmade to order, making these handheld bites an easy choice for a quick downtown lunch or a casual meal.

Serafini’s Trattoria
For Italian cuisine downtown, Serafini’s Trattoria serves up homemade classics rooted in family recipes. From pasta to traditional Italian entrées, it’s a welcoming spot for a comforting meal.

Best for Pizza

ippa Pizza
Located inside Flagship City Food Hall, ippa Pizza is a fun spot to grab a craft cocktail or mocktail and a pie. Try the signature ippa Pizza made with in-house fresh sourdough, milled tomato, hand stretched mozzarella, panna (house Italian cream sauce), house pine nut basil pesto, basil, and pecorino. The casual food hall atmosphere makes it especially easy to make an evening of it with a group of friends.

Best for Vegan & Gluten-Free Food

Purrista Cat Café
Purrista makes it easy to pair a coffee break with dietary-friendly treats, including vegan options and locally sourced baked goods. And, of course, you can add some adoptable cat time to your visit for an experience you won’t find anywhere else downtown.

Lavery Brewing Company
Lavery Brewing is a solid choice for diners looking for plant-based and gluten-free options alongside a craft beer. Its food menu goes beyond traditional pub fare, making it easy for groups with different dietary preferences to find something to enjoy.