A College Kid’s Guide to Syracuse
Hi! Welcome to Syracuse, New York. My name is Maddie Hunt, and I’m a Junior. I can assure you that this is a college town like no other. When most prospective college students hear the word “Syracuse,” they immediately run the other way at the thought of surviving the long snowy winters. I’m here to tell you that it’s truly not so bad, and it’s something you’ll learn to love. I can honestly say I’ve seen the best and worst of this city throughout my past three years. I’m here to report on only the best and assure you that this place is way more than it seems at first glance. I’m from Philadelphia, and I was honestly terrified coming to school my freshman year. I felt like everyone from the tristate area already knew one another and would not be welcoming to outsiders. However, as soon as I got my bearings around campus, I fell in love with the people almost as much as I fell in love with the place. Syracuse offers some of the most underrated eats and things to do. Your official University tour guide may mention some of the classics, but I hope that this guide will highlight the hidden gems you can find in and around Syracuse.
Downtown — Armory Square
When you’re on campus, it can be easy to forget that you live about five minutes away from the heart of the city. The city of Syracuse gets a bad rep, but downtown and off-campus, you can find some of the best restaurants you’ve never heard of, whether you’re going out to treat yourself on a Saturday night or getting it DoorDashed right to your dorm room. Not to mention, there are plenty of desirable places to go for a day trip on a sunny fall day or a snowy winter afternoon.
Where to Eat: Picture this—it’s Sunday morning. You have a full day of homework ahead and need some BEC fuel after a late night. Your destination should be Waterstreet Bagel Co. While all of your friends from New Jersey will argue until they’re blue in the face that nothing beats an NJ bagel, this small business is as close as you’re going to get. If you’re looking for a fun Saturday brunch spot, Rise N Shine Diner is the place to go. You’ll need to call ahead early if you want a table, but it’s worth the wait. Also, make sure you treat yourself to one of their over-the-top milkshakes. I promise you; it’s also worth it.
Now let’s talk lunch. There is an excellent Italian deli called Thanos Import Market. This place is the definition of a dive. Still, here you can find great quality classic Italian sandwiches, and of course, an Italian deli experience wouldn’t be complete without an order of rainbow cookies. If you’re hungry for a New York slice and looking to share a pie with your friends, call Mario & Salvo’s Pizza. This strip mall pizzeria is by far the best slice I’ve ever had in Syracuse, dare I say the best slice I’ve ever had in New York (p.s. - they’ll deliver to you if you call them directly). Finally, if you and your friends simply cannot agree on anything to save your lives, I recommend Salt City Market. After much delay from the pandemic, this brand-new, state-of-the-art food hall finally had its grand opening in January 2021. Downtown Syracuse is an incredibly diverse place, and the goal of this market was to bring together all of the hidden pockets of food and culture. They have twelve vendors (and are growing) ranging from Middle Eastern food to Caribbean cuisine, Asian to Soul to bakery sweets, and more. This beautiful facility is an enjoyable place to go any afternoon, and you are sure to find something that satisfies everyone.
When it comes to dinner, Syracuse has seriously done some work in this department. A few years ago, Syracuse’s dining game was not even comparable to what it is now. I don’t know about you, but I take pasta very seriously, and some of the best homemade pasta I have ever had in my life is from Pastabilities. This may be considered one of Syracuse’s more mainstream spots, but rightfully so. Their spicy hot tomato oil is a Syracuse staple, oh, and remember Thanos? I forgot to mention; they use Pastabilities’ infamous stretch bread for all of their sandwiches. Pastabilities supplies their bread to different restaurants throughout the entire city. Oh My Darling is another excellent spot with unique dishes and great ambiance. Need a fun GNO destination? XO Taco is the place. This is your classic fun Mexican restaurant with 10/10 nachos, churros, and vibes. But beware, on a Tuesday or Friday night, it can get a bit facey. Lastly, need a scoop after dinner? Head to Gannon’s Isle Ice Cream for an old-fashioned creamery that will be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
What to Do: People often think of Syracuse as a “grey” city, but if you’re willing to drive about 25 minutes, you will find Green Lakes State Park. The rich greenery and forestry at this park have walking trails around the two natural glacial lakes. If you’re not sure what that means, something about the water makes the lake shine bright blue all year round. About 30 more minutes down the road, you will come across the cute lake town of Skaneateles. This is a town of mostly summer homes, but the downtown is filled with antique mom-and-pop shops, local restaurants and is complete with a boardwalk right on the water.
By the way, if your split ends are becoming out of control, you can get the best haircut of your life from Brian at Indigo Salon (not sponsored, he’s just amazing). I’ve only let one person ever cut my hair my whole life, so I’m a harsh critic, but Brian blew me out of the park and is easily the most reliable man I’ve met in my time at Syracuse, lol.
Where to Shop: I hate to say it, but Syracuse is not the shopping capital of New York. It is home to Destiny USA mall, about a ten-minute drive from campus, the largest shopping mall in New York. You can go here to catch a movie or find all of your classic mall shops and restaurants. One unique store downtown is Scholars & Champs, which sells one-of-a-kind vintage, custom SU apparel.
On-Campus
Even though the University consists of about 15,000 students, you’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know on your walk to class. Campus tends to feel a lot smaller than it is, which really drew me to Syracuse and made me feel at home. This is partially because the campus has so much to offer—the places where students congregate will always make you feel comfortable, and you’ll see familiar faces no matter where you go.
Where to Eat: Right on campus, the most popular place students go for coffee, lunch, or dinner is Marshall Street. The best part about Marshall St. is that you can walk just about five minutes from anywhere on campus and don’t have to pay a delivery fee (unless it’s snowing or you’re feeling extra lazy). Right off of University Ave., this street is home to all of the college town classics (i.e., Chipotle, Insomnia, Starbucks vs. Dunkin). But, it’s also home to places you’ll only know if you’re a Syracuse student. You can find great and inexpensive Mediterranean food at King David’s like chicken kabobs, hummus, and spanakopita. At Faegan’s Pub, you can sit and have a great cup of french onion soup or a warm sandwich with fries. At Varsity, after fun a day of tailgating, you can get just about anything greasy your heart desires. Finally, and arguably most importantly, Acropolis will serve as your late-night spot to get mozzarella sticks and a slice (I’ve learned from the native New Yorkers in my friend group to order a slice with cold cheese, trust me).
Another place right on campus to get lunch is Faculty, found in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center, next to Bird Library. You can use your SU dining dollars here, which is something I wish I knew as soon as I got to ‘Cuse. They have delicious salads and sandwiches and are the only place on campus where they serve stretch bread (hi, Pastabilities!).
I need at least two coffees per day to keep me going through a full day of class. Head to People’s Place Cafe, which you can find right in the center of the quad underneath Hendrick’s Chapel for your mid-day pick me up. This student-run, non-profit coffee shop also has bagels, baked goods, sandwiches, and more sourced directly from local businesses each day. (BTW - unfortunately, I am sad to report that we are a Pepsi campus, but People’s Place is the only place where you can get a Diet Coke!!!)
ATTENTION FRESHMEN: If you are blessed to live on the Mount in either Day or Flint Hall, you have the dangerous luxury of The Junction being only an elevator ride away. This late-night fast food spot that accepts dining dollars makes up for climbing the mount steps multiple times a day to get to your dorm (if you know, you know). Head down to The Junction late at night for a milkshake, onion rings, or anything else you just have to have after 10 pm.
What to Do: One of my favorite things about Syracuse is that you can genuinely tell the University is taking all of the hard work its students put in and giving back to give the best possible experience. Just over the past two years, there have been more campus renovations than I can count. First is the beautiful Barnes Center at The Arch, which opened in the Fall of 2019. Not only is this home to the health center, on-campus pharmacy, and counseling center, but this brand new gym and wellness center is equipped with hundreds of workout machines, a rock-climbing wall, basketball courts, an indoor track, a pool, ping pong tables, group fitness classes, an esports gaming room, a juice bar and more. I have to say the best part about the Barnes center, though, is the pet therapy room. Feeling stressed? Go pet a puppy. You can’t do much better than that.
The other main renovation that took place over the last year was the Schine Student Center, opening back up in the Spring of 2021. The new center’s main goal was to promote and celebrate inclusion and intersectionality on our campus, which can be seen through the dozens of articulate murals in hallways and stairwells. I’m still exploring all of the hidden nooks and crannies of this redesigned building, but this is a prime study and lounge spot where you are sure to run into Otto the Orange. You can get your favorite Syracuse merch at the bookstore, get lunch at the brand new food court filled with Syracuse faves, like Corelife Eatery, and get coffee at the Dunkin using your dining dollars all in one place. The Hall of Languages’ view, standing since 1873, from the top floor, called Panasci, is stunning on a snowy afternoon.
Now, I know Syracuse is famous for the harsh winters, and I’m not going to lie, the snow is pretty relentless. Suppose you’re looking for some classic winter activities and want to go sledding; no need to risk driving in the snow. It might sound corny, but the hill under the Crouse building (also known as Hogwarts) right in the center of campus is even steeper than it looks. Or take the five-minute bus ride to South campus and visit the Tennity Ice Pavilion to skate for free with your student ID. After the long winter, you’ll find that when Spring rolls around, you appreciate the sunshine that much more. There’s nothing quite like Thornden Park, the best spot for a picnic once the temperature reaches above 60 degrees.
With these tricks, tips, and best practices, I hope that you will fall in love with Syracuse just as much as I did. Whenever someone from another school tries to give me a hard time about the weather or the city or the lack of things to do smack in the middle of New York, I’ve learned to shrug it off. What they’ll never know is that this place is so much more than it seems, and you’ll never truly understand it unless you’re a Syracuse student. The orange pride and spirit that everyone here shares is inexplicable, and it’s something I could not find at any other school. I would do anything to go back and start it all over again from day one freshman year, which, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to do yourself.
