For Foodie Fun with Taste Buds
Taste Tapas
Graze on small plates of divine house-made pastas like goat cheese manicotti with caputo curd, lemon and gremolata or beef tartare with quail eggs.
Or go for the gusto with a truffle bucatini entree. Refresh your palate with DIY gin, Purple Rain or Twitterpated cocktails. -CK /Tutoni's TT Bar & Tapas/108 N. George St., York, PA/tutonis.com/717-885-5169
Well Nested
This landmark overlooking York has housed a few business ventures since 1937. The Eagles Nest reopened in 2008, and the people of York have been enjoying the views of the panoramic windows and the American/Mediterranean fare ever since. The best way to enjoy the view is on a Friday night with live music and martini in hand. -BB /The Eagles Nest/2519 Mount Rose Ave., York, PA/eaglesnestyork.com/717-755-8095
Brews and Views
Settle in with an original Barn Dog Chocolate Vanilla Imperial Porter at scenic Wyndridge Farm, where the tap offerings are original and seasonal. Find fireplaces indoors and out and a gift shop, plus a rotating dinner menu featuring specialties like New Zealand lamb, steelhead trout and brick-fired pizza. -CK /Wyndridge Farm/885 S. Pleasant Ave., Dallastown, PA/wyndridge.com/717-244-9900
Guadalajara image by Paul Martin, The Premise Studio
Pretty Please with Salt On Top
When you sit down at Guadalajara, authentic Mexican eats and friendly service can be expected. Also expect your mouth to water when you catch sights of the “guac cart” traveling from table to table to make fresh guacamole with your favorite ingredients. To complete the experience, wash down your guacamole concoction and homemade tortilla chips with a margarita. Opt for the added bonus of a cold Corona melting into your margarita glass; it’s dangerously refreshing. -BB /Guadalajara/2600 E. Market St., York, PA/717-751-0394
Bistro Bliss
This in-vogue restaurant offers Friday night gourmet dinners plus crazy-good breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Savor Jazzy Java coffee-rubbed filet mignon with bourbon glaze; ratatouille ravioli with pesto; or She put the Lime in the Coconut (grilled Australian sea bass, shrimp-lime-coconut sauce and heart of palm risotto). -CK /Tapenade Bistro/2509 S. Queen St., York, PA/717-741-1234
Cabin on the Creek
Where the Conewago Creek and the Susquehanna River meet is a fine dining hidden gem in a causal, cabin-like atmosphere. For a laid back brunch or dinner, make reservations for a seat on the screened-in porch, order a glass of sangria with seasonal fresh fruit and try something off the “Fresh Blue Crab Menu.” -BB /Conewago Inn/3480 York Haven Road, Manchester, PA/conewagoinn.com/717-266-1376
Peachy Keen
Go local with this cool ice cream spot. They make their own in addicting flavors. There’s nothing like a fresh peach milkshake...with the orchard right down the street. -CK /Perrydell Farm & Dairy/90 Indian Rock Dam Road, York, PA/perrydellfarm.com/717-741-3485
Get Drunk Off the Views
People come for the wine but get drunk off the views. In a French country chateau nestled atop a hillside overlooking the Susquehanna River, Moon Dancer Winery offers a diverse range of reds and whites, as well as brick oven pizza. Visit for a picnic, a tasting and tour or a special occasion to explore the on-site vineyards and to sip on the views of the PA countryside. -KY /Moon Dancer Vineyards and Winery/1282 Klines Run Road, Wrightsville, PA/moondancerwinery.com/717-252-9463
Canoe to Puerto Rico
York loves this authentic, family-owned Puerto Rican place where you can sample yummy Canoas de Platanos Maduros, a fried plantain “canoe” stuffed with ground beef and cheese. Warning: You’ll need this comfort food fix again. They’re famous for their Cuban sandwiches and their friendly attitude, too. A real neighborhood restaurant. -CK /Mi Caldero/605 S. George St.,York, PA/facebook.com/micaldero/717-854-1628
Teriyaki burger atop charred pineapple with avocado and wasabi peas—just one of the best burgers in town.
A Sidewalk Beer
There’s something about enjoying a beer on the sidewalk of West Market and Beaver Streets that just feels right. Downtown York’s only taproom, The Holy Hound Taproom—voted York’s best craft beer spot, best neighborhood bar and best place to dance—features 30 rotating craft beers on tap, delicious burgers and live music. Plus, their roped-off outdoor area is perfect for First Fridays, because you can spectate all of the Beaver Street happenings, beer in hand. Insider tip: Tuesdays are “BYOV” – bring your own vinyl. -BB /The Holy Hound Taproom/57 W. Market St., York, PA/holyhoundtaproom.com/717-855-2410
The Buzz
Sip a pear ginger hibiscus, the top seller, or a Buzz Armstrong egg cream soda at the Fizzy Bee in Central Market, reader-voted best farmers market. “Soda Jerk” Andrew Barnes of next-door hot spot The Busy Bee,York’s best farmers market stand, is always thinking up something ridiculous, and it’s all good. -CK /The Fizzy Bee/busyfizzybeez.com/717-825-0866
Totally Twisted
We all know York is the snack food capital. York City Pretzel Company celebrates that identity with its small-batch, hand-twisted soft pretzels made in the style of York’s German roots. Stop by for lunch, an on-the-go snack or a factory tour. -KY /York City Pretzel Company/39 W. Market St., York, PA/www.yorkcitypretzelcompany.com/717-467-3556
Amazin’ Glazin’
Glazin’ is known for making a special doughnut for every occasion, holiday or pop culture phenomenon; we know that no matter what made-from-scratch and locally-sourced treat they come up with next, we’ll be delightfully surprised. While coffee and doughnuts are the perfect pair, here you can try chasing your sweet treat with a beer. -BB /Glazin'/101 South Duke St., York, PA/www.glazin.com/717-430-6745
Amor and Amore
When you can’t decide between Mexican, Italian and a brewpub, there’s only one place to go. Mexitaly is a York hotspot and a Style staff favorite. We know from experience: if you want to be the office’s favorite person, bring in a Mexitaly Pizza, a brick oven pizza with salsa, chorizo (Mexican sausage), cheese and beans topped with sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo. Insider tip: stop in on a Friday or Saturday night for live entertainment. -BB /Mexitaly/2440 E. Market St., York, PA/mexitaly.com/717-600-8226
The Susquehanna’s Neighbor
You can enjoy the beauty of the Susquehanna River without diving in when you visit its neighbor, John Wright Restaurant. The riverfront restaurant is open all year, but the outdoor dining fun only happens in the warmer months when the sun is shining down on the yellow patio umbrellas, so visit soon. Check the live music calendar and make plans to enjoy a wood-fired pizza (the True Margherita Pizza is a fave) and a Wyndridge Cider draft on the pizza patio. -BB /John Wright Restaurant/234 N. Front St.,Wrightsville, PA/jwrpa.com/717-252-0416
Distilling Spirit
York County’s first distillery since prohibition, Old Republic Distillery handcrafts small-batch spirits, resourcing local farmers and agriculture as much as possible. Each spirit honors a York native or landmark, such as Apple Pie Moonshine, which is made from locally grown apples and celebrates the York County Colonial Court House hosting Thomas Paine, John Hancock, John Adams and others when York served nine months as the nation’s capital. -KY /Old Republic Distillery/1327 N. Duke St., York, PA/drinkord.com/717-885-5095
Brunch Bucket List
Combine fancy southern comfort food, crafty cocktails and being downtown, and what’s not to brunch about? Add Otto’s Kitchen and Cocktails to your brunch bucket list, voted York’s best cocktails and best new business of 2015. We recommend the steak and eggs: coffee-rubbed flank steak, hollandaise sauce, russet potato hash browns and poached eggs. -BB /Otto’s Kitchen and Cocktails/19 N. George St., York, PA/ottosyork.com/717-747-1922
Pinch Me
Summer months inspire the selection of any dish that has the word “crab.” The Paddock on Market’s succulent lump crab cakes fulfill, and exceed, summer cuisine dreams. Insider tip: if you want to try the crab cakes but you’re looking for lighter fare, try the jumbo lump stuffed giant portobello off the small plates menu. It features the same delicious crab cake you’ll find doubled as an entree, on a deliciously tender Pennsylvania mushroom. -BB /The Paddock on Market/3406 E. Market St., York, PA/thepaddockonmarket.com/717-755-7300
2 Foodie Events
Line Up
What The Food Trucks is the ultimate neighborhood and foodie event with 20,000 people, 40 food trucks and carts, local merchants, live music and Treasure Island (A.K.A beer) on Sunday, September 4, at 11 a.m. at Penn Park. -BB /What the Food Trucks/College Avenue, Pershing and Lafayette Streets, York, PA/whatthefoodtrucks.com/717-814-8087
My Kitchen is YorKitchen
Save the date for the YorKitchen Showcase on September 15, an evening of food (and more food) music and wine to celebrate entrepreneurs whose business began or expanded with the assistance of YorKitchen, a shared, commercial kitchen that is available to rent by residents of York and the surrounding areas. -BB /YorKitchen/37 W. Clarke Ave., York, PA/yorkitchen.com/showcase/717-814-8879
To Market, to Market
Feel-Good Groceries
Leg Up Farmers Market, a farmers market and grocery store, is a feel-good experience in more ways than one. Your body will feel good after shopping from their all-natural products because they serve only the healthiest, most nutritious prepared foods available. And the icing on the cake (chemical-free icing of course) is that this market supports a local nonprofit, the Leg Up Farm family. Efforts of this nonprofit include the Leg Up Farm, a therapy center in York for children with special needs, and Able-Services, which provides day program services for adults with special needs. -BB /Leg Up Farmers Market/3100 N. George St., York, PA/legupfarmersmarket.com/717-893-5998
In With The New
East York residents know to expect a little extra traffic on Fridays when New Eastern Market is open. Locals flock to the market for fresh produce, seafood, meats, baked goods and specialty goods. If you haven’t visited recently, it’s worth the stop. Be tempted by double chocolate brownie samples at All About Brownies (warning: you’ll probably end up bringing a pie-sized brownie home; they’re addicting). Try one of the flavor-packed veggie dishes at Maggie’s Gyros and get a doughnut for dessert from Maple Donuts, York’s best doughnuts. -BB /New Eastern Market/201 Memory Lane, York, PA/neweasternmarket.com/717-755-5811
Timeline Arcade image by Paul Martin, The Premise Studio
Things to Do, Family in Tow
Blast from the Past
When was the last time you played a classic pinball machine? When was the first time you lifted your kids up so they could see the colorful, mesmerizing designs of an arcade game? Arcades are the places of memories, so take the family to Timeline Arcade, downtown York’s newest game playground! Or, if you’re looking for an adult date night that will make you feel like a twenty-something again, enjoy a glass of American Hero from Liquid Hero, York's best brewery, go to the arcade to play your heart out and walk across the street for a pork sandwich at Baron Von Schwein, voted best barbecue and best food truck. -BB /Timeline Arcade/54 W. Market St., York, PA/timelinearcade.net/717-894-5956
Escape The Heat
When it’s too hot to get outdoors, but you promised the kids an adventure, Escape Games Live is the perfect way to escape the summer heat. Escape Games Live locks you in a room where you have to follow clues to get out, literally. Their newest room, Mojo’s Museum, was designed with kids ages 8 to 13 in mind. The room is a combo theme of circus, Vegas and science museum, and players will have fun sorting through clues to escape Professor Bo Mojo! Adults can join in, watch from a camera or try to escape a room of their own. -BB /Escape Games Live/147 W. Philadelphia St., York, PA/escapegameslive.com/717-870-4033
6 Unique Events
Rock On
The Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival returns to The York Emporium on August 29 with 14 bands on two stages for a day-long blues and rock festival. A section of West Market Street will be closed and filled with vendors, food trucks and, most uniquely, cigar box guitars. -BB /Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival/www.downtownyorkpa.com/717-849-2331
Fashion Passion
A week of activities devoted to the prettiest of all passions, fashion. From August 30 to September 3, get fall-fashion-ready at the fifth annual York City Boutique Week, with fashion-centered fun like the trends luncheon and annual fashion show. -BB /York City Boutique Week/www.downtownyorkpa.com/yorkcityboutiqueweek/717-849-2331
Pedal to the Party
Motorcycle drivers, Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and fun-seeking locals alike can be found downtown for this street party. Save the date for Bike Night on September 23 for an evening of live entertainment on multiple stages, a motorcycle parade and food vendors. -BB /Bike Night/www.yorkcity.org/bikenight
More Reasons to TGIF
If you haven’t been downtown for a Fifth Friday, you should go! On months that have five Fridays, five selected bars downtown will have $5 bar menus and fun drink specials. September 30th, we’re ready…High five to that! -BB /Fifth Fridays/www.facebook.com/yorkcitydining
Fundraiser in Disguise
Downtown Inc is a nonprofit that serves the public through economic development, promotions, place-making and public safety. They are the hands behind many downtown happenings. Support Downtown Inc at the Masquerade Ball in October. Black tie is optional; masks are not. -BB /Downtown Inc’sMasquerade Ball/www.downtownyorkpa.com/masqueradeball/717-849-2331
Beef & Baseball In Style
Want a great meal before a Rev game? Head to White Rose (York’s best casual date spot, bar food, brunch and business lunch spot) and enjoy surf and turf on hot rocks or a grilled chicken Caesar. Then let White Rose chauffeur you to the stadium and back. Cheer every time the York Revolution’s (York’s best sports team) cannon fires for home runs. -CK /White Rose/48 N. Beaver St./whiterosebarandgrill.com/717-848-5369/PeoplesBank Park/5 Brooks Robinson Way/yorkrevolution.com/717-801-4487
Outdoor Adventures
Namapaddle
Love yoga? All about SUP (stand-up paddleboarding)? Or do you want to try something completely new? Join York’s best yoga studio, Ignite Power Yoga of York, as yogis put their balance to the test and practice on water with Shank’s Mare on August 19 and September 8. -BB /Shank’s Mare/2092 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA/shanksmare.com/717-252-1616
A Tail of Trails
Whether you’re searching for a day-long adventure or just a way to spend an afternoon, there’s a rail trail for that. If you’re looking for a day full of biking, hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing or cross country skiing alongside active railroad tracks, check out the Heritage Rail Trail County Park, the most popular rail trail section that extends 21 miles from York City to the Mason-Dixon Line. If an afternoon of leisure walking, running or biking about five miles while getting in tune with nature is more your style, try the northern extension of the trail that runs from York City to Emigsville along the Codorus. And soon you won’t have to choose between the two because ongoing construction plans to connect the two sections. Insider tip: look for the active bald eagle nest by the Route 30 parking lot of the northern extension. -BB /yorkcountytrails.org
Bees and Turtles and Trails, Oh My
How close can you get to a working honey bee hive? Really, really close. Here, you’re totally safe but just inches away from the secret inner workings of a live hive. Plus turtles, trails and tons more. -CK /Richard Nixon Park/5922 Nixon Dr., York, PA/yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/richard-nixon-park.html/717-428-1961
Scenic Serenity
Bring your own kayak or paddleboard to this quiet, beautiful spot. Come early enough and spot a bald eagle or hear the haunting cry of a loon in the mist. -CK /Lake Williams/Water St., Jacobus, PA/jacobuspa.com/parksandrecreation/wmhkainyorkcopark.html
High Priority
If we had to vote on the best view of the Susquehanna River in York, this place would rate high on the list, pun intended. Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area is a 79-acre scenic meadowland located on top of a hill overlooking the Susquehanna River, and we can’t think of a prettier place to have a picnic. -BB /Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area/1199 Hilts Road/yorkcountypa.gov
Artsy Types
Coloring & Cocktails
Prime Art Supply’s Coloring & Cocktails events may be the truest definition of relaxation. Guests can bring their own coloring utensils and wine or take advantage of Prime’s coloring utensils and a signature cocktail. These events are held at CoWork155 on West Market Street and attendees are asked to donate $5 to CoWork155. -KY /Prime Art Supply/128 E. King St., York, PA/primeartsupply.com/443-280-1573
Small STAR Art House
One of the newest art spaces in the WeCo neighborhood is showing feature-length independent, documentary and foreign films. Small STAR Art House is open for public viewings, private screenings, parties and corporate meetings to show edgy and important films on their release date. -KY /Small STAR Art House/232 W. Market St., York, PA/smallstaryork.com/717-885-9134
Birthday Party at the River
Join local artists, outdoor organizations and historical groups to celebrate Shank’s Mare’s 38th anniversary at their sixth annual Art & Outdoor Fest on August 6 with live music. -BB /Shank's Mare/2092 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA/shanksmare.com/717-252-1616
Throw Down
Clay Path Studio hosts classes for both kids and adults such as wheel throwing and hand building pottery. Youth hand building classes are perfect for birthday parties and scout badges, while adults may be more interested in Wine and Wheel, an event for guests to bring their own wine and snacks while learning the basics of wheel throwing. Six-session and ten-session courses are also available. -CK /Clay Path Studio/33 W. Market St., York, PA/claypathstudio.com/717-559-0223
Hidden Treasures
In September, JJ Scheffer and Representative Kevin Schreiber will lead a walking tour through York’s artistic treasures. They will discuss the history and culture of York City while showing off new art spaces and creations of local artists. -KY /Hidden Art Walking Tour /downtownyorkpa.com/downtownincevents/hiddenarttour/717-849-2331
Sip and Sing
Be brave at Open Mic Night. Try out a new song at either place. At Brown’s, enjoy a cider slushy or sample New Grounds’ Chai Charger. -CK /Brown’s Orchards & Farm 8892 Susquehanna Trail South brownsorchards.com/717-428-2036 Market and New Grounds Roasting Co. 284 W. Market St., York, PA/newgroundscoffee.com/717-843-0716
See a Show
Catch an indie show at Cap Live with intimate shows at the smaller of the two gold-leafed venues, like Sarah McLachlan performing August 1. October 17 hosts an evening with David Sedaris and October 21 with Arlo Guthrie. Big Head Todd and the Monsters take the stage with several other bands November 12. -CK /Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center/50 N. George St., York, PA/mystrandcapitol.org/in-the-capitol/caplive/717-846-1111
Have a Ghost Moment
Dig in at “date night” pottery classes at Creative York (formerly Yorkarts). Friends count, too. Clay & Cocktails also available, as well as stop motion animation, felting workshops and even a global culinary series. -CK /Creative York/10 N. Beaver St., York, PA/creativeyork.org/717-848-3200
Bridge Bust
On Saturday, October 1, over 300 vendors will set up on the Route 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge between Wrightsville and Columbia to showcase arts, antiques, crafts and more. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bridge Bust offers a look at local, handmade items, as well as diverse options of food vendors. Parking and shuttle service is free, while admission is $2 for adults, $1 for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for kids under 6. -KY /462 Veterans Memorial Bridge/parivertowns.com/m/events/view/Bridge-Bust-Saturday/717-684-5249
By Bri Burkhart, Cindy Kalinoski & Kaila Young | Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer