Hanover Square
Twinkling lights, brick walkways and roads, romantic dining and a bubbling fountain — charming, right?
That's Hanover. A delightful square recognized as the first commercial district in Syracuse, NY and listed on the National Register of Historic Districts with its 17 historical landmark buildings, including the Gridley Building (built in 1867), the Art Deco State Tower Building (1927), the Neo-Classical Flagship Securities Building (1896), and the flatiron Renaissance Revival Granger Block (1869).
Neighborhood Vibes
Hanover is an attractive and historically significant district with everything from cafes to pubs to loft living, restaurants, businesses and more.
Eat
Best Breakfasts + Brunch Spots
- Go savory with wood-fired bagels at Water Street Bagel Co. Load up your breakfast bagel with bananas, almond butter and raw honey drizzle, or opt for the Nice 'n Spicy breakfast sandwich chock full of jalapeños, fresh egg, Sriracha sauce and cottage bacon from The Piggery in Ithaca.
- Go sweet at The Sweet Praxis Bake Lab & Kitchen — a vegan-friendly hot spot for scones, croissants, muffins and macarons. Grab a cup of coffee and a cookie to compliment your morning routine, or go for the vegan doughnuts, voted the best ever by visitors and locals alike.
Best Afternoon Eats
- Get your afternoon or anytime java fix at Recess Coffee Downtown. Try something new with their turmeric latte or enjoy a nitro cold brew for that perfect caffeine punch.
- Grab lunch al fresco at The Fish Friar — known for the best lobster rolls in the city, with rotating craft beverages to compliment
- Located in the State Tower Building on the Water Street side, Storys is a weekday spot serving up tasty lunch specials like specials of the day, fresh salads, homemade soups and signature sandwiches.
Best Place for Pizza + Pints
- 26 craft brew taps and brick-oven pizza — Maxwells in the heart of Hanover Square offers up live music, pizza, pub and small plate menus, and a perfect place to meet up and hang with friends. Interested in booking a private event? Maxwells is the place to do it in Hanover Square! Their private event room is the perfect venue for bridal and baby showers, receptions, holiday parties, graduation and other life achievements, or a surprise gathering. Start planning your event today!
Best Supper Spots
- Make it a night to remember with a farm-to-table dining experience at Eden. Cooked over an aromatic wood fire, every dish is a true testament to the culinary arts and hyper-local cuisine. Known for their unique and offbeat menu, you can expect to plan your next visit over dessert.
- Situated on the first floor of Hanover's historic Gridley Building, Prime Steakhouse offers an exceptional upscale dining experience with some of the coolest seating in the city, both indoor and outside. Go for the Kona-crusted coffee rub NY strip, or the mouth-watering Cowboy bone-in rib-eye steak. And remember to grab a side of the lobster mac and cheese (you can thank us later).
Best Late Night Lounges
- If there's any place you want to be late into the evening, it's Hanover Square. Check out The Evergreen for craft beer, cocktails and wine, and grab a late night bite off of their full and late night menus.
- Check out "your neighborhood bar Downtown" at Wild Will's Saloon. Pouring daily drink specials like dollar drafts, $3 IPA Saturdays, happy hour and more, this tavern is conveniently located in the heart of Hanover and close to spacious off-street parking.
- Open 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Orbis Lounge offers a laid-back and contemporary nightlife vibe with over 20 draft beers on tap, live music and a variety of menu items for late night snacking.
Shop
Best Boutiques
- Projex 214 is a great spot to check out sophisticated menswear, including shoes, coats, shirts, pants, hats, gloves and more.
- One of the best gift shops in Downtown Syracuse, Mixed Methods is the place to go for unique, one-of-a-kind items. There's something for everyone in this elegant boutique — pottery, jewelry, glass, stationary, candles, all handmade by artists and small businesses, many of them local.
Best Salons
- Treat yourself at Artistry in Hanover, a full-service contemporary salon offering cut and color services, hair treatments, makeup and lash applications, waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures and more.
Play
Best Way to Get Outdoors
- Hanover Square is the perfect place to walk around and enjoy the district's distinct design at a leisurely pace. In the summer months, visitors enjoy the lively music and outdoor charm at the central plaza's fountain, and nearby Clinton Square is the perfect place to experience year-round fun outdoors in Syracuse.
Best Place for Family Fun
- On the outskirts of Hanover is the renowned Erie Canal Museum. Housed in the Syracuse Weighlock Building dating back to 1850, this TripAdvisor favorite shows visitors 200 years of Erie Canal history through interactive displays, hands-on exhibits, a full-size replica canal boat, narrative audio tracks and original artifacts.
Best Place for a Pint
- Kick off happy hour at Wolff's Biergarten. Voted the 2nd best soccer bar in America, this authentic Biergarten serves up German brews, brats and plenty of peanuts.
Explore The Neighborhood
A lively business and commercial neighborhood in Downtown Syracuse, Armory Square, once began as a busy industrial area which is now home to a flourishing shopping, entertainment and nightlife district surrounding the city's former Syracuse Armory.
Historic Clinton Square in Downtown Syracuse, NY boasts a beautiful panoramic of architecture from the 19th & early 20th centuries.
If savoring beautiful architecture and the arts are your thing, Columbus Circle and the surrounding Convention District are your gateway to some of the Syracuse’s most impressive attractions.
Downtown Syracuse offers plenty of accommodations to stay and explore the city’s finest restaurants, bars, boutiques, shops and activities.
Dubbed "The Neighborhood Within the City," Eastwood is a charming residential district with lots of things to do, places to eat, parks to stroll and streets to walk.
Eclectic, colorful and all around cool — Hawley-Green is a smaller district with big personality.
The Lakefront area of Syracuse is home to several unique neighborhoods, many within walking distance of each other and each showcasing restaurants, bars, breweries, hotels, trails and shops.
Don't let the neighborhood name fool you — Little Italy is a unique district within the city of Syracuse offering cuisine inspired by Italy, Asia, Europe, and more.
Parks, pubs, and much-loved bodegas — the South Side of Syracuse boasts an impressive catalog of city parks, international cuisine, taverns, corner stores, and beautiful historic homes.
Largely settled by immigrants from Ireland, the Tipperary Hill Neighborhood proudly showcases its Irish roots still to this day.
Welcome to Westcott neighborhood, a vibrant and trendy community in the city of Syracuse.
From vibrant village centers to peaceful lakeside communities, discover the welcoming towns that give Onondaga County its unmistakable charm.