Wilkes-Barre +
Food
Curly Creme Soft Ice Cream
244 S River Stridiculously good soft serve, Memorial to Labor Day
Stan's Cafe
107 Hillside Stterrific local Italian restaurant
Sanitary Bakery
126 E Ridge Stgreat local bakery; no idea how they picked the name
Grateful Roast Cafe and Coffee Roaster
75 North Market Streetgreat local coffee and sandwiches
Common Grounds Caffe
166 W Union Stlocal coffee shop serving Electric City Roasting Co (from Scranton)
Pour
53 N Main Stlocal coffee shop serving La Colombe
Letts Eat
78 S Main Stgreat local Indian food, BYOB
terrific local Mediterranean has outdoor seating and is BYOB inside the restaurant... kunefe dessert is so good
7 habitants recommandent
İstanbul grill
40 S Main Stterrific local Mediterranean has outdoor seating and is BYOB inside the restaurant... kunefe dessert is so good
Margarita Azul
91 Parrish StMy favorite local Mexican restaurant; great, large outdoor space.
Abe's Hot Dogs
419 S Main Stsuper low-key breakfast counter
Michael Mootz Candies
1246 Sans Souci Pkwygreat peanut butter meltaways
Super sweet little breakfast and lunch spot with great croissants and specials; I like the chicken salad sandwiches.
Something Special Bakery
23 W Walnut StSuper sweet little breakfast and lunch spot with great croissants and specials; I like the chicken salad sandwiches.
Peking Chef
184 S Wyoming Avebest Chinese in the area
Pizza Heaven
352 Bennett StNicest people ever; this is my favorite fried crust pizza and wings in the area.
This is a great lunch-counter Mexican place in Scranton if you feel like driving a bit. BYO-tequila for margaritas.
Garibaldi Authentic Mexican Cuisine
309 N Main AveThis is a great lunch-counter Mexican place in Scranton if you feel like driving a bit. BYO-tequila for margaritas.
Revello's is a great Old Forge pizza place; 165 W Union St is a Kingston outpost. Old Forge is a town but also a pizza style particular to the area-- rectangular with a light crust served to-go in shirt boxes.
Revellos Pizza
Revello's is a great Old Forge pizza place; 165 W Union St is a Kingston outpost. Old Forge is a town but also a pizza style particular to the area-- rectangular with a light crust served to-go in shirt boxes.
Raw food / juices from an outside window or inside counter; outpost of their bigger location in Luzerne... great 'nucleus' juice (carrot, apple, lemon, ginger) and raw cookies. Super nice people.
Nucleus Raw Foods
67-69 Public SquareRaw food / juices from an outside window or inside counter; outpost of their bigger location in Luzerne... great 'nucleus' juice (carrot, apple, lemon, ginger) and raw cookies. Super nice people.
Thai Thai
41 S Main Sttotally decent local Thai restaurant
Amberdonia Bakery Wilkes-Barre
45 E Northampton Stgreat margherita pizza, treats and coffee
This is my favorite to-go slice downtown; you can also buy slice "credits" for homeless people.
Dino's Pizza Express
This is my favorite to-go slice downtown; you can also buy slice "credits" for homeless people.
Shopping
One of the largest architectural salvage yards in the country with high but negotiable prices; they have two stores in NYC, much cleaner / less interesting than this warehouse.
Olde Good Things
400 Gilligan StOne of the largest architectural salvage yards in the country with high but negotiable prices; they have two stores in NYC, much cleaner / less interesting than this warehouse.
My favorite garden center in the area-- not especially inexpensive for Wilkes-Barre, but still objectively cheap and very pretty to visit, just along the river.
Perennial Point
My favorite garden center in the area-- not especially inexpensive for Wilkes-Barre, but still objectively cheap and very pretty to visit, just along the river.
Really large and beautiful greenhouse about a half hour away; the drive to Berwick along the river is pretty, with some ok antique and flea market stops along the way.
Berlin's Greenhouses
6081 Park RdReally large and beautiful greenhouse about a half hour away; the drive to Berwick along the river is pretty, with some ok antique and flea market stops along the way.
Salvation Army
739 Sans Souci Pkwymy favorite local thrift
Volunteers of America Thrift
400 S Main Stanother great local thrift
Musical Energi
24 S Main Stgreat local record shop
Amazing local antique spot with a bunch of vendors; very easy to kill a couple hours here. I literally go shopping for things at Plains Antiques (as opposed to Target or something) b/c they're so likely to have whatever I need.
Plains Antiques and Home Furnishings
29 E Carey StAmazing local antique spot with a bunch of vendors; very easy to kill a couple hours here. I literally go shopping for things at Plains Antiques (as opposed to Target or something) b/c they're so likely to have whatever I need.
Parks & Nature
A good running path is over the Market St bridge and looping the park... Kirby Park &its (abandoned) zoo on the other side of the dike by the river were designed by Olmstead, but several floods have destroyed much of his original plan.
10 habitants recommandent
Kirby Park
160 Market StA good running path is over the Market St bridge and looping the park... Kirby Park &its (abandoned) zoo on the other side of the dike by the river were designed by Olmstead, but several floods have destroyed much of his original plan.
Swimming / bathing holes in the summer; follow tree marks for a great two mile mild hike in a circle along the stream.
62 habitants recommandent
Zone naturelle des Sept Baignoires
900 Bear Creek BlvdSwimming / bathing holes in the summer; follow tree marks for a great two mile mild hike in a circle along the stream.
Walk down to the river if you have time or loop the bridges and walk through the park on the other side of the river; in the summer, local teachers host yoga classes at the stretch of park between the Market and Pierce St bridges (10a on Saturdays).
River Common
133 N River StWalk down to the river if you have time or loop the bridges and walk through the park on the other side of the river; in the summer, local teachers host yoga classes at the stretch of park between the Market and Pierce St bridges (10a on Saturdays).
Parc d'État de Ricketts Glen
695 Pennsylvania 487beautiful trails to hike up waterfalls
Sightseeing
Outrageously beautiful building with a restored organ and fantastic musical director, who leads a choir for the 10:30am service on Sundays.
St Stephen's Episcopal Church
35 S Franklin StOutrageously beautiful building with a restored organ and fantastic musical director, who leads a choir for the 10:30am service on Sundays.
A repurposed Presbyterian church, our library was a 'mail-order' building by Renwick. Feels very much like Wilkes-Barre to me, with pretty glass floors in the upper floor stacks.
Osterhout Free Library
71 S Franklin StA repurposed Presbyterian church, our library was a 'mail-order' building by Renwick. Feels very much like Wilkes-Barre to me, with pretty glass floors in the upper floor stacks.
Keeps short hours, but a good place to find out what the deal is with Wilkes-Barre.
Luzerne County Museum
69 S Franklin StKeeps short hours, but a good place to find out what the deal is with Wilkes-Barre.
Sort of a strange listing, but if you're around during a weekday you can walk along the river to the County Courthouse. The art and architectural work in this building is unbelievable.
Luzerne County Court House
200 N River StSort of a strange listing, but if you're around during a weekday you can walk along the river to the County Courthouse. The art and architectural work in this building is unbelievable.
Movies and Theaters
closest movie theater, 5$ tickets on Tuesdays
11 habitants recommandent
RC Theatres - Wilkes Barre Movies 14
24 E Northampton Stclosest movie theater, 5$ tickets on Tuesdays
The Music Box Dinner Playhouse
196 Hughes Stold-school super local dinner theater spot
It's really a special treat to see local theater in this old art deco movie theater; one of the many 'little theater' local companies across America. Ours has been around since 1922.
Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre
537 N Main StIt's really a special treat to see local theater in this old art deco movie theater; one of the many 'little theater' local companies across America. Ours has been around since 1922.
art deco theater venue for bands etc, with independent and classic movies on Wednesday nights in the summertime
14 habitants recommandent
F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
71 Public Squareart deco theater venue for bands etc, with independent and classic movies on Wednesday nights in the summertime
Garden Drive In
20 US-11http://www.gardendrivein.com/
The Mahoning Drive-in Theater
635 Seneca Rdhttps://www.mahoningdit.com/
Circle Drive-In Theatre
https://circledrive-in.com/
Bars
Brewery in an old rectory open to to 9p ish most nights with tasting flights, large cans and four-packs to-go, outdoor area in good weather. Food is pretty good.
14 habitants recommandent
Breaker Brewing Company
787 East Northampton StreetBrewery in an old rectory open to to 9p ish most nights with tasting flights, large cans and four-packs to-go, outdoor area in good weather. Food is pretty good.
Converted garage with a simple menu of sharing plates and the best nearby cocktails, closed Tuesday and open for brunch on Sunday. About a twenty minute walk over the Market St bridge.
Canteen Park
22-24 Market StConverted garage with a simple menu of sharing plates and the best nearby cocktails, closed Tuesday and open for brunch on Sunday. About a twenty minute walk over the Market St bridge.
My favorite dive / neighborhood bar; third-generation family owned with good food and (usually) small live music acts on Fridays... this was an antique store for a while in the 90s, which you still get a sense of when you walk to the bathrooms in the back room.
Gober's Deco Lounge
My favorite dive / neighborhood bar; third-generation family owned with good food and (usually) small live music acts on Fridays... this was an antique store for a while in the 90s, which you still get a sense of when you walk to the bathrooms in the back room.
Carey's Pub
147 Division Stmy favorite late-night neighborhood dive bar
North End Tavern
553 N Main Stanother great local dive; will not be crowded, drafts will cost 1.50$
walkable bar with solid food and beer selection; pretty cheap, sometimes crowded, has a back patio
The Down Pour
119 S Main Stwalkable bar with solid food and beer selection; pretty cheap, sometimes crowded, has a back patio
Garage door face opens to Public Square in nice weather; screens at the bar for sports and ok food / beer selections. Be forewarned that smoking is allowed inside.
6 habitants recommandent
Franklin's
53 Public SquareGarage door face opens to Public Square in nice weather; screens at the bar for sports and ok food / beer selections. Be forewarned that smoking is allowed inside.
Groceries and Farmstands
local Italian butcher / grocery / sandwich counter; super sweet people, great selection of meats, chicken tenders are awesome, and they usually have cannolis by the register
Sabatelle's Market
114 S Main Stlocal Italian butcher / grocery / sandwich counter; super sweet people, great selection of meats, chicken tenders are awesome, and they usually have cannolis by the register
Respectable grocery store does a pretty good job on organic / gluten-free and wine-sake-beer selection; you will have to drive here as there isn't a safe walking path up the hill past Wilkes-Barre Boulevard.
15 habitants recommandent
Wegmans
220 Highland Park BlvdRespectable grocery store does a pretty good job on organic / gluten-free and wine-sake-beer selection; you will have to drive here as there isn't a safe walking path up the hill past Wilkes-Barre Boulevard.
Schiel's Family Market
30 Hanover Stclosest grocery store; walk is a little sketchy at night
one of two closest state-owned liquor stores (only place you can get hard alcohol in PA)
Fine Wine & Good Spirits
one of two closest state-owned liquor stores (only place you can get hard alcohol in PA)
House of Nutrition
50 Main Stterrific local health food store
local groceries and food to order; check their website for weekly prepared selections
Chic Chic Market
970 Wyoming Avelocal groceries and food to order; check their website for weekly prepared selections
The Back Mountain Farmers Market is in the parking lot here on Saturdays, July to October; slightly more upscale than the one in Wilkes-Barre .
Dallas High School
2030 Conyngham AveThe Back Mountain Farmers Market is in the parking lot here on Saturdays, July to October; slightly more upscale than the one in Wilkes-Barre .
For whatever reason, farmers markets around here start almost after strawberry season... you can get berries here before markets begin.
Dymonds Farm Market & Bakery
750 Main RdFor whatever reason, farmers markets around here start almost after strawberry season... you can get berries here before markets begin.
Larry O'Malia's Farm and Greenhouses
1125 N River Stvery sweet local greenhouse and farmstand
Farmers Market on Public Square, Thursdays from July through Thanksgiving. Pennsylvania has a lovely &diverse growing season.
Public Square
Public SquareFarmers Market on Public Square, Thursdays from July through Thanksgiving. Pennsylvania has a lovely &diverse growing season.
If you are here in June, CALL PUMPKIN HILL FARMS to see if they're allowing strawberry picking; they update their answering machine message every day. Ridiculously cheap, delicious strawberries.
Pumpkin Hill Produce Farms
250 Wapwallopen RdIf you are here in June, CALL PUMPKIN HILL FARMS to see if they're allowing strawberry picking; they update their answering machine message every day. Ridiculously cheap, delicious strawberries.
Dairy farm with milk in glass bottles, eggs, butters, ice cream, very pretty greenhouses, local groceries and kettle corn. There's also ducks and animals you can feed. Hillside keeps really good hours, until 8pm most nights.
11 habitants recommandent
Les terres à Hillside Farms
65 Hillside RdDairy farm with milk in glass bottles, eggs, butters, ice cream, very pretty greenhouses, local groceries and kettle corn. There's also ducks and animals you can feed. Hillside keeps really good hours, until 8pm most nights.