The Distillery

The Distillery on Mount Hope Avenue is a bar and restaurant that has operated at 1142 Mount Hope Ave in Rochester, NY since 1980. It is the original location of what has grown into a multi-location restaurant group with additional spots in Victor and Henrietta. Branded as "Your Neighborhood Gathering Place," the Mt. Hope location anchors a stretch of Mount Hope Avenue near the University of Rochester and the historic Mount Hope Cemetery. The restaurant seats parties of up to 30 and serves both lunch and dinner daily.

The Distillery serves a diverse menu of American fare built around fresh ingredients. Standout items include:

• Wings and burgers
• Battered haddock
• Buffalo chicken sandwich
• Angus sirloin steak and shrimp
• Half-rack ribs

The beverage program features craft and local beers on tap — kept at 36–38 degrees for freshness — along with wines, martinis, and craft cocktails. The restaurant runs daily food specials, happy hour deals, and a Wine Down Wednesday promotion. Online ordering is available for pickup, and the kitchen also handles catering. A kids' menu and dietary accommodations for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free guests are offered.

The Distillery Mt. Hope is the founding location of the chain, open since 1980, and its center island bar remains the focal point of the room. The space is set up for sports viewing with high-definition TVs and a dedicated audio system, and it plays a steady rotation of classic rock. An outdoor deck provides seasonal patio seating. The restaurant also partners with local schools and nonprofits for fundraising events, reflecting its long-standing ties to the surrounding community.

Situated on Mount Hope Avenue in Rochester's 14620 zip code, The Distillery sits in a residential corridor between the University of Rochester campus to the west and Mount Hope Cemetery — one of the country's first municipal cemeteries — to the south. The neighborhood is walkable for university students and staff, and street parking is available along Mount Hope Avenue. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM, with the kitchen running until 10:30 PM.