Cobbs Hill - Rochester, NY Area Guide

Rochester purchased the land that now forms the Cobbs Hill neighborhood in 1914. The famous architect Alling DeForest, a colleague of the Olmstead brothers, designed parts of this scenic community. Much of the landscape and homes have retained their original charm to this day. One surprising fact about this neighborhood is that Cobbs Hill itself served as a POW camp for Italian prisoners during World War II.

Stop by the George Eastman House for a tour of sprawling gardens, historic architecture and antique home furnishings. George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, built his empire in Rochester. The house serves as a museum for photography and film. Numerous concerts, classes and workshops and other specialty events take place at this museum. During the summer, some of these events take place in the scenic gardens.

The restaurants in and around Cobbs Hill tend to be decently priced American-style cuisine. They consist mainly of cozy pubs and family restaurants.

A family-run restaurant, Ristorante Lucano cooks some of the most elegant meals in town. The Italian-language menu provides an authentic touch, and the owners often greet customers at the door, exuding noted Italian hospitality. Highlighted dishes include the fish specialties and the specialty pasta, such as the gnocchi. Ask for advice when choosing the best wine to pair with your meal. You may purchase wine by the glass, but the majority of the wine selection comes in bottles in the $50 to $100 range.

The Tap and Mallet bar and gastropub serves over 30 craft beers and upscale pub food for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The owners keep the beer selection rotating, so customers always have something new to try. Order the CLT, which comes loaded with smoked coconut, hummus and veggies. The bar also organizes events throughout the year such as quiz nights and beer tasting specials.

You need a car to get around any neighborhood in Rochester, including Cobbs Hill. Luckily, traffic rarely becomes a problem in the area. Public buses exist, but the frigid Rochester winter makes waiting for these infrequent buses brutal.

Accessing highways and expressways from Cobbs Hill takes just a minute, if that. Interstates 490 and 450 intersect at Cobbs Hill. New York State Route 31 also lies just a mile or so from Cobbs Hill proper.

Getting a cab or Uber ride doesn't take much effort. Just call ahead to arrange your ride as limited cabs exist in the city and they tend to stick to more central and lively sections of town.

Pedestrians and cyclists enjoy Cobbs Hill because of its easy access to trails and parks as well as tree-lined sidewalks. Riding on the main road can be a dodgy proposition as drivers unused to seeing cyclists on the streets make caution a must. Biking here remains more of a recreational activity than a means of transportation.

The free and open to the public Cobbs Hill Park has over 100 acres of green space, trails and recreational options for residents. The highest point at Cobbs Hill Park also present one of the best views of the entire city. Cobbs Hill Reservoir at the park's highest point has a trail for runners to jog around. The park also features a lake, athletic courts, sport fields and playgrounds. You may bring leashed dogs to this parks as well.

Compared to the New York City Metropolitan area, the cost of living in Rochester seems startlingly low for such a comfortable place to reside. Residents spend on average just $840 per month for rent in Cobbs Hill, one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Rochester proper. Cobbs Hill residents do tend to be more affluent than the rest of Rochester.

Residents rarely spend more than $6 on a beer at a local pub in Cobbs Hill, and prices often drop lower than that. Full meals here often cost less than $10. The price of gas in New York generally runs higher than the national average across the board. Unfortunately, Cobbs Hill provides no exception to the rule. Gas prices sit about 25 percent higher than the national average.

Residents head to the nearby Park Avenue for shopping. Boutiques and specialty shops line this avenue that stretches several miles long.

Parkleigh sells jewelry, accessories, personal care products, home goods and odds and ends. Visitors swarm this store on weekends, seeking their favorite brands such as Vera Bradley and Crabtree and Evelyn. Local artists feature their products at this store. Ample store space allows guests to meander their way around to find the perfect gift for someone or treat for themselves.

If you have a sweet tooth, just try to resist the temptation to try every item in Stever's, the local candy and chocolate shop on Park Avenue. Confectionery and chocolate line the shelves of this somewhat-cramped store in a historic turn-of-the-century home. Around since 1946, the continued success of Stever's assures its place in Rochester for years to come.

All groceries needs can be met at Wegman's. Residents of Rochester pride themselves on this local grocery store that has now become a chain across the Northeast region. Fresh produce, abundant aisles of products, excellent prepared meals and low prices help Wegman's continue to grow in Rochester and beyond.

Brighton Farmer's Market opens rain or shine on Sunday mornings from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., providing residents with a year-round place to get fresh, local produce and more. All the vendors bring food and wares from no more than 40 to 50 miles away from Rochester. The market also holds special events throughout the year, including the Green Energy Fair and Bike Day.