Restaurant in Ithaca, United States
Late-night Ithaca bar worth the stop.
Northstar Public House at 202 E Falls St is Ithaca's low-friction late-night option: casual, easy to book, and practical for groups or solo visits after standard dinner hours. It won't replace a food-first evening at Cafe Dewitt or Carriage House Cafe, but it fills a specific gap when you need a reliable bar kitchen later in the night. No dress code, no advance planning required.
If you're deciding between Northstar Public House and a spot like Ithaca Beer Co for a later evening out in Ithaca, the choice comes down to what kind of late-night experience you're after. Ithaca Beer Co leans heavily into the craft brewery format; Northstar Public House positions itself as a neighborhood bar and kitchen that keeps the kitchen running past standard dinner hours, which matters when you want actual food alongside your drinks after 9 PM.
For a first-timer, the address at 202 E Falls St puts you in the eastern part of Ithaca, walkable from the commons and Cornell-adjacent neighborhoods. That location makes it a practical landing spot after an evening on campus or downtown. The pub house format means you should arrive expecting a casual, unfussy room rather than a polished dining destination. Dress accordingly: there is no dress code to speak of, and anything beyond smart casual would feel out of place. If you're coming from a more formal dinner elsewhere in Ithaca and want to continue the night, this fits the bill without requiring a wardrobe rethink.
The leading time to visit is later in the week, Thursday through Saturday, when the room has energy but isn't necessarily packed to the point of being difficult. Earlier in the week, the crowd thins and the late-night atmosphere is more muted, which suits solo diners or pairs who want a quieter option over the kind of buzzing room you might find at Franco's Pizzeria on a Friday. For groups, a public house layout typically accommodates flexible table arrangements, making it functional for parties of four to six without needing a reservation far in advance. Booking here is easy, so this is not a plan-weeks-ahead situation.
What Northstar does not offer is a reason to travel specifically to Ithaca for the dining experience. If food is the primary goal of your trip, venues like Cafe Dewitt or Carriage House Cafe serve a more food-forward visit during daytime or early evening hours. Northstar's case is as a reliable, low-friction late-night option in a city where those are limited. That's a specific and useful role, even if it's not a destination meal. For more on what Ithaca's dining scene offers across the board, see our full Ithaca restaurants guide, and if you're planning overnight, check our full Ithaca hotels guide. If bars are the priority, our full Ithaca bars guide covers the full range.
Casual is the right call. No dress code applies, and the public house atmosphere means jeans and a t-shirt are perfectly appropriate. Overdressing would feel out of place.
A pub house layout generally handles groups of four to six without much difficulty. Booking is easy and advance planning isn't required weeks out, so groups can typically arrange a visit with short notice.
Yes, particularly mid-week when the room is quieter. A bar-format seat is practical for solo diners who want to eat and drink without feeling awkward at a table for one. For a livelier solo experience in Ithaca, Asian Noodle House is worth considering as an alternative for the meal itself.
For drinks with a craft beer focus, Ithaca Beer Co is the stronger destination. For food-led evenings, Cafe Dewitt and Carriage House Cafe both offer a more kitchen-forward experience. For late-night pizza specifically, Franco's Pizzeria is a direct competitor in the casual, later-hours slot.
Not the first choice. Without award recognition or a defined tasting experience, a special occasion calls for somewhere with more intentional dining, whether that's elsewhere in Ithaca or a destination-level restaurant like Le Bernardin in New York City. Northstar works for a celebratory round of drinks after a meal somewhere else.
Specific menu details are not confirmed in our data. As a public house, expect bar food staples alongside a drink selection. Confirm the current menu directly with the venue before visiting if food is a priority.
Come expecting a casual neighborhood bar rather than a dining destination. It earns its place as a late-night option in Ithaca, not as a food-first experience. Booking is easy, the room is unfussy, and it's most useful Thursday through Saturday when you want somewhere to continue an evening after dinner. For a fuller picture of what Ithaca offers, see our full Ithaca restaurants guide.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northstar Public House | Easy | ||
| Cafe Dewitt | Unknown | ||
| Carriage House Cafe | Unknown | ||
| Asian Noodle House | Unknown | ||
| Franco's Pizzeria | Unknown | ||
| Ithaca Beer Co | Unknown |
How Northstar Public House stacks up against the competition.
Casual is the right call. Northstar Public House on E Falls St reads as a neighborhood bar, not a cocktail lounge with dress expectations. Jeans and a jacket are more than fine. Leave the blazer at home.
Small to mid-size groups tend to work well at pub-format venues like this one. If you're bringing six or more, arrive early or call ahead if contact details become available — bar seating fills faster than expected on weekend nights in Ithaca's compact downtown.
A public house format is generally one of the more comfortable solo options in any city. Bar seating at 202 E Falls St gives you something to lean into — a drink, a game on screen, a conversation if you want one. It's a low-pressure solo stop compared to a sit-down restaurant.
Ithaca Beer Co is the most direct comparison for a casual drink with more of a brewery focus. Cafe Dewitt and Carriage House Cafe skew toward daytime and food-forward visits. Asian Noodle House and Franco's Pizzeria are better choices if eating is the priority over drinking.
Probably not the first choice for a milestone dinner or anniversary. A public house in Ithaca's Falls Street area suits a low-key birthday drink or post-event gathering better than a celebratory meal. For a proper occasion dinner, look elsewhere in Ithaca.
Specific menu details are not confirmed in available venue data for Northstar Public House. As a public house, draft beer and bar-standard food are the reasonable expectation. Ask staff what's on tap — that's usually the most reliable guide at this type of venue.
It's located at 202 E Falls St in Ithaca, putting it within easy reach of the downtown core. This is a casual neighborhood bar, not a destination dining spot — set expectations accordingly. If you're coming later in the evening, it competes directly with Ithaca Beer Co for the same crowd, so the choice is mostly about atmosphere preference.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
