Go west to Ellicottville for some good eats, mountainous thrills
Allegany resort town offers more than ski slopes
One of my favorite spots throughout my New York travels is the village of Ellicottville, located in the southwest part of the New York state, not too far from St. Bonaventure in Olean. It really gives you those cozy, wintery vibes of the All– located near the Holiday Valley Resort – and there is much to indulge in, even when the weather starts warming up.
Checking into The Tamarack
6447 Holiday Valley Road Spring for a suite at the Tamarack Hotel. There’s a kitchen, a full fridge, a living room with a cozy fireplace, a balcony with big windows overlooking the slopes and a Jacuzzi tub in the room. There is also a bonfire pit within walking distance of the slopes and a pool/hot tub area. In addition to the two hot tubs the Tamarack also turned its indoor-outdoor pool (a partition that you can walk through separates the inside and outside pool areas) into one giant hot tub so you can swim in the steamy water, enjoying the snow-covered trees and slopes. They also have valet, and you can’t beat the location near trails and off of Route 219.
Where to eat
The BANQ Cocktails and Lounge (9 Washington St.)
Built in an old bank, with features like vintage design elements to the lock boxes back in the vault, this place is worth a stop. The Hot Verde cocktail with jalapeno-infused tequila, green chartreuse, lime and agave was incredible. If you order a shot, it comes in an antique tea cup; a different vibe than usual to shoot back your tequila. Dina's (15 Washington St.) Lunch began with the olive crostini. The tapenade was loaded with plump tomatoes, fresh Parmesan, garlic and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.the blackened mahi-mahi tacos were loaded up with cilantro lime aïoli, slaw and pico de gallo. Don't leave without housemade desserts, at least to go. We ordered a lemon bar and a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie was crispy on the outside and doughy in the middle. The lemon bar was just slightly tart, with a creamy, custardy texture.
West Rose (23 Washington St.)
I had a feeling West Rose would blow us away, seeing the renown of the Grange Community Kitchen, their sister restaurant based in Hamburg, Erie County. The ambience was warm and cozy and the cocktail menu amazing. Throughout the evening I tried Sweatin’ to the
Oldies Vol. 2 (tequila, ancho chile, liqueur, orgeat, lime, fresno chilis, bitters) and the Venus Flytrap (gin, lillet, lemon, suze, honey, prosecco). We started with the fresh daily oyster selection.
The three-cheese fondue was a great starter, served with salami, cornichons, Honeycrisp apples and housemade focaccia with whipped ricotta and Calabrian chile. The main course was pan-seared halibut and one of the delicious wood-fired pizzas, half three-cheese and half mushroom. For the sweets, we indulged in their light, fluffy, poppyseed cheesecake with lemon curd. The West Rose is known for its cinnamon rolls, and bake-at-home versions they
sold during COVID have been extremely popular. We grabbed one of those, as well, and baked them once we got home.
What to do Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster
I’ve ridden mountain coasters before, and they’re a blast. Instead of a traditional coaster with multiple cars linked to each other, this coaster, as part of the Sky High Adventure Park, has two-seat cars for pairs of riders. You can control your speed to match your comfort level, and you can ride them year-round. You can go slow, and take in the surroundings, or push the throttle all the way down, picking up speed.
The shops along Washington Street
With everything from candy and sweet shops to sock shops, the village has a variety of stores to check out. If you’re into beauty and fashion, check out Ava Grace Fashions (24 Washington St.) and She Shed, He Shed (22 Washington St.). The Purple Doorknob has a funky, fun collection of socks to purchase (11 Washington St.). If you love chocolate, grab some salted caramels from Watson's Chocolates (27 Washington St.).
▶