Downtown Scranton, PA

Convenient Accommodations in Downtown Scranton

Downtown Scranton hotels put visitors close to the city’s attractions, restaurants, events, and entertainment. The Hilton Scranton & Conference Center offers pet-friendly accommodations, an indoor pool, and convenient amenities for families, business travelers, and weekend getaways.

For a stay with a connection to Scranton’s railroad history, the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel welcomes guests inside a restored former train station known for its distinctive historic architecture. The hotel is also pet-friendly and combines the character of its railroad-era setting with modern accommodations.

Both hotels provide a convenient home base for exploring Downtown Scranton and discovering more of Lackawanna County.

Iconic Attractions, Entertainment & Can’t-Miss Events

There are plenty of things to do in Downtown Scranton, from family-friendly attractions and railroad history to arts, entertainment, festivals, and experiences inspired by The Office. Fans of the hit NBC series can visit real-life locations connected to the show, while families can encounter marine life and reptiles at the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den or discover Scranton’s transportation history at the Electric City Trolley Station & Museum. Additionally, the Steamtown National Historic Site brings the region’s railroad heritage to life with historic locomotives, exhibits, and seasonal train experiences.

Downtown Scranton is also a destination for arts and entertainment. See a movie at the Scranton Art Haus, experience concerts, classic films, and other programming at The Ritz Theater, or catch a performance at the historic Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. Explore local art during First Friday Scranton, visit the Artist For Art (AFA) Gallery, or discover public art throughout the city on the Lackawanna County Mural Trail.

Some of Scranton’s biggest annual events take place downtown, making the area worth visiting throughout the year. Signature celebrations include the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade, La Festa Italiana, Scranton Jazz Festival, Electric City Tattoo Convention, and The Santa Parade. Runners can take to the streets during the Steamtown Marathon, Scranton Half Marathon, and The Office 5K.

The calendar continues with seasonal events and community traditions, including the Lackawanna Winter Market, Downtown On Ice, and Scrantastic Spectacular. Explore even more things to do and start planning your time in Scranton and Lackawanna County.

Explore Restaurants, Bars & Nightlife

Downtown Scranton’s dining scene brings together longtime local favorites, international cuisine, casual cafés, breweries, bars, and restaurants made for a night out in the Electric City. For suave downtown ambiance, AV Restaurant & Lounge offers Italian-influenced cuisine and cocktails, while A’tera 519 pairs elevated dining with a stylish setting in the heart of downtown. Bar Pazzo specializes in wood-fired Italian fare, while Sambuca Italian Grille & Bar and Picciocchi’s Restaurant & Pasta are also great options for Italian dining in the city.

There is plenty of variety beyond Italian cuisine. Enjoy sushi and hibachi at Robata Sushi and Hibachi, Vietnamese dishes at Saigon Corner Vietnamese Restaurant, Thai cuisine at Thai Rak Thai, Mediterranean flavors at The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant, or creative comfort food at Chef Von & Mom. Seafood and steak are on the menu at Catch 21, while ramen enthusiasts will enjoy WaFu Ramen & Rice Bowl. More delicious choices include Fork N’ Bowl, The Salad Shop, and DaVinci’s On The Square.

Stop by local favorites such as the historic Coney Island of Scranton, Pizza By Pappas, Downtown Deli, or Northern Light Espresso Bar & Cafe for a casual dining experience. Downtown also offers plenty of places to meet for drinks. Backyard Ale House and Mutant Brewing are popular stops for craft beer, while Electric City Ciderworks brings locally produced hard cider to its Linden Street taproom. Wine lovers can discover curated pours and an upstairs dining room at Warney Cellar & Tap, and Alter Bar combines creative cocktails with a food menu in a stylish setting.

The energy continues after dinner. Sergei’s Live brings live music and late-night entertainment to Linden Street beneath A’tera 519, while The Bog remains a longtime downtown bar and live music spot. Visitors can also find sports, games, drinks, and social experiences at places such as Benny’s of Downtown, Bartari, and Seven Under Golf & Social. From coffee and lunch to dinner, wine, cocktails, craft beer, locally made cider, and live music, Downtown Scranton offers plenty of ways to experience the city’s growing food and nightlife scene.

Unique Finds Around Every Corner

Shopping in Downtown Scranton is a great way to discover the city’s independent businesses, with local boutiques and specialty shops offering everything from clothing and accessories to books, artwork, gifts, home goods, and one-of-a-kind finds. Browse fashion, accessories, and gifts at Amendolaro Gift Boutique, Freedlove, The Daisy Collective, and Tachi Hill, or find distinctive gifts and specialty items at Over The Moon.

Downtown’s locally owned shops also reflect Scranton’s creative side. Browse new and secondhand books at Pigeon Post Art & Books and Lost & Found Bookshop, and check out Bazaar Skateshop, serving Scranton’s skateboarding community with skate gear and apparel.

For something a little different, Little Wild Refillery focuses on refillable and low-waste household and personal-care products, while Tusk combines an apothecary and retail shop with tattoo and piercing services. The Giving Tree Wellness Center and Electric City Tattoo add even more variety to Downtown Scranton’s collection of independent businesses.

The Marketplace at Steamtown provides another shopping stop along Lackawanna Avenue, bringing stores, dining, services, entertainment, and other businesses together under one roof. From locally owned boutiques and bookstores to specialty shops and unexpected finds, Downtown Scranton makes it easy to shop small and discover something uniquely local.