The beauty that is New York's Hudson Valley region is not a well-kept secret. With its panoramic Hudson River views and the captivating and largely untouched Catskill, Adirondack and White Mountains surrounding it, the area has enthralled people for generations, from the 19th century artists of the Hudson River School, to leaf peepers looking to capture a glimpse of vibrant, if fleeting, cyclical change, to those looking to escape the congestion that is New York City for something more pastoral, more constant, more, perhaps, in touch with its roots.
That's not to say that the area is staid or unchanged. While it has long had its fair share of excellent restaurants, inns and hotels (many of which are still, happily, humming along), the Hudson Valley is in the midst of a revival of creativity couched largely (but not entirely) in locally sourced products and produce, in sustainably-focused development, and in growth which emanates out of, and is inspired and driven by, its ample beauty. It is no wonder, then, that a slew of new and exciting restaurants, watering holes and hotels (with more on the horizon -- I'm looking at you The Milk Factory) are popping up all over. There has been a doubling down, if you will, on the plentiful and sumptuous bounty that this region has to offer, a recommitment to nature and place. And we couldn't be happier about it.
If you're looking to spend a weekend (or more!) amidst the delectable tranquility that is the mid-Hudson Valley, then check out our non-exhaustive list of some of the best restaurants, breweries/cideries and hotels in the Hudson Valley.
Where to Eat?
Blooming Hill Farm, located in Monroe, NY, kind of does it all. And all that it does, it does well. The restaurant thrums with excitement, offering brunch and dinner Fridays and Saturdays, and brunch on Sundays, all founded on locally-sourced ingredients. The farm runs five different community supported agriculture ("CSA") locations, which is a fantastic way to support local farmers and can help you to develop a more localized and seasonal palate (i.e. we need to find more recipes to use all these beets!), which is way more sustainable and, let's be honest, gastronomically interesting, than what's happening in your average supermarket. They also host a farmers market from 10-2 Friday through Sunday, and operate a wedding venue on-site. The food is largely sourced from the 200 plus variety of fruits and vegetables grown on their hundreds of acres, with floral arrangements borne out of seasonally foraged and farm grown flowers. Their commitment to excellent agricultural practices has not gone unnoticed -- they now source some of the best restaurants in the Hudson Valley, New York City and beyond. Like we said, they kind of do it all.
Butterfield, located in Stone Ridge's absolutely charming Hasbrouck House (a Dutch colonial mansion established in 1757, which itself deserves to be on any list of luxe boutique hotels in the Hudson Valley), is a beautifully appointed location paying homage to the fertile lands from which this historic region has sprung.
Executive Chef Jesse Frederick (a graduate of the famed Culinary Institute of America - Hyde Park (which has produced many huge names in the culinary world, not least of which being the late Anthony Bourdain)) creates sumptuous dishes from a largely localized bounty, like the Duck Confit (with pretzel spaetzle, cabbage, sunchokes and butternut puree) and Pappardelle (with beef bolognese, tomato and sheep milk ricotta). The plating is alluring, the setting is exquisitely dignified and the food speaks for itself.
Henry's at the Farm, located in the captivating Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, sources as many goods as possible from local farmers and artisan providers, including eggs, honey and various produce. As with many of the restaurants on this list, the menu at Henry's changes frequently based on seasonality and produce availability. Some recent dishes include the savory Heritage Pork Chop (with wild boar garlic sausage, vegetable risotto, and cippolini onions) and Filet Mignon (with Buttermilk blue cheese, country mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and tawny port glaze).
As you'll come to realize over time, we have a penchant for brunch, and Henry's does not disappoint there either. Platings include such delights as a gorgeous summer vegetable risotto (pictured below) and Catskill smoked trout.
Bonus 1: Henry's also does a mimosa flight. Yeah, that's just cool.
Bonus: Buttermilk Inn and Spa also houses rescued alpacas, lamas, donkeys, and others that you can wander around with before or after your meal (or, if you are so inclined, after a relaxing day at their full-service spa).
Although much of the focus of the above-named haunts revolves around seasonality and locality, that is not to say that the Hudson Valley lacks breadth or scope in its culinary options. Looking for something with a bit of a kick? Mama Roux in Newburgh (part of an ongoing revival of the City, emanating out of two nearby areas (the waterfront, and further up the hill, Liberty Street)) has got you covered.
The cuisine is southern focused with a country French flair, and features dishes such as Beggar's Purse (baked brie and apricot, wrapped in a light and fluffy puff pastry), Gumbo Ya-Ya, the fantastic Mama's Fried Chicken (with sweet potato mash and cider-braised collards) and Apple Beignets (yes, please!). Their Sunday brunch is reason enough to wake up in the morning, and seems to expand upon the scope of their culinary motif, with dishes as varied as the vegetarian Burrata Shakshuka, Korean Fried Chicken and Waffles and a Brie, Jam and Ham Sandwich. Their cocktail list alone is worth the visit, and makes Mama Roux's a great jumping off point to explore the City of Newburgh, as well its surrounding environs.
It has been said before, but Le Canard Enchaine really and truly looks and feels like it could've been plucked right off of a Parisian side street.
In this Kingston staple, Chef Jean-Jacques serves up refined French bistro classics such as Fricassee of Snails and Confit of Duck over Apple Compote. Housed in a cozy café featuring exposed brick and a classic checkered tiled floor, Le Canard's wine list offers excellent pairings, expertly suggested by the well-versed waitstaff. It's been around for quite a bit now, and deservedly so. We hope it stays around forever.
Ready for a Drink?
By no means limited to farm-to-table restaurants, the Hudson Valley is home to more than a few fantastic breweries, cideries and distilleries (we'll be doing a whole separate post about distilleries, so more to come o n that topic). We've listed just a few of the best breweries and cideries below, but there are a great deal of other fantastic options in the area worthy of your time.
Equilibrium Brewery based out of Middletown, NY, is a huge name in the brewing world, with a following that borders on cult-like. That's not surprising - its headed by geniuses formerly of MIT (seriously, the EQ Edu page on their website consists of beer-science charts, equations and graphs that we can't begin to wrap our heads around), who now apply their serious scientific chops to crafting flavors our plebian brains can barely contemplate (e.g. Astro Fluff, one of our favorites, combines tropical citrus, the smoothness of peaches and sweet cream, and . . . marshmallows (and it is knock-your-socks off amazing)). Given these wild, but wonderfully balanced, concoctions, Equilibrium was (as of the date of writing) rated 5th best brewery in the world by Untappd. No wonder that, on release day, lines of people circle the building (and sometimes the block) to get their hands on their coveted four packs. Fear not, though, their hexagonal, wood paneled, taproom boasts 22 tap lines and 2 nitro lines (and a BBQ-based food menu) to keep your more than sated.
The fine folks at The Drowned Lands, a gorgeous and spacious brewery located in Warwick, NY, know beer. They know it so well that, despite only being open since 2020, they've already won the award for best brewery in New York State at TAP NY 2022. Their commitment to time and place, to the earth from which their nectar is born, to the art of crafting this award winning beer is obvious the second you pour a glass - it's fragrant, colorful, with invigorating mouthfeel and please-get-me-another flavors, like the sour IPA fermented over pineapple and guava masterpiece that is Meadow Rue). While they don't have an on-site restaurant, they host food trucks Friday, Saturday and Sundays (weather permitting). And to be clear, when we say "food trucks" we mean restaurants like the award-winning and Instagram-friendly Eventide Oyster Co., out of Portland Maine (an amazing combination of suds and seafood which draws visitors from hours away - for more inf, check out our post on the best restuarants in Portland, Maine). And it boasts got indoor and outdoor seating, with fire pits and a large open lawn that abuts Wickham Lake. What more can you ask for? Their line up changes often (from fruited sour IPAs to unfiltered German wheat ales) , so check the website to see what's on tap. Or just go there already!
If hard cider is your thing, Bad Seed located in Highland, New York is a great option. We're very fond of their crisp, dry and sugar free hard cider, which can be enjoyed on site at their Farm Bar (and is sold locally at beer stores and some supermarkets). Another great option is the 60 acre Angry Orchard location in Walden, where they offer much more than their sweet varietal found in grocery stores. Be forewarned, though, this place is on everyone's radar, so it gets busy. Finally, one of our personal favorites, is the small Kettleborough Cider House just outside of New Paltz. Their ciders (made of 100% locally sourced Hudson Valley apples) are delish (we are very partial to their dry cider, with its mild acidity and perky green apple flavors) and the view of the surrounding Shawangunk Mountain range is to die for.
Need a Place to Stay?
Wildflower Farms Auberge Resorts Collection is the Hudson Valley's newest luxury
boutique hotel. Set on 140 acres in Gardiner, NY this idyllic hotel includes 65 individually designed accommodations each nestled in, and almost sprouting organically from, the bucolic surrounding area. Its main restaurant, Clay, makes great use of the fertile estate, sourcing much of its ingredients directly from their onsite farm.
A bit further north you'll find Wylder Hotel Windham, which is both a continuation and reimagining of a family run resort that dates back to 1880. The property is 29 miles from Hudson, NY (a foodie destination unto its own, which will be getting its own blog post soon) and about a 2.5 hour drive from Midtown Manhattan. It's the perfect launch pad for the many outdoor activities that the northern Catskills has to offer, including hiking, skiing, fishing, mountain biking, fly fishing, etc.
This one really doesn't need introduction, but since it deserves to be on any and all lists which include the words "hotel" and "Hudson Valley" as their focus, we will attempt to give it one anyway: Mohonk Mountain House is a mountaintop castle resort with origins dating back to 1869. Surrounded by 40,000 acres of untouched, and largely untouchable (thanks to various conservation easements and preserved land) mountain forest, this inclusive resort is the perfect Hudson Valley getaway destination, with access to more than 85 miles of scenic hiking trails (including some of the most iconic trails in the area (e.g. Gertrude's Nose and Labryinth and Lemon Squeeze), an indoor heated pool (with underwater music!), full service spa, yoga, meditation and fitness classes, numerous dining options, and much, much more.
There are too many fantastic places to eat, drink and be merry in this region that we can't possibly list them all here (we haven't even started talking about Hudson, Beacon, Woodstock, or Rhinebeck) . Indeed, we'll be doing additional city/town specific blog posts soon, as part of our upcoming "Big Bites, Small Towns" series, to highlight some of these small town culinary destinations. To give you just a few other options for the best places to eat and drink (and the best boutique hotels and spas at which to recuperate) in the Hudson Valley, we'll mention (in no particular order):
Eat: Academy Food Hall (Poughkeepsie), The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park) and Il Cena'Colo (Newburgh).
Drink: Stockade Tavern (Kingston), Melzingah Tap House (Beacon) and Ten Mile Distillery (Wassiac)
Stay: Troutbeck (Amenia), Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa (noted above, in Milton) and the Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinbeck (Rhinebeck).
These are just some of the best restaurants and bars in Hudson Valley, New York, but there is so much more to see. Start planning your visit today!
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