When you live in New York, a city that never slows down, you'll take any and every opportunity to escape. Which is why, come summer and long weekends, you'll find lots of NYC dwellers decamping to easily accessible towns like Kingston, Hudson, and Beacon. Only a few hours away from Manhattan, these destinations feel like an easy retreat from the chaos of a bustling day-to-day—one with quality food (many NYC chefs have found second homes here), good shopping, and gorgeous scenery.
With an Amtrak train delivering New Yorkers directly into town in two hours, the town of Hudson has become a popular spot for travelers in search of calm. Add to that the many antique stores, art galleries, and restaurants populating Warren Street, its main thoroughfare, and great hiking (the High Falls Conservation Area waterfalls are nearby)—and Hudson makes an ideal getaway for anyone looking to recharge for the weekend.
Ahead, where to stay, eat, drink, and shop in Hudson.
Where to Stay
Rivertown Lodge: Having undergone renovations, Rivertown Lodge is now one of the most popular places to stay in Hudson. A converted '20s movie theatre marked by a cinema-like front, the 27-room property features cozy chic rooms with brass light fixtures, custom-made beds, and various knickknacks (books, vinyl players...); a communal kitchen with a stovetop and dining room table; pantries stocked with snacks and beverages; and an open-plan lobby that is just as inviting for your morning coffee (free for guests) and brunch as it is for a midday work session and nighttime cocktails by the wood-burning stoves and well-stocked bookcases.
Wm Farmer & Sons: Best known for its farm-to-table restaurant (probably the most famous in the area) with a menu that changes weekly, Wm Farmer & Sons also offers stays in its 1830s Mansard-style main building, a historical 4-room side house with a back garden, and two annexed suites. No matter where you stay, the rooms, all named after historic figures and professions, are impeccably designed with elegant antique-inspired furnishings and decor, striped linens, and Instagrammable bathrooms with clawfoot tubs. If you don't make it to the tavern for dinner (it's not cheap), make sure to at least stop by for a drink at the fashionable bar that mixes expertly prepared craft cocktails.
The Wick: Housed in a former candle factory, The Wick is Hudson's new waterfront boutique hotel that's conveniently located just a block away from the Amtrak stop. While the rooms are modern and minimal, the best perk in our eyes is the fact that the property is nestled on a side street, a block away from the hustle and bustle of Warren Street.
Where to Eat
Lil' Deb's Oasis: Expect to wait for a table at this popular comfort food joint, owned by artist-chefs Carla Perez-Gallardo and Hannah Black (who used to work for Lela Rose's catering business Table Table), that puts out tropical spins on Ecuadorian and Argentinian favorites like sweet plantains, fresh ceviche, grilled octopus, and whole fried fish in a bright room that doubles as an events space for artists, galleries, and women-helmed businesses.
Swoon Kitchenbar: There is no restaurant more beloved in Hudson than Swoon Kitchenbar—and for good reason. This Warren Street staple offers consistently good seasonal, local American food that spans from fish and meat pâtés and beloved crisp shoestring fries to duck confit, pan-seared scallops, and house-made pappardelle.
Rivertown Tavern: Housed inside the aforementioned Rivertown Lodge, this tiny restaurant is responsible for one of the area's most exciting rotating menus. While last month saw a Mexican-inspired selection, including squash blossom quesadilla, pumpkin seed dip, and frozen avocado margaritas, this month is late spring-themed with offerings like scallop crudo, preserved kumquats, and whole bass. The drinks are equally exciting, with one—a concoction of gin, strawberry-rhubarb shrub, and tonic—so good, I was forced to stock up on the shrub at the Valley Variety next door immediately after.
Home/Made Hudson: Brunch lovers flood this place come Saturday and Sunday mornings. We dare you not to order the brioche toasts, which are topped with salty, burnt caramel, dark chocolate ganache with extra virgin olive oil and Maldon salt, and cardamom pecan honey butter.
Hudson Food Studio: Another popular Warren Street mainstay, Hudson Food Studio offers local, sustainable, and organic ingredients via modern Southeast Asian dishes like steamed pork belly buns, warm sesame noodles, sesame-crusted tofu, and lemongrass caramel chicken. Stop during a Studio Session when a chef from a different culinary background takes over the kitchen.
Where to Drink
BackBar: Located in the back of an antique store (of which they are plenty of in Hudson), this quirky bar, from Fatty Crab and Fish & Game alums, serves Malaysian small plates amongst mismatched lanterns, retro signs, and other vintage knickknacks. Order a hot toddy, aged rum daiquiri, or a tiki bowl with a side of triple fried chicken and grab one of the seats in the backyard decked out in pretty string lights.
Tin Can Juicery: You will smell Tin Can before you even open the Aeble doors (though, during the summer, the juicery operates from a food cart at the bottom of Warren Street). Choose from a selection of freshly made juices (responsible for that just-cut-vegetables smell), ranging from green to carrot-orange-ginger-turmeric, and filling smoothies.
Ör Gallery & Tavern: Housed in a converted garage, this bar-gallery-event space, named for the owners' love for Iceland, is perfect for a post-dinner nightcap or a midday coffee, which you can have on its patio or on one of the furniture pieces made by its co-owner. If you're feeling hungry, try a cheese plate provided by a nearby provision store Talbott & Arding, which, speaking of, you should also check out.
Moto Coffee Machine: Fuel up, literally, at this coffee shop-in-the-front, motorcycle-gear-shop-in-the-back space that puts out expertly brewed coffee, matcha, and iced tea (that you will mistake for coffee due to its milky brown color) and delicious sweet (try the red velvet ones) and savory (spicy tuna tartare) waffles.
Hudson Brewing Company: Beer lovers should make sure to check Hudson's very own brewing company that offers flights from a wide range of IPAs, ales, and stouts. No matter what your brew preference is, make sure to try the pineapple cider (and ask for a shot of vodka in it if you're feeling extra adventurous).
Where to Shop
Mutiny: From copies of Kinfolk magazines to Sunday 10-free, non-toxic nail polishes and minimalist Baserange, Sessùn, and Ymc You Must Create clothing, this chic store looks right out of NYC. We were particularly obsessed with this In God We Trust '100' necklace.
MINNA: Equal parts quirky home goods, gift, and non-toxic beauty store, MINNA carries patterned throw pillows alongside sassy cards, Hi Wildflower candles, and our favorite Meow Meow Tweet deodorant.
Spotty Dog Books & Ale: Stop by this bookstore-bar hybrid to pick up a new read (the selection is excellent), stay for the craft beers and cozy atmosphere.
Batterby House: A relative newcomer to the Warren Street strip, this food-home decor store carries some of our culinary favorites like Compartes chocolates, Bees Knees honey, and Sqirl jams.
Bodhi: Better known for being a salon and yoga studio, the store, located in the front, should be noted for its selection of crystals, Ayurvedic copper water bottles, bundles of sage, tarot decks, and athletic wear from our favorites like Manduka and Alo.
