The waterfall view is as elegant as the menu at Roundhouse in Beacon. Photo: @chef_gianino via roundhousebeacon
While Brooklyn restaurants turn parking spaces into makeshift seating areas, the restaurants of the Catskills and Hudson Valley are sprucing up patios and spreading out picnic tables in grassy fields. When you need a break from the cars and bikes speeding by your table, pack up your masks and hand sanitizer and head north to these spots for Hudson River and mountain views, slushy cocktails, craft brewed beer, and, of course, farm-fresh fare in the open air. If you’re car-less, a few are close to train stations on the far less crowded MetroNorth Hudson line.
Time your visit to a sunset over the Palisades. Photo: @harvestonhudson
Harvest on Hudson
1 River St, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY, 10706; 914-478-2800; harvesthudson.com
Just outside the city and within walking distance from the MetroNorth station, Harvest on Hudson delivers Hudson River views in a country garden setting. Set on a riverfront park, the prices match the prime real estate, so keep it simple with cocktails and brick-oven pizza. If you go on a Saturday you can swing by the farmer’s market starting at 11am or spend the day exploring boutiques like Observatory. Hours: 2-9pm Mon-Thurs; Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 11am-9pm
When it’s blazing hot, you’ll want to snag the shady corner tables with views of the Hudson. Photo: Brooklyn Based
Taco Dive Bar
55 Hudson Ave, Peekskill, NY, 10566; 914-788-taco; tacodivebar.com
Further north on the Hudson train line, Taco Dive Bar is an easy day trip, steps from the Peekskill station. Enjoy solid tacos and frozen margaritas on the sidewalk or outdoor patio, or take it all to go to the waterfront park. Peekskill Brewery is nearby if you want to attempt a mini-bar crawl, and Hudson Creamery is your dessert stop next door for homemade ice cream. Hours: 4-9pm Mon-Thurs; 12-10pm Fri-Sat, 12-9pm Sun.
Photo: @roundhousebeacon
Roundhouse
2 East Main Street, Beacon, NY, 12508; 845-765-8369; roundhousebeacon.com
At this hotel, restaurant, and event space, the waterfall view is as elegant as the menu. Think duck confit steam buns with apple-jicama slaw and blueberry coulis paired with a barrel-aged Manhattan or a sparkling French 75. For more casual vibes, hit their weekend-only pop-up, Smoke on the Water for brisket, ribs, wings and sausage. Hours: 3-9pm, Mon-Thurs; 11:30am-10pm Fri-Sat., 11am-8pm Sun.
Photo: Heather Ridge Farm
Heather Ridge Farm
989 Broome Center Road, Preston Hollow, NY, 12469; 518-239-6234; heather-ridge-farm.com
An incredible brunch, fragrant wildflowers, idyllic views, and some friendly alpacas are waiting for you. Since this photo was taken, Heather Ridge Farm’s lavender picnic tables have been safely spaced apart, with a tent and additional seating added for larger events, like their monthly Supper Clubs and Fried Chicken Picnics. Hours: 11am-3pm Sat-Sun.
Photo: @raisahd
Dixon Roadside
261 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY, 12498; 845-684-5890; dixonroadside.com
Serving smoked brisket and fried chicken alongside ancho-smoked squash with shiitakes, feta, and pomegranate, plus batched and single-serve cocktails, beer, wine, and soft-serve, there’s a lot to love at this roadside spot from Mike Cioffi, the owner of Phoenicia Diner. They’re offering open-air seating on the lawn beside the restaurant. Hours: 4-9pm Mon, Thurs-Fri; 11:30am-9pm Sat-Sun.
Photo: Jagerberg Beer Hall
Jägerberg Beer Hall
7722 Main Street, Hunter, NY,12444; 518-628-5188; jagerberghall.com
Sunny yellow umbrellas shade this Alpine-inspired beer garden, where the German and local beers flow in sweet harmony. Start with flammkuchen (a bacon-onion flatbread pizza), follow with a wurstz platter, and finish with the sweet-salty dessert pretzel, liberally drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Hours: 4-8pm Mon, 4-9pm Fri, 3-9pm Sat, 12-4pm Sun.
Photo: Silvia
Silvia
42 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY, 12948; 845-679-4242; silviawoodstockny.com
Reservations are strongly recommended for Silvia’s buzzy outdoor deck, where local fare gets an international spin. East Coast oysters with a celery-Sichuan mignonette meet smoked beets with roasted jalapeño-cashew crema, and smoked pork chops are dressed with Vietnamese nuoc cham and chili-garlic sauce. Hours: 4:30-8pm Thurs-Tues.
Photo: @backbar_hudson
BackBar
347 Warren Street, Hudson, NY, 12534; 518-828-0567; backbar-hudson.com
Time to get your slushy on. How about the Lucy (tequila, lime and cava) or a Where There’s Smoke (mezcal, chili infused Aperol, smoked agave and lime), chased by a nice, old-fashioned frozé? Soak it all up with dumplings, burgers, and black pepper wings in this leafy, tented yard. Hours: 4-9pm Weds-Thurs, 4pm-12am Fri, 12pm-12am Sat, 12-8pm Sun.
Order a Dragon’s Breath pizza (chorizo, sweet onions, cilantro, jalapenos, Mike’s Hot Honey) and chill out by the pond. Photo: @twinstarorchards
Twin Star Orchards
155 N. Ohioville Rd., New Paltz, NY, 12561; 845-633-8657; twinstarorchards.com
Though Brooklyn Cider House has sadly closed, its dog-friendly upstate cidery remains open, serving delicious wood-fired pizzas, burgers, craft ciders and beers beside a picturesque pond. On July 4, the cidery is throwing a pig roast with live jazz; tickets start at $14. Hours: 12-8pm Fri-Sat., 12-7pm Sun.
Cooper’s Daughters Spirits infuses its vodkas and bourbons with farm-fresh ingredients like ramps, rhurbarb and smoked maple syrup. Photo: @coopersdaugherspirits
Cooper’s Daughter Spirits at Olde York Farm
284 NY-23, Claverack, NY, 12513; 518-721-8209; oldeyorkfarm.com
Order a rhubarb margarita or sip a flight of infused spirits in the cocktail garden of Cooper’s Daughter Spirits, a women-owned distillery just outside of Hudson. Food trucks provide the snacks, and farm-to-table dumplings pop up here on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Hours: Fridays 5-9pm, Saturdays and Sundays 2-7pm.
City Winery Hudson Valley
23 Factory St, Montgomery, NY, 12549; 845-424-0222; citywinery.com/hudsonvalley
City Winery just opened their newest venue, a hydro-powered winery and vineyard on the site of a former textile mill on the Wallkill River just west of Newbugh. Reserve a seat on the outdoor patio and pair their charcuterie and flatbread pizza with a cocktail or glass of rosé. Hours: Thursday-Friday 4-10pm, Saturday 12-10pm, Sunday 12-8pm.
Cucina
109 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY, 12498; 845-679-9800; cucinawoodstock.com
It’s hard to imagine something more comforting than a candlelit dinner of pizza and pasta in the rambling field behind Cucina, a Woodstock staple since 2006. On Fridays and Saturday, the Cucina Summer House menu offers lobster rolls, baby back ribs, BBQ chicken and hot dogs. Hours: 4-10pm Sun-Thurs, 4-11pm Fri-Sat.
Photo: @sloopbrewingco
Sloop Brewing Co. at The Factory
755 East Dr., Suite 106, Hopewell Jct, NY 12533; 518-751-9134; sloopbrewing.com
Known for their dank and juicy IPAs, Sloop will save you a table (via reservations@sloopbrewing.com) to sip outside in their pop-up beer garden and drunkenly devour an eclectic-yet-brew-friendly menu of crisp fried chicken sandwiches, peanut-butter-bacon burgers, dan-dan noodles, and pizza. Don’t miss the house-made Juice Bomb pickles. Hours: 3-8pm Thurs, 12-8pm Fri-Sun.
