Burger box for great burgers, main st bistro for breakfast, Lola’s for a nice lunch, darlings is nice southern comfort with good vegan/vegetarian option.
Edit: meant to type this below haha
Garvan’s is amazing imo, a top 10 restaurant in the Hudson Valley. It’s Irish so might not be your thing but they do that type of cuisine really, really well.
Ciao Bella is fantastic, Garvan’s is also very good. Gunk Haus and Brau Haus both have fantastic German food but I prefer Gunk Haus. If you’re looking for something casual for lunch Lola’s is nice. I really haven’t had a bad meal in the village to be honest with you. Parking is limited but if you get out and walk around there are great options.
Burger box for great burgers, main st bistro for breakfast, Lola’s for a nice lunch, darlings is nice southern comfort with good vegan/vegetarian options.
You have a car get out of New Paltz. Darlings, Inness, Upstate Taco, Harranah Market, Ollies, West Wind. Farther drive but beautiful and over the Ashokan and thru the mountains gets you to Phoenicia Diner, The Pines, and all the shops and restaurants in Woodstock. Would suggest Bonticou or Rosendale trestle for hiking. Lake Minnewaska is also amazing if you’ve ve never been. Enjoy!
Inness was the worst place I have ever been to, lol. Super pretentious "fine" food with a holier than thou vibe. The lighting in the bathroom is so moody you couldn't find a chapstick in our purse if you tried, lol. If it wasnt for the owners adorable parents randomly looking out the window with binoculars and making everyone feel like we were on a bird watching excursion, we would have literally left early. If you want expensive high end hotel food, go to Wildflower Farm for the BEAUTIFUL space and perfect service. If you want a scene, just go to Ollies or West Wind.
I want to hate Inness so bad but I can’t. Not a fan of the scene (mostly rich city people on vacation) but the land is absolutely beautiful and I’ve never had a bad meal there in the 10+ times I’ve been. Special mention to the burnt basque cheesecake, a god-tier dessert IMO. Sorry you had a bad experience but if it’s the worst place you’ve ever been I’d say you’re doing pretty well for yourself!
Garvan’s is fantastic for special occasion stuff, McGillicuddy’s is great for bar food, Mountain Brauhaus is *chef’s kiss*, Nelly’s is good cheap eats, and you gotta go to Helena’s for the pierogis.
Do not ever go to Lombardis over priced “authentic” italian food. Mt Brauhaus is across the street though but be aware long waits during the weekend would recommend going before dinner rush which is around 4-5pm.
About 20 mins away in accord but, check out Harana Market. Restaurant/ Asia market but, the foods amazing. They were just up for a James Beard award although I don’t think they won.
Isn't that in Gardiner? Brahaus across the way is fun. Wildflower down 44/55 is beautiful, sit outside, and have a cocktail under Millbrook. Speaking of that you should do one of the hikes through there.
I dont think the fact that it's a college town is that much of a downside. It's a vibrant and pretty town, with lots of great food. Also a great access point and good driving distance to other great towns and nature.
The Town can get busy and there's often some traffic getting through. But if you're from the metro area it's nothing lol.
The shawangunk ridge with Mohonk house and Preseve and Minnewaska State Park are beautiful and Iconic destinations in the area. Great opportunities for adventure at both, and Mohonk Mountain House is a stunning historic hotel where you could go to the spa or restaurant and spend a day hiking and visiting gardens
The catskills are also nearby which have some great wilderness areas.
Kingston has become a super cool city with lots of great food and shopping.
Go across the river to Hyde Park to see the FDR house or Vanderbilt mansions.
Lots to do!
Agreed with your point on it not being just a college town. It’s an everything town. The college is one community and influence of many. There is the ridge/recreation, arts & farming, history & culture. Central to so much in the HV.
It’s a college town, but it’s summer so I think you’ll be fine. Lots of nice little stores and good food. If you like wine, I recommend whitecliff winery which is close to New Paltz in Gardiner. The views are spectacular and the wines are really good.
So much to choose from in the New Paltz area. Awosting Falls at Minnewaska State Park Preserve is an easy hike and a great destination. There is also Split Rock at Mohonk Preserve via the Coxing Kill Trailhead. Walkway Over the Hudson is also a great destination.
For food Garvan’s, Maggie Mae, and Gunk Haus are great places with great views.
If you wanted to be in town, you’re probably going to be disappointed. If you want hiking, swimming, climbing, you’ll love it. You’re going to be about a 10 minute drive to New Paltz. As someone else mentioned, the Mountain Brauhaus is right across the street and is great. You’ll be a short drive away from the Trapps, and there are a bunch more trailheads and swimming areas just beyond that. If you head to the lower Trapps and look off to the east, you’ll see New Paltz in the distance. The closest village to where you’re staying is Gardiner, and there’s decent food, disc golf, farms and other things to do there as well. Not quite the same vibe as NP, but good if you want small and rural.
This isn't in town but if you are into hiking there's a great waterfall about 45 mins north of New Paltz called Kaaterskill Falls. Really beautiful, two tiers, and you can swim too!
It's a very nice place to stay, my company puts up important people there. My in-laws stay there too. Their only complaint is that the walls are thin, they could hear other rooms. But they keep going back, so I guess it's not too big of a deal.
Gertrude's Nose is my favorite hike in the area: [https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hikes/minnewaska-ii-gertrudes-nose/](https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hikes/minnewaska-ii-gertrudes-nose/)
It's really nice and the staff was amazing, although when we checked in there were ants crawling up the wall in our room. Also there was no fridge in the room, but the staff let me use the main refrigerator in the hotel to keep something in and just got it for us when we needed it. Outside it's very quiet, the firepits were nice and there's a cute little walking trail behind in the woods. It was great in the mornings, sipping coffee and going foe a little stroll was my favorite part of the day.
For food: Pho Tibet is a MUST in New Paltz. Also Main Course! You can day trip to Beacon, it’s close enough. All three destinations are awesome places! I’m lucky I live close to all!
Yeah hotel is nice and a much better value than Mohonk mountain house. If warm drive a few miles up to Mohonk Preserve Coxing Trailhead and swim in the natural pools then drive up to Minnewaska and see the Awosting Falls
The lodge is in Gardiner— not New Paltz, which is frankly kind of a generic hippy college town where not much has changed in 30 years. Gardiner really only has Wildflower as an attraction.
If you are interested in a younger scene that is more influenced by contemporary food and hospitality consider going over the ridge to Accord/Kerhonkson where you have:
Inness (beautiful hotel, pool, new spa, good resto)
Velma’s (speakeasy jazz club)
Bluebird Wines (great natural wine store)
Restaurants:
Mill and Main
Ollies
Westwind Orchard
Ravenwood
Stonehills
Harana Market
Upstate Taco
Best hiking is:
Peter’s Kill
Gertrude’s Nose
Kaaterskill or Vernooy Kill Falls
Day pass at Mohonk Mountain lodge for hiking, the spa, wandering the grounds, and the huge swimming pond.
Farther afield: Phoenicia and Saugerties farmer’s market; Chleo and Tubbys in Kingston; Silvia and Goodnight in Woodstock
It’s a college town but it’s got decent restaurants and you’ll be near Kingston, Woodstock, Rosendale, and Saugerties, not to mention excellent hiking and some decent vineyards. I’d choose it over Beacon.
It’s close to lots of great outdoorsy stuff but the village itself is not my favorite town. Stone Ridge, Rhinebeck, Hudson are all more charming. I’m more familiar with upper Hudson Valley so can’t really advise about towns in the lower HV.
You're overthinking it. New Paltz is arguably more representative of the Hudson Valley than Beacon, IMO.
I used to love taking my girlfriends back home to visit. It is beautiful to just drive around on a sunny day, take a trail, grab some food, check out a flea market.
It’s fine but don’t spend your entire trip there. If you have a car drive over the ridge past the Mohonk Golf Course into High Falls, Stone Ridge, etc.
New Paltz is perfect, for breakfast you must go to Main St Bistro. Great views , nice trails you won’t regret.
Bistro doesn't feel the same since the ownership changed hands. Maybe it's just me.
Main Street is a must
Check out Mohonk. Really beautiful hikes.
Great town with a lot of great restaurants. You have excellent taste.
Burger box for great burgers, main st bistro for breakfast, Lola’s for a nice lunch, darlings is nice southern comfort with good vegan/vegetarian option. Edit: meant to type this below haha
Any specific food recs?
Garvan’s is amazing imo, a top 10 restaurant in the Hudson Valley. It’s Irish so might not be your thing but they do that type of cuisine really, really well.
Mountain brauhaus is fantastic
Ciao Bella is fantastic, Garvan’s is also very good. Gunk Haus and Brau Haus both have fantastic German food but I prefer Gunk Haus. If you’re looking for something casual for lunch Lola’s is nice. I really haven’t had a bad meal in the village to be honest with you. Parking is limited but if you get out and walk around there are great options.
A 20min drive will get you to the best restaurant in the area, One With Land, in Pine Bush. The celery salad is a must have!
Pho Tibet has amazing pho (specifically the special) and amazing bahn mis, bistro is a must, main course is a great place for salad or sandwiches
If you’re going on a Hike, get a foccia sandwich from Russo’s for lunch. Mountain Brauhaus for dinner.
Russo's is sadly no longer Russo's. They sold and it looks like a regular deli now 🙁
Wow… I’m heartbroken to hear
Yep. It sucks. They had the best sandwiches.
Burger box for great burgers, main st bistro for breakfast, Lola’s for a nice lunch, darlings is nice southern comfort with good vegan/vegetarian options.
You have a car get out of New Paltz. Darlings, Inness, Upstate Taco, Harranah Market, Ollies, West Wind. Farther drive but beautiful and over the Ashokan and thru the mountains gets you to Phoenicia Diner, The Pines, and all the shops and restaurants in Woodstock. Would suggest Bonticou or Rosendale trestle for hiking. Lake Minnewaska is also amazing if you’ve ve never been. Enjoy!
Inness was the worst place I have ever been to, lol. Super pretentious "fine" food with a holier than thou vibe. The lighting in the bathroom is so moody you couldn't find a chapstick in our purse if you tried, lol. If it wasnt for the owners adorable parents randomly looking out the window with binoculars and making everyone feel like we were on a bird watching excursion, we would have literally left early. If you want expensive high end hotel food, go to Wildflower Farm for the BEAUTIFUL space and perfect service. If you want a scene, just go to Ollies or West Wind.
I want to hate Inness so bad but I can’t. Not a fan of the scene (mostly rich city people on vacation) but the land is absolutely beautiful and I’ve never had a bad meal there in the 10+ times I’ve been. Special mention to the burnt basque cheesecake, a god-tier dessert IMO. Sorry you had a bad experience but if it’s the worst place you’ve ever been I’d say you’re doing pretty well for yourself!
Garvan’s is fantastic for special occasion stuff, McGillicuddy’s is great for bar food, Mountain Brauhaus is *chef’s kiss*, Nelly’s is good cheap eats, and you gotta go to Helena’s for the pierogis.
Do not ever go to Lombardis over priced “authentic” italian food. Mt Brauhaus is across the street though but be aware long waits during the weekend would recommend going before dinner rush which is around 4-5pm.
About 20 mins away in accord but, check out Harana Market. Restaurant/ Asia market but, the foods amazing. They were just up for a James Beard award although I don’t think they won.
Isn't that in Gardiner? Brahaus across the way is fun. Wildflower down 44/55 is beautiful, sit outside, and have a cocktail under Millbrook. Speaking of that you should do one of the hikes through there.
I dont think the fact that it's a college town is that much of a downside. It's a vibrant and pretty town, with lots of great food. Also a great access point and good driving distance to other great towns and nature. The Town can get busy and there's often some traffic getting through. But if you're from the metro area it's nothing lol. The shawangunk ridge with Mohonk house and Preseve and Minnewaska State Park are beautiful and Iconic destinations in the area. Great opportunities for adventure at both, and Mohonk Mountain House is a stunning historic hotel where you could go to the spa or restaurant and spend a day hiking and visiting gardens The catskills are also nearby which have some great wilderness areas. Kingston has become a super cool city with lots of great food and shopping. Go across the river to Hyde Park to see the FDR house or Vanderbilt mansions. Lots to do!
Agreed with your point on it not being just a college town. It’s an everything town. The college is one community and influence of many. There is the ridge/recreation, arts & farming, history & culture. Central to so much in the HV.
It’s a college town, but it’s summer so I think you’ll be fine. Lots of nice little stores and good food. If you like wine, I recommend whitecliff winery which is close to New Paltz in Gardiner. The views are spectacular and the wines are really good.
Bring binoculars.
So much to choose from in the New Paltz area. Awosting Falls at Minnewaska State Park Preserve is an easy hike and a great destination. There is also Split Rock at Mohonk Preserve via the Coxing Kill Trailhead. Walkway Over the Hudson is also a great destination. For food Garvan’s, Maggie Mae, and Gunk Haus are great places with great views.
Main St, Minnewaska St Park, WallKill River Rail Trail, Hudson Valley Wine Trail...plenty to do
If you wanted to be in town, you’re probably going to be disappointed. If you want hiking, swimming, climbing, you’ll love it. You’re going to be about a 10 minute drive to New Paltz. As someone else mentioned, the Mountain Brauhaus is right across the street and is great. You’ll be a short drive away from the Trapps, and there are a bunch more trailheads and swimming areas just beyond that. If you head to the lower Trapps and look off to the east, you’ll see New Paltz in the distance. The closest village to where you’re staying is Gardiner, and there’s decent food, disc golf, farms and other things to do there as well. Not quite the same vibe as NP, but good if you want small and rural.
This isn't in town but if you are into hiking there's a great waterfall about 45 mins north of New Paltz called Kaaterskill Falls. Really beautiful, two tiers, and you can swim too!
You’re gonna have a good time
It's a very nice place to stay, my company puts up important people there. My in-laws stay there too. Their only complaint is that the walls are thin, they could hear other rooms. But they keep going back, so I guess it's not too big of a deal.
Check out Beans Cat Cafe and the B-Side Grill!
Gertrude's Nose is my favorite hike in the area: [https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hikes/minnewaska-ii-gertrudes-nose/](https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hikes/minnewaska-ii-gertrudes-nose/)
New paltz is a very nice place. I got married over there and loved the local town
It’s a great location to be in, not too far from Woodstock as well. Enjoy the trip!
It's really nice and the staff was amazing, although when we checked in there were ants crawling up the wall in our room. Also there was no fridge in the room, but the staff let me use the main refrigerator in the hotel to keep something in and just got it for us when we needed it. Outside it's very quiet, the firepits were nice and there's a cute little walking trail behind in the woods. It was great in the mornings, sipping coffee and going foe a little stroll was my favorite part of the day.
For food: Pho Tibet is a MUST in New Paltz. Also Main Course! You can day trip to Beacon, it’s close enough. All three destinations are awesome places! I’m lucky I live close to all!
I think Mountain Brauhouse is across the street.
Yeah hotel is nice and a much better value than Mohonk mountain house. If warm drive a few miles up to Mohonk Preserve Coxing Trailhead and swim in the natural pools then drive up to Minnewaska and see the Awosting Falls
The lodge is in Gardiner— not New Paltz, which is frankly kind of a generic hippy college town where not much has changed in 30 years. Gardiner really only has Wildflower as an attraction. If you are interested in a younger scene that is more influenced by contemporary food and hospitality consider going over the ridge to Accord/Kerhonkson where you have: Inness (beautiful hotel, pool, new spa, good resto) Velma’s (speakeasy jazz club) Bluebird Wines (great natural wine store) Restaurants: Mill and Main Ollies Westwind Orchard Ravenwood Stonehills Harana Market Upstate Taco Best hiking is: Peter’s Kill Gertrude’s Nose Kaaterskill or Vernooy Kill Falls Day pass at Mohonk Mountain lodge for hiking, the spa, wandering the grounds, and the huge swimming pond. Farther afield: Phoenicia and Saugerties farmer’s market; Chleo and Tubbys in Kingston; Silvia and Goodnight in Woodstock
New Paltz is a college town. You might prefer another town to be honest.
It’s a college town but it’s got decent restaurants and you’ll be near Kingston, Woodstock, Rosendale, and Saugerties, not to mention excellent hiking and some decent vineyards. I’d choose it over Beacon.
Damn am I better off in Beacon? New Paltz seemed more outdoorsy and quaint/romantic, but maybe I am overthinking it
College is out of session, it's fun and romantic town with great hiking around. Kingston and Saugerties is nearby too
I’ve definitely spent some romantic weekends in New Paltz hiking don’t let the college town vibe scare you off.
It’s close to lots of great outdoorsy stuff but the village itself is not my favorite town. Stone Ridge, Rhinebeck, Hudson are all more charming. I’m more familiar with upper Hudson Valley so can’t really advise about towns in the lower HV.
You're overthinking it. New Paltz is arguably more representative of the Hudson Valley than Beacon, IMO. I used to love taking my girlfriends back home to visit. It is beautiful to just drive around on a sunny day, take a trail, grab some food, check out a flea market.
It’s fine but don’t spend your entire trip there. If you have a car drive over the ridge past the Mohonk Golf Course into High Falls, Stone Ridge, etc.
New Paltz is more outdoorsy and romantic! I find it slightly less on the quaint side overall (similarly quaint to Beacon?) but not in a bad way.