Everyone Else Is Visiting Hudson, So Shouldn’t You?

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The secret is long out on Hudson. Though this little city in Colombia County is further from the BIG CITY than most of its other Hudson Valley companions, Hudson, NY really mirrors a lot of the best things about NYC. It’s got great culture, great shopping, great progressive community feelings and a whole lot of hipness. Things move slower in Hudson, though, so if you come for a weekend getaway from downstate, prepare to relax. Read on for my favorite spots in and around town.

What to Do in hudson

Depending on who you ask, Hudson is either really quaint or really just Brooklyn North. Either way, I think folks would agree that the shopping along Hudson’s main drag is pretty appealing. Hudson’s Warren Street is chock full of awesome mom and pop businesses. So if you’re visiting Hudson as a group of adults or with just babies in strollers, definitely spend a lot of time checking out the many cool shops and eateries on and around Warren Street.

Once you’ve absolutely gotten your fill of shopping, consider driving right outside Hudson proper, to visit two cute U-pick farms. Love Apple Farm in Ghent includes a farmer’s market and prepared foods counter, a “U-Pick” farm section and some playground equipment to make the kiddies happy. On our 2017 visit, it was cherry picking season.

In nearby Red Hook, Grieg Farm is another U-Pick option featuring an indoor farmers market, a family of lovely goats and, at the time of our 2019 summer visit, strawberry picking. It was a nice stop for the girls.

In Ghent, you must visit Art Omi, a contemporary art outdoor sculpture garden that is free to visit and open year round. Set on 120 acres, Art Omi provides plenty of space for kids to roam free and so much to see and experience. We saw some great art and got some fresh air and really enjoyed our time there.

Where to Stay in hudson

All of our weekend visits to Hudson were spent in Airbnbs, and if you too are traveling with kids, I think that route is probably your best option. If, however, I found myself in Hudson without kids, I wouldn’t mind staying at one of two cool looking hotels right in the thick of things on Warren Street. On one end of the stretch is Rivertown Lodge, an airy, minimalist, hipster styled (are you sure we’re not in Brooklyn?) boutique hotel. It’s very clean, hip, relaxed and well situated on Warren.

And all the way on the other end of Warren, closer to some of the better restaurants and shops to open recently in the area is newcomer, The Maker. This hotel is all swank - dark lighting, dark walls, candles and romance. It’s probably not the best spot for your toddler, but surely would make for a great adults getaway. Both spots have in-house dining, too.

Where to Shop in hudson

One of the Hudson Valley’s main strengths is its abundance of small businesses selling their artisan wears. Hudson’s Warren Street is probably THE shopping destination of the entire Hudson Valley. There is a lot to hit here, especially if, like me, you enjoy drooling over mid-century modern furniture, small batch bath and home products and hip fashion.

There is so much beautiful furniture for sale on Warren Street, I’m half tempted to blow a year’s salary on pieces each time I’ve visited. One of my favorites for furniture is Magic Hill Hudson, which specializes in Midcentury Modern curated design.

Spotty Dog Books & Ale is an independent bookstore that also has a beer focused bar inside. On my visits, I had to drink my beer while also keeping my eye on my kids, but if I were in Hudson alone, I would spend hours here drinking and reading and absolutely loving life.

For excellent and eclectic home goods, body care and outdoor supplies check out Clove and Creek (also with a location in Kingston). Hudsontricity is another beautiful curated shop for HV centric gifts and wares. And don’t leave Warren Street without popping into hidden gem, The Quiet Botanist. A visit to this shoebox sized apothecary and dried flowers shop tucked inside an alleyway will make you feel like you’ve been transported to some otherworldly, beautiful dimension.

Where to DINE in hudson

My last two visits to Hudson have really solidified my strong love for Kitty’s Market. Located off Warren Street, right across from the train station, Kitty’s is a well curated market and an incredibly delicious breakfast and lunch joint.

In the morning, Kitty’s does breakfast sandwiches and hash browns that get rave reviews. This last visit we sampled a bunch of their house-made cruller donuts and they were incredible (the salted caramel donut especially).

Around noon, the kitchen switches to just one glorious thing: “spinning chickens” and sides. I don’t even like rotisserie chicken all that much but I was enamored by this meal, eaten standing up back in our rental and from take out containers. The three sides we ordered were all 15 out of 10 good: Napa Cabbage Caesar (OMG), Extra Nice Rice (salty and glorious with lemongrass) and Chicken Fat Potatoes (Double OMG).

And on this past visit, we got to check out Kitty’s newer sit down restaurant. It was as good as the market. Great meal, ambiance and service.

Cafe Mutton opened last year in Hudson to national acclaim and was thus high on my “to do” list for this year’s visit. To steal directly from its glowing Bon Appetit review, “Cafe Mutton is a home for indulgent, ferociously local meat-heavy cooking and a place where gizzards, liver, and other oft-overlooked offal shine in all their carefully prepared glory.” Choose a homey, old-world pork dish like a fried bologna sandwich or country pate sandwich for your table. Then opt for a sweeter comfort food like a pecan topped sticky bun or the glorious maple and butter crepe. The food at Cafe Mutton feels both familiar and fresh. You order at a counter here so it’s pretty doable with kids. Once a week on Friday nights, Cafe Mutton also offers dinner.

Another Hudson favorite of ours for casual, lunchtime vibes is Governor’s Tavern (aka Govie’s). Their craft beer list is stellar here and they make really good burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and wings with which to wash down all those brews.

Our first meal in Hudson back in 2017 was at Backbar. It’s a casual, hip spot offering Malaysian small plates and it’s one of those places that works as well for kids as it does for adults.

And don’t forget about Talbott and Arding, which is first and foremost a stellar cheese shop on Warren Street, but also a whole lot more. Whether you’re heading out for picnic in the sun or you’re picking up snacks to go with your happy hour drinks of choice, a trip to Hudson is not complete without a stop for provisions at Talbott and Arding.

Finally, I think it’s worth your time to head out to Germantown for a meal at Gaskins. Locally sourced, wonderfully prepared dishes. Fantastic service and a charming space. It’s just wonderful. We saw plenty of kids when we dined here in our early hour and all five kiddies at our table crushed their macaroni and cheese. The money move is to eat here after hitting the Chef’s brother’s nearby rock star brewery (more on that below). Even on our visit to Hudson during COVID, where Gaskins was only open for curbside take out, our meal, eaten on our laps in our car, was suburb.

If you are into craft beer, you already know Suarez Family Brewery. If you are not into craft beer, you SHOULD still get to know Suarez Family Brewery. A “mom and pop” brewer-owned brewery, Suarez opened in 2016, bringing along some serious beer cred with it. If you are looking to crush some lagers, pilsners or country beers this summer, there is NO place better to do it in our area. When all the other breweries are focusing on IPAs, Suarez Family and its beautiful taproom, are a breath of fresh air. I can’t think of a better day spent than drinking at Suarez Family Brewery and then heading to the brewer’s brother’s spot, Gaskins, for a delicious dinner.


NOTE: This post updates the prior Hudson posts.