Your Dream Weekend Getaway Awaits…

The Hudson Valley, roughly 7,200 square miles, is chock full of natural and artistic beauty and home to the most charming and inviting towns you ever did see.

The town of Hudson, along the likewise eponymous river, located 120 miles north of New York City, is the absolutely perfect place to spend 2-3 days.

"Founded by Dutch colonists in the 1700s on the native lands of the indigenous Mahican people,...much of the colonial architecture remains." Best known for antiquing, vintage clothing, and delicious eats, Hudson is the perfect place to spend a long weekend with your girlfriends or a special someone.

Why We Went…and then went back again:

The first time I went to Hudson was in fall 2020. My mother-in-law, the saint she is, suggested that Dan and I go away for a weekend to reconnect. The weather was absolute perfection; we spent the days strolling Warren Street, drinking cocktails and playing cards, and we bought our first piece of art together. Ever. We ate delicious meals outside and stayed in an adorable, simple hotel that felt very Covid-safe. 

Just a few weeks ago–a full two years later–I went back with 3 girlfriends. We splurged on the most amazing hotel–The Amelia–so we could lounge poolside, get in some work hours, and still be walking distance to all the shops and restaurants we could possibly consume in 48 hours.

What follows is a compilation of recommendations from my two visits there, which were almost entirely informed by friends who have lived or spent lots of time in Hudson. Spoiler alert: it’s all drool-worthy.

Where to Stay:

Best Accommodations: 

The Amelia: Mansion-turned-hotel, this 8-bedroom slice of heaven sits 2 blocks off the main drag, Warren Street. We rented a suite that was beautifully decorated, tastefully appointed, cozy and quiet. The main floor has several rooms for lounging or eating, the kitchen is stocked and you can help yourself, and the pool. THE POOL! It’s warm, serene perfection. 

It’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s much less expensive than the similarly appointed Maker a couple blocks away. 

Nest Hudson: Like The Amelia, Nest is a house-turned-hotel but with more modest accommodations. With a lower price point, the rooms are trendy–in a good way–and totally spotless. It’s also walking distance to most of what you’d want to do right in town. Unlike the Amelia, there is no pool and the check-in process here is much more like a do-it-yourself AirBnB than a hotel. 

Places to Play:

Admittedly, we spent all our time strolling around, either eating or shopping. But if you’ve got the time or the weather for the outdoors, there is SO much right nearby.

Best Places to Eat:
Be sure to check the hours before you head out to any eating spot (or shop) in Hudson as most have different hours on different days of the week (with several spots only open on the weekends).

Breakfast/All Day:

Le Perche: This bakery and bar serves everything from drool-worthy breakfasts to brunch and dinner with cocktails. Truly can’t go wrong here any hour of the day.

The Maker: Charming, trendy and delicious eatery housed inside the Maker Hotel, the baked goods are delicious, the coffee is perfect and we strongly recommend getting a bunch of different dishes and share them all. 

Breadfolks: There are many delicious reasons why there’s a line outside before this bakery even opens. Our favorites include their cream-filled cruffins, almond croissants and sour dough bread.  (Note: Breadfolks has since permanently shuttered its doors. Fingers crossed a new bakery takes over 322 Warren Street soon)

Dinner:

Kitty’s**: This local favorite has an insanely delicious menu housed in a casual atmosphere. The menu is inventive and exciting. Don’t miss: The Chicken in a Blanket, Chips & Dip (trust us!), and the fried half chicken. The cocktails are also drool-worthy.

**definitely more kid-friendly than some of the other spots on our list, but all welcome little people!

Lil Deb's Oasis: The Washington Post says it best, the colorful interior of Lil' Deb's "is a sensory explosion of queer exuberance and kitsch. The menu is innovative, experimental and incredibly memorable." On the edge of downtown, Lil' Deb's is an affordable, vegan and gluten-free friendly restaurant, but absolutely delicious for all. And p.s. don't miss their cocktails.

Feast & Floret: A truly special dining experience, surrounded on all sides by fresh flowers in a beautifully decorated dining room (or outside), this elevated Italian menu has standards like meatballs but also unexpected gems like the Lumache–a not-to-be-missed pasta dish featuring corn, scallion, basil and ricotta. 

Best Shops: 

Most of the shops on Warren Street boast aspirational items–from dresses to artwork, housewares to jewelry–but don’t expect them to come cheap. If you’re planning ahead, you might want to save up a little $$ for some wishlist items to shop for while you’re here. Otherwise, just enjoy the window shopping and admire the selection.

More impressive and exploration-worthy than the new items that you can find in Hudson, the selection and variety of antique shops–including the massive warehouse– is truly a reason in and of itself to visit Hudson.

Antiques:

Magic Hill: An absolute treasure trove of mid century modern antique furniture and vintage clothing and housewares. The space is so much fun to look around and the shop owners couldn’t be nicer.

Finch: The most incredible collection of antique furniture presented in a palatial, inviting space. Owners Andrew and Michael have clearly poured their hearts into Finch, and they continue to expand the shop and their collection in their new location. The expansive space also includes a curated selection of new dishware, clothing and outerwear amongst many other stylish offerings.

The Antique Warehouse: Their tagline “The most unique place to shop for your cottage or castle” is spot on. This enormous marketplace for various antique sellers includes everything from a taxidermied giraffe (yes, you read that right!) to cowboy boots and everything in between. One of our friends bought a beautiful antique “wedding table” for her own shop, and we couldn’t stay away from the amazing selection of lamps everywhere we looked.

Clothing, Accessories and Housewares:

Minna: Beautifully curated, ethically-made home goods that will make you want to redo every linen, pillow and flat weave rug in your home.

Clove & Creek: A little bit of everything–from wall art to dishwares, stationery and clothing. This is the perfect place to pick out a gift for someone special or for a little something for yourself. 

Hudson Clothier: Featuring trendy clothing and accessories for men and women, all the brands featured here are made in America, including one of our very favorite jewelry brands, Odette NY. 

Artemesia: If you don’t mind a higher price tag, the items in here (especially the linen ones) are understated and stylish staples worth a look. 

Unracked: A fun selection of trendy clothes for women and young adults, this is a great place to pick up a party dress or even a simple sweater to pair with your everyday jeans. 

Provisions: 

Grapefruit Wines: What can we say? If you like wine, you’ll love it here. 

Talbott & Arding: If you’re into cheese, and you don’t mind spending a little cheddar (couldn’t help myself), head over to this grocer and taste a few options before taking a couple of blocks back. Pro-tip: skip their baguette and get one from The Maker or Le Perche instead. Then go sit by the water and watch the boats go by. 

Books (and a bar with beer!):

The Spotty Dog: a book-lover (and beer-lover’s) dream! The epitome of small bookstore that we all love to support, with the added bonus of a bar right inside the shop where you can sample beers on tap or sit at a table and read while you sip. There’s an awesome children’s section in the back full of toys and kid-specific books and art projects. Great place to bring your kids or pick up a little souvenir if you’ve left them home for the weekend.

For your Kids:

Tradewinds: High quality, handcrafted souvenirs made by artisans from around the globe as well as people with intellectual or developmental differences. We grabbed some hand carved beginners chopsticks here that the kids love. 

(And see The Spotty Dog listed above for cute toy and crafts selection, not to mention the books!)

For your Pup:

Love Thy Beast: Stylish, fun and functional, this spot has literally anything and everything you could think to want for your dog babies

For the Great Outdoors:

Steiner’s Sports: During the early days of the pandemic when I couldn’t get a bike anywhere, I found the perfect (and affordable) one here! A staple in the town for over 20 years, Steiner’s has everything you need for your outdoor adventures from skiing and biking to hiking and sun protection. 

Beyond Shopping…Getting Outside!

Lake Taghkanic State Park: Especially in the summer, swimming and fishing (including boat rentals) in the lake, make this park a great spot to go with your family to spend time outdoors. There are also campsites and pavillions available to rent.

Greenport Conservation Area Trails: A five-minute drive from Hudson, the short loop trail here is flat and easy, which make them great for going for a hike with your kids, or going for a beautiful outdoor run. 

High Falls Conservation Area: A 15-minute drive, the hikes here are a bit more challenging, but boast beautiful views of–as the name suggests– high (water)falls. 
Link to purchase this art

Our obsession with the Hudson Valley runs deep (pun intended), so you can expect to see more from the area in our Travel Diaries to come.

Looking for more New York travel recs? #TravelDiaries: Catskills, New York