Hudson is a great destination for “Foodies” with many restaurants to choose from. I went back for the second time in July 2026 and had some amazing meals. My top finds include:
My favorite meal of my recent trip was at Feast & Floret. This is a lovely Italian restaurant in a romantic setting. I thought the decor was beautiful and the service and food were excellent. I had a perfect meal with a halibut with gazpacho, aroasted beet salad and a yummy chocolate dessert. I highly recommend the experience. 13 S. 3rd St.
Le Perche Bakery and Bar: Le Perche is a French bakery and bistro, that is a perfect spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch with a good menu of sandwiches, salads and other entrees. They also have pastries, great cookies and sweets. I went on my recent for brunch on my recent trip and enjoyed my omelette, croissant and a salad. They also have lovely outdoor patio in back. 230 Warren St.
Swoon Kitchenbar: This is a very good farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of downtown. Opened in 2004, it was the first one in Hudson. Chef Jeffrey Gimmel was a James Beard Nominee for Best Chef Northeast in 2012. I went on my first trip and enjoyed a very good meal with local friends. I went back in July 2026 with friends and had another great experience with excellent black bass entree. They are the sister restaurant of Le Perche Bakery and Bar. 340 Warren St.
Via Cassia: I went to Via Cassia with local friends after reading that it was listed as #4 in USA Today’s 10 Best Restaurants 2026. This is a casual Northern Italian restaurant serving made-in-house pastas along with appetizers, seafood and steaks. It has a modern farmhouse rustic interior. I really liked the squid ink pasta with scallops along with a tasty tiramisu.
Wm Farmer & Sons Boarding & Barroom: Located in this small boutique hotel at 20 South Front Street, the Barroon is a cozy restaurant featuring craft cocktails, lite bites and a seasonal menu with ingredients from local Hudson Valley farms. I went for dinner one night while in town in July 2026 and had a great burger on burger night which happens every Monday. They also have an oyster bar featuring fresh oysters.
Mr. Cat Brasserie: Close to my hotel is Mr. Cat Brasserie at 60 S. Front St. This is a French cafe serving seasonal, classic dishes with ingredients from local farm. I had a traditional French onion soup and the mussels and fries. They have indoor as well as outdoor patio seating during the warmer months. Next door is their Kitty’s Market which offers sandwiches, salads, pastries and more. It is a great spot to buy food before you walk to the nearby train station.
Having read wonderful reviews, I made a point to visit Mel the Bakery at 324 Warren St. Chef Nora Allen was Finalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery. They have a menu of breads, pastries, cookies and croissants It was originally located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, but moved to Hudson in December 2023. I loved my scone and a peach pie pastry. It is a small space that does have some outside seating in a small parkin front in the warmer months.
A fun casual space in downtown is the Hudson Roastery. This is an attractive coffee shop and cafe with a menu of coffee drinks, pastries and a breakfast and lunch menu. I went for lunch at the recommendation of a local friend. I enjoyed the gravlax smoked Scottish salmon served on sourdough toast points with herb cream cheese and capers plus a cherry yogurt pastry and a latte. I enjoyed talking to the staff as well.
A fun new find is GOODBOYBOB Coffee Roasters. Since my name is Bob, I had to go! This is an award-winning coffee roasters with their cafe in Hudson and three others in Southern California in the Los Angeles area. They have a large menu of coffee drinks and pastries. I enjoyed my latte on my way to lunch downtown. 35 S. 3rd St.
MOTO Coffee Machine is a great spot for coffee. It is a fun space as they share a space at 357 Warren St. with a store selling motorcycles and motorcycle gear.
Culture Cream is a local, artisanal ice cream shop that specializes in fermented, probiotic ice cream and sorbet using kefir and kombucha. I had the Earl Grey Lavender Kefir Ice Cream with chocolate bits. It was very good. 318 Warren St.
The Maker Hotel is located downtown at 302 Warren St. It is lovely, beautifully desidned boutique hotel that received a One Michelin Key from the Michelin Guide. It has The Maker Cafe that is open for breakfast and lunch with a menu including coffee and pastries. There is The Maker Lounge which features craft cocktails, wines and local beers along with a small food menu. It is located in a converted 19th Century carriage house. Theie fine dining restaurant is Serre which is a new restaurant led by Chef Jason Offenbach. He has worked in several top restaurants including Gramercy Tavern, Charlie Bird, Contra, and ultimately Momofuku Ko. It offers an upscale menu with “an ode to classic French technique reimagined through a modern lens and guided by seasonality.” I just saw a segment about him on The Dish on CBS Saturday Morning in August 2026.
For pizza Baba Louie’s at 517 Warren St. gets good reviews. Red Dot Restaurant & Bar was recommended by my local friends and it was founded in 1999. 321 Warren St. Another local friend recommends Pez. This is a coastal Mexican restaurant located in the renovated Rivertown Lodge at 731 Warren St.
A 2024 James Beard nominee for Best Chef: New York State, was Shaina Loew-Banayan of Cafe Mutton. This is a small neighborhood at 757 Columbia St. It has a seasonal brunch menu and a dinner menu that changes every Friday.
I was sad to hear that Fish & Game, one of the top spots in town and a favorite of mine on my first trip, closed due to the pandemic in late 2020. But their smaller restaurant, BackBar, a colorful bar and restaurant in the rear of an antique shop, is still open. It offers Southeast Asian plates. 347 Warren St.
There are several wineries, breweries and distilleries in Hudson and in the small villages nearby. Make sure to visit:
Hudson Chatham Winery: Located 1900 State Rte. 66 in nearby Ghent, this is a small winery producing several whites, reds, roses and sparkling wines. It has a lovely tasting room where I tried two reds and a rose. All were very good.
Cooper’s Daughter Spirits: Cooper’s Daughter Spirits is a is a woman-owned and family-operated distillery 284 State Rte. 23 in Claverack that makes small batch and seasonal spirits. “The farm consists of apple orchards and black walnut tree groves to produce our vodka, whiskey, and bourbon. The property is part of the historic Jacob Rutsen van Rensselaer House and Mill complex, which had a distillery and cooperage circa 1805. Today our distillery and cooperage reside in Rensselaer’s former carriage house. Barrels are handmade on site to age our bourbon and whiskey. Vodka and liqueur are distilled from apples and infused with local botanicals.” I loved trying their Black Walnut Bourbon and Mulled Peach Flavored Whiskey.
Klocke Estate is a Hudson distillery featuring award-winning apple brandy, vermouth and farm-to-glass spirits. It is located on 160 acres and offers distillery tours, fine dining in its restaurant and tastings. I thought tha the space and setting were gorgeous. Unfortunately you have to order an entire flight to be able to taste their products. Hudson Valley Magazine listed is as the best Columbia County Restaurant in its Best of Hudson Valley Food and Drinks 2026. 2554 County Rte 27.
Spotty Dog Books & Ale at 440 Warren St. is a local bookstore that also has a bar featuring local beer, wine, coffee drinks and snacks.
Hudson Brewing is located in downtown Hudson at 99 S. 3rd St. in the Hudson’s Antique Warehouse building. They produce several IPAs, ales, stouts,n sours and ciders. You can also order food from snacks and sandwiches. Their Hudson Lager which is a Mexican-style Lager was very light and refreshing.
Upper Depot Brewing Co. is a Hudson brewery and taproom, serving craft beer in a restored historic train station at 708 State St. They have a food menu and also offer special events and live music. They produce a number of IPAs, stouts, pilsners and ciders.
Return Brewing: Located at 22 State St. in Hudson, this is the taproom of the brewery and taproom of the main location in nearby Catskill, NY. They offer several choices including a pilsner, stouts, amber ale, IPAs and a Kölsch.
