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.
Red Dot Restaurant & Bar is recommended by my local friends and it was founded in 1999. . 321 Warren St.
My niece recently got engaged while staying west of Hudson in Athens. They celebrated in town, with drinks at The Maker Lounge at 302 Warren St. and a great dinner at the new WM. Farmer and Son Boarding & Barroom at 120 S. Front. Street. She wanted me to pass on these recommendations to all of you.
For pizza Baba Louie’s at 517 Warren St. gets good reviews.
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.
Another 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 Asianvplates. 347 Warren St.