The ultimate guide to Hudson, New York state

Situated across the Hudson River from the Catskill Mountains, Hudson was one of the country’s most important whaling ports during the early 19th century and thrived as a hub for craftsmanship and commerce throughout the years that followed: it was the brickmaking capital of the world by the turn of the 20th century, and was home to a thriving garment industry.

The storied history of Hudson can be found in its elegant red brick buildings and Federal style townhouses. Away from the centre, Victorian-style homes stand alongside Italianate architecture, and as you drive towards the outskirts, sprawling country estates, apple orchards and homesteads neighbour eyebrow colonial cottages and saltbox farm houses among rolling hills.

With its close proximity to New York, Hudson draws a laid back creative crowd of artists, antique hunters, hikers and nature lovers, and lays claim to the highest percentage of self-employed entrepreneurs of any city in the state of New York.

Warren Street, the city’s mile-long thoroughfare, is lined with farm-to-table restaurants and independent boutiques brimming with artisanal wares. While the city itself doesn’t offer a huge number of hotels, there are a handful of excellent boutique stays, which also give visitors easy access to the Catskills, Hunter Mountain, and the Berkshires.

How to get to Hudson from New York City

Getting to Hudson is seamless from New York City: Amtrak runs daily from Moynihan Station in Midtown Manhattan, and takes about two and a half hours. Driving takes just over two hours, and having a car offers visitors the opportunity to explore beyond Hudson during their stay.

The best hotels in Hudson

The Maker

Best For: Eclectic glamour, luxury boutique hotel
Address: 302 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
Price: From 475 USD per night

The Maker is located in the heart of the action on Hudson’s Warren Street, comprising three converted townhouses. The hotel is so called in honour of the artisans and designers that call Hudson home, and is furnished with custom-made furniture and locally commissioned artwork, all of which is available to buy. Each of the 11 rooms are uniquely designed with hand-carved wooden fireplaces, chandeliers, deep jewel tone walls and collected antiques. There is an all-day cafe serving fresh bread and pastries from nearby Bartlett House bakery, while the restaurant is a more formal affair, set in a light-filled conservatory hung with trailing greenery.

The hotel is owned by Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the founders of cosmetics brand Fresh. The brand’s fill the bathrooms, and scented candles burn throughout the property.

Rivertown Lodge

Best For: A motel and lively social space in a historic setting
Address: 731 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
Price: From 239 USD per night

Set towards the end of Warren Street, Rivertown Lodge is a 1920s cinema turned independent motel. Owners Ray and Kim (also behind Catskills’ Camptown hotel) called on local craftspeople to furnish the rooms with custom-made wooden beds, complemented by mid-century design and local artwork. Cosy up in the open-plan lobby next to one of two wood-burning stoves, or unwind at one of the picnic tables on the patio while you sip on complimentary coffee from the communal kitchen. In the evening, order a natural wine from The Tavern, also noted for its farm-to-table cooking. Guests are encouraged to hop on one of the hotel’s bikes-for-borrow to cruise down Warren Street and explore the city.

The Amelia

Best For: A boutique hotel within a picturesque country house
Address: 339 Allen Street, Hudson, NY
Price: From 350 USD per night

The Amelia occupies a Queen Anne-style private home in downtown Hudson. Each of the eight well-appointed guest rooms are flooded with natural light, with leafy neighbourhood views and the Catskill Mountains on the horizon. Spend mornings sipping coffee on the expansive front porch or wander through the property’s English garden. In warmer months, lounge by the pool, which is surrounded by budding hydrangea and bluebells.

This Old Hudson

Best For: A luxurious rental property imbued with old world charm
Address: Hudson, NY
Price: From 402 USD per night

This Old Hudson comprises three rental properties, uniquely designed by Zio and Sons, a creative studio founded by designer and entrepreneur Anthony D’Argenzio. Sleeping up to five guests, each light-filled townhome is immaculately furnished with antique furniture, claw foot bathtubs and marble countertops, while incorporating modern conveniences such as underfloor heating. Large living and dining areas and fully equipped kitchens with hanging copper pots lend themselves to convivial gatherings, while outdoor patios offer views of the surrounding nature.

Piaule Catskill

Best For: Wooden cabins immersed in nature
Address: 333 Mossy Hill Road, Catskill, NY
Price: From 484 USD per night

As the name suggests, Piaule Catskill is not in Hudson, but located 20 minutes outside, overlooking the Catskills. The landscape hotel that puts nature and wellbeing at the forefront of the guest experience. Twenty-four freestanding stilted cabins are scattered throughout the wooded landscape, designed in a contemporary Japanese and Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic. King-sized beds are positioned opposite glass walls for expansive forest views, where the only sound is that of the morning birdsong. Unwind further in the glass-walled spa, with yoga rooms, sauna, mineral plunge pool and outdoor sun loungers for warmer days. Look out for experiences including forest bathing, immersive sound baths and reiki.

The best restaurants in Hudson

Feast & Floret

Best For: Farm-to-table plates, delicious pastas, fresh and dried flowers
Address: 13 S 3rd Street, Hudson, NY
Price: Dishes from 11 USD

Feast and Floret is housed in an intimate red brick building, just off Warren Street. The Italian-inspired cuisine spans arancini, handmade pastas, chicken Milanese and grilled flatbread with creamy burrata, all made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients. In between courses, take advantage of the fresh flower cart in the centre of the dining room where diners can arrange their own bouquet of dried lavender, locally grown anemones, eucalyptus and other seasonal blooms handpicked from nearby farms. Dried flowers are also suspended from the ceiling behind the bar for a striking finish.

Cafe Mutton

Best For: Inventive fare in an informal, welcoming setting
Address: 757 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY
Price: Dishes from 11 USD

In recent years, a trend has emerged in Hudson for casual restaurants with succinct but perfectly formed menus. One such example is Cafe Mutton, which was recognised in 2023 by The James Beard Foundation. It is open 10am to 3pm Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch, in addition to a coveted Friday night dinner slot. Tuck into freshly baked pastries, the feted fried bologna sandwich and crepe-style pancakes drenched in butter and maple syrup.

Talbott & Arding

Best For: Takeaway dishes, local cheese, and other must-have provisions
Address: 202 Allen Street, Hudson, NY
Price: Varying depending on product

There is no other shop in the Hudson Valley that offers an array of provisions quite like Talbott & Arding. Stock up on pastries, local cheeses, cured meats, dried pantry goods and freshly prepared takeaway meals, including pasta, soup and salads. We recommend a slice of the famed focaccia pizza and a pack of the homemade marshmallows with accompanying graham crackers.

Kitty’s

Best For: Tasty meals in a retro setting with an adjacent market
Address: 60 S Front Street, Hudson, NY
Price: Breakfast from 7 USD; Larger plates from 14 USD

Situated opposite Hudson train station, Kitty’s has evolved from a market cafe into one of the area’s best-loved restaurants with a delightful garden. Enjoy breakfast dishes, gorgeous pastries and an inventive wine list, open daily 8am to 7pm with the restaurant open 10am to 5pm. The team also recently opened The Caboose, a 6,500 sq ft events space for indoor and outdoor gatherings, which is entirely carbon neutral.

Le Perche Bakery and Bar

Best For: French-inspired breakfast, brunch and lunch
Address: 230 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
Price: Dishes from 9 USD

Le Perche marries French cooking techniques with the Hudson Valley’s bounty of local ingredients. A counter of freshly baked goods and naturally fermented breads impresses on arrival, while popular brunch dishes include comforting Croque Madame and crispy brown rice with crab and poached egg. Tucked away behind the art-filled dining area is an expansive patio and garden, which is perfect for languid lunches in the sun.

Quinnies

Best For: Laidback lunch in a converted farmhouse on the outskirts of Hudson
Address: 834 NY-66, Hudson, NY
Prices: Sandwiches from 8 to 19 USD

A five-minute drive from Hudson, Quinnies is set in an 18th century farmhouse and considered the most charming cafe in the area. Loaded sandwiches are packed with inventive flavour, such as egg with Kewpie mayonnaise and housemade kimchi (11 USD). Enjoy your meal on the picnic benches out front for views of the wooded surroundings.

Wylde Hudson

Best For: A multifaceted community space, wine bar and cafe
Address: 35 S 3rd St, Hudson, NY
Price: Coffee from 4 USD; Snacks from 3 USD

Wylde Hudson counts wine bar, retail space and open-air market among its many facets, with a laidback community feel. Set just off Warren Street, drop by the hybrid space for locally roasted coffee and natural wines, and browse clothing and accessories in the adjoining shop. Look out for live music and events on weekends where locals and visitors gather.

Hudson Brewing Company

Best For: Tasting local beers and wine
Address: 99 S 3rd St, Hudson, NY
Prices: Snacks from 4 USD

Hidden amongst Hudson’s antique-filled warehouses, Hudson Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery and taproom with an outdoor beer garden. Sample a rotation of seasonal brews such as the Apple Pie Sour or award-winning Mexican coffee stout, alongside local spirits and wine. There is also a food truck serving classic burgers, chicken wings and pretzels, and both children and dogs are welcome.

Stissing House

Best For: An impressive setting with an emphasis on simplified, wood-fired fare
Address: 7801 S Main Street, Pine Plains, NY
Prices: Main dishes from 33 USD

Not far from Hudson is the charming town of Pine Plains, where one of the region’s best restaurants occupies an 18th-century tavern, owned by chef Clare de Boer. The picturesque dining room has exposed wooden beams and original fireplaces, while dishes include coal-roasted scallops sizzling in local butter, rabbit and tarragon pie, and a huge honeynut squash and blue cheese salad.

Antique hunting in Hudson

Hudson draws interior designers, collectors and aesthetes for its enviable selection of antiques, from warehouses piled high with mid-century furniture to serene gallery spaces. Highlights include 620 Warren Street, where you’ll find carefully sourced art, tribal sculptures and oriental silk screens, spanning various eras and periods. Founder Anthony Slayter-Ralph spent decades accumulating distinctive pieces from around the world before opening his shop and boasts a near-encyclopaedic knowledge of antiques.

Meanwhile, no visit to Hudson is complete without a wander around Antique Warehouse – a cavernous trove of antique furniture, art, vintage clothing and ephemera. Allow several hours to roam the stalls and embrace getting lost – it is inevitable.

The best shops in Hudson

Minna

Best For: Responsibly made textiles and homeware
Address: 421 Warren Street, Hudson, NY

The sunlit, airy boutique and certified B Corp on Warren Street is curated with responsibly made homeware from Latin America. Colourful woven textiles and baskets shine amongst ceramics, tableware and art – we challenge you to leave empty handed.

Finch

Best For: An expansive offering of vintage and modern homeware
Address: 427 Warren Street, Hudson, NY

Finch is a two-storey mecca of both vintage and new homeware and lifestyle goods, including mid-century furniture, ceramics, clothing and coffee table tomes. Explore global brands such as Astier de Villatte, Nili Lotan and Aesop, all handpicked by owners Andrew Arrick and Michael Hofemann.

Clove & Creek

Best For: Lifestyle concept store selling local, handmade gifts and objects
Address: 613 Warren Street, Hudson, NY

Celebrating the artists and makers of Hudson Valley, Clove & Creek is curated with covetable ceramics, cookware, and other utilitarian homeware pieces. Set in a cosy storefront on Warren Street, objects are presented alongside vintage furniture to encourage visitors to mix and match within their home.

The Quiet Botanist

Best For: A botanical apothecary and multi-sensory shopping experience
Address: 447 Warren Street, Hudson, NY

Drawing inspiration from wild-harvested Australian botanicals and overgrown European gardens, The Quiet Botanist is an enchanting apothecary set in a historic storefront with dried florals suspended from the ceiling. Peruse the deliberate curation of candles, skincare, botanicals, and chocolate, all beautifully packaged.

Outdoor Pursuits

Olana State Historic Site

Best For: An architectural masterpiece surrounded by enthralling nature
Address: 5720 NY-9G, Hudson, NY
Price: Landscape is free; Interior access starts at 12 USD

Located ten minutes from the centre of Hudson, Olana is an architectural showpiece, once home to American painter Frederic Edwin Church, a pioneer of the Hudson River School of painting. The architecture references Victorian elements and Orientalist decorative motifs, and Church’s original works hang inside. Perched at the top of a hill on a 250-acre estate, Olana offers spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River, as well as a popular hiking trail.

Art Omi

Best For: Larger than life art amongst the natural backdrop of the Hudson Valley
Address: 1405 Co Rte 22, Ghent, NY
Price: Free

Located 15 minutes outside Hudson, Art Omi is a 120-acre sculpture and architecture park with large scale works scattered throughout the wooded grounds. It is considered a non-profit sanctuary for an international roster of diverse creatives to showcase their work, and also includes an indoor gallery space.