A writer who spent their late 20s in Brooklyn has developed a fondness for the Catskills in upstate New York. They’ve been lucky enough to house sit a cabin in Accord, New York, and have fallen in love with the area. The writer’s partner’s mom’s partner has a cabin there, and they’ve been able to escape the city for long weekends in the Hudson Valley.
The Catskills offer a range of dining options, and the writer makes a strong case for a dining-focused trip. They recommend stopping at Corner Slice for massive, pillowy garlic knots as a pre-trip snack. For lunch, they suggest visiting Storm King Art Center to take in the outdoor sculptures or catch a concert, and packing a lunch to picnic on the grounds.
Dining in the Catskills
For dinner, the writer recommends Shorties, a self-described “bar for the whole family” in New Paltz. They offer a range of dishes, including a kimchi-topped hot dog, green pozole stew, and prosciutto- and pepperoncini-topped nachos. The writer also suggests stopping by Gadaleto’s fishmonger for seafood and Rock & Snow for climbing gear.
In the evening, the writer likes to stay in the Accord area, where lodging options range from cabin Airbnbs to luxury hotels like Inness. They recommend grabbing a bottle of natural wine at Bluebird Wine Shop and picking up pie or ice cream at Accord Market for a night-in dessert and drinks.
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The next day, the writer suggests grabbing a coffee and pastry from Black Dot Cafe and heading to Minnewaska State Park for a hike. Alternatively, climbers can head to the Mohonk Preserve. For lunch, they recommend Mountain Brauhaus, a family-owned German restaurant with massive portions and charming servers.
After lunch, the writer suggests skating off the schnitzel at Skate Time, a retro roller rink with pierogies from Helena’s Pierogis. For dinner, they recommend a restaurant with a life-changing panzanella and a fun atmosphere with salsa dancing and live music, surrounded by apple trees.
The writer’s dining-focused trip continues on Sunday, with a visit to Village Coffee and Goods in Kingston for a cortado and frittata. They then head to Rosie General, their favorite all-day cafe, for a mortadella sandwich or chile-crisp-topped egg toast.
On the way to Stissing House, the writer discovered Zabriskie’s Waterfall near the Bard College campus, a swimming hole with a relaxed vibe.
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For dinner, the writer waits for a table at Stissing House and enjoys a drink in the living room-like space. They then have dinner, skipping dessert to head to Cherries Roadside for classic Americana and vanilla soft-serve ice cream.
The writer also mentions some honorable mentions, including Harana Market for Filipino food, Eng’s Chinese in Kingston for local history, and Cafe Mutton in Hudson for a head cheese sandwich.
Wine and Local Specialties
Kingston Wine Co. offers a selection of unique wine bottles, and Mirador is a great spot for sherry and pintxos.
