39 Best Restaurants in The Catskills, New York

Most of the antiques are gone, but the classic foods for sale—from lollipops to jams and jellies to every kind of cheese imaginable—make this place feel like a blast from the past. You can hang out on the front porch, choose from a selection of more than 300 beers, and dig into a hearty "knish-wich" of potato knish, coleslaw, melted cheddar, pastrami, and turkey. You also can't go wrong ordering one of several cheese plates to share with the table. Drop by in the evening, as there's often live music.

At this decidedly upscale spot at the edge of the village, cobalt-blue vases sit on blond-wood tables, sharply contrasting the deep-russet walls and tin-ceilinged bar area. Large photographs of Cuban scenes are hung between book racks, where a handpicked collection of art books await your browsing—that is, if you can pull yourself away from the seared tofu with pumpkin-seed mole, curry-crusted calamari, or truffle-and-soy risotto. Wednesday is sushi night. Reservations are essential on weekends and for sushi night.

Freshly baked breads and pastries beckon from the window of this centrally located café where Woodstockers go to wake up. You can get all the local gossip while waiting in line for a latte, or grab a table and enjoy a feta and leek quiche or a chicken sausage and kale sandwich. If you're pressed for time, this is the place to duck in, grab the fixings for a picnic lunch, and keep going.

Organic gardens line the restaurant's perimeter, hinting at the fresh ingredients Peter and Rose DiSclafani incorporate into their mostly new American, seasonally driven menu. Dishes may include such favorites as smoked duck with an apricot-apple cider sauce or trout with green-olive pesto. The 26-seat dining room is cozy, calling to mind a diner with its metal-framed chairs and huge windows.

This German-Swiss eatery in the heart of Windham is a slice of the old country: the two ceramic stoves, oversize wine casks, and all the ironwork were brought over from Germany. The kitchen turns out authentic jaegerschnitzel (lightly sauteed veal cutlets), wiesswurst (veal sausages with sauerkraut), and sauerbraten (potato pancakes with red cabbage and applesauce). There are three kinds of fondue, including one made with chocolate and served with fresh fruit.

In a pretty red farmhouse at the entrance to Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, the Dancing Cat Saloon—sister restaurant to the Catskill Distilling Company—is hands-down one of the best eateries in the area and a great place to dine before a concert or after a trip to the museum. The dining room is decorated with musical instruments—appropriate enough, given its location and the fact that the Dancing Cat often has live music. A favorite hangout spot is the deck, where you can sit under umbrellas overlooking the field of “Stray Cat” sculptures in front the of Catskill Distilling Company. The food ranges from expertly put-together burgers to the satisfying main courses, which includes the signature pork chops. Jazz brunch is also popular, especially with locals.

You may want to reserve ahead, as the place is always packed.

The full menu here ranges from classic diner cuisine to steaks and seafood. A spacious interior filled with warm woods is hidden by an unassuming facade.

The outgoing Powell-Wagner family runs this ice-cream parlor and casual eatery in addition to its sap house and cider mill (in nearby South Gilboa). You can reap the benefits of both with a visit here. Jars of homemade pickles, salsa, and fruit jams jostle for space with freshly baked pies and sweet breads. The Friday-night fish fry—when fresh pollack, flounder, and haddock are beer-battered and deep-fried—is becoming a local tradition.

The Japanese eatery has several tranquil dining rooms with an indoor water garden and bar. Sushi, sashimi, and tempura are the standouts. A popular spot with vegetarians, Hana is also a good choice for when you're in the mood for something a little different.

Desserts are serious business at this simple café-bakery, where a "periodic table" of sweets hangs on the wall. The Fürst Pückler torte—layers of marzipan, buttercream, sponge cake, and apricot jam—could put you into sugar shock. Strudels are delicious, and the breakfast and lunch fare is good as well. A side of warm German potato salad accompanies midday plates, such as the bratwurst platter or chicken salad studded with bits of apple, bell pepper, and celery. Choose a German beer to wash it all down.

Low lighting and lots of bare wood give this family-friendly restaurant about 5 mi northwest of Prattsville a roadhouse-like aura. The building dates from the turn of the 20th century and has a storied history; during Prohibition one enterprising owner set the attic on fire when his still blew up. The menu is loaded with well-prepared American favorites such as burgers and fries, steak-and-potato dinners, shareable appetizer baskets, and scrumptious homemade desserts—save room for co-owner Jennifer's apple crisp. Simple, reasonably priced rooms upstairs and a sizable cottage out back are available for rent. You might have company if you choose to stay here; guests have reported benign ghostly visitors.

In business for more than four decades, this venerable eatery's unassuming interior gives no hint of the wonders coming out of the kitchen. The inventive Middle Eastern menu includes zucchini flat cakes with yogurt and apricot jam and red beet risotto with seared scallops and asparagus. Joshua's smorgasbord brings together hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, dolmas, and warm pita bread. A popular spot for vegans, vegetarians, and those on a gluten-free diet.

At this laid-back eatery in one of the prettiest buildings in Tannersville, you will find homemade baked goods piled on the counter and breakfast all day. Mountain bikers and skiers fill the place in the morning to partake of favorites like Eggs McMaggie, with two fried eggs, bacon, and your choice of cheese on an English muffin; challah French toast; steak and eggs; and freshly squeezed juices. Later in the day, organic sandwiches and salads take over. Thumbtacks hold artwork on the white wood-plank walls, and church-pew benches are filled with boisterous families.

This place combines the comfort and fun of a small-town tavern with a broad, ever-changing menu. If you're in the mood for meat, you can't go wrong with the Big Mama Burger, laden with ham, caramelized onions, and cheese on a toasted bun, and a basket of chef Matthew Lanes's hand-sliced potato chips. For a lighter meal, try a cheesy quesadilla and a cup of chunky gazpacho. Service on the deck gives you an eagle's-eye view of the hamlet.

Intimate surroundings, white tablecloths set against a burgundy backdrop, and waiters clad in tuxedos make this a romantic spot, but it's not just couples who come to dine on the fine northern Italian fare served here. Handmade pastas are a specialty, and Caesar salad for two is made table-side. Linguine is tossed with tuna, capers, olives, and wine sauce; penne in spicy tomato-cream sauce gets a splash of vodka; and shrimp are sautéed with mushrooms and prosciutto in champagne and cream. The menu also includes chicken, steak, and veal preparations. The list of wines is extensive.

This 1882 country inn has two dining rooms—the wood-paneled Catskill Mountain Room and the bright and airy Greenhouse Room—and one menu, which includes charcoal-broiled steaks, blackened red snapper, and other traditional fare. A hearty country-style breakfast is great fuel for a day on the slopes. The après-ski crowd packs the place on winter weekends, when you can find live music and the bar area warmed by an old-fashioned wood stove.

The best pizza in town is at Raimondo's, on the main drag. The building has aged, and the decor isn't anything to write home about—but the tables are clean, and the service fast.