4 Best Restaurants in Hudson Valley, New York

This bright and cozy café wins over Cold Spring locals and visitors with its "breakfast until 4 pm" menu that includes chocolate babka French toast, biscuits and gravy, and a grilled Gouda cheese sandwich with Granny Smith apples. Their Bloody Marys are extra spicy. The lunch menu offers lighter fare such as Cobb salads and salmon BLTs. Make sure you leave room for a slice of homemade sky-high carrot cake or flourless chocolate cake.

Swaths of sheer fabric and vibrant murals romance the interior of this rustic trattoria—a paean to northern Italian food. Transplanted New Yorkers sip reds and whites from an extensive wine list. Sage-browned butter laces silky calves' liver, and an espresso demi-glace enlivens grilled hanger steak. The gnocchi pairs well with the lamb ragu. Vegetarians can choose from pasta dishes such as whole-wheat fusilli primavera.

Watch sailboats drift by from the veranda tables at this riverfront restaurant, or dine by the window in the country-style River Room. A crust of red and blue tortillas gives crab cakes a new twist. Notable entrées include salmon filled with sun-dried-tomato pesto and arugula, and filet mignon wrapped in a crusty sleeve of pancetta. The stunning dining room is worthy of Martha Stewart herself, and thus the setting of many weddings. Sunday brunch gives you the choice of an appetizer and entrée for $26.

This popular village restaurant offers great views of the Hudson River to accompany its "modern Continental" fare. Handblown sconces lend a golden glow to the dining room. The wood-oven pizzas are praiseworthy, as are the grilled rib-eye steaks, fusilli Bolognese, and fresh fish. Reservations are essential for the highly coveted terrace tables.