74 Best Restaurants in Hudson Valley, New York

A trendy spot in the heart of the gallery district, this sleek restaurant offers a varied menu, from hamburgers and quesadillas to soft-shell crabs. The dining room has a large picture window overlooking the garden. The bar is open until 2 am most nights.

Restored stone hearths, exposed beams, and spectacular panoramic views make for an elegant country dining experience here. Enjoy a formal sit-down meal in Restaurant 1915, or head upstairs for lighter fare and stiffer drinks at the Blue Roof Tapas Bar. The menu is locally-inspired and includes standouts like slow-roasted herb chicken, portobello mushroom tart, and house-made charcuterie.

The Culinary Institute's terraced Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine is the setting for this complex of Italian dining areas, each with its own character. The ornately decorated main dining room has Venetian light fixtures and is the most formal; the Al Forno room has an open kitchen with a colorfully painted wood-fired oven. Antipasti choices are plentiful, followed by first and second courses. Panna cotta with strawberries and aged balsamic vinegar is a good dessert pick.

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.

Day-tripping bicyclists and locals favor this popular bakery, where you can sip gourmet coffee and nibble on omelets or "Hubwiches" (tasty breakfast sandwiches named after various bicycle brands), as well as scones, muffins, and pastries that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Lunch offerings include hot and cold sandwiches, and a variety of hearty soups.

This tiny Vietnamese restaurant serves delicious noodle dishes and soups in a friendly atmosphere with prices that don't break the bank. Choices include crispy spring rolls, tender marinated steak bits, beef soup with vermicelli, lemon-marinated chicken, calamari with ginger, and a few vegetarian options. Vassar College is around the corner.

Brightly painted walls and a lively vibe prevail at this funky Mexican eatery in the center of Tivoli. Tricolor chips and salsa greet you when you sit down. Grilled fish tacos and the fajita Champaneca made with chorizo, chicken, and steak are deservedly popular while vegetarians love the enchiladas de San Miguel filled with mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and salsa verde. All entrées come with rice, black beans, and a salad topped with a lemony vinaigrette. The excellent frozen margaritas are made from scratch and the front porch is a key spot for people-watching.

This cozy storefront restaurant is owned by a Culinary Institute alum. The seasonally changing menu might include salmon fillet with fingerling potatoes and citrus-basil glaze, local goat cheese brûlée, or a 12-ounce filet mignon in a black pepper–Chianti reduction. The space—warm and inviting, with exposed-brick walls and dark-wood trim—includes a bar area. The service, friendly and professional, does the food justice.

Ask locals where to eat and most will say Swoon, where James Beard Award–nominated chef Jeffrey Gimmel can create a delicious delight from a simple carrot as easily as from freshly-caught black bass. Gimmel is justly famed for his seafood dishes. The menu changes daily but the popular roasted beet salad with local goat cheese and spice rubbed skirt steak are always available. The country-chic brasserie design is elegant and comfortable; the staff is friendly and attentive.

Before opening this comfortable café, Dan Budd was a James Beard Award–nominated pastry chef in both New York and Chicago. Bard students and locals can hang out for hours enjoying the relaxed vibe and wide-ranging menu that includes breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, and gourmet beverages. Everything is casual except the exquisite pastries like the flour-free Red Hooker—a brilliant concoction of Belgian chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and raspberries.

Chicken with basil, red-curry stews, and seafood steamed in banana leaf are standouts at this Thai place in an old silver diner. The dining room is often packed on weekends during prime dinner hours, but tables turn over quickly. Dishes labeled "hot" are not for the faint of heart.

The seasonal menu of regional American fare features meats, produce, and cheeses from artisanal area farms as well as from the restaurant's own kitchen garden. Ravioli are filled with Hudson Valley foie gras and scallops and served with wild-chervil-and-wine sauce; jumbo crab cakes are dressed with grainy mustard sauce and tea leaves; and organic pork gets an Asian barbecue glaze. There is also a raw bar. Sunday brunch is à la carte and includes omelets, crepes, smoked fish, and scones. Large windows frame swoon-inducing valley views.

The stylish surroundings are a match for the hip, Asian-fusion cuisine served at this spot. The menu includes an innovative selection of sushi and rolls; tasty small plates such as black cod with miso; and such refined main courses as crispy salmon with pomegranate reduction. Reservations are essential on weekends.

The restaurant is a casual place to mix and mingle without putting too much of a dent in your wallet. The menu includes hearty Austrian dishes, including braised beef with potato dumplings as well as chicken and sirloin burgers and pasta combos. There's live music on Saturdays.