Bryan’s guidebook
Restaurant recommendations
Some of my favorite restaurants in the area. Always check the hours of any restaurant up here before heading out, as they are often unusual!
World class Filipino food served by the most lovely people.
(they are moving locations in Nov/Dec 2023 so check their website before heading out to make sure you're going to the right place - they're in Accord now)
21 locals recommend
Harana Market
5125 Wittenberg RdWorld class Filipino food served by the most lovely people.
(they are moving locations in Nov/Dec 2023 so check their website before heading out to make sure you're going to the right place - they're in Accord now)
Great pizza spot that will deliver to the house. Recommend the grandma pies and the salads.
48 locals recommend
Slices
71 Partition StGreat pizza spot that will deliver to the house. Recommend the grandma pies and the salads.
Really excellent, date night kinda place. Reservations highly recommended.
226 locals recommend
Red Onion
1654 NY-212Really excellent, date night kinda place. Reservations highly recommended.
Great date night spot. Most "NYC" restaurant up here. Very upscale, recommendations recommended.
275 locals recommend
SILVIA
42 Mill Hill RdGreat date night spot. Most "NYC" restaurant up here. Very upscale, recommendations recommended.
Moonburger
5 Powells LaneVegan friendly burger drive thru
This is a longer drive, but is one of my absolute favorite places to eat up here. Very upscale diner food in a classic diner environment. House smoked meats. Outdoor seating when it’s warm. Friday to Monday only.
58 locals recommend
West Taghkanic Diner
1016 NY-82This is a longer drive, but is one of my absolute favorite places to eat up here. Very upscale diner food in a classic diner environment. House smoked meats. Outdoor seating when it’s warm. Friday to Monday only.
On the other side of the river in Rhinebeck, but worth it for one of the world’s best falafels alone, plus you can walk around town, which is really cute. 11am-3:30pm only.
36 locals recommend
Aba's Falafel
54 E Market StOn the other side of the river in Rhinebeck, but worth it for one of the world’s best falafels alone, plus you can walk around town, which is really cute. 11am-3:30pm only.
If this season is right for apple or other fruit picking (check their website), this is truly the best spot in the area. They have a really nice tap room and food trucks as well.
60 locals recommend
Rose Hill Farm, 1798
19 Rose HillIf this season is right for apple or other fruit picking (check their website), this is truly the best spot in the area. They have a really nice tap room and food trucks as well.
new american farm to table. very well done. lovely dining room. reservations recommended.
Restaurant Kinsley
new american farm to table. very well done. lovely dining room. reservations recommended.
I'm a huge pizza nerd and think this place can go head to head with the best of NYC. great place to hit after hiking at Minnewaska.
117 locals recommend
Ollie's Pizza
4 Bruceville RdI'm a huge pizza nerd and think this place can go head to head with the best of NYC. great place to hit after hiking at Minnewaska.
this place doesn't look like much, situated in a strip mall, but it has a great sushi chef and always hits the spot. reservations recommended.
16 locals recommend
SushiMakio
1088 Morton Blvdthis place doesn't look like much, situated in a strip mall, but it has a great sushi chef and always hits the spot. reservations recommended.
Von Salad is by reservation only so text ahead and tell him you are staying at Bryan and Giselle's. His cell is (631) 450-ALEX. This is a very close-by locals only kind of spot. Alex Von Salad is the colorful owner making the amazing pizzas in the wood burning oven. He also brews his own apple wine, makes his own hot sauce, and has great beers on tap. Also has goats and darts. You can buy fresh farm eggs from him as well.
Von Salad Farm
Von Salad is by reservation only so text ahead and tell him you are staying at Bryan and Giselle's. His cell is (631) 450-ALEX. This is a very close-by locals only kind of spot. Alex Von Salad is the colorful owner making the amazing pizzas in the wood burning oven. He also brews his own apple wine, makes his own hot sauce, and has great beers on tap. Also has goats and darts. You can buy fresh farm eggs from him as well.
This is a little mom and pop cafe. breakfast and lunch only. they bake their bread fresh. honestly everything is very fresh and delicious. really nice locals only kinda spot.
Rushbrook General Store & Cafe
This is a little mom and pop cafe. breakfast and lunch only. they bake their bread fresh. honestly everything is very fresh and delicious. really nice locals only kinda spot.
This is probably the best restaurant in the Hudson Valley right now. Honestly some of the best Japanese food we've had outside of Japan. Both the kitchen and the raw bar are exceptional. And the drinks are fantastic. reservations recommended.
Medo
This is probably the best restaurant in the Hudson Valley right now. Honestly some of the best Japanese food we've had outside of Japan. Both the kitchen and the raw bar are exceptional. And the drinks are fantastic. reservations recommended.
Old school Italian spot a short drive from the airbnb. One of our favorite places to eat in the area. Incredible homemade food, great service, generous portions.
48 locals recommend
Annarella Ristorante
276 Malden TurnpikeOld school Italian spot a short drive from the airbnb. One of our favorite places to eat in the area. Incredible homemade food, great service, generous portions.
Nice upscale (but not TOO upscale) bistro. Chef is from Gramercy Tavern. Def bringing Euro/NYC vibes to Kingston. amazing wine list as well. as with almost everything good up here: reservations recommended and check hours before you go.
Eliza
Nice upscale (but not TOO upscale) bistro. Chef is from Gramercy Tavern. Def bringing Euro/NYC vibes to Kingston. amazing wine list as well. as with almost everything good up here: reservations recommended and check hours before you go.
Have been hearing nothing but amazing things about this newish wine bar / fine dining spot. Walk in only I believe, so go early? We actually haven't been yet, so let us know if you go.
Chleo
Have been hearing nothing but amazing things about this newish wine bar / fine dining spot. Walk in only I believe, so go early? We actually haven't been yet, so let us know if you go.
Groceries
Adam’s is my local favorite for groceries. Family run, supports local farmers, great customer service, and keeps it pretty real on the prices:
216 locals recommend
Adams Fairacre Farms
765 Dutchess TurnpikeAdam’s is my local favorite for groceries. Family run, supports local farmers, great customer service, and keeps it pretty real on the prices:
The Kingston Farmer’s Market is on Saturdays in downtown Kingston from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving, 9a-2p. Great place to get fresh fruits and veggies, fish, bread, meats, even ice cream and tamales!
112 locals recommend
Kingston Farmers Market
285 Wall StThe Kingston Farmer’s Market is on Saturdays in downtown Kingston from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving, 9a-2p. Great place to get fresh fruits and veggies, fish, bread, meats, even ice cream and tamales!
Thur-Sat only. Old school German butcher. Best meats in the area. If you want to grill, I highly recommend stopping by here first.
59 locals recommend
Smoke House of the Catskills
724 NY-212Thur-Sat only. Old school German butcher. Best meats in the area. If you want to grill, I highly recommend stopping by here first.
Hiking
Cannot recommend the All Trails app highly enough. great GPS to trail heads, and you can download trail maps in advance to your phone so you never get lost even if you have no phone signal. Here are some of my faves in the area.
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve
4 Shady LnVery close by and pretty easy hiking for everyone
Nice out and back with incredible views from the peak. It’s uphill most of the way out.
50 locals recommend
Huckleberry Point Trail
2425 Platte Clove RdNice out and back with incredible views from the peak. It’s uphill most of the way out.
Right on the other side of the bridge, pretty family friendly. You can get to a firetower with incredible views from the top pretty easily.
82 locals recommend
Ferncliff Forest
68 Mt Rutsen RdRight on the other side of the bridge, pretty family friendly. You can get to a firetower with incredible views from the top pretty easily.
not *super* close but worth the trek for some of the best hiking in the area. does get crowded with city folks on the weekend.
6 locals recommend
Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Hamilton Point Trailnot *super* close but worth the trek for some of the best hiking in the area. does get crowded with city folks on the weekend.
Probably the biggest hiking attraction in the area and for good reason. You can do an easy hike to the platform or go further down to the bottom of the falls (beware you will have to be somewhat athletic to come back up). This is an extremely popular hike! Well worth it, but the parking lots do fill up, so I recommend to go early on a weekday if you can swing it.
668 locals recommend
Kaaterskill Falls
Probably the biggest hiking attraction in the area and for good reason. You can do an easy hike to the platform or go further down to the bottom of the falls (beware you will have to be somewhat athletic to come back up). This is an extremely popular hike! Well worth it, but the parking lots do fill up, so I recommend to go early on a weekday if you can swing it.
At the end of Old Sawmill Road, you will find a strangely hard to find on the internet or All Trails hike that is essentially locals only called Israel Wittman Sanctuary. This is the closest nice hike to our house. It's more of a walk than a hike, very appropriate for all levels of hiker. It's super lovely. If you want to spend some time walking in the woods but don't want to commit to a major hike, this is for you. Just put "Old Sawmill Road" in your GPS and follow it to the end and you'll see a lot on your left. the trail is really well marked.
Old Sawmill Rd, Saugerties, NY 12477, USA
At the end of Old Sawmill Road, you will find a strangely hard to find on the internet or All Trails hike that is essentially locals only called Israel Wittman Sanctuary. This is the closest nice hike to our house. It's more of a walk than a hike, very appropriate for all levels of hiker. It's super lovely. If you want to spend some time walking in the woods but don't want to commit to a major hike, this is for you. Just put "Old Sawmill Road" in your GPS and follow it to the end and you'll see a lot on your left. the trail is really well marked.
Art
This is an absolutely incredible outdoor sculpture park. Honestly on par with Storm King, just not as well known because it's further from the city.
310 locals recommend
Art Omi
1405 Co Rte 22This is an absolutely incredible outdoor sculpture park. Honestly on par with Storm King, just not as well known because it's further from the city.
Really cool sculpture that one artist spent his whole life building. very close to the airbnb, highly recommend stopping by.
351 locals recommend
Opus 40
356 George Sickle RdReally cool sculpture that one artist spent his whole life building. very close to the airbnb, highly recommend stopping by.
Okay, this really isn't close, it's almost a 2 hour drive. BUT, if you find yourself here on a bad weather day, and really want to get out of the house, you could do a lot worse than traveling to what is arguably the world's best modern art museum.
382 locals recommend
MASS MoCA
1040 Mass MoCA WayOkay, this really isn't close, it's almost a 2 hour drive. BUT, if you find yourself here on a bad weather day, and really want to get out of the house, you could do a lot worse than traveling to what is arguably the world's best modern art museum.
swimming
there is a waterfall here that is one of the best swimming spots up here. there are lots of no swimming signs that you'll notice everyone ignores.
128 locals recommend
High Falls Conservation Area
540 Roxbury Rdthere is a waterfall here that is one of the best swimming spots up here. there are lots of no swimming signs that you'll notice everyone ignores.
big beach here that's great for swimming. can get very crowded but when you're really trying to beat the heat it's a great spot. if you're feeling more adventurous, I recommend going left when you enter the park, away from the beach, parking at the big lot just past parking lot F, and making your way to the peninsula on the lake. it's way more peaceful and one of my fave spots to swim and chill up here. $10 per car to get in.
132 locals recommend
Lake Taghkanic State Park
1528 New York 82big beach here that's great for swimming. can get very crowded but when you're really trying to beat the heat it's a great spot. if you're feeling more adventurous, I recommend going left when you enter the park, away from the beach, parking at the big lot just past parking lot F, and making your way to the peninsula on the lake. it's way more peaceful and one of my fave spots to swim and chill up here. $10 per car to get in.
great campground with two lakes you can swim in. perfect stop for a dip after Kaaterskill Falls hike. $10 per car.
165 locals recommend
North/South Lake Campground
874 N Lake Rdgreat campground with two lakes you can swim in. perfect stop for a dip after Kaaterskill Falls hike. $10 per car.
Wellness
Great for a spa day. Advance reservations recommended.
13 locals recommend
Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck
46 W Market StGreat for a spa day. Advance reservations recommended.
Moonlight Sanctuary
Great spot for a yoga class or sound healing, book in advance online
Great local studio run by our friend with many offerings: yoga, reiki, sound healing, etc etc
North Node
Great local studio run by our friend with many offerings: yoga, reiki, sound healing, etc etc