Hudson is the perfect weekend destination in Upstate New York, with small-town charm, amazing restaurants, shopping and conveniently located with access to public transportation.
Here is our guide to everything you need to know to plan your perfect weekend away in Hudson New York, including how to get there and get around without a car from New York City, the best accommodation, top things to see, do eat and drink.
How to get to Hudson from New York City: via Amtrak
To get to Hudson from New York City you can take the Amtrak train from Penn Station directly to Hudson Station which is around a 2-hour journey with multiple departure times per day. Be sure to pre-book online, the earlier you book, the more you save. Ticket prices start from around USD 30 one way per person.
TIP: The train ride follows the Hudson River and offers beautiful scenery, heading north from NYC be sure to sit on the left side of the train to enjoy the best views of the river. Also as seating is not pre-assigned arrive early and be in line first once the boarding platform is announced at the station to get a window seat.
How to get around Hudson without a car:
Hudson Station is just a 5-minute walk from the start of Warren Street, which is the main street where all of the cafes, restaurants, bars and shops are located. If you're visiting Hudson for a weekend we recommend staying on or as close as possible to Warren street with plenty of options for accommodation walking distance from the station. There is more than enough to do for a full weekend within this area staying on foot.
If you do plan to rent a car while there, we recommend booking one in advance, as there are not any direct options at the train station to do so. However, if pre-booked, many car rental companies will come and pick you up from the train station to collect your car.
We recommend a 2-night stay in Hudson, close by to Warren Street if travelling without a car. There are many small charming boutique hotels in this area. If you book via our affiliate links in this post we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Here are a few options from booking.com
Top things to do in Hudson, New York for a weekend:
Have Brunch at Le Perche Bakery and Bar:
Le Perche Bakery and Bar is located on Warren Street in the heart of Hudson, enter into a cozy French restaurant and wood-burning bakery. You will be greeted with the sight and smell of freshly baked sourdough and pastries by the counter. If you wish to sit by the bakery take a seat at the bar for a drink. At the back of the restaurant, both indoor and outdoor dining options are available. The food is seasonal and the menu features locally-sourced farm-fresh goods. If visiting for brunch we recommend the avocado toast and fries.
Stroll down Warren Street:
Warren Street is both long and charming enough that you could spend your entire weekend here, taking in the colourful and quaint buildings, stopping at cafes, picking up gourmet produce or hunting for antiques and vintage finds.
Have Cocktails at the Maker Hotel's Maker Lounge:
On your way to dinner be sure to stop by the Maker Lounge for a cocktail. We loved this cozy romantic space located at the entrance of the upscale boutique maker hotel.
Enjoy a Farm to Table Fresh dinner at WM Farmer and Sons:
The WM Farmer and Sons is a farm to table fresh restaurant located on Front Street in Hudson open between Tuesday and Sunday nights. They serve up craft cocktails, don't miss the Golden Glow if on the menu, which was our personal favourite, featuring a local AppleJack spirit made with Hudson Apples, Lemon and Honey. It will be hard to choose between all of their high-quality main meals, we opted for the chicken liver as an appetiser and wagyu beef steak as our entree and both were outstanding. We ended the night with an apple pie and vanilla gelato, the perfect seasonal dessert coming up to Christmas.
Pick up morning coffee at Hudson Roastery:
If you're looking for the perfect spot for your morning coffee stop by Hudson Roastery, located overlooking the green space of 7th Street Park (which is also worth a stroll through). If visiting during the summer, enjoy the coffee outside on the charming white tables and chairs or in winter cozy up indoors.
Enjoy the historic houses of Hudson:
One of our favourite parts of a visit to Hudson was simply just walking around and admiring the historic victorian era houses with their colourful doors. Be sure to stop for a few photos to add to your Instagram feed.
Go Antique Shopping at the Antique Warehouse:
Be sure to leave space in your suitcases when you plan a trip to Hudson as you will most likely be going home with some antique or vintage finds. Warren Street is full of antique stores to browse, however, our favourite finds in Hudson were the Antique Warehouse, home to everything you can imagine looking for and just a 5-minute walk from the Amtrak Station. The space is over 300,000 square feet, hosting a variety of small businesses selling antiques within the building. This includes everything from clothing, accessories, furniture, lighting, home decor and more.
Visit the Hudson River and Hudson-Athens Lighthouse at Hudson River Park:
Just a short walk from Warren Street and the Amtrak Station is Hudson River Park, which offers stunning riverfront views over the Hudson Athens lighthouse built-in 1974. The lighthouse is still in use today, serving to support navigation along the Hudson River. If visiting between July to October it is possible to book a tour of the lighthouse on the second Saturday of each month.
Pick up some dried flowers from the Quiet Botanist:
If you're looking to fill your home with floral decor, be sure to wander down the hidden brick alleyway off Warren Street that will lead you into the Quiet Botanist Store. Even if you don't buy anything here, this store is worth a visit just for how beautiful it is inside.
Have lunch at Feast and Floret:
Dining Feast and Floret was one of our favourite meals of the weekend. Enter to what also looks like a boutique flower store where you and create a bouquet of flowers with various local Hudson Valley botanicals, priced by the piece. It makes for a beautiful dining experience being seated indoors by the fresh florals. You can also pick up some of their freshly made local honey sold onsite. In case you miss picking up a jar, be sure to try their warm flatbread with the ricotta and honey so you can still taste the honey. We also recommend the arancini balls and our highlight of the meals was the pasta. We opted for the special of the day which was a tuna lemon butter seashell pasta.
Taste the Bread at Breadfolks Bakery:
Breadfolks Bakery looked like one of the most popular stops along Warren Street, we walked past multiple times during the weekend and it was always busy. After tasting their fresh bread, we can see why. We tasted a fresh slice of the pesto and sun-dried tomato bread, but their sourdough options also appeared to be very popular. They are also a great stop for a takeaway coffee.
Stop for breakfast or a giant hot chocolate at Le Gamin Country:
We loved the retro interior diner feel of stepping into Le Gamin Country, think cozy booths at the back, vintage signs on display and a menu of french breakfast delights. We recommend the bowl of hot chocolate and lemon & sugar crepes.
Places to skip for food but you could just get a quick drink - Lil Deb's Oasis:
Before visiting Hudson almost every blog and tourist guide we read recommended a visit to Little Deb's Oasis. We can see why when you step inside to the colourful neon lights and decor that will make you feel like you're in a fun 1970s space movie. However, we found the food taste and quality along with the cocktails to be disappointing. We tasted the big lettuce salad, sushi rice salad, sticky ribs and one of the enchilada dishes, none of which stood out as worth the price. If you're planning a visit, we'd recommend just going for a beer and wine before moving along to get food elsewhere.
We hope you enjoyed our weekend guide to Hudson, New York. To see more of our other USA destination guides click here.
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