Seafood by the Sea
Day Line Oyster Bar + Kitchen
60 S. River St., Coxsackie
If your version of summer-dining heaven features a seat at a waterfront table and all the fresh seafood you can handle, add Day Line Oyster Bar + Kitchen to your gastronomic bucket list. The recently opened restaurant, which set up shop inside Coxsackie’s James Newbury hotel last December, offers fish-forward fare with gorgeous views of the Hudson River. Snag a spot on the eatery’s patio, order lobster cocktail or ceviche from the raw bar, and tuck into mains like Day Line’s crab carbonara—a parmesan-fueled blend of bucatini, buttery caviar, and Jonah and Peekytoe crab.
Day Line Oyster Bar + Kitchen in Coxsackie’s James Newbury hotel offers fish-forward fare with gorgeous views of the Hudson River.
Boozy Popsicles
Jar’d Wine Pub
10 Main St., Ste. 305, New Paltz
Looking for a different (read: more adult) way to cool down this season? Head to Jar’d in New Paltz. Alongside an eclectic lineup of cocktails, beer, and global vinos—including an orange verdejo-sauvignon blanc blend from Spanish maker Gulp Hablo—the wine pub doles out its fan-favorite boozy popsicles. Claim your spot at the cozy bar and test out flavors like strawberry watermelon margarita, vodka citrus dragonfruit, and—owner Theresa Fall’s favorite—mezcal mango chili pepper lime. Jar’d also serves up savory and satisfying snacks like potato knishes and chicken empanadas.
Farm Fare
Farmhouse Market
277 Main St., Cornwall
With growing season in full swing, there’s no time like the present to enjoy local produce. Fresh ingredients take center stage at the family-owned Farmhouse Market, in Cornwall, where you’ll find ample ways to take advantage of summer’s bounty. Dig in to locally inspired dishes like the Bear Mountain Salad, brimming with sliced bell peppers, avocado, house-smoked chicken breast, and herb vinaigrette. In the mood for something meat-free? Order the Heirloom Tomato Salad, which features locally grown veggies alongside tangy feta cheese and Greek olives.
Barbecue & Pizza
John Fazio Farms & BBQ
1836 Rte. 44/55, Modena
Slow-cooked barbecue and brick-oven pizza? Count us in. An offshoot of the decades-old John Fazio Farms—which raises hormone- and antibiotic-free rabbits, ducks, and Cornish Cross chickens—this Modena standout whips up both with equal aplomb. Barbecue options run the gamut from flavor-packed brisket and pulled pork sandwiches to smoked ribs and chicken wings, while thin-crust pizza offerings include the cheeky Elmer Fudd (half duck, half rabbit) and a pastrami-topped pie with arugula and Thousand Island dressing.
Open-Air Drinks
Butterfield at Hasbrouck House
3805 Main St., Stone Ridge
Few dining experiences capture the essence of summer like a cold adult beverage (or two) alfresco. At Butterfield in Stone Ridge—Hasbrouck House’s onsite restaurant, bar, and lounge, open Wednesday through Sunday—enjoy such libations as zero proof cocktails, a selection of Hudson Valley-made wine, beer, and cider, and specialty drinks crafted in collaboration with the Catskills Cocktail Club. The outdoor patio Bluestone also hosts events such as food truck pop-ups and bonfires. Keep an eye on Butterfield’s website, where you’ll find event schedules, to plan your visit.
Cocktails on the patio at farm-to-table Butterfield are dreamy, but so is the rotating selection of desserts.
Ice Cream
Five Pennies Creamery
288 Main St., Beacon
When Five Pennies Creamery shuttered in December 2022 after a successful 12-year run, Long Islanders lost a beloved standby for homemade ice cream. Happily for upstaters, though, the formerly Rockville Centre-based operation has staged a comeback in Beacon, reopening inside Hudson Valley Food Hall in May. Visit owner Dan Levine’s shop to pick from a rotating roster of more than 100 flavors, including s’mores, black raspberry chip, and Boston cream pie. Try your fave in a classic waffle cone, sundae, or milkshake, or go all out with one of Five Pennies’ ice cream pies—complete with a graham cracker crust.
Burgers
Meyer’s Olde Dutch
184 Main St., Beacon; 15 Collegeview Ave., Poughkeepsie
Hamburgers are delicious year-round, to be sure, but there’s something extra satisfying about biting into one on a hot, sunny day. For that, we turn to Meyer’s Olde Dutch, in Beacon, where the team serves up uber-craveable (and typically cheddar-topped) beef, pork-and-bacon, and veggie patties—each grilled to perfection and made all the tastier with sides like chili fries and pickled jalapenos. And did we mention MOD’s lineup of craft cocktails? The burger joint, which opened a sister location in Poughkeepsie in May, excels in that department, too.
Hot Dogs
Holydog
44 W. Main St., Middletown
There may be a line at this Middletown must-try, but you’ll find it’s more than worth the (usually short) wait. The small, but mighty, Holydog has been winning over eaters with its mouthwatering hot dogs and stellar service since its inception more than a decade ago. Stop in for a classic frank topped with kraut and mustard, or try one of owner Jaime Palacios’ specialty creations like the Southwestern Dog—piled high with poblano peppers, onion, cheese, chorizo, pico de gallo, and cilantro. (Make sure you hit up an ATM before you swing by. Holydog only accepts cash.)
Related: 8 Summery S’mores Desserts to Devour in the Hudson Valley
