Hudson, NY is a small town on the Hudson River in Upstate New York that attracts outdoorsy NYC expats and city dwellers with a taste for art and antiques. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City for the day and pretend you’re in a Hallmark movie.
Hudson is known for its antiques, galleries, and shops on Warren St. (the main drag). And, although it’s right next to the Catskill Mountains, Hudson is considered a part of the Hudson Valley.
This NYC day trip guide to Hudson takes you on an adventure through an antique warehouse, window shopping down Warren St. and a late lunch and ice cream to top it all off.
The Antique Warehouse
People in Hudson take antiquing seriously and no place is more serious than The Antique Warehouse. Whether you’re arriving to Hudson by car or train make this your first stop. The Antique Warehouse is home to 60+ vendors selling vintage trinkets, clothes, furniture and so much more.
You could furnish an entire mountain vacation home with the gems found in the warehouse but it would cost you a pretty penny. You’re antiquing, not thrifting, so the prices are higher than you might expect but you can still score a deal.
There are hidden gems for as low as $10 and overpriced used chairs for over $1000. The prices are similar to what you would find at a Brooklyn pop-up market for the same kind of goods. When you’re shopping you’ll notice there are signs with vendors’ phone numbers to call and inquire about products. But, to actually buy something, you need to go to one of the sales desks near door 15 or door 21 (the two main entrances).
Good news for dog owners: The Antique Warehouse is dog-friendly, just make sure to keep your pet under control. Hudson overall is a pet-friendly town.
If antiquing isn’t your thing, Hudson Brewing Company is in the same building so you can sip on some IPAs while your friends shop.
Coffee at Hudson Roastery
After antiquing, you’ll need some caffeine to get you through the rest of the day. Head to Hudson Roastery on the eastern end of Warren St. for an energy boost. Hudson Roastery serves cafe food and specialty coffee drinks (plus matcha!). Once you grab your coffee, you can work your way down Warren St.
Shopping on Warren St.
Warren St. has an eclectic mix of shops from fine art galleries to secondhand record stores. Here are some shops to pop into:
Batterby House
Homewares for hosting
Proprietors
Curated vintage
Bar Bene
A wine bar that doubles as a shop
Spotty Dog Books & Ale
Bookstore and beer bar
Note: Despite the name, dogs are not welcome here.
John Doe Record Shoppe
Secondhand records, books, clothes, and more
Minna
Well-curated homewares
Hudsontricity
Great for gifts
Olde Hudson Market
Specialty grocer with local ingredients
Late Lunch at Le Gamin Country
For relaxed French fare, go to Le Gamin Country for lunch. This spot is decked out in classic and vintage decor as if they just bought it all from The Antique Warehouse. The lunch menu features mostly sandwiches and salads and there’s a chalkboard with daily specials.
It’s cash only but don’t worry they have an ATM in the back.
DESSERT AT Culture Cream
Upstate New York is known for its delicious ice cream but Culture Cream takes NY’s reputation to the next level. The ice cream is made from kombucha and kefir, a fermented milk drink similar to yogurt. Every ice cream we tried was super creamy and delicious with adventurous flavors like miso strawberry. It’s open year-round serving up some of the best ice cream in Hudson.
Getting to Hudson
By Car
Driving is the easiest way to reach Hudson. It’s about a two to two and a half hour drive from NYC up I-87 or you can take the Taconic State Parkway for a more scenic drive. It costs around $40-$100 to rent a car for the day which can be cheaper than buying five train tickets.
As for parking, there are metered parking lots and street parking. The municipal parking lots are free on weekends and street parking is free on Sundays. Make sure to bring quarters to pay the $.50 per hour fee.
By Train
Alternatively, you can take the Amtrak Empire Line from the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station. It will also take two hours but the price for the lowest fare is typically around $60 round trip. For the same price, you can get a rental car to yourself.
The good news is the Amtrak station leaves you near The Antique Warehouse to start your day and Warren St. is close by.
Final Notes
Truthfully, we couldn’t stop into every cute shop in Hudson in one day. Our feet and wallets were tired on a chilly winter day. But, it was a relaxing way to spend a day outside of the big city. You can visit Hudson year-round but weekends are the best because all the shops are open for business.
For a longer stay, spend the night in Hudson and stay at The Maker Hotel on Warren St. or Wm Farmer & Sons overlooking the waterfront. Be mindful that if you stay more than two nights, you’ll run out of things to do. Regardless, a short weekend getaway gives you more time to try different restaurants and explore the surrounding area.
The Catskill Mountains are right next door to Hudson, so you can also add Hudson as a stop on your mountain vacation.
Looking for another NYC day trip? Check out this NYC day trip guide for apple picking upstate.
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