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This up-to-date list of the best Catskills cafes and restaurants will help make your next pre- or post-hike chow extra-awesome
Best Catskills Eats
I love Phoenicia Diner on Rte 28 for a glorious post-hike chow. So many great dishes, and their Bourbon Milkshake is such a fantastic adult treat.
Circle W Market in Palenville is a superb place to pick up food before you hit the hills. Their sandwiches are hefty enough for two people to share for lunch, or for one person planning a long day on the trail. Their coffee game is strong, too.
The wood-fired pizza dough at Okaley’s in Arkville is almost naan-like in its texture and deliciousness.
Those are my favorite spots so far. Now that New York is opening back up, I hope I can try more and find some new favorites.
Okay, I hope you enjoy this list…
The Best Diners, Pizzerias, Smokehouses, Restaurants, Burger Joints, German and Mexican Restaurants, Cafés and Donut Shops in the Catskills
= Visited = Recommended = Extra Awesome
Route 28: Boiceville, Mt Tremper, Phoenicia, Big Indian, Arkville
Great if you’re heading to Balsam Lake, Slide, Panther, Wittenberg, Peekamoose, Table, etc.
These locations are listed as they appear on Route 28 as you drive east to west.
- Hickory BBQ Smokehouse close to KingstonI’m keen to try these meats
- Bread Alone in Boiceville “solid”
- Boiceville Market IGA in Boiceville “good for sandwiches”
- The Pines in Mt Tremper “the greatest place on earth”
- Woodnotes Grille at the Emerson “great” and “happy hour deals”
- Phoenicia Diner just outside Phoenicia beloved by everyone
Sweet Sue’s in Phoeniciasadly, now closed (owner retired)- Brio’s Pizzeria in Phoenicia solid pizza, solid diner
- Peekamoose Restaurant in Big Indian for upscale farm-to-table nosh
- Oakley’s just east of Arkville “really good pizza”
East Catskills: Kingston, Woodstock, Saugerties
Great if you’re heading to Overlook or the Eastern Devil’s Path: Indian Head, Twin, Plateau, Sugarloaf, etc.
- Kingston Bread + Bar on North Front St new, super delicious
- Dixon Roadside in Woodstock new, run by folks who run the Phoenicia Diner
- Smokehouse of the Catskills just off Rte 212 in Saugerties
Tannersville: Devil’s Path
Great if you’re heading to Indian Head, Twin, Plateau, Sugarloaf, Hunter, West Kill.
- Mamma’s Boys Burgers in Tannersville
- Pancho Villa’s in Tannersville
- Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café in Tannersville “awesome food and drink”
- Twin Peaks Coffee & Donuts in Tannersville “good homemade donuts and coffee”
Northern Catskills: Palenville, Hunter, West Kill, Windham
Great if you’re heading to West Kill, Windham, Blackhead, Black Dome, etc. (Also good if you’re hitting the Eastern Devil’s Path when Platte Clove Rd is closed in Winter.)
- Circle W Market in Palenville many, many raves for this stop
- Jagerberg Hall in Hunter “awesome German food”
- West Kill Brewery in West Kill “often has food trucks in the summer”
- The Windham Local in Windham “cozy place, great food, friendly service as well”
- Chicken Run in Windham “their Buffalo Chicken Wrap is amazing”
Western Catskills: Livingston Manor, Roscoe
Great if you’re heading to Balsam Lake Mountain, Willowemoc Wild Forest, Finger Lakes Trail, Trout Pond, etc. I don’t get out to this part of the Catskills much so thank you to Ralph Bressler of CatskillHiker.net for these solid recommendations.
- The Smoke Joint in Livingston Manor Great brisket and ribs. Take out or dine outside. Quick service.
- Upward Brewing Company in Livingston Manor A brewery with outstanding burgers. The beers are all brewed on site.
- The Arnold House in Livingston Manor Pub downstairs is for casual dining and a brew. Upstairs dining room offers a great skirt steak.
- Roscoe Diner in Roscoe A Sullivan County tradition with an enormous menu. Fabulous deserts.
- Rockland House in Roscoe Sit down dining outside or get take out. Prime Rib is the star.
- Spiro’s Countryside in Roscoe Bring your own alcohol but the food is great and inexpensive. Greek specialties mixed with American cuisine.
Mixed Reviews
- Woodstock Brewery in Phoenicia “fine” and “meh”
- J Rocco’s on 28 in Shandaken “post-hike soul food” but also “f**king terrible”
- Maggie’s Krooked Cafe in Tannersville good, but service is a little… quirky?
Agree? Disagree?
I hope these places help make your next hike extra-awesome. If you have good or bad experiences in any of them, please comment below.
Know a great place I should have included? Comment below, or send a private note via the contact page.
I’ll keep this page updated with recent feedback.
Sean
What happened to the Western Catskills? WY did you skip us?
I have Oakley’s in there! I don’t know too many places over that way. Happy to take solid recommendations…
The Smoke Joint – Livingston Manor
Rockland House – Roscoe
Roscoe Diner – Roscoe
Spiro’s Countryside – Roscoe
Courtyard – Roscoe
Upward Brewary – Livingston Manor
The Arnold House – Livingston Manor
The DeBruce – Livingston Manor
Just to name a few
This is so helpful. What do you like about each of these locations, for hikers especially? (The list is focused on hiker eats, and is not meant to be a comprehensive directory of every eatery in the Catskills, so a note about a few of those places would help me decide what should get included…)
The Smoke Joint – Livingston Manor
Great brisket and ribs. Take out or dine outside. Quick service. Great for after a long hike in the Willowemoc Wild Forest.
Rockland House – Roscoe
Sit down dining outside or get take out. All the food is good but the Prime Rib is the star along with the salad bar. Great place to relax after putting in some miles on the FLT.
Roscoe Diner – Roscoe
A Sullivan County tradition with an enormous menu including Greek items. Fabulous deserts. Great for after your hike at Trout and Mud Ponds.
Spiro’s Countryside – Roscoe
Bring your own alcohol but the food is great and inexpensive. Greek specialties mixed with American cuisine. Vist here after a trip to Huggins Lake or Split Rock.
Upward Brewery – Livingston Manor
A brewery with outstanding burgers. The beers are all brewed on site and are sure to please. Stop by after hiking to the fire tower on Balsam Lake Mountain
The Arnold House – Livingston Manor
The Pub is downstairs for casual dining and a brew. The upstairs dining room offers a great skirt steak. Realx after hiking at Big Pond and Little Pond.
Ralph, you rock! I’ll update the page a.s.a.p.
Brandenburg Bakery in Livingston Manor 🤤🤤🤤 everything I’ve tried there was soooo good.
Will check it out. Thanks, Stefanie!