Beacon is one of the coolest towns in New York. People who live in New York City flock to Beacon on the weekends on the Metro North railroad. It’s located about 1.5 hours north of New York City and is the home to Dia Beacon (one of the best modern art museums in the northeast), plenty of great restaurants, and several breweries.
Main Street in Beacon is a little over a mile long, with breweries at both ends… Hudson Valley Brewing located at the far east side and 2 Way Brewing located on the west end near the rail station. And in between, there is a distillery and many great food spots.
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The Best Restaurants in Beacon
Beacon Falls Cafe
My favorite brunch in town is here at Beacon Falls Cafe. Its only open during the day, so does breakfast and lunch during the week and then a brunch menu on the weekends. They have several benedicts, a cannoli cream stuffed French toast, and a whole list of burgers.
Breweries & Distillery
Hudson Valley Brewery
On the east side of downtown Beacon lies Hudson Valley Brewery. This small brewery has a rotating beer selection that run the gamut, but their sour IPAs are what really took the area by storm. They have been known to announce new releases on a weekly basis that garners a rush to pick up these new cans when they’re available. If you’re don’t live nearby but are lucky enough to live in NY, NH, VT, VA, PA, DC or KY then you can place a website order for UPS delivery.
2 Way Brewing Co
Before I take the train back home to NYC, my last stop seems to always be 2 Way Brewing. It’s located right near the station and lets me extend my weekend just a little longer. But really, it’s a great spot to stop at any time to have some daytime beers on the outdoor patio, during events like live music or trivia, or to waste hours playing the super addicting “ring on a string” game.
They typically have 8 beverages on tap, which includes a hard cider (they also have wine offerings for non-beer drinkers). They even have a back game room that you can rent out for private events (we tried to book our baby shower here but they were already reserved on the date we wanted). You don’t have to make this your last stop in town, just be sure to make it “a stop!”
Dennings Point Distillery
About halfway between the two breweries lies Denings Point Distillery. Since 2014, they have sourced local grains to create their menu of spirits. Their lineup includes the Viskil Vodka, a gin made with 9 botanicals, and the popular Beacon Bourbon (regular, cask strength, and now also coffee flavored which I found goes great with… yup, a Saturday morning coffee).
You can stop in for a tasting and stay for specialty cocktails made with their spirits.
Coffee & Donuts
Bank Square Coffee House
Bank Square Coffee House isn’t just a great coffee shop that roasts their own coffee beans. They have a great outdoor space where they host “Artist Nights” with live music and have several local beers on tap. So it is both a daytime and evening hangout.
Glazed Over Donuts
For a morning bite or an afternoon snack, the best donuts in perhaps the entire Hudson Valley can be found at Glazed Over Donuts. This is a custom donut shop where you order each donut with a choice of glaze, topping, and a drizzle and then they are then made order right in front of you. With a ton of choices for each, the combinations are practically unlimited.
Live Music
Towne Crier Cafe
If you like live music, then it’s hard to find a better place than Towne Crier Cafe. They have a main stage for ticketed shows where you can arrive early to enjoy dinner first. Or also there is a salon stage which offers free nightly music from local artists (and even an open mic night) while you dine or enjoy drinks at the bar.
Other Excellent Restaurants
Café Amarcord: New American cuisine that includes dishes such as Berkshire Pork Chop, Meyer Lemon Rabbit, and Cortecce Pasta with Duck Ragu
The Roundhouse Restaurant: Menu that showcases local farms, wineries, and distilleries. Probably the nicest ambiance with waterfall and creek views. It’s located in a hotel of the same name.
