Cold Spring, NY is a small village along the Hudson River that has become a popular destination for weekend trips in the Hudson Valley. Visitors come for the hiking trails in the Hudson Highlands, the walkable Main Street lined with shops and restaurants, and the easy Metro-North train access from New York City.
You might start your day with breakfast or brunch, hike Breakneck Ridge or nearby trails, and then relax with a drink at a restaurant overlooking the river or beside the train tracks. Later in the evening, the village has several good dinner options, including a rustic Italian trattoria, a French bistro, and other casual spots along Main Street.
Whether you are visiting for hiking, sightseeing, or a weekend getaway, there are plenty of things to do in Cold Spring along with several good places to eat and stay.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of my links, then I may earn a small commission. But don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you!
Best Restaurants in Cold Spring, NY
Cathryn's Tuscan Grill
Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill is a rustic trattoria in Cold Spring that focuses on northern Italian cuisine inspired by owner Cathryn Fadde’s time in Italy. Inside, the dining room is decorated with sheer fabrics and colorful Italian artwork, while outside there is garden seating during warmer months.
The menu follows the Italian approach of simple dishes made with fresh ingredients. You will find classic pasta dishes like cacio e pepe alongside heartier options such as sautéed calf’s liver with sage brown butter.
The ravioli of the day is often worth trying, and the ribeye is another popular entrée. Cathryn also previously worked in the Italian wine business, which shows in the restaurant’s well-curated wine list.
Hudson House River Inn
The Hudson House River Inn is a historic bed and breakfast that has overlooked the Hudson River since 1832. You do not need to stay at the inn to dine at its restaurant.
The River Room is the main dining space and draws both lunch and dinner crowds. The best views, however, are from the narrow outdoor porch, which looks across the Hudson River toward West Point and Storm King Mountain.
The crowd tends to be a bit older than at some of the other restaurants in town, but the menu offers a range of classic dishes. Options include several cuts of Certified Black Angus beef, lump crabmeat stuffed shrimp, and a lobster roll served on toasted ciabatta with avocado and a hint of Dijon.
Le Bouchon
Brasserie Le Bouchon brings the feel of a small French bistro to Cold Spring, with a menu of traditional dishes and dining tables covered in red and white checkered cloths.
Classic French staples like escargot and onion soup with Gruyère appear on the menu, along with a wine list that leans heavily toward French producers. The steak au poivre is a popular entrée.
If you have never tried cassoulet, this is a good place to do so. The dish is a slow-cooked stew from the south of France, traditionally made with white beans and a mix of meats. Recipes vary by region and even from kitchen to kitchen, but Le Bouchon typically prepares it with duck, lamb, and pork sausage.
Outdoor seating is available on the back patio during warmer months, and the small front porch has a few tables that are good for people watching along Main Street.
Angie's Bake Shop & Cafe
Warm challah bread, jumbo muffins, and brownies are usually waiting at Angie’s Bake Shop & Cafe. But the cookies and the biscuits are what stand out, especially the biscuit sandwiches filled with egg, cheese, and bacon (a version without bacon is also available).
These biscuits tend to sell out early. One biscuit sandwich is usually enough to hold you over until the afternoon.
If you arrive later in the day, the café also offers a small lunch menu with salads and sandwiches.
Alternative: Cold Spring Coffeehouse is another good stop nearby for coffee, pastries, and a place to sit with a laptop.
Riverview
After entering through a small, dimly lit bar, the space opens into a bright dining room toward the back of the restaurant. Tables along the enclosed porch windows have views of the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain.
Riverview Restaurant has been part of Cold Spring’s dining scene for more than 40 years. The menu still includes Italian staples and pizza, but it also mixes in a few dishes with Asian influences. The daily specials are often worth checking when you visit.
Cold Spring Depot
The Cold Spring Depot building served as the town’s train station from 1893 to 1954. After a period as a car dealership until the early 1970s, it eventually became the restaurant it is today.
The current Metro-North station sits about a block away, which makes this a convenient place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat before catching the train back to the city. Inside, the dining room has a rustic feel, but most people head for the outdoor patio.
The restaurant sits directly beside the railroad tracks, so Metro-North trains pass by throughout the day. It is quieter than you might expect, though when an Amtrak train that does not stop in Cold Spring speeds through, you will definitely feel the rush of wind and the brief shake as it goes by.
The food is fairly straightforward, but the setting makes it a popular stop for families and for hikers looking for a late lunch after a morning in the Hudson Highlands.
Bars and Pubs in Cold Spring
BAR•BER
BAR•BER combines a traditional barbershop with a craft beer bar. The front of the space looks like a classic barbershop, with Carrara marble floors and green leather barber chairs.
Toward the back, the space opens into a small taproom with exposed brick walls, lounge seating, and a long bar. The menu includes a rotating selection of craft beers on draft along with wine, cider, and a few small plates or cheese boards.
Doug's Pretty Good Pub
Doug’s Pretty Good Pub is named fairly accurately. It is not trying to be a destination restaurant, but it is a comfortable place to stop for a beer. It is also one of the few spots in Cold Spring that has a traditional pub feel, where sitting at the bar for a couple drinks feels natural.
The food menu is organized into two sections: “Burgers” and “Not Burgers,” which tells you pretty quickly what most people come for. The half-pound burgers are served on toasted English muffins and come in a number of variations, including the Bleu, Swine & Tears with bleu cheese, bacon, and grilled onions, and the Blister with grilled jalapeños, jack cheese, and reaper mayo.
The most unusual option is the Nutty Hog, topped with peanut butter, bacon, and cheddar. It sounds like a strange combination, but it works better than you might expect.
“Voted best burger in town by some guy who likes burgers”
Hotels in Cold Spring, NY
Hudson House River Inn
Hudson River House at a Glance
Pros
- Has one of the top restaurants in town
- Some rooms have a view of the river
- Located on Main St so everything in the village is walkable
Cons
- Some of the furnishings are a bit dated
The Hudson House River Inn is one of the better-known hotels in Cold Spring. It sits at the western end of Main Street overlooking the Hudson River and is within a short walk of the Metro-North train station and many of the village’s shops and restaurants.
The property also includes the River Room restaurant, which is open to both guests and visitors.
Bird & Bottle Inn
Bird & Bottle at a Glance
Pros
- Historic and beautiful Inn
- Great if you want somewhere a bit more quiet
- Has one of the best restaurants in the area
Cons
- Located outside Cold Spring
- Need a car to get everywhere
Bird & Bottle Inn sits about four miles (roughly an eight-minute drive) outside the village of Cold Spring. The building dates back to 1761, when it was originally constructed as a private home. Over the years it has served as a tavern, a farm, and even a sawmill before eventually opening as the Bird & Bottle Inn in 1940.
The property now operates as a small inn and restaurant in nearby Garrison. Recent renovations have updated the rooms and dining areas while preserving many of the historic elements of the building.
Because it is located outside the village, you will likely want a car if you plan to stay here.
Cold Spring Hotel & Cafe
Cold Spring Hotel at a Glance
Pros
- Great location on Main St in the heart of Cold Spring
- Feels more like an apartment than a hotel
- The most budget friendly hotel in town
Cons
- No amenities or lobby
Check Prices
Cold Spring Hotel & Cafe is located along Main Street just up the hill from the waterfront. The small hotel offers a more affordable lodging option within walking distance of the train station, shops, and restaurants in the village.
Pig Hill Inn
Pig Hill Inn at a Glance
Pros
- Great location on Main St in the heart of Cold Spring
- Essentially it’s a charming B&B with character
- Breakfast offered in a beautiful atrium
Cons
- No amenities and small lobby
Pig Hill Inn is a bed and breakfast located on Main Street in Cold Spring, just a short walk from the Metro-North train station. The inn dates back roughly 200 years and sits within easy walking distance of many of the village’s shops and restaurants.
Breakfast for guests is served either in the glass Victorian conservatory or outside on the garden terrace, depending on the weather.
Best Things to Do in Cold Spring
Hike Breakneck Ridge
The trail at Breakneck Ridge is the best-known hike near Cold Spring and one of the most popular in the Hudson Valley. Its accessibility by Metro-North from New York City makes it a frequent destination for day hikers. Parts of the trail require scrambling over rocks and can be fairly steep, so it may not be suitable for small children. I mention this because we hiked this trail with my then two-year-old daughter, and we spent a good portion of the climb lifting and handing her to people in our group.
The main trail is roughly 2.8 miles long and typically takes about three hours to complete. In 2021, the Nimham Trail connector was added, creating additional loop options. These include a shorter loop of about one mile that can take roughly an hour, as well as a moderate loop of about 2.1 miles that usually takes around two hours.
Getting to Breakneck Ridge:
The trailhead is located along Route 9D about one mile north of the village of Cold Spring.
By Train: Take the Hudson Line of the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal to Cold Spring. From the station, it is about a one-mile walk north along Route 9D to the trailhead. On some weekends and holidays, Metro-North also operates a Breakneck Ridge station stop just past Cold Spring, which eliminates most of that walk.
By Car: Follow Route 9D toward the Breakneck Ridge trailhead. There is a small parking area just north of the tunnel, along with limited roadside parking nearby.
Shop on Main Street
Main Street in Cold Spring is lined with small shops, boutiques, art galleries, and antique stores. It is an easy place to spend some time browsing while walking through the village.
Cold Spring Antiques Center is worth stopping into even if you are not looking for anything specific, as the large collection of vendors means you never quite know what you might find.
Cold Spring General Store sells a mix of books, home goods, and gifts. One of the more interesting sections features local food products, including maple syrup, jams, and New York State hard cider.
Visit Boscobel House and Gardens
Boscobel House and Gardens is a Federal-style mansion overlooking the Hudson River just outside Cold Spring. The house was completed in 1808 and now offers guided tours along with access to its gardens and grounds.
The mansion was nearly demolished in the 1950s before preservation groups stepped in to save many of its architectural elements and reconstruct the building nearby in Garrison.
Even if you do not take a house tour, the grounds are worth exploring. After purchasing a pass, visitors can start at the Visitor Center to learn about the history of the mansion, wander through the sculpture garden, and walk down to scenic viewpoints overlooking the Hudson River and West Point.
The property also includes the Frances Stevens Reese Woodlands Trail, an easy 1.25-mile loop through the forest with occasional river views.
On Saturdays from May through October, the grounds host the Boscobel Farmers Market.
View Bannerman Castle
Bannerman Castle sits on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River between Cold Spring and Beacon. The structure was originally built in the early 1900s by Francis Bannerman VI as part of a warehouse complex used to store military surplus equipment.
Today the island is managed by the Bannerman Castle Trust, which offers guided tours of the ruins during the warmer months. Visitors can reach the island by boat or as part of a kayak tour.
The organization also hosts events throughout the summer, including movie nights, concerts, and theater performances on the island.
Cold Spring may be a small village, but there is plenty to do here. Between the hiking trails in the Hudson Highlands, the walkable Main Street lined with shops and restaurants, and the views of the Hudson River, it makes for an easy day trip or weekend getaway from New York City.
Whether you are visiting to hike Breakneck Ridge, browse the antique shops, or simply relax with a meal overlooking the river, Cold Spring remains one of the most enjoyable towns to explore in the Hudson Valley.
The organization also hosts events throughout the summer, including movie nights, concerts, and theater performances on the island.
Full Travel Guide
