Where to Eat with Kids in the Catskills
Here’s the good news: Kid-friendly restaurants in the Catskills and Hudson Valley are easy to find. Almost anywhere you stop will offer high-chairs, outdoor seating, a kids’ menu, and perhaps a nearby empty field, welcoming feral children to run amuck.
The bad news? If you’re venturing out to eat with little kids, it’s always an ordeal. So, you deserve to eat or drink something super-delicious—something a little more exciting than what you might find at the typical roadside bar and grill.
We’ve listed 10 spots (in no particular order!) that we’ve gone back to again and again, along with photos of Ramona from over the last 5 years. What’s your favorite kid-friendly eatery in the Catskills or Hudson Valley? Let us know in the comments.
Ramona falls in love with the watermelon agua fresca at Casa Latina in Hudson.
1. Gracie’s, Leeds (see donut photo, at top)
If you’re traveling anywhere on the NYS Thruway, it’s worth veering off at Exit 21 for amazing, made-from-scratch diner-style fare at Gracie’s. Fill up on burgers, fries, milkshakes, donuts, and stuffed hot pretzels, or keep it light with an iced coffee fizz and a crisp salad with the herby house vinaigrette. We love their airy dining room, and they’ve got some picnic tables outside for take-out orders, too.
2. Casa Latina Pupusas y Mas, Hudson (see Ramona with her pink drink, above)
This is our go-to for cheap eats in Hudson. We love the pupusas (savory, circular patties that are a bit like thick corn tortillas, filled with cheese, beans, chicharron, and more), the tacos, the salsa, the watermelon agua fresca, and the basic cheese quesadillas for our pickiest eater. They have a couple of tables inside and a couple of tables out front, too.
3. See & Be, Cairo
This roadside bakery is serving some of the most delicious breads and pastries in the Catskills. They are open from 10am to 2pm Wednesday through Saturday, and we usually pre-order a bunch of food to go (the cinnamon buns, the pizza focaccia, the savory meat pies—check their site a day or two before you visit for the widest selection). There’s a little outdoor seating off the parking lot, and if they’re serving anything made-to-order on a Saturday, order that, too!
At Oriole 9 in Woodstock, pats of butter are served on spoons. They are meant to be spread on muffins and bread, but she begged to take a bite. (We let her; she loved it.)
4. Oriole 9, Woodstock (pictured above)
Oriole 9 captures the artsy old soul of Woodstock. We love their big, bustling dining room, especially for a big brunch, but since their outdoor seating seems limited and we aren’t dining indoors with our kids at the moment, we’d order our favorites—egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, omelettes, and mac and cheese—for take-out.
5. Woodhouse Pizza at Woodhouse Lodge, Greenville
This is a decidedly grown-up scene, but our mid-sized kids (now aged 7 and 10) are big fans of the breezy, picturesque, canopy-covered outdoor tables and delicious pizza. Woodhouse Pizza also has a great natural wine list, a selection of stellar cocktails, and they make a mean Shirley Temple!
New York Restaurant in Catskill preaches the power of pierogi.
6. New York Restaurant, Catskill (pictured above)
There are many reasons to visit Catskill and this farm-to-table restaurant with Polish specialties is just one of them. Everything on New York Restaurant's varied menu is delicious—the burgers and Buffalo cauliflower bites, the pierogi and kielbasa, and the sophisticated entrees (like pan-seared scallops with herb risotto, sweet English peas, and crispy shallots). Plus, they've got sidewalk seating, a solid kids' menu, and a sweet staff that has been welcoming my kids since they were very little.
7. The Pines, Mount Tremper
So, the Pines isn't really for the kids—it's for you! If your kid will eat a white bean spanakopita hand pie or a burger and fries (or some chicken nuggets from your freezer while you order takeout), then you can experience this wonderful little restaurant in Mt .Tremper. Get yourself a watermelon salad with pickled jalapeno and harissa-lime vinaigrette or maybe a mole chicken torta. Grab a cocktail and save room for dessert because all their baked goods are wildly delicious.
8. Crossroads Brewpub, Athens
For really solid pub fare, a beer list that covers all the bases, and destination-worthy nachos, go to Crossroads Brewing Company's Athens Brewpub. Their "Half Pints Menu" features hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese (so this is basically the promised land for my children) and it's just a few blocks from Athens Riverfront Park, which has great views of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. (There's also a Crossroads outpost in Catskill, with plenty of creekside outdoor seating and food trucks on the weekends.)
The beer we ordered at Mountain Brauhaus in Round Top is larger than our child’s head. (We did not let her drink it.)
9. Mountain Brauhaus, Round Top (pictured above)
When indoor dining feels 100% safe for kids again, I really want to have a giant party at the Crystal Brook Resort's Mountain Brauhaus, toasting with giant mugs and feasting on house specialties—soft pretzels, juicy bratwurst—in the most incredible old-school German dining room in the Catskills. (Seriously, sign up for the Double-Wide newsletter if you want an invite!) In the meantime, there's some outdoor seating and the resort's grounds include a trail to a breathtaking waterfall.
10. Cask and Rasher, Coxsackie
With its incredible beer list and a bar full of jersey-wearing sports fans, Cask and Rasher may not look super kid-friendly, but you can totally tuck some little ones into a booth and quiet them with buttery soft pretzel sticks, tater tots, chicken tenders, and mac and cheese. I love their nachos and giant salads, but the draw here are their burgers and wings. They've added a bunch of outdoor seating, including a few covered picnic tables with heat lamps for chilly days.
Who Wants Dessert?
We need to compile another post about our favorite sweets in the Catskills, but here’s a little preview:
When we’re in Saugerties, we always get Alleyway Ice Cream.
Our go-to ice cream shop in Catskill is Bittersweet.
We’re pretty into the cupckaes and cookies at Peace, Love, Cupcakes in Woodstock.
>>> Check out our top 10 kid-friendly hikes in the Catskills
>>> Sign up for our monthly newsletter, which is set to relaunch in late-summer 2021!
