15 Best Restaurants in Woodstock, New York
Woodstock New York is famous for its 1969 music festival that showed the world its hippie counterculture alongside brilliant musical acts. The festival had an atmosphere of peace and creativity and has instilled Woodstock with its musical legacy today. Many still visit Woodstock to experience its thriving art and music scene brought about by the famous 1969 festival.
Woodstock is located along the foothills of the Catskill Mountain range which offers ample opportunity for fresh farm cuisine. Woodstock has become a food destination, as its restaurants are highly regarded for their quality food, friendly atmospheres and unique concoctions of timeless Hudson Valley flavors.
Best Dinner Restaurant Options in Woodstock
These select restaurants would be perfect for your next date night or special occasion. They offer a rustic yet refined environment with high-quality options and fresh ingredients. Sit down, sip some wine and taste the best of the Hudson Valley.
1. Sylvia Woodstock
42 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
Sylvia Woodstock is a family-owned farm-to-table restaurant that prides itself on fresh, sustainable, and healthy ingredients. Sylvia brings the flavors of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills to life.
Sylvia captures a cozy, casual atmosphere while serving upscale, perfectly crafted dishes- perfect for a night out! Enjoy your meal in the restaurant’s inside open table concept or the patio area. There are several high-quality vegetarian options as well as perfectly cooked steak, smoked duck, or steelhead trout. Vegetarians should try the mushroom lentil pate or the beetroot. And don’t forget the citrus olive oil cake for dessert!
2. Cucina
109 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
Cucina offers a simple yet elegant Italian menu in a rustic chic setting. The indoor dining area is a converted farmhouse with a beautiful wrap-around porch- perfect for dining outdoors in the summer or fall. Rent out the next-door barn for a wedding or private function.
The restaurant’s rotating risotto of the day is a menu highlight as well as the rigatoni. Finish off your meal with some of the ricotta orange cheesecake!
3. The Pines
5327 Route 212 Mount Tremper, NY 12457
15 minutes outside of Woodstock, this eclectic restaurant offers farm-to-table cuisine inside a restored 1800s house. The Pines has an often changing menu with unique international offerings such as lentil burgers, bibimbop, and Thai chicken curry. The restaurant prides itself on its unique character and dedication to fresh, local ingredients.
In the summer months, you have the option to sit outside around the fire pit and listen to live music. The restaurant does not take reservations and is walk-in only!
4. The Red Onion
1654 Route 212, Saugerties NY 12477
The Red Onion prides itself on casual upscale dining and a rotating menu with fresh ingredients. The menu highlights are the house-made pasta as well as the duck and chicken. No matter what you choose to order, you will get fresh flavors, and savory combinations.
In the summer months, you can choose to sit outside on the rustic porch. Sip a wine from The Red Onion’s impressive wine menu or grab a seasonal cocktail.
Best Casual Restaurant Options in Woodstock
If you want high-quality taste but in a laid back and eclectic atmosphere, these restaurants are for you. No need to dress up, just bring your taste buds!
5. The Garden Cafe Woodstock
6 Old Forge Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
This farm-to-table vegan restaurant serves fresh, organic food with a focus on community. Viewing food as a form of medicine, the restaurant takes great care in the quality of ingredients it uses. The menu is constantly changing and owner Lea Haas takes great pride in curating the cafe’s welcoming atmosphere.
Nourish your body with delicious options such as the tofu satay or red lentil vegetable enchilada. The Garden Cafe also has a large list of smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. Even your meat-loving friends will fall in the love with the fresh flavors of this vegan menu.
6. Sharkie’s
43 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY 12498
Sharkie’s is more than a small meatball shop as it reimagines the classic Italian dish into modern classics. Enjoy their house-made meatballs that can be ordered as pork, turkey, or vegetarian Impossible burger (all are gluten-free too!) None of the meat is frozen prior to preparation and all meals are freshly made with local meats. Many guests claim that the meatballs are on-par with Italian meatballs in upscale restaurants in New York City.
The restaurant has a small dine-in option or you can order your meatballs frozen for your freezer or fresh to-go. Grab some of their famous pickles and choose from a ton of local beer options to wash down your meal!
7. Yum Yum Noodle Bar
4 Rock City RD, Woodstock NY 12498
Yum Yum is a hip and whimsical Southeast Asian restaurant that offers noodles, street food and other Asian classics. The restaurant prides itself on healthy food, fast service and affordable prices. Yum Yum also caters to vegetarians and vegans and has a seasonally rotating menu!
Erica Mahlkuch, the Executive Chef, has received many awards, including her triumphant win of the Food Network’s popular “Cutthroat Kitchen” (Season 3, Episode 6, 2014).
8. Dixon Roadside
261 Tinker St, Woodstock NY 12498
Capturing the best of a roadside eatery, Dixon Roadside offers comfort food with a modern twist. The restaurant offers the best of the Hudson Valley’s local farms. Enjoy classic comfort food selections like mac and cheese, burgers and fried chicken but also vegetarian options like smoked squash or kimchi.
There are no reservations- first come, first serve!
Best Brunch/Breakfast Restaurants in Woodstock
Seeking a delicious breakfast or brunch option in Woodstock? These options include everything from grab-and-go bakeries to sit-down formal brunch complete with mimosas and coffee.
9. Bread Alone
22 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
Bread Alone is a values driven bakery that aims to not only bake bread with healthy, whole ingredients but also seeks to provide fresh bread to stores across the northeast. Prioritizing environmental stewardship, the bakery is carbon neutral and has a sustainable production model that reduces waste and minimizes carbon emissions.
You can purchase their loaves and baguettes to cook at home, or stop in for a breakfast sandwich, pastry or coffee. This modern bakery is a must-visit breakfast restaurant. Plenty of vegetarian or vegan options are listed as well!
10. Oriole 9
17 Tinker Street, Woodstock NY 12498
Oriole 9 is a breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant that serves omelets, sandwiches, and soup full of local, healthy ingredients. This eclectic and rustic restaurant also caters to gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian customers.
Their fresh take on corn beef hash and loaded tater tots reinvents the classic diner breakfast experience. Oriole9’s cocktails are also well-made with many seasonal drinks. Expect friendly service and a lively atmosphere!
11. The Mud Club Woodstock
43 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
The Mud Club is a hip outdoor eatery that offers customers classic breakfast items with a cool ambiance. You order food at a counter and grab one of the many outdoor benches or rock seatings. (There is a small indoor area but it is limited). The outdoor seating is a major draw to the establishment and has gorgeous landscaping and firepits for chillier days.
In the mornings the restaurant serves wood-fired cooked bagels and at night serves wood oven pizzas. Please note that Mud Club is only open on weekends but it is dog friendly and often has live music!
12. Pearl Moon
52 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
Pearl Moon is a great option for your next brunch or dinner. Choose from a varied menu of American classics with a Latin American twist. They serve breakfast 9am-4pm, lunch 11am-8pm, and dinner 5-8pm. After 8pm the restaurant turns into a bar with empanadas as bar food.
They have live music on the weekends and jazz brunch on Sundays.
Best Restaurants for Drinks and Light Bites in Woodstock
Sometimes the focus of the meal is on the drinks! These restaurants are known for their excellent mixologists and cocktails but also have delicious food options for a nibble on the side.
13. Station Bar and Curio
101 Tinker St, Woodstock NY 12498
Station Bar and Curio is an eclectic restaurant and bar located in an old train station in Woodstock. Enjoy locally sourced ingredients and local beers and spirits. Perfect for a night out and some light bites.
Check out the restaurant’s unique antique decor and art collection.
14. Tinker Taco
54 Tinker St, Woodstock NY 12498
Located conveniently in downtown Woodstock, Tinker Taco is a perfect joint to stop by for some drinks and tacos! The corn tortillas are made daily and all the ingredients are fresh. There are plenty of vegetarian taco options- my favorite being the fried avocado.
The mixology is a real highlight- the mezcal cocktails are the real deal. Grab a drink in their picnic table outdoor seating area, and bring your dog along!
15. Early Terrible
45 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock NY 12498
Early Terrible is a cute and cozy bar with light bites in Woodstock. There is a beautiful outdoor seating area with fire pits and a secret garden feel! Enjoy its vibrant decorations including a disco ball, antique couches, and many many plants.
There is a small menu to accompany the drinks. The olive tapenade and brie are highlights but there are new dishes frequently. Spend your night out at Early Terrible!
Visiting Woodstock, NY
Woodstock Music Festival may have happened in 1969 but even today the town is full of music, creativity, and tons of things to do! Set aside a weekend to explore Woodstock’s galleries, music performances, farmers’ markets and hiking!
Map of Best Woodstock Restaurants
Shopping in Woodstock NY: Tinker Street
Woodstock’s Tinker Street is the main drag full of delicious restaurants but also art galleries and great shopping. Don’t expect any chain shopping here- all of the shops are locally owned and sell unique artisan gifts with a bohemian “hippie” vibe. From thrift stores to music shops, to candle shops, there is a store for everyone on Tinker Street!
Art and Music in Woodstock
You can’t come to Woodstock and not experience the art and music scene. Check out the Levon Helms Studio for local music performances in a renovated barn. The Colony music venue is also a must-visit location for music lovers.
For those who appreciate the visual arts, visit the Opus 40 sculpture park. The park was created by artist Harvey Fite over 40 years and has 6.5 acres of winding stone paths and impressive scenery. Also check out the Byrdcliffe Colony, an artist residency space that offers tours of their history, architecture and art.
Why is Woodstock NY famous?
Woodstock New York is famous for its 1969 music festival that took place on some farmland in nearby Bethel. One of the most famous music festivals of all time, it showcased major acts like Jimi Hendrix and The Who. At a contentious time of societal unrest and the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the festival demonstrated the counter-culture hippie movement.
The town attracts many visitors from New York City and beyond and is now a destination for art, live music and delicious farm-to-table cuisine. It also hosts an annual film festival every fall. You may even have an occasional celebrity sighting while strolling down Tinker Street!
Is Woodstock NY in the Catskills?
Woodstock is a small town in southeastern New York state in the foothills of the Southern Catskills near the Ashokan Reservoir. The Catskills are a gorgeous mountain range and offer many opportunities for hiking and sightseeing within a few hours from New York City. Escape the traffic, and enjoy the peace of the region.
A peaceful vacation destination, Woodstock has many hiking trails such as Overlook Mountain which is only 10 minutes from downtown. The trail offers a challenging hike but a rewarding view of Hudson Valley. The entire region becomes aglow with orange, yellow and red colors in the autumn!
Wrap-up: Woodstock New York Restaurants
Woodstock, New York is a perfect destination for your next long weekend trip as a notable destination for high-quality, fresh cuisine. The culture of the Hudson Valley culinary scene values fresh, organic produce while working directly with local farmers. Experience some live music while eating at one of Woodstock’s many well-renowned restaurants, and taste the fresh flavors of the Catskills region.
Escape the city and become transported back to the 1960s when art and music prevailed! Explore the various boutiques, music venues, and art/sculpture gardens and experience the legacy of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.