Courtesy of She Buys Travel: The Catskills may be one of NY’s best-kept secrets. The scenic mountain region is smaller than upstate’s Adirondacks but offers much of the same outdoor appeal including challenging hiking, world-class rock climbing and fly fishing, charming downtowns, and winter skiing and snowboarding. All of this can be reached about two hours from midtown Manhattan.
A huge plus, besides the Catskills’ proximity to NYC? Great food at scenic restaurants that rival the meals you’ll find in New York City. Here are the best restaurants in New York’s Catskills.
Going to a Bethel Woods Concert?
The summer concert season at Bethel Woods draws headliners and huge crowds. But the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival is open year-round and is worth a stop if you’re in the area for its museum dedicated to the Age of Aquarius.
The standout dining destination in the area is The Homestead, located about 20 minutes south of Bethel Woods at The Eldred Preserve. A multi-million dollar restoration project has transformed this former hunting and fishing preserve into a luxury Catskills resort featuring The Bradstan, a boutique hotel, and The Homestead restaurant.
I’ve eaten here several times and adore it. So many fine-dining restaurants are stuffy and pretentious. Not The Homestead. The staff makes you feel like a welcome guest, cheerfully offering recommendations and encouraging you to linger. The interior’s spectacular, the bar’s cozy, and the grounds feature a babbling brook and landscaping that transitions gracefully into the forested 3,000 acres beyond.