A Romantic Weekend in Hudson

Steph & I planned our first visit to Hudson, New York this winter as our main Christmas present to each other. In this quaint upstate town, there are plenty of places to eat, shop, & relax during a weekend getaway. We pulled in after a short two hour Amtrak ride from New York City. As a queer couple traveling together, we were thrilled to see rainbow flags hanging outside doorways & inside local establishments.

ACCOMODATIONS

We split our time between two different locations.

  • AIRBNB: Steph chose this apartment, due to its affordable price, strong reviews, & convenient location. We walked to the main street in town within a few minutes several times a day. This Airbnb was comfortably spacious with good lighting.
  • THE WICK: For our final night, we upgraded to this modern boutique hotel about ten minutes from the heart of town. Their team incorporated subtle nods to Hudson, such as portraits by local artists & vintage maps of the town. There was a bar & restaurant on-site with a menu full of comfort food. I especially enjoyed our hearty breakfast before we packed up to head back to the city. From the hotel entrance, the local train station is only a few minutes away.

Apart from eating, shopping, & walking, our main activity while we were in Hudson was a visit to the BODHI HOLISTIC SPA. This peaceful destination in the middle of town is part spa & part yoga studio. We spent a full morning here.

In an effort to be a bit more active during our vacations, Steph & I decided to sign up for a yoga class at this spot. Our instructor was welcoming & easy to follow. My aunt gave me a spa gift certificate for Christmas, which Steph & I gratefully used for the Simple Moment Couples Massage. Our treatment was so relaxing that I may or may not have dozed off for a few minutes at the end. We rested in the warm lounge after our treatment – one of my favorite ways to prolong relaxation.

RESTAURANTS & BARS

  • GRAZIN’ HUDSON: At this local favorite, we shared the grilled cheese, french fries, & chicken soup. Our food was fresh & filling. Their team is focused on sustainable options & I cannot wait to come back to sample their burgers & milkshakes.
  • 225 WARREN: This restaurant had a high/low mix of options & the service was top-notch. I kept it basic with chicken fingers & french fries, while Steph chose the blackened ahi tuna. She is obviously the more refined diner out of the two of us! This was her favorite meal in Hudson.
  • BACK BAR: When we grabbed drinks here one especially cold night, the team were the highlight of this spot. They were goofing around with each other while they served – making you feel like you were guests at their home vs. guests at a restaurant. I was grateful for their wood-fire stove, which I sat right next to it the entire time we were there.
  • HELSINKI HUDSON: Our meal here was an experience because there was a wedding being held that night. Even though it added to the noise in the room, Steph & I had fun listening to the celebration happening right above our heads. We highly recommend the brussel sprouts & the fried green tomato sandwich. If you are planning to eat in the restaurant, I encourage you to make a reservation as this is a popular pick for locals & visitors alike.
  • OAK PIZZA NAPOLETANA: We popped in here to escape the snow for a bit. Steph chose a local beer from their menu, while I opted for the spritz. Without exaggeration, our margherita pizza was eaten in under ten minutes.
  • SUPERNATURAL COFFEE & BAKERY: As this is a short walk from the Bodhi Spa, we split the blueberry scone & cinnamon crumb cake in between our yoga class & massage appointment.
  • LE GAMIN COUNTRY: My favorite meal of the whole weekend was at this bistro! I appreciated that the staff made an effort to clear tables quickly so folks could sit. I convinced Steph to share a crepe with coffee ice cream to start our brunch. For our entrees, I picked the French onion soup with a toasted baguette, while Steph picked the pineapple French toast. I savored every bite. Once again, I was touched by their customer service when they quickly replaced Steph’s meal. She is allergic to nuts & they made no fuss about any extra work on their end.

BOUTIQUES

Full disclosure – several elements of our trip could have been better. Firstly, I did not pack appropriate accessories for the inclement weather. I have been living in New York City too long, forgetting snow will accumulate on the sidewalk during a winter storm. Snow boots will be at the top of my list if I return during this time of year. Secondly, for part of this weekend, I was not feeling well. Steph’s gentle care made all the difference when I was sick in bed. As a result, we did not visit all the spots on our list. We fully intend to make a return trip to check out LIL DEB’S OASIS, HUDSON BREWING COMPANY, & LE PERCHE.

Hope my recommendations encourage you to plan your own trip to this charming town!

Xx,

Erin