The Ridge Guide
Your insider guide
to the Catskills —
from a neighbor.
Everything worth knowing about Hunter, Windham, and the surrounding Catskills — curated from years of hosting and exploring this corner of New York. A recommendation from a neighbor, not a search engine.
30+
CURATED SPOTS
15 min
TO THE SLOPES
4
SEASONS COVERED
From fireside cocktails to farm-to-table dinners — the Catskills dining scene punches well above its weight. These are the places worth planning your day around.
Host tip: Make reservations for Friday and Saturday nights — especially during ski season and peak foliage. Most spots book on OpenTable or Resy. For delivery, try catskillsdelivery.com.
The Catskills are built for people who don't sit still. Whether you're here for powder, peaks, or paddling — here's how to make the most of it.
The Catskills have quietly become one of the most creatively rich regions in the Northeast. From outdoor sculpture parks to intimate mountain theaters — here's what makes this place unlike anywhere else.
Stock up before you settle in — the mountains reward the prepared guest. Here's where locals actually shop, and what's worth the extra drive.
Host tip: If you're making a big haul, stop at Adams Fairacre Farms in Kingston on your way up. Once you're in the mountains, options are more focused — but everything you need for a great weekend is covered below.
Stonehaven Ridge local guide — tabbed listings for Dining and Drinks, Adventures, Arts and Culture, and Groceries and Liquor near Hunter and Windham in the Catskills.
Hunter & Tannersville
Space Brewpub
CRAFT BEER · COCKTAILS · APRÈS-SKI
Relaxed self-pour brewpub with craft beer, cocktails, and casual mountain-town vibes. Great après-ski hangout with outdoor seating.
5999 Main St, Tannersville
Mama's Boy Burgers
BURGERS · CASUAL · MILKSHAKES
A Tannersville favorite for juicy burgers, crispy fries, milkshakes, and frozen custard. Perfect after hiking or skiing.
6067 Main St, Tannersville
Selina's Diner
BREAKFAST · COMFORT FOOD
Classic Catskills diner serving hearty breakfasts, pancakes, and comfort food with old-school mountain-town charm.
5701 NY-23A, Haines Falls
West Kill Brewing
CRAFT BREWERY · SCENIC VIEWS
Scenic brewery tucked into the mountains with excellent craft beer, outdoor seating, and incredible Catskills views. A must-visit for beer lovers.
2173 Spruceton Rd, West Kill
Pancho Villa's
MEXICAN · MARGARITAS · GROUP DINING
Festive local favorite for margaritas, tacos, enchiladas, and relaxed group dinners in downtown Tannersville.
6037 Main St, Tannersville
Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café
CAFÉ · ARTISAN CHEESE · ANTIQUES
Unique Catskills stop combining antiques shopping with artisan cheese plates, sandwiches, and cozy café dining.
6009 Main St, Tannersville
Tabla
TAPAS · CRAFT COCKTAILS · DATE NIGHT
Cozy tapas restaurant with creative small plates, craft cocktails, creekside seating, and a warm rustic atmosphere.
6033 Main St, Tannersville
Shandaken Bake
BAKERY · PASTRIES · BREAKFAST
Beloved Catskills bakery with incredible homemade pastries, cakes, and pies. Just get there before it sells out.
6036 Main St, Tannersville
Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg
ALPINE GERMAN · WINE BAR · APRÈS-SKI
Two-story alpine chalet steps from Hunter Mountain — schnitzel, wursts, and fondue under new ownership with a growing wine program alongside the German beer.
7722 Main St, Hunter
Scribner's Prospect
UPSCALE · SEASONAL · MOUNTAIN VIEWS
The restaurant at Scribner's Catskill Lodge — polished seasonal cooking with sweeping Hunter Mountain views. The dressed-up dinner on the mountaintop.
13 Scribner Hollow Rd, Hunter
Deer Mountain Inn
FINE DINING · HISTORIC INN · SPECIAL OCCASION
Intimate dining room in a century-old mountain estate. When the weekend calls for a proper celebration dinner, this is the reservation to make.
790 County Rd 25, Tannersville
Maggie's Krooked Café
BREAKFAST · BRUNCH · INSTITUTION
The Tannersville breakfast institution — big plates, famous pancakes, zero pretension. Expect a wait on ski-season weekends; it's worth it.
6000 Main St, Tannersville
Hunter Mountain Brewery
BREWPUB · COMFORT FOOD · FAMILY-FRIENDLY
House-brewed beer on 15+ taps with a full comfort-food menu and a pet-friendly deck. Casual, roomy, and no reservations — come early on weekends.
7267 Rt 23A, Hunter
Windham
Millrock Restaurant
ITALIAN · WOOD-FIRED PIZZA · BAR
Cozy Italian spot with wood-fired pizza, hearty pasta dishes, and a lively bar scene right in downtown Windham.
5398 NY-23, Windham
Lilly's Steaks & Cocktails
STEAKS · SEAFOOD · UPSCALE
Upscale-but-relaxed known for steaks, seafood, cocktails, and a warm mountain-lodge atmosphere with a touch of Irish flair.
5335 NY-23, Windham
Matilda
FARM-TO-TABLE · COCKTAILS · BOUTIQUE
Stylish farm-to-table dining and cocktails inside a boutique hotel with a modern Catskills aesthetic. Great for elevated dinners.
39 Goshen Rd, Hensonville
Babblers
BRUNCH · COCKTAILS · RIVERFRONT
Trendy riverside restaurant and bakery at Wylder Hotel with great brunch, cocktails, pastries, and a fun après-ski vibe.
19 NY-296, Windham
Prominence
ITALIAN · STEAKS · LIVE MUSIC
Rustic Catskills restaurant serving Italian classics, steaks, and seafood with a spacious patio and live music on select nights.
55 NY-296, Windham
Windham Local
CAFÉ · COFFEE · BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Casual café and community hangout with coffee, pastries, fresh comfort food, and local beer. Popular for breakfast and lunch.
5410 NY-23, Windham
The Chicken Run
BBQ · COMFORT FOOD · FAMILY
Classic Catskills BBQ known for ribs, chicken, cornbread, and live music. Family-friendly and fun after a day outdoors.
5639 NY-23, Windham
Brandywine
ITALIAN · FAMILY-STYLE
Longtime local favorite for classic Italian comfort food, generous portions, and relaxed family-style dining.
11157 NY-23, Windham
Hours vary by season. Summer and winter weekends fill fast — plan ahead. For delivery, visit catskillsdelivery.com.
Hunter & Windham Mountains
SKIING · SNOWBOARDING · MOUNTAIN BIKING · ZIPLINING
Four-season mountain destinations within 15 minutes of the property. Hunter offers more vertical drop and terrain variety; Windham is known for immaculate grooming and a slightly more relaxed crowd. Both offer skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, scenic chairlift rides, festivals, mountain biking, and ziplining throughout the year.
Kaaterskill Falls
ICONIC WATERFALL · SCENIC HIKING · PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the Catskills' most iconic landmarks — New York State's highest waterfall at 260 feet, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and ancient forest. A must-visit for outdoor lovers. Go early on weekends to secure parking. Peak fall foliage in October makes this an unforgettable stop.
103 Laurel House Rd, Palenville
Escarpment Trail
SCENIC RIDGE HIKING · HUDSON VALLEY VIEWS
One of the Northeast's most scenic hiking routes, with dramatic overlooks of the Hudson Valley and surrounding mountains. Connects to Kaaterskill Falls for a full-day adventure. Download AllTrails before you go — and pack microspikes December through March.
Escarpment Trailhead Parking
North-South Lake
KAYAKING · SWIMMING · HIKING · SUNSETS
The jewel of the Catskills state park system. Kayak and canoe rentals on-site, a swimming beach in summer, and some of the region's best sunset views. The surrounding trails offer ridge views that connect to the Escarpment Trail for a full-day adventure.
Colgate Lake
PEACEFUL WALKS · FISHING · PICNICS
A quiet mountain lake surrounded by peaceful scenery — ideal for a slower-paced afternoon. Great for fishing, a lakeside picnic, or a gentle walk when you want beauty without the crowds.
Rip Van Winkle Adventures
ATV TOURS · SNOWMOBILE RIDES · GUIDED EXCURSIONS
Local adventure outfitter offering ATV tours, snowmobile rides, and outdoor excursions for guests looking for a little more adrenaline. One of the more unique experiences in the region — worth booking ahead.
5305 NY-23A, Haines Falls
Tannersville Antique Shops
VINTAGE · BOUTIQUES · THE PAINTED VILLAGE
Spend an afternoon in the colorful "Painted Village in the Sky," known for vintage finds, local boutiques, cafés, and charming mountain-town character. A rainy-day favorite that never disappoints.
Hunter Mountain Fire Tower
SUMMIT HIKE · 360° VIEWS · CATSKILL HIGH PEAK
Hike to the historic fire tower on Hunter's 4,040-foot summit — climb the tower stairs for a full-circle view of the Catskills. The Becker Hollow route is the direct (and steep) way up; the Spruceton trail is longer and gentler.
Diamond Notch Falls
WATERFALL · EASY-MODERATE HIKE · WEST KILL
A short, family-friendly walk to a pretty two-tier waterfall and footbridge in the notch between Hunter and West Kill mountains. Pairs perfectly with a post-hike pint at West Kill Brewing down the road.
Windham Path
EASY WALK · STROLLER-FRIENDLY · RIVERSIDE
A flat, groomed walking path along the Batavia Kill with mountain views the whole way — the easy morning-coffee stroll when nobody wants a real hike. Free, open year-round, and lovely in every season.
Mountain Top Arboretum
GARDENS · BOARDWALKS · FREE ADMISSION
A 178-acre public garden of native trees, meadows, and wetland boardwalks at 2,400 feet. Quiet, free, and open dawn to dusk — an easy add-on to any Tannersville afternoon.
A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY
Phoenicia
TUBING · LOCAL SHOPS · CATSKILLS CLASSIC
Classic Catskills town known for tubing on Esopus Creek, bike rentals, local shops, and laid-back mountain vibes.
Hudson
ANTIQUES · GALLERIES · RESTAURANTS
Trendy Hudson Valley destination filled with antique stores, art galleries, restaurants, and boutique shopping along Warren Street.
Woodstock
ARTS · MUSIC · BOHEMIAN CULTURE
Famous for its artistic history, live music culture, eclectic shops, galleries, and relaxed bohemian atmosphere.
Always check trail conditions in winter. Trails above 3,500 ft require snowshoes or microspikes December through March.
Opus 40
SCULPTURE PARK · OUTDOOR ART
Massive outdoor bluestone sculpture park and art experience set against the Catskill Mountains. One of the most singular cultural experiences in the region — worth the drive for a unique afternoon.
356 George Sickle Rd, Saugerties
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
THEATER · CONCERTS · COMEDY · FILM
Small mountain-town theater hosting concerts, films, comedy, and local performances year-round. A genuine community anchor in Tannersville.
6050 Main St, Tannersville
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
HISTORIC HOME · HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL ART
Historic home of the founder of the Hudson River School art movement, featuring beautiful grounds, rotating exhibitions, and sweeping river views. A hidden cultural gem.
218 Spring St, Catskill
Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café
ANTIQUES · ARTISAN CHEESE · CAFÉ
A true Catskills original — part antique shop, part artisan cheese counter, part café. The kind of place you stumble into for 20 minutes and leave an hour later.
6009 Main St, Tannersville
Catskill Mountain Foundation
CINEMA · BOOKSTORE · PERFORMANCES
The mountaintop's cultural anchor in Hunter — an indie cinema, a wonderful bookstore, galleries, and a year-round performance calendar. The reliable rainy-day answer.
7950 Main St, Hunter
Olana State Historic Site
HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL · HISTORIC ESTATE · VIEWS
Frederic Church's Persian-style hilltop estate above the Hudson — and via the Skywalk across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, a walkable pairing with the Thomas Cole site for a full art-history day.
5720 Rt 9G, Hudson
Hours and programming vary seasonally — check websites before visiting. The Orpheum posts their calendar monthly.
Grocery
Tops Friendly Market
FULL-SERVICE GROCERY
Your closest full grocery option. Covers all the basics — produce, meat, dairy, and a solid deli counter. The go-to for stocking the kitchen.
6350 Main St, Tannersville
(518) 589-0048
JJF Farms
FARM-FRESH EGGS · BLACK ANGUS BEEF
Farm-fresh eggs and premium Black Angus beef straight from the source. A true local gem — call ahead as hours are limited.
2626 Co Rd 23C, East Jewett
(518) 275-5301
Main Street Market
ITALIAN DELI · GROCERY · PREPARED FOODS
Windham's classic Italian market — house-cured meats, serious heroes, and trays of chicken or eggplant parm to carry back to the house for a zero-effort dinner.
5344 Rt 23 (Main St), Windham
Liquor & wine
Katterskills Liquor
WINE · SPIRITS · BEER
Your local one-stop for wine, spirits, and beer. Well-stocked for a mountain town — grab what you need for the weekend before heading up the hill.
5991 Main St, Tannersville
(518) 589-5925
Windham Wine & Liquors
WINE · SPIRITS · WINDHAM SIDE
The Windham-side bottle shop — friendly, well-stocked, and open late enough to save the evening. The counterpart to Katterskills when you're on the other mountain.
5448 Main St, Windham
Hours vary seasonally and may be reduced on weekdays. Always worth a quick call ahead during holiday weekends.