If you’re into sweeping river views, quaint main streets and good food but need a trip that’s low-key and close to the city, look no further than Tarrytown. Located on the Hudson River’s right bank a mere 45 minutes from Grand Central Terminal, this commuter town features a ton of new and recently updated shops and restaurants, giving you no shortage of things to do. Here’s how to make the most of your time there.
Your Next Weekend Escape: Tarrytown, New York
•
Published Dec 16, 2019
Courtesy of Getty Images
1. Take A Walk Along The Revamped Pier
The former site of a General Motors plant that closed in 1996 is now lined with newly developed condos and green space. Start your pier walk where the train station is and make your way up the river to the lighthouse. The most notable addition to Tarrytown’s riverfront is the striking new Tappan Zee Bridge (officially named the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge), which was opened to traffic in 2017, replacing the eyesore that was there before. (FYI: Watching the old bridge being demolished is weirdly satisfying.) Driving over the bridge can be quite stressful, but admiring it at a distance from the pier is highly recommended.
2. Dine At The Pier For Even More River Views
RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen is in a large, bustling space on the pier with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can take in the nearby Hudson River. The restaurant serves food from local Hudson Valley producers who farm naturally and sustainably, such as a roast chicken from Hemlock Hill Farm in nearby Cortlandt. To match, a fun wine list highlights organic and biodynamic wineries.
127 W. Main St., Tarrytown; 914-631-3100 or rivermarketbarkitchen.com
All Good
3. Eat At This Celebrity Chef’s New Restaurant (or Maybe Get A Room Upstairs)
Chef Dale Talde made a name for himself on Top Chef and then at Talde in Brooklyn. If you were wondering what he’s been up to since the restaurant closed earlier this year, the answer is here. Goosefeather serves Talde’s Chinese and Hong Kong fare in an elegant setting in the Tarrytown House Estate. Go for the dry-aged beef potstickers, the char siu Berkshire pork and the Cantonese lobster. The restaurant’s opening was part of a $15 million renovation of the Tarrytown House Estate, a beautiful and historic 214-room hotel that will tempt you to stay the night.
49 E. Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown; 914-829-5454 or goosefeatherny.com
Pretty Funny Vintage
4. Shop For Gifts For Loved Ones (or Yourself)
Now for some retail therapy: Pretty Funny Vintage is in an 1890s Victorian house a few minutes off the main drag and sells all kinds of new and vintage home goods. On Main Street, check out Trilogy Consignment for great finds on clothes, as well as Ona, which sells handmade gift items from local and global artisans.
80 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; 914-631-3368 or prettyfunnyvintage.com
Clarence F. Morey III
5. Refuel With Coffee And A Pastry On Main Street
Coffee Labs Roasters is an ideal place to drop in for coffee and a treat, and perhaps stay a little while. It serves sustainably produced coffee from its partner farmers in regions across South America, Africa and beyond. Coffee Labs also sells baked goods from a variety of purveyors, including Balthazar Bakery and Reva’s Outrageous Cookies; there are also gluten-free and vegan options from Gone Pie and Baked Vegan.
7 Main St., Tarrytown; 914-332-1479 or coffeelabs.com
Jazz Forum
6. Go See Some Live Music
The historic Tarrytown Music Hall unveiled a $1.5 million renovation in 2015, and its refreshed but retro facade is a beautiful feature of Main Street. It hosts concerts of all kinds, as well as dance performances and plays. The nonprofit Jazz Forum Arts hosted a jazz series at the music hall for many years before opening its own spot in June 2017, where you can eat dinner and have drinks as you listen to great live jazz.
13 Main St., Tarrytown; 914-631-3390 or tarrytownmusichall.org
Alicia Gao
7. Visit A Farm…but Not Any Farm
Dan Barber is a visionary chef who champions local and sustainable food. His Stone Barns Center, in Pocantico Hills just north of Tarrytown, is a testament to his philosophy. You can walk the grounds and visit the farm animals, attend classes and events, and, of course, eat the fruit of the team’s labor. The fine-dining restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns has two Michelin stars and is considered one of the best in the country. For a more affordable meal, drop by the Café & Grain Bar for a salad and a croissant.
630 Bedford Rd., Tarrytown; 914-366-9600 or bluehillfarm.com/dine/
AGI Studios
8. Take In Some History
In between Stone Barns and Tarrytown are two completely different historic homes of interest. Philipsburg Manor is an 18th-century property with a small home and a mill where you’ll learn about the Dutch family and the enslaved community who lived here. Then there’s Kykuit, the Rockefellers’ lavish mansion that’s unfortunately closed until May 2020 but is worth a visit when it reopens. Also nearby, take a walk around Swan Lake in Rockefeller State Park Preserve to soak up more nature before heading back to the city.
381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; 914-366-6900 or visitsleepyhollow.com/