Here are my picks for the valley's best bars (in no particular order). Please add yours to the list by commenting below.1.) Black Swan, 66 Broadway, Tivoli
This divey Irish pub features great pints, live music by Bard College bands and the occasional DJ from Hudson-based promoters Down in the Valley.
2.) Snapper Magees, 59 North Front St., Kingston
This bar for the tattooed and pierced set has the best jukebox in the Hudson Valley, hands down. The friendly bartenders frequently buy the third round. Stick with shots and bottled beers.
3.) Elephant Wine Bar, 310 Wall St., Kingston
This new wine bar and restaurant has become my home away from home. A selection of tapas or an artisan cheese and meat plate pair perfectly with the high-end beers and wine, which includes many by-the-glass options. There are also champagne cocktails.
The owners, Maya Karrol and Rich Reeve, used to own Brady's Public House in Poughkeepsie. Their album collection -- yes albums -- includes punk rock and dark wave. Omigod, are they playing Siouxsie and the Banshees and Depeche Mode? Yes.
4.) Mojo Grill, 942 Rt. 376, Summerlin Plaza, Wappingers Falls
One word: Caipirinha
5.) The outdoor bar at Shadows on the Hudson on the Poughkeepsie waterfront
I'm not much for the giant television over the inside bar, but I love the outside patio for its tasty cocktails and gorgeous Hudson River views.
Places I still need to hit: The Country Inn of Krumville, Katana Sake Bar in New Paltz and Mahoney's Irish Pub in Poughkeepsie. Yes, it's true, I've never been to Mahoney's.
15 comments:
Tivoli's Black Swan is great! I haven't been there in a long time, but they did have the best burger and shoe string fries!
I'd even say the best draught Guinness!
You won't be disappointed with "The Country Inn". Just the wall of beer labels alone is worth the visit. They have over 500 international brews!
Bit of a drive but worth it!
Tell Spencer, QA girl from "HH" says hi!
The headline presented on the Pojo updates section is a little misleading. I was expecting you to list dive bars. None of the places you list fit that profile.
If there haven't been at least 2 stabbings inside the establishment, than it can't be considered a dive bar.
If you don't run the risk of catching hepatitis every time you drink from a pint glass, then the bar can't be considered a dive bar.
If the bartender has more teeth than finger, than the place can't be considered a dive bar
Thanks.
The Barking Frog in Beacon is home away from home for a lot of people. There is always a friendly place to hang with, even if you don't know anyone!
The Frog is alright, they make a good pint of guinness, but by far my best pint was at Keltic house when it first opened. The bartender even clovered the head... it was a thing of beauty...
Katana Sake bar is great if you like the younger crowd, and loud music usually (expect a cover to get in, it's like 3 bars in 1) My other Favorites by far are: The Golden rail ale house - a true dive but they serve the best micro brews around, and they have monthly beer tastings... it's a real fun place to hang out. Pineapple larry's is alright too, and the blue martini on the waterfront is nice, too although not a dive... I would say noah's is a dive in Pok. too lol I don't live in the area anymore, but thinking about those bars makes me miss home some times, because i spent some great times there, Also Snugg harbor, and Bacchus are great too, they're in new paltz... yeah you can say i've been around the bar scene. Cheers!
My post is about Best Hudson Valley Bars, some of which (Black Swan, Snappers) just happen to have dive bar qualities. Neither fits the description penned by anonymous #2 :)
Elephant, Mojo and Shadows are lovely lounges tied to restaurants, not divey at all.
I'm going to go put up one of the obvious, and then two of my favorites.
One, Mahoney's. Yes, it's crowded and you tend to run into a lot of people from high school there (if you went to HS in the area, that is), but it has a certain appeal, especially during summer and winter breaks when the college kids move out and the post-college locals venture out.
Two, Noah's. It can be kind of quiet because of competition from competing bars (see Bar One). BUT, it's still a good place for a reasonably priced beer and a conversation. It's one of the few Poughkeepsie bars in which you can still hold a conversation. And I love casual.
Three, Red Bistro in Rhinebeck. It's chichi, but the specialty martinis are great and sometimes it's fun to get a little dressed up to hang out. Definitely a young professional crowd rather than the college set.
Alice,
Are you talking about the bar inside the Terrapin restaurant in Rhinebeck? If you are, I agree it's a good place. Sometimes it's hard to get a seat.
Can anyone say anything else about Brady's Public House? I live near there and wish there were a neighborhood bar in this part of the city. The Good Dog was fun sporadically, but now it's apparently in limbo. (It often fit the description that #2 is apparently looking for, but I'd take that in a heartbeat over seeing it closed every day...)
I love this blog so much, by the way. For a while I was keeping it to myself (typically hipster selfishness) but it's too good not to share. Please keep the tidbits coming, Kathleen.
Hi poster. I think Brady's stands vacant, which is very sad.
And please share me!
we just had lunch from a new deli on Titusville Rd (I thinks it considered LaGrange - not Poughkeepsie) called Le Cucina D' Amore. For $6.95 I had one of their daily specials (chicken rustica servide with a rice pilaf) and was blown away. My whole office really enjoyed their lunches. I think we will be going there alot more. They only just opened, but so far so good.
Snapper Magees in Kingston is a wonderfull little dive, the best Juke Box I have ever seen, very good staff, definetly a beer and shot joint. and their live music seems to be well above the local competitions,
if you like rock and roll, in particular punk and rockabilly Snappers is a must.and although it is a dive I have never seen or heard of a fight there.
Snapper Magees, is hands down the best small music venue and has the rockinest juke box in the Hudson Valley
I am a 27 year old woman from Boston, I absolutely love Snapper Magees, it's a gritty little joint with the best juke box, best staff, and best live music for miles and miles around, I alway's feel safe and welcome and the bartenders are alway's friendly and generous, I give Snappers 2 big thumbs up.
Joes Irish Pub. Second Saturdays in Beacon on main. Great staff. Great live blues. Really nice place, All ages get together. Mean pint of guinness and murphys on tap!!
Love me Some Snapper Magee's!! its everything a dive should be, and missing everything it shouldnt be.Cheap Beer, Great Music, and no problems...if you like it simple & a little funky this is the place.
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