Can you really call your Friday evening "a night on the town" if it ended at 8pm after a too-quick meal from your weekly standby? With new bars and restaurants opening in the Hudson Valley every month, it'd be a shame not to fill an evening to its brim.
Luckily, New Paltz's compact downtown is home to a curated bar and restaurant scene. You can nurse a high-impact tiki drink, have a leisurely dinner, then finish out the night with the new drafts from top-tier Hudson Valley brewmasters.
A Taste of the Tropics at Fuchsia Tiki Bar
The whimsical cocktails at this colorful Polynesian paradise scream retro-Hollywood fun. Taking nods from Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic, Fuchsia serves up classics like the original 1944 Mai Tai plus a slew of original house-made creations in fanciful mugs. Although there are over 200 kinds of rum on offer, not all the cocktails are rum-based. Like the Last Voyage, which features Hayman's Gin, Green Chartreuse, passionfruit, citrus, and sage. If you're feeling ambitious, round up your friends for a large-format cocktail like the Death Charge, which serves three to four people.
Beer Hall Heaven at Schatzi's
This German-influenced beer garden and pub doesn't just carry classic brews from the motherland. They also have some heavy-hitting names from this side of the Atlantic, like Sloop, Grimm, and the Alchemist. To get the full experience, add a soft pretzel with beer cheese dipping sauce.
New Orleans-Style Sips at The Parish
When you touch down at this homage to the Big Easy, opt for an old-school cocktail like the snow-white Ramos Gin Fizz. Its fluffy, frothy texture comes from raw egg white and rich cream vigorously shaken together with lime juice and fragrant orange flower water—topped off with a spritzy splash of club soda.
Drink Like a Local at P&G’s
Avoid the fairly out-of-control Friday happy hour—unless you’re a college student, of course. The rest of the week, P&G’s is a bustling pub for locals (and tourists—you are in New Paltz, after all) with home-style fare, inexpensive drinks (Tuesday is 2-for-1 night after 9pm), and a boisterous Sunday afternoon football crowd. Go with a big crew, snag the big round table in the front window, and watch the night slide by.
French Bistro Vibes at RUNA
Do as the French do and settle in for a relaxing meal at the newly opened RUNA. Hearty bistro fare like duck cassoulet, mushroom and vegetable bourguignon, and crème brûlée will surely fuel the evening ahead.
Brew and a Burger at Bacchus
Ready for a last-call drink and some late night eats? Head to this welcoming watering hole that boasts over 300 different beers. A few of them even come straight from the microbrewery in back. If a pile of wings or a juicy Pat La Frieda burger are calling your name, the kitchen takes orders until 1am Thursday-Saturday.
