Hudson is a destination on the rise. With rolling hills, river views, and a chic downtown (think antique stores, art galleries, and James Beard-award nominated restaurants), Hudson lives up to the nickname “Brooklyn in the Berkshires.”
In recent years, Hudson has turned into a hotspot for urban transplants and homebuyers who want to purchase second homes that are no more than two and a half hours from New York City or Boston. Here’s why you should buy a home in Hudson, New York.
Vibrant Urban Architecture
Hudson is famous for its diverse architecture. In fact, the city on the border of Columbia County has been called “a finest dictionary of American architecture in New York State.” Rail travelers to Hudson are greeted with an 1874 brick train depot. The stunning building only sets the stage for what comes next. Warren Street, Hudson’s main thoroughfare, is lined with Queen Anne mansions, charming Victorians, Federal-style homes, and Italianate residences.
Hudson’s revitalization began 30 years ago when artists and antique dealers rediscovered the city. Today the city has a working-class vibe with a hippie heart. Old banks and factories are restored commercial and residential buildings, and the city’s old movie theater has been transformed into the Rivertown Lodge, a 27-room downtown hotel.
A Thriving Antiques and Gallery Scene
Forget Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or the Clignancourt flea market outside of Paris. Hudson is the closest thing to antiques heaven that there is. Warren Street is a gold mine of antique stores and vintage galleries. Warren Street’s antique dealers offer everything an eclectic treasure seeker could want, from mid-century furnishings to industrial salvage and everything in between. Window shopping and gallery hopping is a serious sport in Hudson, especially on weekends.
Landmark Arts Venues and Sites
To say Hudson is happening is an understatement. The arts, culture, and entertainment scene is booming in Hudson, headed by a host of venues and hotspots reminiscent of a vibrant college town. Here’s just a small sampling:
- Music, theater, and dance can be found at Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House.
- Club Helsinki on Columbia Street is a multi-tiered restaurant, bar, and live music venue helmed by Executive Chef Hugh Horner.
- Located a few doors down, Time and Space Limited is a small theater devoted to independent and documentary film, original theater, live HD simulcasts, and special events.
- Basilica Hudson is a multi-disciplinary arts center housed in a solar-powered factory.
- Olana State Historic Site is the home of Frederic Edwin Church, the famous Hudson River School painter.
A Flourishing Foodie Scene
Roadside farm stands. Bustling farmers’ markets. Bakeries selling butter-laden croissants. A classic 1940s diner car where guests can order organic burgers. The list of foodie destinations in Hudson is long and unique. Among the many standout restaurants are these two:
- Hudson’s oldest continually operating restaurant and bar, Red Dot offers traditional pub favorites like fish and chips, fried calamari, and mussels marniere with frites. Locals refer to it as the “Cheers” of Hudson.
- Fish and Game is a rustically elegant fine dining restaurant run by chef Zakary Pelaccio, a former winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast.
- Eating locally is a tradition in the Berkshires. Swoon Kitchenbar has turned farm-to-table dining into an art form with its take on American classics.
