48 Hours in Beacon, New York
The east end of Main Street.
Ready for #augtober in Beacon, yet? No, us neither. Although we’re already more than halfway through summer, there’s still plenty of time to embrace each remaining sunny summer day until at least the September 22nd autumn equinox. And if 2024 is anything to go by, we could be wearing our tees long into November.
This week we offer some thoughts on planning the perfect itinerary for the perfect weekend in Beacon while the sun’s still shining (and even when it’s not). Call us Pollyanna, but summer days are precious, and we want you to enjoy them as much as possible! So, whether you’re planning a staycation or a vacation, you might even want to make extend your itinerary from 48 to 72 hours since there’s so much to pack in.
Getting to Beacon
Beacon’s only 70 to 90 minutes from New York City by train—an easy journey that features spectacular views of the Hudson River. Since Beacon is a city with a radius of only five miles, you can get anywhere you need by walking, taxi, or Uber/Lyft once you arrive. Should you drive, there’s 12 free parking lots dotted around the city—and EV charging ports—so no need to practice your parallel parking skills just to nab a spot along Main Street. And if you are staying the night, explore our Stay Directory to see which hotel and bed & breakfast is right for you.
Start The Day Early
A Full English Breakfast at Moreish, 207 Main Street.
Don’t miss a minute. It’s worth arriving in Beacon for breakfast. A 7:13 AM train from Grand Central Station in NYC gets you to Beacon at 8:55 AM. Just in time to fuel up for the day. Take the Beacon Free Loop from the Beacon station to get to Main Street in just minutes, or follow the signs and walk, which takes less than 10 minutes depending on pace. Some, but certainly not all, of the hearty breakfast options include Nilufer’s Home Kitchen (135 Main Street) for Turkish cuisine, Moreish (207 Main Street) for a good old fashioned Full English Breakfast, and the Yankee Clipper Diner (397 Main Street) for fresh pancakes and sausage, eggs any style, even a slice of cheesecake. Dive into our Eat & Drink Directory for a full list of breakfast options.
Take a Hike and Get Your Bearings
After breakfast, consider heading to Mount Beacon for a hike that affords some of the most spectacular nature in the Hudson Valley, or take a trail walk along the river. Most shops and galleries open by 11 AM or 12 PM, so all that Main Street has to offer—more than 90 shops and around 14 galleries—will await you when you finish.
Absorb Some Art
KaleidoSCAPE at Savage Wonderground Art Gallery, in the basement at 141 Main Street.
As of writing, current exhibition highlights include a celebration of fine art in the Lattimore Studio Exhibition at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street), which runs until September 7th; Savage Wonderground Art Gallery’s KaleidoSCAPE, (141 Main Street) a vivid shifting world of bold color; an eclectic group show called GRIT at the BAU Gallery (506 Main Street); and a new show called Threads of Love opens at Distortion Society (155 Main Street) this weekend. Featuring work by Delvin Lugo, a narrative figure painter who works directly on vintage textiles, and Amber Mustafic, an embroiderer whose dreamscapes depict herself and loved ones, this two-person exhibition is curated by Beth Kantrowitz/bk projects. The opening reception for this show at Distortion Society is Saturday, August 16th from 7 PM to 9 PM, and the show runs until October 10th.
You’ll probably want to grab a bite for lunch by midday. Great summer spots for dining on a pretty patio include the farm-to-table Wild Kitchen & Bar (416 Main Street), where the talented team has managed to make the food here as healthy as it is delicious; Wonderbar (445 Main Street) for carefully curated small plates; Enoteca Ama (297 Main Street) for excellent pizza; and Dave the Butcher (232 Main Street) for Basque-inspired sandwiches and salads. Whichever you choose, you’ll find inventive, satisfying dishes that will keep you going through to dinner.
Basque tuna salad at Dave the Butcher, 232 Main Street.
Shop Til You Drop
Save plenty of time to explore the 90+ independent, one-of-a-kind shops along Main Street which runs for more than a mile. Vintage and consignment lovers will want to stop by MOD Hudson Valley (171 Main Street), Dickinson’s Antiques (440 Main Street), Another Door (468-470 Main Street), and Vintage Beacon (478 Main Street). There are many more shops in Beacon that fall into this pre-loved category, so be sure to reference our Shop Directory and visit them all.
Beauty lovers—especially those looking for cult classics that are also cruelty free and clean—should stop into Witch Hazel (176 Main Street) to explore its assortment of bestsellers including Ursa Major, Icelandic fragrance house Fischersund, and nourishing bodycare from Nopalera.
Lily & Marigold Home + Design at 163 Main Street.
Stylish home goods lovers will also enjoy perusing some of the best lifestyle boutiques in the Hudson Valley including the lovely Lily & Marigold Home + Design (163 Main Street), a home décor boutique and full-service interior design studio that opened in early 2025 (and has a knack for finding affordable alternatives to expensive brands), as well as The Floral Society (161 Main Street) right next door. Follow your nose while in The Floral Society to discover beautifully fragranced indoor and outdoor incense sticks as well as gift-worthy soaps and washes from the must-have Californian brand Flamingo Estate. There’s also the enduring and gorgeous Raven Rose (474 Main Street) toward the end of Main Street, with highly giftable home fragrances from Brooklyn Candle Studio and P.F. Candle Co. among other treats. Finally, keep walking toward the end of Main Street to discover Sybil (504 Main Street) with its irresistible assortment of highly giftable (and self-giftable) home goods. We could go on and on, but you really need to explore our Shop Directory to discover the right retail gem for you. Did we mention there are more than 90 shops?
Planning Saturday Evening
With plenty of events happening in Beacon every weekend, it’s worth consulting our Events Guide & Calendar to see what piques your interest.
Be sure to see what’s happening at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street), which is home to music of all genres, Nerd Night Hudson Valley, and the Artichoke Storytelling Series; or The Yard (4 Hanna Lane) where events range from indie chanteurs and the Door Daze Festival (coming up on August 24th) to Cirque du Creep’s super popular night markets. Savage Wonder Arts Center (141 Main Street) offers energetic but slick performance readings most weekends, as well as a weekly improv night and live music in a very intimate setting. Beacon has both intimate and spacious venues, but few exceed capacity for more than 300 people.
But first, Dinner
Don’t go hungry, though. First, for a quick and satisfying meal, grab a bite and refreshment at one of the following top spots and still make it in time for the show. Visit Hudson Valley Brewery (7 East Main Street) for its New York State brewed beers, ciders and wines and also for its delicious wood fired pies from Get Lost Pizza; Paul Brady Wine (344 Main Street) offers a charcuterie board for two, inspired by Brady’s time at the James Beard award-winning restaurant, Hearth, in New York City; meanwhile Draught Industries (394 Main Street) serves spectacular Mexican bistro food including elevated burritos, enchiladas, and tacos alongside its beer, whiskey, and cocktail menu.
Anyone looking for a late-night drink or dance should head for The Vinyl Room (396 Main Street) which is open until 1 AM; or the Roosevelt Bar in Hudson Valley Food Hall (288 Main Street) where hours vary but generally run to the late side.
A Chill Sunday
Sleep in before indulging in a delicious brunch at one of Beacon’s many excellent brunch destinations. To name just two of them, there’s Beacon Bread Company (193-195 Main Street) where you can find every combination of sandwiches, coffee, pastries, and egg breakfasts dishes. For a more refined brunch with options including Turkish Eggs, French Omelet, and Steak & Eggs, try Lyonshare (246 Main Street) which recently won Chronogram magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best New Restaurant. Pair your meal at Lyonshare with one of their finely made house cocktails.
Don’t Miss Dia Beacon
Louise Bourgeois’s Crouching Spider at Dia Beacon, 3 Beekman Street.
After fueling up, we recommend visiting Dia Beacon (3 Beekman Street), the city’s spectacular, internationally renowned gallery with works from some of contemporary art’s most famous and respected names including Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, and Dan Flavin. An exhibition featuring the work of influential Japanese sculptor and installation artist, Kishio Suga, recently opened here. The show curates a selection of the artist’s sculptures from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Be sure to allow at least two hours to explore everything in Dia’s 300,000 square foot space, and you might want to plan return visits to get deeper into the art. It’s incredible value with admission at just $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $12 for students. Beacon residents have free access to Dia Beacon, while Hudson Valley residents can enjoy a free visit on the last Sunday of each month. Plus, members can currently enjoy an end-of-summer free cup of ice-cream from Manhattan’s viral gelateria, Caffé Panna. The gallery is open Friday through Monday, 10 AM to 5 PM until Daylight Saving Time ends, when it will then close at 4 PM.
Having completed an afternoon of elevated art, it’s probably time for a coffee or tea break. Either stop by the Dia Café, run by Dave the Butcher, or jump on the Beacon Free Loop bus to head back to Main Street where you’ll have multiple options to choose from. Read our complete guide to the 15 Coffee & Tea Shops in Beacon to discover where all of them are.
Finally…
The good news is almost all of Beacon’s restaurants are open on Sunday evenings. If the weather’s good, a meal on the patio and a cocktail or mocktail at The Roundhouse (2 East Main Street) is an excellent choice. Choose Melzingah’s Tap House (554 Main Street) or Cooper’s Beacon (47 East Main Street) if the weather’s not cooperating, Or, of course, Brothers Trattoria (465 Main Street), a local favorite that serves mouthwatering Italian staples.
Finally, try to catch a spectacular Beacon sunset to finish the weekend, if you can. It’ll help you sleep like a baby! For those who don’t have to make it to the office Monday morning, we recommend enjoying a final breakfast before getting back on the train.
So, there you have it. A non-stop 48 hours in Beacon, New York to remember. But don’t just take our word for it. There are so many excellent spots to enjoy, and everyone has their favorites. So, be sure to explore our Directories, read our blog, and sign up to our weekly email newsletter to keep on top of everything happening in our Hudson Valley gem of a city.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡
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