Places to cozy up to campfires, bonfires & fire pits!
Leaf peeping and bonfires are our two Fall faves.
We love to drive, bike and walk through autumn’s burst of colors. It’s all about enjoying our October and November red, golds and oranges. Then, spend afternoons into evenings around cozy campfires, with hot chocolate, hot cider (spiked natch) or a big, bold glass of velvety red. Grog or S’Mores, anyone?
So go ahead, indulge yourself. Our HVH team put together six super fire pit places not to be missed. Grab a blanket, pull up a comfy chair and snuggle in!
BLAZES & BEERS
5945 Route 44 55, Kerhonkson, NY, United States, New York
(845) 626-9838
Thurs. - Mon., 4 - 9 pm
ABOUT: Rough Cut Brewery swings into Fall with Friday Music Nights. Grab your boots and boogie down for fun, food and plenty of suds. Expanded and renovated last winter with a new kitchen, dining room and outdoors, this brewery has built an outstanding reputation since opening in 2015. With the massive garage doors up, the dining room becomes an outdoors-indoors experience. The beer garden with its multiple fire pits is a must-stop for hikers and climbers doing the Gunks since Rough Cut sits at the entry to Minnewaska State Park.
FOOD: Finger food, burgers and tacos top the menu. Chicken wings with a sweet Thai twist, Oklahoma onion smash burger wrapped with melted cheddar cheese with hand cut fries and pickled veggies, are two bestsellers. And, don't miss dessert - try a Beer Float like Bumpkin Ale with cardamom ice cream …Yes, they make their own ice creams!
DRINK: An experimental brewery with dozens of ales, pilsners, IPAs and stouts to sample. IPAs like 44/55 (named for the passing highways) has a 8.3% ABV to Pomme D’Orange, a Belgian Tripel with orange blossom honey (9.1% ABV) to Holstein Stout (5.3% ABV), made with oatmeal milk.
FIERY SPIRITS
Ye Olde York Farm
284 State Rt. 23
Claverack, NY
(518) 721-8209
Fri., 4 - 8 pm
Sat./Sun. Noon - 7 pm
ABOUT: Cooper’s Daughter Spirits continues the distillery passion of the Ye Olde York Farm’s original owner, Jacob Rutsen van Rensselaer, and kicks it up a notch. The Newsome family - Stuart, Louise and daughter Sophie - transformed the carriage house into a stunning spot for a sip and a sizzle. With two covered patios and an enormous fire pit, it’s a perfect place to unwind after a day in historic Hudson ten minutes away. Speaking of history, you’ll want to explore the property - it’s on the National Register of Historic Places, with its two barns dating from 1790 and 1805. Plus, you’ll want to catch Stuart at work. He’s a master cooper, creating his barrels from white oak trees that grow on the farm.
DRINK: Flights of 4 or 10 spirits, cocktails like Bloody Hell with ramp vodka and sriracha, Deer Country, made with Black Walnut Bourbon and Thai basil liqueur and Night Sky Sour, mulled Peach Whiskey and black currant liqueur. Banish the chill with warm drinks like Sweater Weather, a blend of pumpkin spice vodka and hot cinnamon spice tea.
FOOD: Popular food trucks are on hand every weekend for nibbles. Friday and Saturday, Oct 21 & 22, This and That Food will be parked on the property. Then Sundays, Oct. 23 & 28, Valia’s Wood Fire Pizza will be tossing pies.
They plan a special Halloween party on Monday, Oct. 31. Sip spooky spirits in the Haunted Cocktail Garden, and dine on food by Local III and Supreme Soft Serve. Limited tickets available to get yours on their website.
FLAMING PIES
3807 County Rt. 26
Greenville, NY
(518) 819-1993
Thurs. - Sat., 5 -9 p
ABOUT: The Woodhouse Lodge lights up five fire pits every night during the chill season. Or warm up inside by the homey fireplace. Created as a rustic escape for harried downstaters in the Sixties, the lodge has 10 comfy rooms, a bar and restaurant, Woodhouse Pizza. The four acre property of sprawling woodlands makes an ideal spot to shed the stress of everyday life or unwind after a day of hiking or antiquing.
DRINK: Full bar with sparkling ciders, mixed cocktails, wine and local beers.
FOOD: Pizza!!! Hot, gooey and delish. Choose from four basics: Classic (tomato & cheese), Red (double sauce, oregano & garlic), White (garlic, oregano, cream, mozzarella & ricotta), and Green (hazelnut pesto, ricotta, local aged gouda & Calabrian chiles). Then, pick from more than a dozen toppings. Also on the menu are an assortment of bar snacks (Stuffed Peppadew), small plates (burrata), and sweets (flourless chocolate espresso cake).
SIZZLE & SUDS
96 W Bridge St Catskill, NY 12541
(518) 303-1270
Thurs./Fri. 4-9 pm
Sat. Noon-9 pm
Sun. Noon-6 pm
ABOUT: Subversive Malting + Brewing combines farmhouse craft brewing with a super cool country vibe. Hang outside in the garden surrounded by fire pits or mosey inside for a look at the amazing brewery operation by owners Zane Coffey and Max Ocean. Opened in 2020, the taproom-brewery is housed in an old mechanics garage in Catskill, NY. Using ingredients from local sources, they process their own malts so they can “brew beers around the malts we have… and… make malts for the beers we want to brew.”
DRINK: Try Subversive Grisette Classic Belgian, a farmhouse table beer made with sea salt. It has a yeasty character with a tart, refreshing finish. The Grist is their own floor-malted Pilsner malt, local flaked wheat with local Amagansett Sea Salt The hops are Centennial from New York Hop Guild, Elmira, NY. At least 10 beers on tap at a time along with cocktails, ciders, slushies and non-alcoholic choices.
FOOD: Cones of frites with nine dipping sauces to choose from including beer cheese! Bavarian pretzels slathered in - what else? - beer cheese. Menu has burgers, sandwiches, salads and more.
CAMPY & COZY
21 Church St, New Paltz, NY 12561
Daily, Noon - Midnight
ABOUT: The Huckleberry is a New Paltz staple, popular with students and climbers alike. Known for good grub, bodacious bevies and its hot, cozy comfort. Great place to hang with buds or a pit stop to warm up.
DRINK: A variety of cocktails from the tasty Lightning Bug (bison grass vodka) to a smooth Hot Ginger Toddy. Twelve taps that rotate local brews. And, wines by the bottle.
FOOD: Must try: The hand cut rosemary parm fries with house made garlic aioli. Small plates from wing (so many flavors to choose) to sweet potato croquettes. Don’t miss: the flank steak salad with spinach, watermelon radish and pumpkin seeds. Big plates go from grass-fed beef burgers to grain bowls of quinoa with roasted autumn veggies, apple, pomegranate and Greek yogurt. And save space for dessert! Donuts! All house made, warm and sugary. Yum.
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
40 Mountain Rd, Marlboro, NY 12542
(845) 236-3265
Fri. 1:30 - 7 pm
Sat. Noon - 7 pm
Sun. Noon - 5:30 pm
ABOUT: With a new name and new look, Quartz Rock Vineyard is rapidly drawing more fans to their flames. Proprietors Dan Heavens and Jacqui Ferrari Heavens took over this quaint winery and farm two years ago, and began producing their own wines from grapes grown on their own vines. Impressive undertaking. The place now rocks weekends with live music, guest food trucks and private pits! Yes, there’s a large communal fire pit where you can warm up and make new friends. But if you’re partying with the gang, sign up for your own pit party ($50). You get a pit at your table from noon to 4 pm, roasting sticks, marshmallows, chocolate bars, a box of graham crackers and all the firewood you need to keep tootsies toasty! Live music varies from David Blasher on cello, the jazz and Afro beats of Herve Alexandre, and the local band Hudson.
DRINK: Natch, their own wines are the stars of the show. And worthy of the honor. No wonder, Quartz Rock won “Winery of the Year 2021” in the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition. Look for bottles from the crisp Chardonnay Vidal Blanc, velvety Cabernet Franc, blushing Concord Rose and chill Ice Cider.
FOOD: Food pop-ups also vary from day to day. Local vendors include Yani’s Food Sensations, specializing in Caribbean and soul food, and Marlboro’s own Kitchen Counter pop-up.
