A classic roadside stop, Del’s serves up juicy burgers, golden fries and small-batch ice cream made with milk from its own dairy farm in nearby Red Hook. The menu also features boozy milkshakes, from coffee and Irish whiskey to lavender-honey blueberry with gin. 

In the tiny hamlet of Wassaic, contemporary art has found an unlikely home inside a seven-storey former grain elevator. The Wassaic Project fills historic Maxon Mills with exhibitions by emerging artists, while studios, artist residencies and public artworks spill into the surrounding village. 

In Wassaic, Vitsky Bakery turns local farm produce into small-batch breads and pastries that change with what’s growing nearby. Thee sourdough and flaky croissants are the highlights, but keep an eye out for the cardamom buns and weekend bialys, too. 

A little French bistro charm goes a long way at Le Petit Bistro, a Rhinebeck institution since 1986. Pull up a stool at the lilac-marble bar for raw oysters and a craft cocktail, then settle in for steak au poivre with mashed potatoes and a glass of something French from the wine list. Bon appétit!