23 Best Restaurants in The Catskills, New York

Most of the antiques are gone, but the classic foods for sale—from lollipops to jams and jellies to every kind of cheese imaginable—make this place feel like a blast from the past. You can hang out on the front porch, choose from a selection of more than 300 beers, and dig into a hearty "knish-wich" of potato knish, coleslaw, melted cheddar, pastrami, and turkey. You also can't go wrong ordering one of several cheese plates to share with the table. Drop by in the evening, as there's often live music.

At this decidedly upscale spot at the edge of the village, cobalt-blue vases sit on blond-wood tables, sharply contrasting the deep-russet walls and tin-ceilinged bar area. Large photographs of Cuban scenes are hung between book racks, where a handpicked collection of art books await your browsing—that is, if you can pull yourself away from the seared tofu with pumpkin-seed mole, curry-crusted calamari, or truffle-and-soy risotto. Wednesday is sushi night. Reservations are essential on weekends and for sushi night.

Freshly baked breads and pastries beckon from the window of this centrally located café where Woodstockers go to wake up. You can get all the local gossip while waiting in line for a latte, or grab a table and enjoy a feta and leek quiche or a chicken sausage and kale sandwich. If you're pressed for time, this is the place to duck in, grab the fixings for a picnic lunch, and keep going.

This German-Swiss eatery in the heart of Windham is a slice of the old country: the two ceramic stoves, oversize wine casks, and all the ironwork were brought over from Germany. The kitchen turns out authentic jaegerschnitzel (lightly sauteed veal cutlets), wiesswurst (veal sausages with sauerkraut), and sauerbraten (potato pancakes with red cabbage and applesauce). There are three kinds of fondue, including one made with chocolate and served with fresh fruit.

The full menu here ranges from classic diner cuisine to steaks and seafood. A spacious interior filled with warm woods is hidden by an unassuming facade.

The outgoing Powell-Wagner family runs this ice-cream parlor and casual eatery in addition to its sap house and cider mill (in nearby South Gilboa). You can reap the benefits of both with a visit here. Jars of homemade pickles, salsa, and fruit jams jostle for space with freshly baked pies and sweet breads. The Friday-night fish fry—when fresh pollack, flounder, and haddock are beer-battered and deep-fried—is becoming a local tradition.

Desserts are serious business at this simple café-bakery, where a "periodic table" of sweets hangs on the wall. The Fürst Pückler torte—layers of marzipan, buttercream, sponge cake, and apricot jam—could put you into sugar shock. Strudels are delicious, and the breakfast and lunch fare is good as well. A side of warm German potato salad accompanies midday plates, such as the bratwurst platter or chicken salad studded with bits of apple, bell pepper, and celery. Choose a German beer to wash it all down.

Low lighting and lots of bare wood give this family-friendly restaurant about 5 mi northwest of Prattsville a roadhouse-like aura. The building dates from the turn of the 20th century and has a storied history; during Prohibition one enterprising owner set the attic on fire when his still blew up. The menu is loaded with well-prepared American favorites such as burgers and fries, steak-and-potato dinners, shareable appetizer baskets, and scrumptious homemade desserts—save room for co-owner Jennifer's apple crisp. Simple, reasonably priced rooms upstairs and a sizable cottage out back are available for rent. You might have company if you choose to stay here; guests have reported benign ghostly visitors.

At this laid-back eatery in one of the prettiest buildings in Tannersville, you will find homemade baked goods piled on the counter and breakfast all day. Mountain bikers and skiers fill the place in the morning to partake of favorites like Eggs McMaggie, with two fried eggs, bacon, and your choice of cheese on an English muffin; challah French toast; steak and eggs; and freshly squeezed juices. Later in the day, organic sandwiches and salads take over. Thumbtacks hold artwork on the white wood-plank walls, and church-pew benches are filled with boisterous families.

This place combines the comfort and fun of a small-town tavern with a broad, ever-changing menu. If you're in the mood for meat, you can't go wrong with the Big Mama Burger, laden with ham, caramelized onions, and cheese on a toasted bun, and a basket of chef Matthew Lanes's hand-sliced potato chips. For a lighter meal, try a cheesy quesadilla and a cup of chunky gazpacho. Service on the deck gives you an eagle's-eye view of the hamlet.

The best pizza in town is at Raimondo's, on the main drag. The building has aged, and the decor isn't anything to write home about—but the tables are clean, and the service fast.

French doors open into a bright, airy space filled with white wooden booths, marble-top café tables, and a stainless-steel counter where trays of fresh muffins cool. You'll see why it's a local favorite when you tuck into the Blue Monkey, a stack of blueberry-banana buttermilk pancakes, or the savory huevos rancheros and experience the efficient, friendly service. Take a note from the locals—who come armed with newspapers and books—and grab a seat outside under the colorful umbrellas. Note that Sweet Sue's is a cash-only eatery.

At the counter of this luncheonette, locals fill the stools by the griddle at breakfast and lunch. The bright, cheerful dining room, with pale yellow walls and a tin ceiling, has five tables overlooking Veterans Memorial Park. The amiable staff will let you sit as long as you like.

Locals come to this upscale deli-grocery for breakfast and lunch, or to pick up specialty ingredients. You can eat a sandwich or sip an organic coffee drink at one of the café tables in the simple dining area. While waiting, study shelves of vinegars, olives, old-fashioned candy, and Italian lemonade.