A Little Bit of Catskills Hamlet Charm, Things to Do in Phoenicia, NY: Cafés, Art, Craft Beer
3 minute read
You came up for the mountain air. You're going home with handmade pottery, a new favorite breakfast spot, and a candle you now believe is essential to your wellbeing. That's Phoenicia.
This small Catskills hamlet fits cafés, quirky shops, a real art scene, and outdoor adventure into a few walkable blocks. One day here goes by too fast, so plan on a weekend. Stay with us at Alpine Four Season Lodge, and the only thing you'll need to hurry for is the last pastry.
Start with coffee and something moreish
One ouf our favourites Bettina Cafe with a small market and outdoor dining.
Begin on Main Street at Bettina Café & Market for craft coffee, fresh baked goods, and a seasonal breakfast and lunch menu. Look through the gourmet gifts too. If you buy a jar of something for a friend and then eat it yourself, you've technically supported local business twice.
For a bigger breakfast, Phoenicia Diner on Route 28 serves classic diner comfort food, using ingredients from regional farms whenever it can. Come hungry. Your ambitious afternoon plans can wait for the pancakes.
Shop for souvenirs with personality
Leave the "I ❤️ NY" magnets behind. Tender Land Home sells pottery, jewelry, candles, and home goods, and it makes "just browsing" one of the least believable phrases in the English language.
For vintage treasures and local art, go to Phoenicia Arts & Antiques. This market and gallery mixes paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and a constantly rotating stock of finds. You won't find what you came for. You'll find something better.
Visitors enjoying a Rail Explorers ride through the Catskills in Phoenicia.
Pedal the Esopus Creek with Rail Explorers
One of the best things to do in Phoenicia, NY is Rail Explorers Catskills. You ride an electric-assist railbike along old tracks through the woods beside the Esopus Creek, with the mountains all around you.
It's adventure without the burden of appointing someone as expedition leader, and the pedals come with a motor. Tours are seasonal and sell out, so book ahead.
Catch a show at Phoenicia Playhouse
The art scene doesn't stop at the gallery doors. The historic Phoenicia Playhouse puts on theater, film screenings, and live music in an intimate community venue. Check the calendar and plan an evening around a show.
A small town, a live performance, and nobody scrolling for 40 minutes to pick something to stream. Beautiful.
Grab a craft beer at Woodstock Brewing
For a laid-back drink, Woodstock Brewing pours a rotating lineup of craft beers and has a full food menu. And yes, Woodstock Brewing is in Phoenicia. Consider that your first piece of insider trivia. Use it wisely.
Dinner at The Clubhouse at Shandaken Inn
When it's time for a special dinner, book The Clubhouse Restaurant & Bar at Shandaken Inn, a few minutes up Route 28.
What makes it special: the inn started out as a golf clubhouse in the 1920s, and that Catskills history is part of the fieldstone-and-timber character of the building today. The kitchen cooks seasonally with produce from regional farms. Add serious craft cocktails and a patio facing meadows and mountains, and you have one of the best dinners in the Catskills. Dress code: whatever you wore to the railbikes, only nicer.
Where to stay near Phoenicia, NY
The best part of a day in Phoenicia is having somewhere peaceful to come back to.
Our Shandaken property sits right on a stream along scenic Route 42, just minutes from Phoenicia's Main Street. Spend the day exploring, then swap the bustle for the sound of moving water, a glass of wine, and absolutely nowhere to be.
Want to be closer to the slopes? Our Belleayre property is about 10 minutes away, with easy access to Belleayre Mountain and year-round Catskills adventure.
Weekends in Phoenicia fill up fast, especially in leaf season and on holiday weekends. Book your stay directly with Alpine Four Season Lodge for the best rates, and give yourself the full weekend. Phoenicia deserves more than a drive-through, and so do you.
Hours, performance schedules, and seasonal availability change, so check each business's website before you visit.
Daniel & The Crew
Alpine Four Season Lodge
32 Galli Curci Road, Highmount, NY 12441
