Are you that person that posts up in the corners of restaurants and cafes with your laptop, typing like a fiend and ordering just enough to justify your six-hour stay? Somewhere with decent coffee and free wifi, chill vibes. Well, freelance nation, part-timers, students, and work-from-homers—hark! Here is a roundup of the best coffee shops for hunkering down and getting work done in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Ulster County
Underground Coffee & Ales
74 Vineyard Avenue, Highland, NY 12528
This is our favorite type of spot. They sell coffee in the AM and craft beer in the PM, along with a good selection of well-executed pub food in a chill environment. Basically there’s no reason to ever leave. But be warned, whenever alcohol is involved, things have the potential to get a bit noisy, so if you need utter silence (or uninterrupted world grooves to hammer out your work, this may not be the place).
Black Dot
3669 Main Street, Stone Ridge, NY, 12484On Boxing Day 2020, Black Dot opened its doors on Stone Ridge's quaint main drag—a belated holiday present for the espresso-fiending, latte-loving, work-from-home (but really from a cafe) types. Inside the monochromatic, minimalist interior, where the Italian espresso machine is the main character, Black Dot serves up single-origin coffee and tasty tartines on Kingston Bread + Bar baguettes. Ranch out at bar, one of the two-top tables in the side room, or, on nicer days out on the back deck.
Bluestone Coffee Roasting Company
138 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY 12477
So named for the quaint quarried sidewalk out front, in the equally quaint center of Saugerties, Bluestone is an elegant place to tick some to-dos off the old list. Bakery counter? Check. Lunch and breakfast menu? Check. Every kind of espresso drink you can think of and then some, check. (Doppio? Ristretto?) Two tops, a couch, and tin ceilings for good measure. The front room is not super spacious, so you may get jostled during rush hour, but other than that you’ll be free to work away uninterrupted.
Inquiring Minds Bookstore & Coffee House
200 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477
What better place to get work done than inside the quiet hallowed walls of a book sanctuary? With arm chairs, the smell of book bindings wafting on the air, creaky old floorboards, and a respectful hush about the place, Inquiring Minds has the sort of studious but chill ambiance you always wish your college library could muster. Plus the in-house coffee bar means you don’t have to go to the student union to fill up your cup of joe. Browse the stacks for inspiration between bursts of penning your opus. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, worry not, they’ll special order it.
Rough Draft Bar & Books
82 John Street, Kingston, NY 12401
Rough Draft is another one of those all-in-one destinations, where you can drink coffee till you’re semi-tachycardic, then switch to beer to come back down (happy hour is 3-6pm). It’s like a locally rebranded Starbucks in all the best ways: The people-watching, window-facing bartops, couches, a euphonious blend of conversation and earnest keyboard tappings, Bossa Nova playing softly in the background. But it is locally owned and run by friendly faces, and, duh!, it's a bookstore. So when you need to stretch your legs and back you can peruse the shelves of titles from fiction to kids books, classics to new-release bestsellers. TBH the wifi is pretty mediocre, probably because of the sheer quantity of people always connected, but if you don't need to edit big online files or connect to a Zoom, you should be fine.
Camp Kingston
36 St James Street, Kingston 12401
With bar/cafe/market Camp Kingston, owner Samuel Shapiro has recreated the fun, friendly atmosphere of the summer camp of his youth where all are welcome and anything goes. From vintage arcade games to a pool table; nooks for reading, meeting, and coworking; and food and drinks made to order, there's something for everyone. However you like your cup of joe—espresso drinks, drip, French press, cold brew—Camp has you covered, plus matcha lattes for the cool kids, chai, and tea. The food menu, designed by chef Lee Kalpakis, includes deli sandwiches, soups, and salads with complex, elevated flavor profiles. Open seven days a week from 7am to 10:30pm, Camp is a new reliable favorite for the Kingston WFH crowd.
Dutchess County
Bank Square Coffeehouse
129 Main Street, Beacon
This is a coffee snob’s coffee shop. Top notch espresso, cortados, and individually brewed cups of tea made with actual boiling water, this place does not mess around when it comes to delivering caffeine to its customers, making for a very loyal fan base. They also offer up handmade treats, Leather furniture, tattooed baristas, craft beer, and outdoor seating make this downtown spot a super chill place to spend a couple hours paying your bills or updating your internet dating profile. Be warned, there is a strict $10 card minimum, so bring cash or invite the person in line behind you.
Ella’s Bellas
418 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
With exposed brick, oversized subway tile, wood floors, and industrial looking whisk pendant lights, Ella’s Bellas has the millennial aesthetic nailed to a T. The gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly bakery has some seriously delicious treats, always fresh out of the oven, and a kick ass outdoor oasis in the back with rusted metal doors-turned-picnic tables and lush greenery spilling over the walls. There’s a cozy sundrenched vibe in the mornings, that invites you to stay a while with that book or hammer out that essay you’ve been putting off.
Irving Farm Coffee House
44 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546
Should you find yourself on the New York Connecticut border, craving a caffeinated pick-me-up, Irving Farm Coffee House, on Main Street, Millerton is the place to go. The coffee comes fresh from their state-of-the-art roastery in town. A beloved New York City staple, with eight locations around Manhattan, the Millerton cafe is the only outpost upstate. A bank of booth seating offers a good place to post up for a few hours of work. And should you get hungry there, there is light breakfast fare on the menu and a small marketplace with locally made products like their housemade granola, Pine Hill Farm honey, Fruition chocolate, Les Collins jellies, and Soukup Farms maple syrup.
Taste Budd’s
40 W Market Street, Red Hook, NY 12571
With a lush outdoor patio and oversized leather sofas you can really sink into, Taste Budd’s is a comfy hang in any season. They specialize in chocolates, fudges, and pastries galore (including gluten free and vegan options) so the air always has a yummy confectionary aroma blending with the scent of their fresh ground Fair Trade coffee. There isn’t a particularly strong design aesthetic, but the place is always buzzing with folks and has that comforting small town hub vibe. Taste Budd’s has live music almost every Saturday and Sunday afternoon—which may be a distraction if you are trying to write that grant proposal or nice background while you crunch numbers—your call.
Poughkeepsie Grind
107 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
This cozy little spot is short on seating space, but big on vibe, and radically unpretentious (Fruity Pebbles French Toast, anyone?). Everything from the rotating omelette special to the chicken and waffles is excellent and the service is fast and attentive. Like we said the space is small, so you may have trouble finding a place to post up, but if you get in early you can stay untroubled for hours, and the free wifi is a plus. Only a couple blocks from the Walkway over the Hudson and the train station, so easy to access even without a car.
The Crafted Kup
44 Raymond Avenue, PoughkeepsieThe Crafted Kup is synonymous with coffee in Poughkeepsie, where it had three locations up until recently. The cafes offer espresso drinks, cold brew on tap, coffee shakes, and smoothies. The Raymond Ave location has ample seating, from armchairs to bigger tables, where everyone from college kids to local business execs camp out to put in a few hours' work. The menu also includes breakfast and lunch sandwiches (BEC on a biscuit anyone?), soups, and salads to keep your brain fueled and functioning. We're focusing on the Raymond Ave location as the Eastdale Village location is more grab-and-go focused.
Greene County
Circle W
3328 Route 23A, Palenville, NY 12463
Serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and baked goods, this small and homey general store boasts some cozy vibes for getting work done. Situated at the edge of the wild is America’s first artist colony, Palenville, a colorful and vibrant community of families, artists, craftspeople, and nature-lovers nestled along the banks of Kaaterskill Creek. Grab a sandwich or order one of the always-impressive specials, pull up a chair at a creaky old table, and soak in the view (the view here is particularly nice when the snow’s falling outside).
Hartland on Hudson [temporarily(?) closed]
1130 Main Street, Leeds, NY 12451
In the spring of 2015 Hartland moved their stationary and design studio up from Brooklyn and into an old general store in Leeds (built in 1851). In the fall of 2016, they opened an espresso bar and shop in the storefront, where visitors can peruse Emily Johnson’s artfully designed greeting cards, notebooks, and wrapping paper. The newly completed patio will make you feel as if you’re in a Sofia Coppola movie as you scribble a birthday note into the card you just purchased or punch out a page or two on that novel you’re always working on.
Fellow Mountain Cafe
7883 Main Street, Hunter, NY 12442Fellow Mountain Cafe claims to have "the best egg sandwich" in the Catskills. And then there's the cinnamon rolls—fresh, hot, and sold by the dozen. Besides breakfast, lunch, and bakery goodies, Fellow offers a curated selection of locally sourced grocery items and a regional selection of craft beers and ciders. Located in an old, freestanding house, the interior has pressed tin ceilings and wainscotting all in a warm white that makes you want to stay all day. Grab a spot at one of the many marble tables or on the rocking chair front porch when it's nice out.
Bear & Fox Provisions
5932 Main Street, Tannersville, NYAt Bear & Fox Provisions on Main Street in Tannersville, you can find espresso drinks made with Partners coffee; an affordable sandwich-oriented menu served all day, with standout egg sandwiches; a curated selection of food provisions and artisan wares from independent makers and artists; and, on weekends, from-scratch brioche doughnuts in flavors like rose-matcha and Italian custard. Get your goody and hunker down at one of thetables to work for a while, then snag some provisions for dinner before you head home.
Columbia County
Hudson Roastery
4 Park Place, Hudson, NY 12534
The combination coffee shop and wine bar Hudson Roastery is modeled after businesses that Carolyn Palmieri and her husband Tony Calderone found abroad. Offering coffee and croissants in the morning then transitioning to wine, cheese, and charcuterie in the evening, Palmieri has brought the quintessential Old World dining experience stateside with just the right bevvie to accompany you in every part of your work day. As the name suggests this Hudson cafe roasts its own sustainably sourced coffee in small batches every week for ultimate freshness. Grab a table or sit in the window bar and look out over Hudson's Public Square.
Moto Coffee
357 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534
The discovery of a new coffee venue is always rewarding—particularly when it’s installed in a multi-disciplinary space that houses your other passions, too. MOTO smartly combines expertly brewed and pressed coffee drinks from a rotating list of roasters with handcrafted waffles, both savory and sweet, and, yes, motorcycles. Order up an egg sandwich and a red eye, and slide into a table back near the gear and the classic racers, likely being worked on by shop owner Antony Katz. It’s like being in Rome, except not.
Orange County
Blacc Vanilla
197 South Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
A self-described “social enterprise with an emphasis on art, culture, coffee and innovation,” Blacc Vanilla in Newburgh is part coffee shop, part performance space, part springboard for the economic development. A large black, painted-brick wall is a high-contrast backdrop for the mix of spray paint art and vintage mirrors. The food menu is simple—every variation of a breakfast sandwich you can think of, a grilled cheese, chicken salad, and homemade turkey sausage—all under $8. Snag a comfy sofa spot or sit at the street-facing bartop and people watch between emails. Come for the latte, stay for the music and chill upbeat vibes.
2 Alices Coffee Lounge
117 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550
With a polished concrete floor, modern red pendant lamps, and a rotating exhibit of local art, 2 Alices has a much more contemporary vibe than some other coffee spots. The round tables and chalkboard wall give it almost a student union vibe—but cool—and like college you can hang out for as long as you like. Neon Espresso and Wine signs give the Broadway location some grit, and they aren’t false advertising. You can expect a full coffee bar plus craft beer and wine. There is a limited menu with comfy classics like mac & cheese and bagels. 2 Alices regularly hosts events, including a trivia night every Thursday.
