Ranked among the states with the highest walking rates, it is evident that New Yorkers love getting around on foot. That same walkable lifestyle carries into many of the state’s small towns, where downtown areas are filled with entertainment. Cold Spring, New York, is arguably one of the best examples of these action-packed downtown areas.
Sitting along the Hudson River, this town has fewer than 2,000 residents, with much of the community concentrated within a compact downtown district. You can even reach it by the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line, allowing NYC residents to leave the car behind completely. The train drops you off along the southern edge of town, just steps from Main Street and nearby businesses. Once you begin strolling, you will find coffee shops, antique malls, art galleries, and history museums. So put on your walking shoes, grab your train tickets, and get ready to discover what makes Cold Spring’s downtown so exciting!
Culinary Scene
People exploring the quaint streets, restaurants and shops in Cold Spring, New York.
Make sure to arrive in Cold Spring with an appetite, because the local culinary scene is fantastic. If you arrive bright and early, you can start the day with a coffee at Cold Spring Coffeehouse, a beloved coffee bar on Main Street that serves locally roasted brews and organic pastries. For travelers craving a heartier breakfast or who are already thinking about lunch, The Cozy Corner Cafe is a great brunch spot. Items on the breakfast menu include classics like omelets, shakshuka, and pancakes, while lunch features dishes like Argentinean empanadas, chicken pesto sandwiches, salmon burgers, and quinoa salad.
People inspecting the menu outside a restaurant in Cold Spring, New York.
If you find yourself with an afternoon sweet tooth, grab some ice cream from Moo Moo’s Creamery, a seasonal ice cream shop that serves 16 ice cream flavors, some of which are rotating and experimental flavors. Although the creamery is closed for the season, it will reopen in the spring. To wrap up the day, head to Cold Spring Depot for dinner. This restaurant is housed in a 1893 train depot, serving an extensive menu of craft beers, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
Main Street Shopping
Antique stores in downtown Cold Spring, New York.
You won’t have to travel far to find the perfect gift or souvenir in Cold Spring; Main Street is absolutely lined with stores! Antique hunters can stop by the Cold Springs Antiques Center, a 19th-century building housing 27 antique vendors. A few of the antiques you might find here include vintage jewelry, vinyl records, clothing, military memorabilia, and other old-timey objects. Right across the street lies the Cold Spring General Store, which sells just about every type of souvenir and gift you could need! In addition to Cold Spring merch, you can find home decor, puzzles, candles, jams, kitchenware, and more.
Beautiful pavement in downtown Cold Spring, New York.
Visitors hunting for a new read to enjoy during their trip can pop into Split Rock Books, a beloved bookstore that has been operating in the community since 2018, selling fiction, non-fiction, local interest, and children’s books. The Buster Levi Gallery, meanwhile, is a wonderful place to find your next masterpiece, a fine art gallery that showcases modern and contemporary works.
Putnam History Museum
Historical buildings in Cold Spring, New York.
Cold Spring is fortunate to have a robust history museum in town: the Putnam History Museum. This museum, situated on Chesnut Street, collects, preserves, and exhibits the region’s history through a variety of exhibits, programs, and events. A few of the current exhibitions you can view include an exhibit about the county’s indigenous peoples, the role of local women in the Revolutionary War, and a permanent exhibit that showcases artifacts from the West Point Foundry. There is also an outdoor exhibit that showcases artwork depicting landscapes from the Hudson Highlands, all of which were created by artists from the Hudson River School.
West Point Foundry Preserve
Historical buildings in West Point Foundry Preserve, Cold Spring, New York.
The West Point Foundry Preserve is easily accessible from downtown Cold Spring, making it a great addition to your itinerary. This outdoor museum covers roughly 90 acres and is considered one of the country’s most important industrial sites. As a former manufacturing site, it was responsible for producing some of the United States’ earliest steam engines, locomotives, and cannons that were used in the Civil War. As you wander along the preserve’s trails, you can appreciate the remains of historic foundry buildings and interpretive signs that dive into its history and the important role it played in both the Industrial Revolution and the Civil War.
Today, the preserve is part of the West Point Foundry Archeological Site, which became a designated National Historic Landmark in 2021. You can visit this preserve year-round, from dawn until dusk, accessing it in southeastern Cold Spring along Kemble Avenue.
The beautiful waterfront of Cold Spring, New York.
If you are looking to trade crowded city streets for relaxed cafés, shops, and museums, Cold Spring is quite possibly the best destination near New York City. It also has quite a scene for history lovers, home to the historic West Point Foundry Preserve and Putnam History Museum. And with so many places to explore, you will likely stumble upon a shop or restaurant of your own to add to your list!