The best bars & nightlife in Ulster County

Mirabella's is the spot when you want a lively sports night that still feels like your neighborhood hangout, with pool showdowns, draft beers, and whiskey tastings. Solid game-day grub, fun energy, and legit catering if you're feeding a crew at home.

From the Saugerties newsletter, October 13, 2026

Stonehill's Farmhouse has a guest-only honor bar and cocktail lounge with pre-made and self-serve options, tucked inside a restored 1800s dairy farm run by a local family since 2015. If you want a quiet, no-fuss nightcap on a staycation or while hosting out-of-towners, this is your move.

From the Ellenville newsletter, October 13, 2026

The Partition is that open-air spot right in the heart of Saugerties where live bands, good food, and solid drinks converge. Easy go-to when you want music without a scene, a casual catch-up with friends, or a last-minute plan that somehow turns into a late night.

From the Saugerties newsletter, October 9, 2026

A casual space for great cocktails, small bites, and good company, Margaux Bar is the kind of place you drift into after work and accidentally close down with friends. They also host private and semi private events when your crew needs its own nook.

From the Saugerties newsletter, October 28, 2026

1, pouring estate Seyval Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and regional picks like Seneca Lake Riesling. Low-key tastings, cheese boards, and seasonal grape-stomping festivals make it a go-to weekend exhale.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 2, 2026

Since 2000, Stoutridge Distillery and Winery has been crafting small-batch spirits and natural wines using local ingredients in Marlboro, NY.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 1, 2026

Family owned and rooted in the Hudson Valley, Robibero Winery pours guided flights and easy-to-love bottles with vineyard views that hit just right. It’s an easy weekend move when you want real New Paltz craftsmanship without the fuss, just good wine and good vibes.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 10, 2026

Sonder keeps things neighborly in Kingston with natural wine front and center, up to 15 by-the-glass wines and beers, and an extensive bottle list.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 29, 2026

Arrowood Farms is a sustainably-minded farm brewery and distillery set on 48 acres, pouring farm-fresh beers and spirits made with ingredients from small New York suppliers, plus an award-winning Eat Church kitchen turning out seasonal bites that make everyday hangouts feel like a mini event.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 19, 2026

Quartz Rock Vineyard and Cider House makes small-batch wines and hard ciders exclusively from fruit grown on its family farm, so the bottles have a real sense of place. It’s a lovely local pick when you want to sip something farm-made and enjoy the scenery, without having to pretend you know all the grape varieties.

From the Catskills newsletter, October 26, 2026

Rough Cut Brewing Co. keeps locals sipping with housemade beers and an ever-growing draft list, plus inventive American bites in a rustic, warm space. Family friendly, with regular live-music nights and community goings-on, it’s the kind of place where you plan one pint and stay for two.

From the Ellenville newsletter, October 18, 2026

The Clubhouse at Shandaken Inn leans into craft cocktails and locally sourced plates, with a daily-rotating menu and an outdoor bluestone patio that stares straight at the meadow and mountains. Chef Bryon Lopez keeps it hearty, simple, and quietly impressive.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 14, 2026

Nostrano Vineyards makes its wines exclusively from Hudson Valley grapes, with estate bottles like Dry and Semi-Sweet Riesling, Ava Rosé, Baco Noir, Pinot Noir, plus a lively Arae Pétillant Naturel. The tasting room is an easy yes for relaxed afternoons, and the vineyard doubles as a beloved wedding backdrop.

From the Poughkeepsie newsletter, September 7, 2026

Stylish cocktail bar offering creative drinks in a relaxed space with an old-school vibe.

Magnanini Weddings turns the Hudson Valley into your backdrop, with an intimate vineyard setting surrounded by green fields and water, plus guided wine tastings and vineyard tours for your crew. If you want local, romantic, and not fussy, this spot quietly nails it.

From the Montgomery newsletter, October 4, 2026

When you want an easy night out that still feels like a treat, Parkview House Restaurant & Tavern delivers comfort plates, solid drinks, and entertainment at prices that won't start an argument. Bring friends, make it a family thing, or just catch the game, and keep an eye on their weekly specials and events.

From the Montgomery newsletter, October 17, 2026

Family-run Bruynswick Winery pours estate-grown, minimal-intervention wines in a Revolutionary-era barn with a front-row view of the Gunks. It’s an easy local hang for a glass, a flight, and some small bites, plus local NY beer or cider when your crew isn’t unanimous.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 18, 2026

The Hudson House & Distillery pours limited-batch spirits and seasonal craft cocktails alongside heartfelt dishes from The Kitchen, where the menu rides local, in-season ingredients and weekly specials.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 7, 2026

Family-built and proudly local, Blue Duck Brewing Company is turning out clean, classic styles like New York Pilsner, West Coast IPA, and an easygoing American Lager, with Phoenicia Diner running the kitchen. Go for trivia or wing and burger nights, stay for the neighborly buzz.

From the Catskills newsletter, October 10, 2026

Between the Shawangunk Kill and a historic 1788 grist mill, Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery pours cocktails and custom tasting flights of spirits crafted onsite from NY grain, including New York’s first bourbon. Wander the nature paths, peek into the rick houses, maybe find the secret waterfall.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 11, 2026

If you like your cold ones with Napanoch lore, Running Deer Inn delivers the good stuff, from home-cooked comfort to a cozy bar lined with hunting trophies and old-school knickknacks. Christine, the self-proclaimed “Doe that runs the show,” keeps the stories and spirits flowing.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 24, 2026

Union Street Brewing Co. keeps the taps interesting and the vibes low-key with inventive bar bites, a cozy Rondout District taproom, and an events calendar that actually delivers. Trivia, bingo, comedy, music, even karaoke, plus a mug club for regulars...

From the Catskills newsletter, October 21, 2026

Fly down to Flying Goose Tavern, a Kerhonkson community bar pouring hand-crafted cocktails and local beers, then post up in the backyard along the Rondout Creek with a hot pizza and your people. Easy weeknight unwinder or low-key weekend hang, zero fuss, all Hudson Valley charm.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 5, 2026

Mirador brings Andalusian-inspired tapas, Spanish staples, and a deep sherry and wine list, plus cocktails, to a relaxed neighborhood café y tabanco with a garden patio and genuinely kind folks. This week, slide in with a friend, split a few plates, then let the vinos de Jerez do the talking.

From the Catskills newsletter, September 5, 2026

Casual and cozy daytime hangout offering specialty coffee and craft beer, plus burgers and sandwiches.

Part historic hunting camp with a haunted past, part locals-only hang where home-cooked comfort meets modern touches, The RDI Bar & Road Kill Grill serves the stories with the plates. Slide in this week, admire the game trophies, swap tall tales, and taste why this place feels like family.

From the Wawarsing newsletter, October 4, 2026

Jar'd Wine Pub keeps it intimate and lively with a solid wine lineup, craft cocktails and a few beers, plus light bites that actually pair well. Swing by when you want a low-effort plan that still feels like a night out, sometimes with seasonal live music.

From the Catskills newsletter, August 23, 2026

Brooklyn Cider House pours award-winning New York cider made simply from apples, naturally and without additives. Make it a low-key mini escape this week with tastings in the orchard, wood-fired pizza and burgers, BBQ, and fresh donuts, plus U-Pick when it’s on... because ugly apples taste better.

From the Catskills newsletter, August 22, 2026

Kettleborough Cider House is reviving America’s first and greatest beverage with small-batch hard cider made from 100% hand-selected Hudson Valley apples. Slide into the taproom this week and drink your apples, because crisp, orchard-fresh pours are basically fall in a glass even when it’s not fall.

From the Hudson Valley newsletter, August 15, 2026

Westwind Orchard keeps it delightfully simple with house ciders, pizza, and a farmstand of provisions for your fridge raid later. It’s the kind of low-key hang that turns a random weeknight into a Catskills ritual, with occasional tours and happenings if you’re feeling social.

From the Ellenville newsletter, October 17, 2026

Benton is slinging hand cut fries, curry fries, and messy in the best way poutine alongside classic burgers, sandwiches, and a Cashew Sage Caesar Salad, with beer, cocktails, and cider to match. Perfect for when you want easy comfort that still feels a little dialed in this week.

From the Ellenville newsletter, October 16, 2026

Knaus Wine Bar And Gallery pairs pour-worthy wines with a rotating lineup of original art, from George Knaus prints to Lisa Knaus pottery and Ada Pilar Cruz ceramics, so you can catch the gallery vibes with a glass in hand this week.

From the Poughkeepsie newsletter, August 22, 2026

Well Nice Wine Bar brings Brooklyn sensibility to the Hudson Valley, pouring wines with an Old World twist on Americana classics. A low-key neighborhood hang for catch-ups, small wins, and post-chore decompression, it’s the kind of place that quietly upgrades your evening without trying too hard.

From the Catskills newsletter, August 25, 2026