You don’t have to go far from New York City to get a quintessential small-town experience — just 20 miles north, in fact. There, you’ll find a village sitting alongside the Hudson River that has, in the last four centuries, gone from a quiet patch of farmland to a suburb with decidedly non-suburban vibes. It’s a place where chain stores and big brands have yet to make a mark, but also one where you’ll find more than just a general store and a gas station. It’s welcomed its fair share of New York transplants and managed to keep its character at the same time, emerging as an artsy, bohemian enclave that has touches of the five boroughs mixed in.

It’s Hastings-on-Hudson, and it’s one of the best places near NYC to go for an afternoon of lazy sightseeing, well-crafted meals, and outdoor exploring. 

Roughly 40 minutes by train on Metro-North from Grand Central Terminal, Hastings-on-Hudson is one of Westchester’s Rivertowns — all villages, in actuality, that make up the town of Greenburgh, including Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, and Irvington. Hastings-on-Hudson was incorporated in 1879, but its roots go back to the 17th century, when Dutch and English farmers worked the land. Agriculture gradually gave way to stone quarries, worked by Irish and Scottish immigrants, and heavier industry, including a plant that made paving stones and factories that produced cables, wood alcohol, and ammunition.

The last of the major waterfront plants closed in the 1970s, leaving behind a town that today is home to just shy of 10,000 people. Most live in the hills east of the train station and the main thoroughfares; those looking for a strenuous hike could do worse than making the trek uphill to the residential neighborhoods and parks along narrow, winding roads. You’re better off, though, sticking to Hastings-on-Hudson's two biggest roads: Warburton Avenue and Main Street, which join not far from the train station to form a lively yet relaxed downtown.

This is where Hastings-on-Hudson's character shines the brightest. Locally owned stores and restaurants line both Warburton and Main, including a pharmacy, a hardware store, a deli, a nail salon, a liquor store — the commonplace businesses that keep a community functioning. What makes this area special, though, is the mix of bespoke artisanal goods and crunchy alternative options interspersed throughout: home goods and decorative art, indoor plants and flowers, gluten-free baked goods, acupuncture, natural and organic food, stationery, sewing supplies, imported loose leaf tea. There’s an eclecticism to Hastings-on-Hudson's downtown that brings the diversity of New York City immediately to mind.

The best example of the village’s meld of small town and big city is smack at the intersection of Warburton and Main: Suburban Renewal (1 Main St). This two-floor antiques shop, opened in 2002, is a bonanza for vintage collectors, boasting a spread of furniture and decor from the 19th and 20th centuries so varied and clever that it would make even the hippest New York consignment store take notice.

All styles can be found within Suburban Renewal's walls, where 1950s kitsch nestles comfortably alongside oil paintings of Civil War-era ships. You could easily spend an entire afternoon browsing this expertly curated assembly of quality second-hand goods.

In a similar vein, just down Main Street is Clockwork Records (24 Main St), another store that specializes in giving new life to old items. You’ll find both out-of-print and new vinyl releases there, with the store offering a variety of genres ranging from hardcore to prog to jazz to folk. Like Suburban Renewal, you could easily burn a few hours digging through Clockwork’s well-stocked crates, giving Hastings-on-Hudson a touch of East Village cool.

If you’re looking for some local lore, or just want to learn more about the town’s history, including its Revolutionary War prominence, head to the Hastings Historical Society (407 Broadway). They’ve been open since 1971 and are a treasure trove of local artifacts and knowledge (check out their calendar for special tours and exhibitions, too). You can also take a self-guided historical walking tour of the village through the society's The Museum In The Streets signs, which note 34 sites of cultural or historical importance in the area, most of which are in or near downtown.

For another historic tour, visit the Newington-Cropsey Foundation, the former home (which they called Ever Rest) of Hudson River School artist Jasper Francis Cropsey and his wife, Maria. There you can walk the grounds and see Cropsey's paintings, writings, and more. Check current information on tours before heading there.

There’s no shortage of local independent restaurants here either. Boro6 (549 Warburton Ave) offers an expansive selection of wines and charcuterie plates along with bigger bites. Bread & Brine (19 Main St) is the spot for raw oysters in the summer or a steaming bowl of clam chowder when it’s cold out. Close to the train station is Harvest on Hudson (1 River St), the Westchester outpost of Montauk’s acclaimed Harvest on Forest Pond, serving high-end Italian cuisine with riverside views of the Palisades. 

The best of what Hastings-on-Hudson has to offer in food can be found inside the Moviehouse Mews, a former theater turned into a small shopping gallery: Wild Culture (579 Warburton Ave #5), a farmers market success story that opened a brick-and-mortar store in 2019. Here you can get handmade sourdough waffles, sweet or savory, stuffed with ingredients and drizzled with local honey, plus soups and salads. The grilled cheese waffle is a funky combination of Gruyere cheese mixed into the sourdough batter, giving you that gooey melted succulence of a grilled cheese in every bite. 

When you’re done with downtown, there’s another stretch worth exploring in Hastings-on-Hudson: the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. This 26-mile path traces the route of the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water to New York City from the Croton River in the early 19th century, running from the Bronx to Croton-on-Hudson and connecting the Rivertowns along the way. Open to pedestrians and cyclists, it’s a pleasant way to hop from one village to the next, or to find some shade and green.

Before you leave Hastings-on-Hudson, take the time to enjoy one of its best attributes: its waterfront views. At MacEachron Park, grab a bench right alongside the Hudson. Swing your head right, and you’ll see in the distance the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, formerly known as the Tappan Zee. Take a look left, and you’ll be greeted with the familiar skyline of Manhattan, reminding you just how close Hastings-on-Hudson is to the big city, even as it remains a small town to its core.

Getting There

Hastings-on-Hudson is easy to reach via Metro-North. Simply take a Hudson line train to the village, a ride of about 40–50 minutes from Grand Central Terminal. The station is located by the river and has a small cafe, The Good Witch Coffee Bar, on the premises, which also has free public restrooms.