Nestled on the New York and the Pennsylvania border, Barryville is just a two hour drive from New York City in the Delaware Water Gap area. Though it’s a small town, Barryville offers all the ingredients for a memorable weekend – including a few great places to stay, farmers market, antique shopping, and one of the best dive bars ever.
To get here via public transit, take New Jersey Transit to Port Jervis, NY and take a cab; you can also take a bus to Milford, PA and Monticello, NY, and arrange a ride from there. The best way to get here is by driving yourself – and if so, don’t miss the incredibly scenic Hawks Nest on the way up or down to the city. This beautiful winding road overlooking the Delaware River is known as one of the country’s most scenic drives.
Where to Stay in Barryville, NY:
We love Stickett Inn, just two hours from New York City in the heart of Barryville. The four-room inn is on the smaller side, but its rooms are spacious, and cheekily decorated with boob pillows, Elvis lamps, modern art, and mid-century furniture.
Each of the rooms has a special feature: a large kitchen, a wet bar, a steam shower, or a soaking huge tub. There’s also a two-bedroom cottage with a full eat-in kitchen, fenced in private corral with a grill, and full access to the main building. All rooms have access to the outdoor hot tub.
Alternately, right across the road lives River’s Edge – a motel, bar and restaurant. Nestled right on the Delaware River, its cozy rooms have just been renovated, offering a comfy respite after a day of activity. Its downstairs restaurant is the perfect way to begin or end a day in Barryville.
What to Do Around Barryville, NY: Explore the River Towns of the Delaware River Valley, Hike & Enjoy the Outdoors
For a tiny river town, there’s loads to do here – and even more when you venture out a bit. Start your morning off with a walk down by the river, then hit the antique shops in town on the way back. Barryville Antiques Emporium is especially fun: an antique shop in an old house, whose collection expands into the front yard during warmer months. Also right down the road from the hotel is Reber River Trips, with tubing, white water rafting, kayaks and canoeing. Just a bit further down the road, Kittatinny Adventure Center offers those same water sports, but also paint-balling and ziplining.
If you have a car, make sure to check out Narrowsburg, just a 15 minute drive away for brunch at The Heron and walk around town. Check out some the great shopping like Maison Bergogne, an antique shop in an old car garage; and One Grand Books, where the stacks are determined by “desert island” picks from celebrities, authors and artists, plus many more.
Barryville is also 15 minutes from Bethel, the site of Woodstock. Park your car and wander the property at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts to see the field where the magic unfolded, along with the pond where festival-goers swam and bathed. The museum on-site is open from April to January.
Where to Eat and Drink Around Barryville, NY:
Begin your day at Rivers Edge, whose breakfast menu provides some of usual suspects (bacon/eggs, pancakes) along with some surprises (like the brunch cheeseburger.) Their dinner menu includes hearty staples like strip steaks, schnitzel, fish & chips and Atlantic salmon.
Further afoot, The Heron stands out for the immediate regions most special fare; reservations are highly recommend.
As far as bars go in the area, Rohman’s ranks high on our list of “best dive bar ever” with cheap beer and hand-set bowling. Located in Shohola (across the river), it’s within walking distance to the hotel. Downstairs, the bar is made out of an old bar-car of a train; the seats at the bar fold down. Upstairs, bowling alleys are first come, first serve. Bring quarters for the juke box!
