With January in the rearview, we’re turning our sights to February – a month of romance, snow, and most notably for our fellow sunshine overs – it’s the last full month of winter!

Let’s be real, though – while the holidays carry us through early winter, these later months can feel endless; we’ve still got a long ways to go. But rather than count down the days until spring, we decided to lean in and make a list of the coziest, most atmospheric spots around. Think restaurants and bars with crackling fireplaces, soul-warming food, flickering candlelight, and perfectly crafted cocktails. Perfect for date night in the Catskills, or date night in the Hudson Valley.

We set off on this cozy mission about a month ago, and since then, our brainstorm sessions and Instagram feedback on the subject have given us dozens of great recommendations. Last week, we realized there were simply too many good ones for one list – so we split it in two.

Today, we launch the series with Part I: Upstate’s ~Vibiest~ List. Think intimate spots for date night Upstate with tables for two, girls night, or solo spots to ignore the couples around you with a book… with strong drinks, dim lighting, quiet atmosphere, sharable plates, and an excuse to dress up.

Get cozy at Matilda’s wraparound bar, or opt for fireside seating in the dining area. Photo c/o The Henson

Set in the Great Northern Catskills, The Henson‘s on-site restaurant Matilda offers an exceptional Catskills date night, après ski style. Just six minutes from Windham Mountain‘s slopes, the restaurant serves meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients—produce, meat, and dairy sourced from farms throughout the region. After a day of skiing the Catskills’ most noteworthy terrain, guests can unwind with a cocktail at the bar before taking a seat at the restaurant to enjoy a fireside dinner.

Vibey Features: Mountainside location, dark wood finishes, wraparound bar, and a fireplace.

Location & Hours: 39 Goshen Road in Hensonville, NY inside The Henson Hotel. Open Thursday-Monday from 5pm-10pm.

Chleo’s open-fire kitchen creates a warm glow throughout the restaurant, lending a unique vibe to the space. Photo: Read McKendree

With an impressive wine list, a rotating menu of seasonal bites and meals, and some of the coziest vibes in the region, Chleo is one of our top picks for date night in Kingston. Enjoy a cocktail at the sultry bar before moving to a table (or booth, if you’re looking for a night out with friends) to enjoy an impressive dinner paired with a glass of wine. Afterward, enjoy a digestif from the extensive list of after-dinner drinks. Bonus: Chleo is set in the center of Uptown Kingston, and is walkable from several other bars, restaurants, and hotels that can keep the night going beyond dinner.

Vibey Features: Open-flame kitchen, cocktail bar, and shareable plates.

Location & Hours: 288 Fair Street in Kingston, NY. Open Tuesday-Thursday from 5pm-9pm, Friday from 5pm-10pm, and Saturday from 4pm-10pm.

Enjoy vintage touches and Regency-era elegance throughout Black Walnut’s restaurant and lounge. Photos: Rikki Snyder

Moody maximalism meets Regency-era elegance at Black Walnut, a mercantile, restaurant, and lounge in the riverside town of Callicoon, NY. Enter through a well-stocked housewares mercantile into the brand-new dining area: a spacious room with Roman clay walls, intricate tin ceilings, and breathtaking murals. Before dinner, grab a cocktail at the bar (we recommend the Black Walnut, a bourbon-based cocktail with notes of walnut and maple) and sink into the vintage couches. After warming up with a drink, indulge in a Mediterranean dinner crafted in the open kitchen by Executive Chef and Co-owner Camille Rodriguez.

Vibey Features: European murals, botanical motifs throughout, low lighting, rich colors, and cozy vintage couches and lounge chairs.

Location & Hours: 39 Lower Main Street in Callicoon, NY. Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 5pm-8pm, and Friday-Saturday from 5pm-9pm.

Savor Spanish tapas, sherry, cocktails, and vermouth at Mirador, a neighborhood bar inspired by traditional tabancos. Photo: Josh Goleman

Inspired by Andalusian tabancos (sherry bars), Mirador brings a different kind of cultural vibe to Midtown Kingston. While we highly recommend pairing tapas with sherry, this neighborhood bar also has incredible craft cocktails and vermouth paired with salty snacks to enjoy. Cozy up in a booth, or enjoy the company of Mirador’s knowledgeable bartenders with a seat at the bar. Afterward, head down the block and catch a show at Tubby’s, or head to Eliza for a nightcap at the bar.

Vibey Features: Low lighting, sherry wine list, and completely sharable tapas menu.

Location & Hours: 636 Broadway in Kingston, NY. Open Thursday-Monday from 4pm-9pm (4pm-10pm on Friday and Saturday). Dinner service starts at 5pm.

Grab a cocktail at Small Talk’s fully stocked bar, then head to a booth for an evening of drinks and conversation. Photo: Shannon Sturgis

For wine, cocktails and date night in the center of Woodstock, head to Small Talk – a vibey bar on the town’s main strip. Start your evening by stepping into the intimate space, slipping into a candlelit booth, and perusing the menu, which includes wine, beer, craft cocktails, and bar snacks. After enjoying a drink (or two), plan on grabbing dinner at Silvia or Good Night for upscale dining, or Early Terrible for plates to share. To round out an evening on the town, stop into The Colony for late night drinks paired with live music and dancing.

Vibey Features: Pop-up art shows upstairs, candlelit booths, and a long, sleek bar.

Location & Hours: 1 Tinker Street in Woodstock, NY. Open daily from 4pm-11:30pm Monday-Friday, and noon-11:30pm Saturday-Sunday.

In addition to a full restaurant, The Maker also houses a moody cocktail bar, open to both hotel guests and the public. Photo: Francine Zaslow

For a vibey date night in Hudson, head to The Maker – a boutique hotel, restaurant, and cocktail lounge just over two hours north of NYC. While we love everything about this noteworthy Upstate retreat, the hotel’s moody (and ridiculously sexy) cocktail lounge sits at the top of our list. With design details like leather-clad walls, a hand-carved fireplace, candlelit corners, and warm velvet furniture, this converted carriage house offers an intimate setting for solo drinks, dates, and group outings alike.

Vibey Features: Sultry velvet and leather, low lighting, strong drinks, and a fireplace.

Location & Hours: 302 Warren Street in Hudson, NY at The Maker Hotel. The restaurant serves dinner daily between 5pm-9pm. The cocktail lounge has extended hours: Weekdays 4pm-10pm, Saturday 3pm-11pm, and Sunday 3pm-10pm.

Settle into Canoe Hill’s bar or restaurant, diving into their seafood-forward menu. Photo c/o Canoe Hill

Just two hours north of NYC, Canoe Hill is an intimate restaurant that is reminiscent of old New England coast towns. Dive into the seafood-forward menu with briny raw oysters (take advantage of their $2 oyster Happy Hour special), paired with a glass of crisp natural wine or a craft cocktail. Enjoy a meal near the cozy wood-burning stove, or opt for private two-top tables tucked into the architectural nooks beside the restaurant’s bar.

Vibey Features: Wood-burning stove, raw oysters daily, warm wood finishes, and wraparound booths.

Location & Hours: 3264 Franklin Avenue in Millbrook, NY. Open Monday, Thursday, and Sunday from 4pm-9pm, and Friday-Saturday from 4pm-10pm. Dinner service starts at 5pm.

Settle into smooth velvet booths and enjoy shareable plates, craft cocktails, and romantic vibes at Good Night. Photo c/o Good Night

Pair strong cocktails, low lighting, and sharable plates at Good Night, a romantic pan-Asian restaurant in Woodstock, NY. Slip into a smooth velvet booth seat in the conversation pit-style dining space and start the evening with a glass of wine – the list is long and made to pair well with each dish on the menu. With small and large plates designed to share, plan on getting comfortable and indulging in the food all night long. Before leaving, cap off the evening with a cocktail Good Night’s intimate, custom-built bar.

Vibey Features: Quiet glamour atmosphere, shareable plates, velvet seating, and a curvy bar.

Location & Hours: 15 Rock City Road in Woodstock, NY. Open Monday-Thursday from 5pm-9pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm-10pm, and Sunday from 4:30pm-9pm.

Gaze across the Catskill Mountains from The DeBruce’s coveted glass-walled restaurant. Photo: Lawrence Braun

Step into the glass-walled restaurant at The DeBruce and take in breathtaking, panoramic views of the Catskills. This atmospheric restaurant has received two James Beard Award nominations over the past two years, demonstrating its culinary excellence. Although the à la carte dinners are exceptional, the restaurant also offers the Tasting Menu: an immersive prix fixe dining experience where courses are served to all guests simultaneously. Complete a Catskills date night downstairs in The Club Room, where bar seats and after-dinner drinks can close out the night.

Vibey Features: Mountain views, tasting menu and wine pairings available, dim lighting, James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant (2024) and Outstanding Restaurateur (2023).

Location & Hours: 982 DeBruce Road in Livingston Manor, NY. À la carte dining is available Thursday-Monday from 5pm-9pm (Saturday’s à la carte dinners from 5pm-6:30pm). Tasting Menu dining is open Monday and Thursday from 5pm-9pm, with a single seating at 8pm on Saturday.

Before taking a seat in Feast & Floret’s romantic dining room, gather flowers to create a custom bouquet for your date. Photo c/o Feast & Floret

Just over two hours north of NYC, Feast & Floret offers fireside dining, handmade pasta, and candlelit dinners. This unique Italian-inspired restaurant sits within a floral shop featuring seasonally sourced fresh and dried flowers. Before taking a seat in the romantic dining room, gather stems to create a custom bouquet for your date (or yourself) — or pick up a premade arrangement on your way in. Once seated, order a drink and share an antipasti dish before diving into a plate of fresh pasta. After dinner, order a dessert paired with one of the many dessert wines offered at Feast & Floret.

Vibey Features: Low lighting, fireplace, historic charm, and unique floral arrangements.

Location & Hours: 13 South 3rd Street in Hudson, NY. Open daily from 5pm-10pm.