The Itinerary: The DeBruce in Livingston Manor, NY
A complete weekend itinerary in & around Livingston Manor, NY. Paid subscribers get 20% off a stay, now through May 22!
Welcome to The Itinerary: Your go-to guide for easy Upstate escapes – plus exclusive discounts for each – created by Escape Brooklyn.
The Location:
The DeBruce in Livingston Manor, NY
The Deal:
Paid subscribers get 20% off, now through May 22, 2024. Find the code beneath the paywall.
Why We Love It:
This Catskills boutique hotel is a culinary mecca, and the perfect spot to celebrate spring when foraged ingredients like ramps and fiddleheads are in season. Its restaurant was nominated in both 2023 and 2024 for James Beard Awards: in 2024 for Outstanding Restaurant, and in 2023 for Outstanding Restaurateur.
The DeBruce’s location in Livingston Manor is a current Catskills hotspot, with loads of new restaurants, boutiques, arts centers, hiking trails and other attractions.
The Vibe:
The DeBruce must-visit for any self-respecting foodie (or honestly, anyone who genuinely enjoys food, which is most people.)
Hotel guests are treated to two memorable meals each day — breakfast and dinner — in the hotel’s different spaces, including its iconic window-walled main dining room. A sense of community between hotel guests is created, too, as everyone gathers for meals around the same time, starting with a family-style dinner on Friday. Expect to leave not only with very full stomachs, and tales of adventure – but also, some new friends.
An Escape-Worthy Itinerary: The DeBruce in Livingston Manor, NY
Friday: Check-in & Check Out
• 4 pm: Check-in at The DeBruce.
• 4:30 pm: Head to the Tackle Room, where your room key will unlock a locker. Inside, find a DeBruce trail map, then choose your own adventure. We love the red trail, meandering along the Willowemoc and then up through beautiful forest. At 6 pm, a bonfire is lit by its scenic pond below the hotel, the perfect spot to catch golden hour.
• 7 pm: Guests of the DeBruce enjoy a communal, family-style dining experience on Friday evening. Mingle with other guests while passing shared mains and sides along large tables in the hotel’s Great Room. Plates of Beaverkill Hatchery's roasted trout, Snowdance Farm chicken, pomme puree and in-season vegetables are exchanged, while the culinary team explains each course. (Guests preferring a private meal may do so before, or after communal dinner hours.)
• 9 pm: Head downstairs to the DeBruce Club Room for after dinner drinks. This wood-clad bar room tucked away beneath the lodge is the perfect spot for a nightcap, near the glow of the fireplace.
Saturday: Explore the Catskills’ Newest Hotspot, Livingston Manor
• 9 am: Rise and shine – back to the DeBruce dining room. Breakfast is included for all guests; you’ll be picking two items from its delicious menu, plus a drink.
• 11 am: Head to Livingston Manor’s Main Street, beginning your day with a visit to Catskill Art Space – Livingston Manor’s world-class gallery. This tiny but impressive art space – in a town with one stoplight – has a permanent Sol LeWitt room and immersive James Turrell experience (look those up names if you’re not familiar) in its upstairs galleries. Downstairs galleries rotate work by local artists.
• 12 pm: Grab lunch at the Walk-In, Livingston Manor’s darling breakfast and lunch spot. We love their salads, or for something more (read: very) indulgent, order any menu item involving their famous biscuits.
• 1 pm: Beginning at the north side of town, shop to your heart’s content at all the great small boutiques in town. There’s so many! Some favorites include Corners, Long Weekend, Homestedt, Spruce Home Goods, Jitterbug, One Grand Books, Concrete & Water, Old Souls, Life Repurposed, Drooz, and Nest. For a more restorative afternoon, check the pilates/yoga schedules at Bodies & Plants.
• 5 pm: Choose your flavor of afternoon pick-me-up: a glass of wine on the sunny patios of Sunshine Colony, a coffee and sweet treat from Main Street Farm, or sample local beers at one of Livingston Manor’s two beloved breweries: Catskill Brewery and Upward Brewing.
• 8 pm: Don’t be late for the highlight of a weekend at DeBruce: the Saturday night Tasting Menu dinner. During this immersive dining experience, diners are served each course as a collective group while the culinary team talks about the food, plus the story of the DeBruce. This spring, menu highlights include fiddleheads and ramps (among other foraged items), plus Beaverkill Hatchery trout.
Sunday: Hiking, Brunch on a Farm, Outlet Mall Pitstop
• 9 am: One last meal at The DeBruce: make it a memorable one! During a weekend stay, guests rotate assigned tables in the dining room, so you’ll never have the same experience. Bring a Sunday NYT crossword, and savor your breakfast in the sunny dining room until check-out at 11.
• 11 am: Head to nearby Willowemoc Wild Forest, and choose your hiking adventure. We love any trails that pass around Frick Pond, which range from 2.1 miles to 6.5 miles.
• 2 pm: It’s hard to beat brunch on a farm, especially in spring. Continuing your foodie tour of the region, make a reservation (you’ll need one: it’s reservation only) for brunch at the absolutely magical Blooming Hill Farm in Monroe. Stop in the shop on the way out to stock up on whatever produce, flowers, or other goods are in season.
• 3:30 pm: Traffic back to the city on Sunday afternoon can be such a drag! Instead of sitting in traffic, consider a spring wardrobe refresh at Woodbury Common outlets, less than 10 minutes from Blooming Hill Farm. By the time you’re done shopping in the evening, traffic’s likely cleared up a bit and you’ll have smooth sailing home.
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