Comfort Food from Everywhere at New Soluna Cafe Cantina

“Everything is timing,” says Juan Carlos Granda. Last fall Granda was helping Casa Latina set up their new location on Fairview Avenue in Hudson when he saw an opportunity. The Green Street space they were vacating would be perfect for the restaurant he and his business partner, Gina Macias, had been talking about opening. Six weeks later, after renovating the space themselves, Soluna Cafe Cantina soft-opened in November with 18 seats and a concise menu.

Granda and Macias are longtime Hudson Valley hospitality workers who became business partners after working together at Casa Susanna in Leeds. Granda has been in the industry for 30 years, with experience spanning French, American, and European restaurants before tending bar and managing the lounge at The Maker Hotel. Macias, originally from Mexico, has been in the Hudson area for over 20 years raising her family. She cooked at Casa Susanna (you may have seen her on their outdoor grill) and ran her own beloved spot, Bodega Aguila Real on Columbia Street in Hudson, known particularly for its chicken soup and tacos. Her goal from the start was to serve “something fresh, good, homemade, but also something that everybody can afford.”

Soluna offers global fusion cooking with Latin roots, a reflection of both partners’ backgrounds and their years of experience across different cuisines. “We’re Latinos, we give you the Latin flavor, but we also want to give you flavor from around the globe,” Granda explains. 

The breakfast menu runs from $5 to $12. Egg tacos ($10) come on fresh handmade corn tortillas with salsa mocha and yuca fries with house-made chimichurri. Sweet tamales ($5), made from fresh sweet corn, arrive with signature cream and fruit salsa. There’s also an avocado toast ($12), a classic breakfast sandwich ($8), and a baked sweet potato stuffed with banana, almond butter, and chia seeds ($6).

At lunch, the menu opens up. Tacos, burritos, quesabirria, tortas, and migas anchor the Latin side, while a triple-decker turkey club ($14) with crispy bacon and sweet potato fries and a simple grilled cheese ($6) with cheddar and Monterey Jack round out the offerings. The Cuban sandwich ($15)—slow-roasted mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard, served with plantains—has drawn particular praise. Smoothies like the Muscle Builder (peanut butter, banana, pineapple, $8) and Body Cleanser (beet, celery, ginger, green apple, turmeric, $8) are available throughout the day.

Macias brings a homestyle sensibility to the food. She bakes something different every day; recent offerings have included raspberry blondies, strawberry shortcake, and caramel apple cake. She’s currently working on Dubai chocolate croissants filled with pistachio cream. The cafe also offers a full espresso program alongside drinks like matcha lattes, butterfly rose lattes, and chai.

The restaurant already has regulars, including one customer who orders the same torta birria daily. When Macias offered to make him something different, he declined: The sandwich was all he could think about when he got home.

Soluna’s most distinctive feature may be its Friday themed-dinner nights. Recent events have included a Cuban night and an Asian fusion night, with an anime-themed dinner planned for late February featuring dishes from Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Macias, a devoted anime fan, is planning the menu down to the details: katsudon (pork), gyudon (beef), and chicken meatballs, served in traditional bento boxes. The $60 prix fixe includes two appetizers, one main dish, dessert, and drinks; guests can bring their own beer or wine. After the anime night, they’re planning to put up sticky notes for diners to suggest future themes. “We try to listen to people, to give them what they want,” Macias says.

Looking ahead, the partners are planning a Cinco de Mayo celebration to mark the debut of their full bar program, complete with mariachis. They’re currently awaiting their liquor license, expected by spring. Once approved, the outdoor patio will open for the season, and the original vision—an evening spot for margaritas and tacos—will finally come to life. Macias’ tacos were a draw at Bodega Aguila Real, and she’s eager to bring them back to Hudson’s dining scene.

Granda sees the restaurant as a place to share different cultures through food. “Food is culture,” says Granda. “We want to be a community that congregates here and everybody is welcome.” In Hudson’s evolving dining landscape, that’s no small thing.

Soluna Cafe Cantina is located at 78 Green St, Hudson, and is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM, with Friday themed-dinner nights announced via Instagram. Reservations recommended for special events.