Drink Up The View
We'll get you going with some of the places where the view is served along with your drink.
Proprietor's Lodge
Would you care for a cocktail to go with the eye candy in our region? We suggest these gorgeous venues that'll enhance whatever you're drinking.
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
Millbrook, NY
The dramatic drive through the vineyards up to the winery is your first clue that this will be an experience your eyes as well as your palate will savor. The vineyard and the distant Catskill Mountain views are among the prettiest in Dutchess County and the vineyard walking trail takes you to the top of the estate for the most expansive panorama. Picnic tables are available and visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Millbrook Winery is a good destination on inclement days, too: You can enjoy a glass (or make it a wine tasting) in the Terrace Taproom. On weekends, the winery hosts food trucks. You’ll find the schedule and truck lineup on its website.
The Proprietor’s Lodge
Pittsfield, MA
Located on the shores of Pontoosuc Lake, the Proprietor’s Lodge is an event space that wisely opened its downstairs and patio to the public. During midday hours, you’re welcome to have a drink on the terrace. Weekend evenings, the terrace is reserved for dinner guests, but there are Adirondack chairs placed on the waterfront where you can admire Mount Greylock, although what’s right in front of you—sparkling Pontoosuc Lake, with its pontoon boats and kayakers—exudes a tranquility you didn’t know existed in the county seat.
The Greens Restaurant at Copake Country Club
Craryville, NY
You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate the view of the first fairway at Copake Country Club. That long stretch of green imparts a feeling of serenity (and admiration for the groundskeeper). The Greens has long had a deck overlooking the fairway (and in full view, conveniently, of the sunset) and Copake Lake. During remodeling this spring, the restaurant added a second space, the Bar Deck, expanding the seating, because who doesn’t like a view with their drink?
Bascom Lodge
Adams, MA
We don’t have the Rainbow Room at the top of Rockefeller Center, but we have Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in Massachusetts, and Bascom Lodge at the peak. There’s a lot of activity in the rustic 1930s-era lodge, including prix-fixe, three-course meals, breakfasts (full and continental), and lunch. On Wednesday through Sunday from 5-7 p.m., the Sunset Beverage Hour offers beer and wine. There are plenty of windows to look down on a scene stretching up to 90 miles away and including four states. Just don’t drink too much; you’ll need your full wits about you as you wend your way down the mountain road.
