Visited March 2022

My husband and I had our first opportunity since before COVID (!) to have a weekend for just the two of us – WITHOUT the kids.

Now, we LOVE New Hope, PA. It’s a truly unique town, and we’ve never found anywhere else like it. Within one block of one another is find a biker bar, a Wiccan shop, an art gallery, and a bookstore. The town is incredibly inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly. It’s wonderful to visit a destination that so openly values diversity. Parked next to the Harleys, you’ll find a Bentley, and behind that a Honda Civic. The drivers of all said vehicles are likely enjoying cocktails together along the river. Two of them will have dogs; one of those dogs will be wearing pink. Strangers on the street, next to you at the bar, or waiting near you in a lobby, will engage with you in conversation. They’ll happily offer recommendations for bourbon, talk with you about their marriage, or joke with your kids.

We go to New Hope all the time WITH our kids, but this is the first time in over seven years (oh my gosh) that we’ve gone without the kids in tow. That’s seven years that it’s been tough to visit art galleries, antique shops, and fancy restaurants.

I could talk about visiting New Hope with kids all the time (and I do! The train! The children’s museum! The restaurants! The book stores! The ice cream shops!)…

…but parents (or kid-free adults), this particular blog is for you. Some kid-free, adult-only inspiration! Note to the parents: some of the following activities will occur AFTER 7PM.

Booking a place to stay in New Hope

New Hope (and surrounding adorable towns) have TONS of lodging options! Boutique hotels, AirBnBs, Bed & Breakfasts… New Hope is truly a tourist destination, and the accommodations are plentiful! That said, during the warmer months, you’d better book ahead, because it can be tough to get a room over any weekend during the busy season – even without kids!

We initially booked an AirBnB outside of New Hope as a travel partnership. However, after a miscommunication with the host, we left that AirBnB after one night and stayed instead at the Logan Inn (which was AMAZING and about which I wrote an entire blog post. You can find it here!)

I highly recommend staying in town if you can. Many of the accommodations include complimentary/inexpensive parking (otherwise, parking is expensive in New Hope), and it’s great to be able to lazily stroll back to your room after dinner. That said, many of the other lodging options outside town are simply a short drive away, and offer a quiet taste of the beautiful Bucks County countryside.

A word of warning for your tires…

A friendly word to the wise… Due to winter weather in Pennsylvania, the potholes in Bucks County are rough and plentiful!!! There were MANY more than we remember the last time we drove down to New Hope.

Also, there is occasional flooding in the area, so look out for road closure signs (see above). Sometimes, the signs remain after the roads reopen, so if it hasn’t rained in a while and you see traffic coming/going in that direction, it may be worth investigating.

All in all, driving through Bucks County is gorgeous. It’s a beautiful part of Pennsylvania. In fact, there’s a fair amount of real estate for sale… if you own a tank.
(This is actually another great reason to stay in town!)

The restaurants in/around New Hope are AWESOME.

It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with the food choices in New Hope. Read some reviews, get some recommendations, but you’re guaranteed to find a great dining experience. They take their food seriously in this corner of Pennsylvania. Locally and sustainably sourced food is valued by many of the chefs and restaurant owners, as well as plentiful options for vegans and vegetarians. Just be sure to make reservations in advance (especially for dinner).

Bites and snacks at the New Hope Ferry Market

A favorite stop with our kiddos, the New Hope Ferry Market is a great option for quick bites, coffee, desserts, and snacks! After checking in to our AirBnB on our first night, we had a few hours to kill before dinner, and we were starving.

Naturally, we headed to the New Hope Ferry Market! Unfortunately, a bunch of the shops closed for the day before we got there (catering to a breakfast/lunch crowd), but there were still plenty of options left to choose from.

The Pork Shack

We ultimately settled on the “Slop Tots” at The Pork Shack, one of the stands at the New Hope Ferry Market. The guy at the register was super cheerful, and you can’t beat the pig jokes available to read while you’re waiting for your food. For under $10, our “Slop Tots” included 1/4lb of pork, roasted red onion, cheese sauce, and green onions served over tater tots. Yum. Yum. Yum.

SKYROAST COFFEE

Whether you’re craving caffeine in the morning, or as an afternoon pick-me-up, SkyRoast Coffee in the Market is going to meet your needs! They are one of our favorite stops, whether we are with or without the kids. They have all your standard coffee drinks (from the super fancy to plain old coffee). My favorite drink is their iced chai. It’s incredibly flavorful and smooth.
https://www.theferrymarket.com/skyroast-coffee

Sciacia Confections

If you’re craving a sweet treat (for now or later), Sciacia’s at the Market is the way to go!! They have an amazing variety of macaroons, as well as other chocolatey treats! We tend to get some to go and snack on them after dinner. (Even their packaging is adorable).
https://www.theferrymarket.com/sciascia-confections

Dinner at Ferry & Main

During our first night in town, we had reservations at Ferry & Main, part of the Logan Inn (where we stayed the following night).

The food at Ferry & Main is delicious, and the vibe is swanky. While the service is exceptional, the timing of it all could use a bit of work. It felt like we were shuffled in and out more quickly than we would have liked, (especially given it was our date night). I wondered if this was because the kitchen accommodates so many tables, as well as special events. For example, the appetizer came out minutes after we ordered it, and our entrees were presented before we had finished with our appetizer. We could have sat as long as we wanted after the meal, but we didn’t. The bread was ok. I didn’t love it on its own, but ooohhhh was it yummy with our burrata cheese appetizer. It was served with acorn squash, pumpkin seed & arugula pesto, and a pumpernickel crumble.

For my entree, I enjoyed the duck (yum) but didn’t love all of the accompaniments. My husband’s grass fed burger was ridiculously good, and his duck fat fries (seasoned heavily with rosemary) were super crispy and delicious (if you love rosemary).

The lesson: Let the server know that you are on a date, ask them to please take their time (because you would like to take your time), and there is no need to rush the food.

During our dinner at Ferry & Main, we also enjoyed the live music! The very talented guitarist started around 8:30pm. A fun bonus for us was that he looked JUST like the character from Jurassic Park, John Hammond (the older man with the amber walking cane). He was John’s spitting image, right down to the white beard, glasses, and hat. Oh, I wish I had snapped a picture.

Dinner at Oldestone

The following night we had dinner at Oldestone. This used to be Marsha Brown’s, and (according to my brother-in-law, who is an executive chef, Marsha Browns was “the” best restaurant in town).

Oldestone has a great atmosphere. As a former church, built in 1872, its stained glass, chandeliers, and lighting all contribute to the vibe.
The striking focal point of the main dining room is the large mural, “Redemption.”

Supposedly the artist, Valerie Bellini, was given free reign, and we were told that it is his rendition of Daniel’s slaying of the dragon. The emotional tone of the painting is strong. Like most art, it is truly hard to describe, and best experienced in person.

I do have to say, my favorite part was the lizard who was like “I’m going to GTFO of this situation,” whose head was halfway into the water as he escaped the scene.

I’d love to know what my readers who have had the pleasure of dining at Oldestone think of the piece! Please let me know!

There is a scroll in the bottom left of the painting in what may be Russian, or Hebrew (?) Neither the manager or our server was sure, but we wondered all through dinner what it might say. Google has been no help. I’m so curious! If someone could interpret the scroll for me, I’d love to know what it says.

Our server, Rebecca, was phenomenal. She was attentive, kind, and funny. She was clearly experienced. The entire waitstaff HUSTLED (I saw a guy power walking to obtain a new spoon for a guest). Even the managers rushed to be of assistance to their staff. Every time a member of the staff reached your table, however, they suddenly had all the time in the world and gave you every bit of their attention. Since they’ve only being under new management/ownership since November, we were very impressed with their staff. Their game is TIGHT.

Everything was well-timed. My husband enjoyed his French Onion Soup (served nice and HOT!), and my lobster bisque was as tasty as I anticipated. We each had the filet (medium rare), and we concluded that our steaks were amongst the best we’ve ever enjoyed. The cocktails were also very tasty. We asked for extra cherries, which I highly recommend. (They use Luxardo cherries in their cocktails. Delicious.) I really enjoyed the fries (Greek fries with feta), and they were still crunchy when we finished them later that night in our hotel room while watching a movie. (Who needs popcorn when you’ve got leftovers from Oldestone?)

So, notice to competitors: Oldestone has set a new standard which I fear may be impossible for any other restaurant to surpass. That said, if any restaurant is up for the challenge, let me know. I’d be happy to weigh in!

We noted that it was a “date night” on OpenTable when we made the reservation, and as a result there were rose petals scattered on our table, which was a nice surprise.

We felt we had prime seating along the edge of the altar platform (next to the banister, but not along the edge of the restaurant). This gave us slightly elevated and great views of the entire restaurant.

The vibe was made even more special by the talented live jazz band, which played in the choir area of the church (now a lounge area). The grand, golden staircase leading to the lounge is epic. I do have to say, we were pleased that we did not have to listen to the singer on the first floor, who was playing pop covers and singing just loud enough to hear nothing that anyone else was saying. The restaurant, as opposed to the bar on the first floor, is definitely the place to be.

Breakfast at the Lumberville General Store

If you’re up for a quick drive, or if you’re staying outside of town, the Lumberville General Store is a GREAT place for breakfast. This happened to be walking distance from our AirBnB, and is also conveniently located along the towpath, for bikers and hikers. The restaurant contains several cozy rooms as well as a ton of outdoor seating. The staff is kind and the service is exceptional. My omelette was fantastic, and my husband couldn’t stop raving about his smoked salmon on an everything bagel.

Brunch at Karla’s Restaurant

Prior to eating at Karla’s, it was recommended by several locals and visitors as a place with great food, that also happened to be really “cute.” (Everyone used the same word). I have to be honest though… it’s an accurate one. Karla’s is adorable.

Tons of natural light, stained glass windows, and greenery filled the comfortable space. The pacing was nice and easy for a slow, lazy Sunday breakfast. We sat for an hour and a half with our (several refills of) coffee in our weirdly-shaped corner booth with very sturdy iron legs, but otherwise comfortable seating. The service was great with friendly staff and owners. (We wondered if our server might be Karla herself). Arriving around 10:30 ensured that we snagged a table right away, although people showing up around 12:00pm had to wait a few minutes. (It’s worth noting, however: we ate here in late March, so the wait might be longer in season).

Karla’s does have a bar with breakfast cocktails available, but we didn’t partake. The coffee was on the stronger side, but not bitter. I had the eggs Benedict, and my husband had the andouille sausage omelette. My poached eggs were slightly overcooked, and my husband’s food was cooler than mine, but the cute atmosphere and the nice pace of breakfast easily made up for it. We would eat there again!

Bopping around New Hope and Lambertville

Truly, on a kid-free weekend in New Hope, one of the best things to do is walk around town and hit every art gallery, antique shop, and the your-kids-would-break-the-shit-out-of-everything stores you would never dare bring your young children into. Not only is there a plethora of these shops in New Hope, but you’ll find even more just over the (walkable) bridge in Lambertville, NJ!

If you’re looking for quirky, fun shops, Lambertville is a fun place to walk around. We didn’t love the art for sale (it’s a matter of personal taste) but there are a number of galleries. While we didn’t find watches (my husband was looking for vintage), he simultaneously negotiated on eBay for one which was successful, so he was still pumped.

So, browse to your heart’s content. Breathe, and take it all in. Squeeze through the narrow aisles of antiques. Gaze admiringly (or critically) at $12,000 art, and speak to the artists. Have candy from expert chocolatiers, without sharing.

LA Chocolate Box

We picked up an assortment of chocolates from this cute shop in Lambertville… but the chocolate peanut butter with sea salt meltaways were RIDICULOUS. The store front was super cute, but from the outside, it is impossible to see the inside, so don’t assume it’s closed!

STELLA

We had a few extra hours to kill before dinner one night, so we decided to try the cocktails at Stella. Even the staircase leading up to the restaurant is cool (I wish I had taken a picture!), and the restaurant has high ceilings and tons of natural light. The hostess, Sue, greeted us with a friendly smile at the top of the stairs. I have to say, Sue was absolutely lovely! Even though the bar was at capacity, She recommended we get cocktails from the bartender, and enjoy it on a comfortable sofa in the lounge. Great call. The bartender noticed us and took our orders immediately. We had our drinks in hand quickly and returned to the lounge near Sue the hostess. As we sipped our (delicious) cocktails, we admired the views of the river on one side, and New Hope on the other. We also enjoyed listening to Sue answering phone call after phone call, each with a smile, each ending in the most friendly rejection you’ve ever heard. If I were one of those people calling Sue, asking for a reservation that same evening, I don’t even think I’d be let down by her informing me that the restaurant was full. I’d hang up, thinking “Wow! She was so pleasant!”

We will be back to visit Stella for dinner one night (I will be sure to make reservations in advance!), and I seriously hope Sue is working that night.

Stella is part of the new Ghostlight Inn, which is high on our list of places to stay for the weekend!

Savaged designs

Craig Pusczko, the artist and owner of SavAged Designs (an art gallery and overall cool AF store) is not only talented, but was really nice to chat with. While we didn’t purchase anything from SavAged, we had a great experience in the store, and so I felt it worth the mention here. The back of the store is his studio, and you can see him at work. There are freshly varnished pieces with signs warning customers, “WET. Don’t sit here.” He creates wall decor, small decorative items, and tables and furniture from airplane and automotive engines. He’s also really friendly, and I think we must have talked about our kids (and his) for twenty minutes. For a taste of his work, check out his Instagram, @savaged_designs.

Parking in New Hope

OK, New Hope. WTF is up with the parking situation? We always used to pay about $25 to park at the train station during a day trip. The WHOLE day would cost about $25. It seemed like a lot at the time, but not unreasonable for the convenience. This time, we didn’t read the signs for the lot because we had parked so many times before, and the pricing had always been consistent. SURPRISE! $50 TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT. Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch. The end of the story is not pleasant for us, but our lesson can prevent you from experiencing the same discomfort. Granted, it was our fault for not reading the parking rate more closely (as we had parked there so many times before), but also… $5O TO PARK FOR UNDER FOUR HOURS??!?!?!?!? Never again.

Luckily, here’s a Pro Tip! Parking costs have doubled everywhere in New Hope, not just in our favorite lot. That said, there is one lot where parking is free, every weekend!
*Instead of paying for parking, walk 5 minutes further and park for free at the high school!*

Enjoy that extra $50 and go spend it on cocktails, or some cool art or jewelry made by local artists, sold in stores you would never get to visit with your kids.