Where is Cairo, NY?
Cairo New York (pronounced kay-ro) is at the base of the Catskill mountains, west of Catskill, NY and east of Windham, NY. If you drive on Route 23 from the Thruway to Windham you can easily drive past Cairo and miss gems that are definitely worth stopping at.
I found Cairo, New York accidentally while exploring the Hudson Valley when I lived in Brooklyn around 20 years ago. I stumbled upon the Greene County Youth Fair and thought it was so cool that the kids showcased their farm animals. I was so enamored that I started looking for a weekend home in the area and I ended up moving to Greene County full time after a couple of years of weekending.
You can see from the above photos that Cairo’s Main Street has a lot of homes and some businesses that are services. There are shops and cafes to be found and if you know where to go, you can easily spend 2-4 hours here. I created this Google Map, to help you find the places mentioned in this blog.
Fuel up and Grab a Bite
In South Cairo, there is a small Citgo gas station that usually has the best prices in the area. If you miss that one, Stewart’s is reliable or there’s another Citgo Station right on Main Street that is only 10 cents more per gallon. (If you don’t fuel up here, don’t fuel on the way up the Mountain, on Route 23, but wait until you get into Windham.)
On Main Street Cairo, there’s a decent selection of food and drink at all hours of the day. We go to Main Street Cairo quite often to support these family run businesses.
My daughter and I frequent The Juice Branch and The Red Star Cafe. I’m partial to the Mango Madness smoothie bowl at the Juice Branch, and we love to sit and sip our lattes on the porch of Red Star. Red Star also has baked goodies, yogurt parfaits and other grab and go foods. I look forward to the little cookie that comes with the latte too.
It’s worth the drive up Mountain Ave to The Log Cabin Cafe for a leisurely breakfast or lunch. The food is amazing, but if you are in a hurry or don’t like to wait, then I would opt for O’Neill’s Cafe instead. It’s more diner-like where you can get a good meal quickly.
Want to grab a sandwich? Check out See and Be Kitchen or Cozy Cup Deli. If you are looking for pizza there’s three options. Mateo’s Pizza is great for a slice or getting a pie to go. Two Brothers Pizza is another option for ordering a pie to go. They have a dining room but its a dark and usually crowded with stuff. If you can’t decide if you want Italian or Mexican food, stop into Angel’s Family Restaurant. You can get everything from pizza slices to Italian entrees to enchiladas, either to go or dine in.
My husband and I like pub food and craft beer so we regularly stop into Old Factory Brewing Company. Tim and his crew have 10 or so of their own drafts on tap, from a Blonde, to a Red, to IPAs and other specialty brews. Don’t like beer? No problem, enjoy wine, soda or a cocktail instead. OFB is also a great place to grab reasonably priced meals – burgers, salads, chicken and seafood. They have specials on Wednesday (Burger Night), Thursday (Steamers) and Sunday (Appetizers) too. It’s kid friendly too with big spaces both inside and out. If you prefer a full bar with pub food then stop into Red Rooster Bar and Grill instead.
In the mood for some ice cream? Be sure to check out Twisted Ladies.
Food shopping before your weekend in Windham
If you’re on your way to Windham, Cairo is a great place to stock up on what you’ll need.
- Fresh meat from T&C Meat Market or Alpine Pork Store
- Milk and Ice Cream from Stewarts
- Groceries from Hannaford
- Wine or liquor from Spirits of Cairo
- Bread, charcuterie or other specialty foods from See and Be Kitchen
- Baked sweets from Delightful Bites from Nina
Need a gift?
Visiting relatives or friends? Don’t forget to grab a bouquet of flowers or a gift from Karen’s Flower Shoppe. Catching Rays Tanning and Gifts also has cute gifts and just a few doors down is the Little Bear Trading Co.
Stretch your legs
Cairo also has a couple of options for you and your travel companions to stretch your legs. Walk up and down Main Street and then sit at the Pocket Park near The Juice Branch.
Prefer a walking loop with a bit of a mountain view? Park your car at the Angelo Canna Town Park and walk the loop around the fields. If its warm you can sit at the tables and watch the creek. You can even let Fido meet some new friends at the Dog Park or let the kids explore the playground. The Town Park often has festivals that are fun to check out, like the Greene County Youth Fair, held the last weekend of July.
Where to Stay
Cairo, New York is also a great option if you want to stay near the hiking and biking of the Northern Catskills or ski resorts of Windham and Hunter, especially if you are on a budget.
If you want to stay in Cairo, Roundtop would be the best place to look for options. Besides staying at an AirBnb, the Glen Falls House is highly recommended. Winter Clove Inn and Reidlbauer’s are also long time mainstays in the area.
Additional Links
Want to learn more about Cairo? Check out these websites:
- Visit the Great Northern Catskills
- Friends of the Cairo Fossil Forest
- Learn more about living, working or owning a business in Cairo, NY
If you are exploring the Northern Hudson Valley, I recommend you take a bit of time to explore Cairo, New York. It’s worth the visit.
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