TravelNoise: Hudson’s at Pier 81, New York City

The restaurant, which is docked at Pier 81, offers a number of package tours up and down the Hudson river for dinners, brunches, bachelorette parties and more. You can even rent out the place if you’re feeling bougie, or you can forego the packages and just go for the a la carte menu. For my guest and I, the brunch cruise just seemed right, so we headed toward the double-decker cruise boat on a hazy Sunday morning in our best garb.

Walking onto the deck is a surreal, yet totally cool experience. Staff are onboard ready to greet you, help you wobble your way inside and show you to your seat. Thankfully for my guest and I, wobbling was at a minimum as we stepped onto the deck and into the cool restaurant, which featured marble tabletops, lots of natural light and an aquatic, turquoise color scheme. Our host sat us at a scenic table at the edge of the room so we wouldn’t miss a single moment of the cruise.

For $75 per person, you can do Sunday brunch at Hudson’s and enjoy unlimited mimosas and buffet for two hours while coasting on the river. You even get a good view of the statue, which is why to me, the deal can’t be beat.

We were constantly attended to by our waiter with refills of mimosas and check-ins to make sure we had everything we needed. All guests on the boat seemed to get the same amount of attention, which confirmed to me that Hudson’s staff were some of the most genuine, helpful staff I’ve ever experienced.

The buffet itself was expansive enough, but didn’t get too crazy with the selections. From eggs, bacon, waffles and potatoes to pasta, chicken and fish, you could get a bit of breakfast and a bit of lunch. Complete with salad fixings, rolls and a huge dessert bar with those little decorated cakes, we were in brunch heaven. Everything tasted super fresh and was rotated out in a matter of minutes from what I saw.

At the end of the meal, my guest and I stepped out onto the deck and took in the views. Nothing beats the Hudson river on a breezy summer day, especially if you’re full and tipsy, which we totally were. Shamelessly, we would come back after even our worst night out, seasickness and all. Hudson’s is worth getting up early on a Sunday and walking to the pier. In fact, we guarantee you’ll be running.

Address: Pier 81, W 41st St and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Telephone Number: (212) 630-8840
Website: hudsonsnyc.com

Sami Allen

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