If you’re desperately looking for a weekend escape where your notifications simply cannot reach you, we have the perfect destination.
Welcome to Bovina, NY—a gorgeous, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town located about 3.5 hours from Manhattan. With a population of just 658 people, winding dirt roads, and absolutely zero stoplights, it feels completely suspended in time. But don’t let the sleepy exterior fool you. Bovina is drawing chefs, authors, and traveling food lovers in search of a highly intimate dining culture.
Here is why you need to book a trip up north this season.
A dining experience straight out of a fairy tale
The absolute crown jewel of the area is Bovina Farm & Fermentory. Run by Jacob Sackett and Elizabeth Stark, this rustic spot perfectly captures the vibe of an ancient Czech countryside inn.
Securing a seat at one of their Saturday night dinner parties is a must. You can expect cast-iron pots of seasonal ingredients, handwritten menus, and small-batch beer brewed directly on-site.
The biggest update? You don’t have to drive home after dinner. They’ve just debuted Shaker-inspired overnight accommodations right above the tavern. You can quite literally eat a world-class meal and wake up to the sun rising over their sheep pasture.
Persian feasts and cozy weekend retreats
Just down the road, you’ll find Brushland Eating House. This former tavern was transformed by Sohail and Sara Zandi into a warm, inviting anchor for the community.
While their standard seasonal menus are phenomenal, you need to keep an eye out for their incredibly festive “Persian Feast” nights. If you want to make a full weekend out of it, they also offer charming rental apartments upstairs.
The surrounding foodie expansion
Bovina’s culinary gravitational pull is so strong that it’s reshaping the neighboring towns, too.
Famous cookbook author Alison Roman actually wrote her books while staying above Brushland. She fell so deeply in love with the area that she opened First Bloom Corner Store in nearby South Kortright. It is a stunning all-day café and provisions shop that has become the ultimate local hangout.
If you are mapping out a weekend food crawl, you also need to stop by Solinsky’s Meats in Stamford. Chef Michael Solyn is serving up artisanal charcuterie with a heavy European flair. Afterward, satisfy your sweet tooth at the highly anticipated Magpies on Pink Street pie shop in Delancey.
What to know before you go
This is a true off-the-grid getaway. Cell service is notoriously spotty-to-nonexistent out here, so make sure you download your driving maps before you leave the city.
If you are ready to trade the concrete jungle for rolling farmland, weathered barns, and some of the best food in the state, the cows are waiting for you.
📍 Bovina, NY (Delaware County)
🚗 Approx. 3.5 hours driving from NYC
