Local Food Favorites of Marist Students

A chocolate croissant from Kelly's Bakery. Source: Caitlin Whitting '24

Prospective students at Marist all ask a common question: How is the food? Every student has a different opinion. The city of Poughkeepsie being proclaimed a “food desert,” food on campus is always an easy, go-to option. Still, for a change of pace, students can find the off-campus gems hidden throughout the Hudson Valley.

Lola's Cafe

131 Washington St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Begin the perfect Saturday with a stroll across the Walkway Over the Hudson, and stop for lunch at Lola’s Cafe. An easy hike from campus will bring you to a small strip of restaurants where Lola’s Cafe is nestled. Everything is made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients as an alternative to a quick, unhealthy meal. Soup comes piping hot and sandwiches have the perfect crunch. You will never go wrong with a tomato mozzarella panini to transport you right into the middle of Tuscany.

Kelly’s Bakery

110C Delafield St, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601

For a change from the daily Hancock coffee, Kelly’s Bakery is a short excursion from campus. Offerings depend on how early you get to the bakery, as the baked goods fly off the shelves. For those who would like a Parisian breakfast, there are specialty bread loaves with varying toppings, including a Ciabatta option piled with olives and onions. While the speciality loaves are fitting for a Wednesday morning pick-me-up at one of the cafe’s tables, the baked goods are just as incredible. Everything is freshly baked, from the babka to the cookies, and made from local ingredients. Locally roasted coffee and tea give a little something extra for your walk back to campus.

All you Knead Artisan Bakers

308 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508

If you are craving a change of scenery farther than Kelly’s Bakery, a thirty minute drive under a canopy of trees and backroads will bring you to the quaint town of Beacon, New York. With cobblestones and old brick buildings, it is a perfect place to decompress after a stressful day of classes. The bakery offers any bread or pastry you might crave. Fresh-from-the-oven baguettes will transport you to the streets of Paris. Crispy chocolate croissants make for a decadent morning snack. Be sure to check the day and hours the bakery is open before making the drive, as the bakery has limited hours. 

Spoons Ice Cream

46 Eastdale Ave N, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

For ice cream lovers, Spoons Ice Cream is a must. Only a twenty minute drive from campus, the ice cream is as homemade and creamy as anywhere in the Hudson Valley. Every ice cream flavor from cannoli to cappuccino is available, including a dozen gluten-free flavors. With neon pink walls and string lights, it is an Instagrammable paradise. Still, the milkshakes and sundaes are what put the parlor on the map. Milkshakes are served with a warm doughnut or a toasted s’more perched on top of the glass. Sundaes include chunks of cookie dough, hot fudge brownies and banana splits. For those with a sweet tooth, Spoons is like walking into a dream.

One of Spoons' colossal shakes topped with warm glazed doughnuts and a scoop of ice cream. Source: Lily Fernald '24