America’s Best Small Arts and Culture Town Is a Mecca for Theater, History, and Charming Hospitality

Located in the heart of the “genius belt,” New Hope, Pennsylvania, is building on its long-standing reputation as a progressive arts and culture hub with new hotels, shops, and restaurants.

For a small town with just a few thousand residents, New Hope has an outsize reputation. The Bucks County borough on the edge of the Delaware River is the birthplace of early-20th-century Pennsylvania Impressionism; the location where countless stars of the stage, from Liza Minnelli to Robert Redford, got their start; one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations in the U.S.; and the muse of George Nakashima, a founding father of the American Studio Craft movement whose workshop still operates on the outskirts of town to this day. Add to that its location, about an hour from both New York City and Philadelphia, and it’s no surprise that modern-day creatives continue to gather here, injecting their own flair to its enduring natural beauty, long-established artistic culture, and quirky charm.

New Hope’s origin story says it all: Previously known as Coryell’s Ferry, the town was rechristened in the 1800s after a devastating mill fire. The name was selected to bring hope back to the community, to inspire a new sense of joy and prosperity. That spirit continues today, says David Myers, a New Hope local and president of Bridge Hospitality, which opened the River House at Odette’s hotel in 2020. “New Hope is a town for all,” says Myers. “The residents and people here hold ourselves accountable to a high level of expectation of inclusivity and kindness.”

Here's everything you need to know before visiting New Hope, including how to get there, where to stay, and what to do.

Why New Hope Is the Best Food and Culture Town in the U.S. for 2024

“There’s a reason they call this the genius belt,” says Michael Traupman, director of marketing for the Bucks County Playhouse. “Authors, playwrights, actors, artists — they all flocked here. Dorothy Parker, James A. Michener, Charlie Parker, and George Kaufman all called Bucks County home at some point.”

While many of the most recognizable names in art and theater have put New Hope on the worldwide stage, a new generation of tastemakers is continuing to give visitors the curtain-up treatment. The hotel welcoming them with open arms — and a healthy dose of dramatic flair — is the River House at Odette’s.

Beloved mainstays like Farley’s Bookshop and restaurant The Salt House have cultlike followings — especially after a recent renovation by chef-owner Steven Lau — while newcomers and returning natives like Sean Paben and Emily Paige Paben, co-owners of The Meanings of Things, have arrived in recent years, drawn as much to the creative culture as to the small-town vibes.

New Hope is packed end to end with more of that idiosyncratic and intellectual allure, all crammed into just 1.4 utterly charming square miles. Catch dinner and a Broadway-worthy show at the Bucks County Playhouse; dine on the fruits (and produce and meats) of Pennsylvania’s fabled farms at Stella; go around the world in more than a dozen cuisines — and shop local makers while you’re at it — at Ferry Market; catch live tunes at the Piano Lounge at the River House at Odette’s; and uncover a trove of recherché antiques and curios at any number of quirky shops dotting the town: Exquisite Earth (for rare stones and jewelry), God Save the Qweens (for vintage-punk vibes and loads of Dr. Martens), and Artichaut (for French-country decor).

Where to Stay

River House at Odette’s

Named after Odette Myrtil, whose cabaret club stood for decades on this very spot, River House at Odette’s is a glamorous ode, featuring 38 rooms and suites dressed in vibrant florals and punchy patterns. In keeping with the location’s history, the casual-cool restaurant, Odette’s, puts on live music several nights a week. Head to the rooftop club — a local members’ club that’s also open to hotel guests — for alfresco cocktails and bites overlooking the Delaware River.

Things to Do

Catch a performance.

Built on the site of the 18th-century New Hope gristmill that gave the town its name, the Bucks County Playhouse is an esteemed institution with a direct line to Broadway. “By and large, we cast and rehearse in New York City,” says Traupman. “A number of highly recognizable Broadway names cut their teeth here.” Indeed, Grace Kelly, Angela Lansbury, and Dick Van Dyke have all performed on its stage. Catch Broadway classics like Grease, original productions like Last of the Red Hot Mamas, a musical about the vaudeville starlet Sophie Tucker; or the theater’s annual run of Richard O’Brien’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show.

Be inspired by nature.

New Hope’s captivating landscapes inspired the early-1900s Pennsylvania School of Painting, a cornerstone of American Impressionism. Paint yourself into the scenery today by kayaking or canoeing the Delaware River thanks to Bucks County River Country rentals. Or, explore on dry land at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 134 acres of parkland that’s home to 4.5 miles of nature trails dotted with native plants like the dazzling eastern redbud.

Hit the museum trail.

Go to the Michener Art Museum to see the works of Pennsylvania Impressionist masters such as Edward W. Redfield, whose plein-air paintings prominently feature New Hope landmarks — and continue to inspire the artists who line the riverfront with their own easels today. The museum is also home to the Nakashima Reading Room, a meditative retreat filled with legendary woodworker George Nakashima’s creations. More Nakashima can be experienced at the George Nakashima House, Studio, and Workshop, a by-appointment-only, 12-acre complex with 21 buildings that served as the artist’s family homes and studio spaces.

Shop and eat local.

“What keeps New Hope’s unspoiled charm intact is its ability to stay small and noncommercialized,” says Myers. Local businesses are the lifeline of the borough, whether on bustling Main Street or at the farms on the outskirts of town. Find our shopping and dining recommendations below.

Where to Shop

The Meanings of Things

Magnolia Home alumni Emily Paige Paben (a native of New Hope) and Sean Paben are the creative forces behind The Meanings of Things, an eye-candy-filled boutique on North Main Street. Tucked behind its tidy, olive-green facade lined with flowers and ivy is a menagerie of their favorite bits and baubles, from delicate handmade paper flowers to the modern Impressionist landscapes of local artist Michelle Farro.

Farley’s Bookstore

Intellectual gathering place, community center, and historic monument — Farley’s Bookshop is all of these things. The fiercely treasured New Hope institution is revered as much for its curated selection of titles as for the early 19th-century building it has resided in since 1971.

Black Shed

Just across the river in Stockton, New Jersey, Black Shed is a multi-hyphenate concept from landscape designer Joe Liana and partner Laith Abdulkareem. The garden center outside turns into an aesthete’s dream inside, where decor from around the globe comes together in vibrant vignettes of ceramics, floral arrangements, and furnishings. An all-day café serves fresh pastries and lattes; weekends are filled with cocktails in the bar and events spotlighting local chefs and musicians.

Where to Eat and Drink

Playhouse Deck

A 2018 expansion of the Bucks County Playhouse included the addition of the riverfront Playhouse Deck, which serves American fare like truffle mac and cheese and sea scallops with corn and blistered tomatoes, amid theater memorabilia. (Don’t miss the 1964 photo of Liza Minnelli in front of the playhouse ticket window, taken before a performance of Time Out for Ginger.) Even better every dollar spent at the restaurant supports the nonprofit playhouse and its mission to build more theater opportunities for all.

The Salt House

Located behind Farley’s Bookshop, the recently renovated Salt House is a legend in its own right, occupying a circa-1751 stone building filled with intimate nooks and crannies. Have lunch in the library lounge or on the riverfront brick patio. For dinner, join owner and executive chef Steven Lau at the Fireside Chef’s Table, where Nantucket Sound sea scallops and Wellfleet oysters are paired with wines from his own Napa Valley vineyard.

Manoff Market Gardens

The ne plus ultra of farmers markets, Manoff does it all (and lets you do some of it, too): pick your own peaches and apples by the pound; sip artisanal ciders, brandies, and eau-de-vies during regular cider nights; and shop house-made and handcrafted indulgences, from apple butter and apple toffee to bouquets and fragrant soaps.

Stella

Overlooking a stretch of the Delaware River where artists regularly gather to paint New Hope’s famous landscapes, Stella offers dishes heavy on locally grown apples, corn, and beets, as well as farm-raised chicken, duck, and pork, all sourced from within the state.

Roof

Roof, a members-only lounge located on the top level of the River House at Odette’s, unlocks its doors to hotel guests, too. The VIP vibe plays out in arguably the best views of the Delaware River, but the scene is as charming as you’d expect in this town, with casual New England-inspired fare and low-key live music.

Ferry Market

Ferry Market is the gastronomic embodiment of New Hope’s come-one, come-all ethos, with a dozen vendors specializing in different global cuisines. Peruvian empanadas, Brazilian burgers, Japanese crepes, and Moroccan eggplant salad are all on the menu — as are local favorites like Market Pizza and SkyRoast Coffee.

Best Times to Visit

New Hope’s strong sense of community and busy cultural calendar keep the borough occupied all year round. Summer is peak season, and hotel rates — and traffic — reflect that. For a more laid-back introduction, opt for a shoulder-season visit. April, May, September, and October enjoy crisp but comfortable temperatures, climbing as high as the 70s during the day and making outdoor activities enjoyable. Farmers markets and other seasonal attractions remain open well into these months. Winters are brisk and sometimes snowy, but no less engaging thanks to plenty of indoor diversions.

New Hope’s annual Pride Parade takes place every May, while fall brings the New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival.

How to Get There

New Hope is around 70 miles by car from New York City and just 40 miles from downtown Philadelphia. The closest airport, approximately 10 miles away, is New Jersey’s Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), a hub for Frontier Airlines that serves cities throughout the Southeast. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) are about 50 and 60 miles away, respectively.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.