Capital Region Dining Guide
Century-old dining rooms, river-city brewpubs and racing-season favorites.
Capital Region dining reflects its mix of state government, colleges and summer visitors. Albany has old-guard dining rooms near the Capitol and casual spots around Lark Street and the Warehouse District; Troy has a younger scene of brewpubs, pizza and cafes in historic buildings; Saratoga Springs has the most restaurants for its size, many busiest during racing season; and Schenectady keeps a strong Italian tradition around North Jay Street.
Book ahead in Saratoga from mid-July through Labor Day, when tables and hotel rooms fill with racing fans. In Albany, weekday lunch is busy near the Capitol while the legislature is in session, usually from January into June.
Albany
Classic dining rooms and neighborhood favorites.
Open since 1913 and run by the same family, a few blocks from the Capitol.
Founded in 1986 by chef Yono Purnomo, with modern American dishes and Indonesian specialties.
An intimate Italian restaurant serving Albany since 1982.
A family-owned breakfast and lunch spot with a garden patio near Washington Park.
A downtown restaurant with a music stage, good before or after a show.
A German-style beer hall and garden with sausages and long communal tables.
Troy
Brewpubs, pizza and a weekly market in a Victorian downtown.
Saturday stalls of local produce, baked goods and prepared food, year-round.
A brewery taproom in an old riverfront building on River Street.
Wood-fired pizza in a historic downtown building, billed as antique pizza in an antique town.
Saratoga Springs
Broadway dining rooms and racing-season traditions.
Southern cooking since 1938, famous for fried chicken that won a Bobby Flay Throwdown.
A Broadway restaurant serving brunch, lunch and dinner with wood-fired dishes.
A Saratoga bakery since 1977, known for pastries and breads.
Seafood flown in daily and aged prime beef in an upscale downtown dining room.
A small cocktail bar with a seasonal food menu on lively Caroline Street.
A racing-season tradition next to the track for more than 75 years, open during the summer meet.
A market and cafe with prepared foods, sandwiches and wine, handy for a picnic at the track.
A local brewpub group with house beers and pub food in several Capital Region cities.
Schenectady
Italian bread and Little Italy.
A family bakery in Little Italy for more than a century, known for its crusty Italian bread.
Restaurants change hours, menus and ownership often — check with the restaurant before you go. Listings are editorial picks, not paid placements.
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Get free trip quotes »the Capital Region Dining — FAQ
Do I need reservations in Saratoga during racing season?
Yes, for dinner on Broadway and near the track from mid-July through Labor Day, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and Travers weekend.
Where can I eat near the Capitol in Albany?
Jack's Oyster House and Yono's are a short walk from the Capitol, and the Empire State Plaza concourse has quick lunch counters on weekdays.