New Culinary Gems of Glens Falls

February 1, 2025

The up-and-coming town of Glens Falls has some new gems that have entered the local scene. From a chic cocktail lounge to an eclectic bakery that’s open at night (perfect for a post-bar treat), downtown Glens Falls has something in store for everyone.

The Golden Monkey Lounge opened in October of 2023, and quickly gained local interest in its first year open. The lounge has an elevated yet relaxing atmosphere, with a sleek, black interior, low-lighting, and approachable seating including couches and high-top tables. Tables each have family games including Cards Against Humanity, What Do You Meme, and you’ll even find cornhole on the back patio in the warmer months.

Right next door, you’ll find Taco Kings Jalisco, a new Mexican restaurant with at-the-counter ordering. Soon after opening, they also bought the section next-door and opened it up for sit-down service. Their quesadillas are a crowd favorite, and their guacamole is delicious. They’re open late night, too. Make sure to try their homemade chips and guac, enchiladas, taquitos, and giant burritos. You can’t go wrong with anything here.

Kitch a Vibe opened in 2024 with a soft opening in the early summer. This charming spot is not just a bakery, but a place to unwind, socialize, and create art. Each section of the wrap-around interior has a unique “vibe.” Each room has hand-painted wall murals. The back entrance opens up to a dimly-lit room adorned with floor pillows, board games, books on health and astrology, and even has a small TV with a selection of VCR-tape movies to choose from. It’s truly an atmosphere like no other.

All baked goods are definitely “out of the ordinary.” Flavor combinations like lavender and sage, cookie butter, earl grey tea and pumpkin shortbread are explicatory of the owner’s style. The owner advocates for the mind-body connection and believes that eating is a direct exchange of energy – which is why she only puts the best, freshest ingredients into her creations. Kitch a Vibe currently serves weekend brunch, light dinnertime appetizers, and baked goods all day long.

Also on South Street, in the space that used to house Craft on 9, is the new Southpaw Bistro. Southpaw serves Southern American cuisine, with a carefully picked menu to highlight comfort and warmth with an upscale flair. Appetizers and shareable plates include hand-cut frites, hush puppies, fried local green tomatoes, and dinner specials including shrimp and grits, steaks, ramen and fried chicken. The menu also odes to seasonality and locally sourced foods, as menus change with the season.

On Bay Street, another Mexican restaurant just the opened. The well-loved Tres Mijas food truck just opened their first storefront restaurant! The chefs here give an authentic spin to your favorites, and have the best queso dip around. They also have tortas, a Mexican-style sandwich on fresh, house-made telera roll. They also have a “stack wrap,” with all the fillings on top of crispy toastada shells, wrapped in a flour tortilla. And don’t skip out on dessert, their churros are delicious.

Coming soon to Glens Falls is Buono Notte Cafe, a father-son business that has chosen to expand their catering business to a small, dine-in experience on Bay Street downtown. The owner, Robert, nodded to serving a “real” Italian dining experience, as he himself is Italian and lived in Queens, NY until 2019. While the restaurant will only seat about 25 people at a given time, Robert explained that quality and consistency are of utmost importance over quantity.

There are plenty of gems in the local area, from Saratoga to Lake George, but all you truly need is here in town. Glens Falls’ restaurant scene is definitely growing, and it feels great to give to local small businesses who truly care about their customers.