Stroudsburg, PA
Stroudsburg PA is an eclectic town in the Pocono Mountains that boasts a unique mix of shops, galleries, live entertainment, and historic sites. Alive with the energy of the people who live and work here and steeped in the history of the town’s founders and everyone who has called Stroudsburg home, this little town is a fun option to explore on your next trip to or through the Poconos.
Video Travel Guide
Explore the Pocono Mountains With Us!
Here’s an insider’s peek at what you can expect to find when YOU set out to explore this town in the Pocono Mountains, which is just under two hours from Philly, New York or Lancaster.
From an authentic Irish Pub to an Italian inspired feast by a Michelin Star Chef, we were surprised to find that this little town is not small when it comes to food and flavor! From morning espressos and cafe breakfasts, to supper time feasts and winery pop ins, we found Stroudsburg has something for everyone and a whole lot to offer.
Where to Stay
The Penn Stroud
If you’re looking for a place to stay, Penn Stroud, a historic icon since 1833, has been renovated with modern amenities while preserving its historic stature and is the perfect hub in the middle of everything that Stroudsburg has to offer.
Small Town - Big Flavor
Pocono Mountains Food & Drink
From an authentic Irish Pub to an Italian inspired feast by a Michelin Star Chef, we were surprised to find that this little town is not small when it comes to food and flavor! From morning espressos and cafe breakfasts, to supper time feasts and winery pop ins, we found Stroudsburg has something for everyone and a whole lot to offer.
If you’re looking for memorable sip or something to savor, here’s our list of some spots you won’t want to miss when it’s time to fuel up:
Siamsa Irish Pub
Siamsa is an authentic Irish pub in the heart of the Poconos, with indoor and outdoor seating options, an extensive food menu and a great selection of beers on tap. We loved learning about some of the building’s history as a former bank and found the pub fare to be a solid start to our weekend of eating, shopping, and exploring through this little town in the Pocono Mountains.
The French-feeling striped awning caught my attention, but Cafe Duet is more than just a pretty face. From a morning latte (or triple espresso with oat milk) to late afternoon pick-me-ups, this cafe packs a flavorful punch all on it’s own. Fancy sandwiches like Pastrami & Kimchi or a Roasted Mushroom with Smoked Gruyere Croissant will tempt you to come back for lunch if it’s the avocado toast and java that gets you started! Whatever time of day you pop in, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something tasty and exciting to leave with. Another early morning perk is watching the farmers market get setup in the square from the window.
Kitchen Chemistry
Kitchen Chemistry is a custom bakery and sweetshop offering a full array of beautiful and colorful sweet treats. We loved the opportunity to decorate our own cupcakes to bring home with the master baker!
They offer cupcake decorating classes and at home kits as well as beautiful and unique special occasion cakes and everyday favorites in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. We also loved the fun gift section in the shop filled with fun kitchen gadgets, aprons, and tools of the trade!
Renegade Winery & Charcuterie
The rock and roll vibe and welcoming atmosphere at Renegade Winery is great. Beyond the winery marquis that welcomes visitors in, there’s an open and inviting place to come together. Renegade prides itself in their unconventional approach to wine and winemaking. The region’s first urban concept winery, they’re known for walking the line between tradition and innovation when it comes to wine making. A stately bar, small tables and larger comfy gathering spaces offer visitors lots of seating options to listen to live music.
Add in the enthusiastic staff, and this produces the perfect vibe to gather, taste samples, relax and be inspired. We tried a little bit of everything from dry reds, whites and rose’ to sweet reds, whites and some innovative blends and fruit wines. We loved the option to order a charcuterie board direct to our table from sister property The Charcuterie and we took some wine home to keep the Live, Love, Revolt, spirit alive at home too!
We loved the breakfast hash and the people watching, the warm welcome and the quick coffee refills at Cure Cafe.
Momento
Okay, the crème de la crème of our visit to Stroudsburg and the number one reason we’re recommending our friends visit too, is the Momento Restaurant. The meal we had at Momento, as well as our interactions with Chef Nicola Mersini and his incredibly visionary staff soar to the top of our Pocono Mountains dining experience! The perfect balance of an elite dining experience in an approachable and warmly inviting setting, Memento soars with Italian Michelin Star Chef Nicola and his incredible team creating masterful dishes that are not only show-stoppingly beautiful, but actually, truly, honestly, out-of-this-world delicious! Memento boasts an extensive menu featuring fresh takes on classic dishes (my teenage daughter loved the fettucini alfredo and the calamari starter), or you can opt like we did, for the tasting menu.
Captain's Tasting
The Captain’s Tasting is six (Yes, SIX) Chef-chosen courses that includes seafood, truffles, and the most delectable wagyu ever! Each course was sommelier-paired with the perfect wine accompaniment and every plate from course number one through dessert was absolute poetry.
We were truly blown away by every aspect of this experience and highly recommend that foodies make the trip to Momento, and all Stroudsburg visitors add this restaurant to your itinerary!
Things to Do
Pocono Mountains Adventures!
This small town packs a punch as far as things to do and places to explore. From the winter market in the center of town to the waterfall at the edge, there are countless shops to pop in and out of, each one feeling like it’s own unique destination to explore. We loved decorating our own cupcakes at Kitchen Chemistry, getting personally styled at the Apple Tree boutique, and following the trail of bubbles that lead to Pocono Soap! With stunning light displays, and quirky works of public art along the way, we found color and whimsy in unexpected places and lot’s to explore along the way.
The Monroe winter farmers market brings Courthouse Square to life every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Vendors line the street with stands offering local produce, cheeses, meats, local honey, fresh baked breads and bakery goods, jams, coffees, wine, mead, Sake and more! We loved tasting our way around the market and meeting local purveyors passionate about their craft. Sango Kura, Pennsylvania’s first and only Sake Brewery caught our eye with their unique labels and offerings. We came home with Sake to enjoy! We also took home baked items from Apple Ridge Farm and our favorites from the wine tasting we did with our new friends at Mount Bethel Farms. There’s nothing like a local market to help visitors get a sense of the people and passions that make a community special and unique, the Monroe Farmer’s Market gave us the opportunity to meet and sample some of the best that the Pocono Mountains have to offer!
The Historical Association
If you’ve been with us before, you know we love exploring the history of places, people and things. The Monroe County Historical Association encompasses the Stroud Mansion which we toured on our visit. The Stroud Mansion museum offers four floors of exhibit space highlighting the history of Monroe County and is a treasure trove of vintage items to explore and engage your senses. We loved learning about the Stroud family and their contributions to the town as well as seeing the unique items that have been donated and preserved through the historical society over time. It’s so fascinating to learn about a place through the collected artifacts of the people who live there.
Pocono Soap
The gift shop that has something for everyone! We LITERALLY followed a trail of (bubble machine) bubbles from our hotel to Pocono Soap! With a delicious array of unique soaps and bath products that help make the whole place smell divine, Pocono Soap is a fun place to browse around and a great place to find something interesting and beautiful to bring home from your trip. I left with the world’s softest scarf and best smelling soaps. My teenage daughter came away with beautiful rose quartz crystals, candles, bracelets and unique sticker decals.
The gift shop that has something for everyone! We LITERALLY followed a trail of (bubble machine) bubbles from our hotel to Pocono Soap! With a delicious array of unique soaps and bath products that help make the whole place smell divine, Pocono Soap is a fun place to browse around and a great place to find something interesting and beautiful to bring home from your trip. I left with the world’s softest scarf and best smelling soaps. My teenage daughter came away with beautiful rose quartz crystals, candles, bracelets and unique sticker decals.
The Apple Tree
We love boutique shopping with talented and knowledgeable stylists! The Apple Tree is an oasis of fashion and fun finds. With unique and high quality pieces, we loved the thoughtfully curated collection of staple and special occasion clothing, accessories and statement pieces that we found at the Apple Tree. We also really appreciated the energy and attention that owner Sharon and her team show to their customers.
The boutique is intentional about giving back to women in the community through community events and philanthropy. If you leave without something you had your eye on, you can order it online and have it shipped to you.
Ann St. Park
Within walking distance of downtown Stroudsburg’s shops, restaurants and wineries, is a small “pocket park” with a waterfall view. You can find the park located on the corner of Ann Street and Broad Street. A small paved entryway leads to the scenic overlook that offers a close up view of the rushing waterfall from McMichaels Creek.
A great photo spot, the park was empty except for the occasional dog walker and provided a quiet place to regroup and make plans for what to do next.
Thanks to Pocono Tourism for hosting us and helping us map out this visit!
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One Response
Great article on the Poconos! My husband and I run a short term rental in the Poconos (http://www.fiveoclocklodge.com) and love the area. We wish more people knew about all the great outdoor activities and parks.