Honesdale has landed on the public radar in recent years as one of the small Pocono towns experiencing a sort of renaissance. It has all the right ingredients: charming Victorian architecture, a walkable main street lined with independent, locally owned businesses, rich American history, and natural splendor in all directions. Even before the pandemic Pocono real estate explosion, Honesdale gained traction with the arrival of some hip new restaurants and shops and the reinstatement of its railroad rides. These days, a six-year revitalization plan is under way, and Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget earmarks another $100,000 on top of over $600,000 in recent years towards strengthening Honesdale’s main street and small businesses. Despite the signs of growth, the town remains small, quiet and locally sustained with its historic origins integral to the visitor experience.
Honesdale was once called Dyberry Forks, as it’s where the Dyberry Creek connects with the Lackawaxen River. It was one of the Pocono locations rich with anthracite coal, noted in the early 19th century by Philadelphian William Wurts, who went on to build a coal empire. Honesdale grew out of the coal industry and coal played an key part in its legacy. It was one terminus of the 100-mile D&H Canal, installed and used to ferry coal up to New York City. Honesdale was named for D&H Canal Company President, Philip Hone, in 1929. That same year, the country’s first steam locomotive, The Stourbridge Lion, took its inaugural journey from the town. You can see a replica of this locomotive in town. It birthed the commercial railroading in America, which ultimately replaced canal usage.
Another Honesdale claim to fame is Highlights, or Highlights for Children, the magazine founded and first issued in Honesdale in 1946. It’s gone on to exceed one billion copies in print, a pretty remarkable feat. The headquarters eventually moved to Ohio, but the Highlights Foundation, a nonprofit, now exists in the former home of Highlights founders Garry and Caroline Myers. You can visit the campus and stay for a personal or group retreat.
Honesdale is hugged by the Lackawaxen River, which runs along the east side of downtown, crossing over at both its northern and southern ends. Bordering along the west side of downtown is the rail line, with ongoing excursions available. It sits in a valley, with tall hills and mountains around it. As the county seat of Wayne County, Honesdale exhibits a lot of Wayne Country pride. It’s home to the Wayne County Courthouse and plays host to the annual nine-day Wayne County Fair every August. It’s a great place for a getaway any time of year, with summer allowing you to enjoy its walkability, and in winter, its coziness. See a ton in a weekend, or spread out and enjoy the foothills and greenery with a longer stay.
Where to Eat
If fresh bagels and hot breakfast sandwiches sound good to you, kick off your day at Camp Umpy’s Bagels & Stuff. Lean into its fun, campy, summer lake vibe with canoe shelves and paddles and chunky pine wood tables and stools as you order off spunky, casual breakfast, lunch and beverage menus, all served all day. The mouthwatering boiled bagel menu has all the hits and more, like egg, sesame, cheddar jalapeño, chocolate chip and rainbow bagels with schmears including lox, cucumber dill and maple walnut raisin and other toppings like avocado, hummus or jelly. They have standard egg, meat and cheese brekkie sandwiches, and next level options like Lox-N-Loaded with Nova Scotia lox, capers, tomato and red onions and the Big Sexy with roast beef, double egg and caramelized onions. The lunch menu offers a substantial array of sandos, including a turkey club, BLT&A, chicken and tuna salad and creative veggie options. You can power-up with an espresso, coffee or chai drink (there’s a mug library for your convenience!) or get a little crazy with something like the Hopped Up Frog, which combined Red Bull and green apple over ice. Camp Umpy’s is open every day but Tuesday at 7 a.m. 622 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-0333.
Stourbridge Bistro is a sweet little breakfast and lunch spot with baked goods made on premise. For breakfast, choose from lots of great French toast, pancake and omelette options like banana bread French toast or a meat lover’s omelette. The lunch menu offers salads, subs, clubs, flatbreads, burgers and hot sandwiches like French dip or a beer-battered fish sandwich. Don’t skip Stourbridge’s baked goods for dessert, with ever-rotating goodies like peach turnover, strawberry crunch cake and carrot cake. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 823 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 616-4700.
Laurel’s Hometown Cafe is another popular spot for breakfast or lunch. It’s open six days at 6 a.m., later (7 a.m.) on Sundays, closing daily at 3:30 p.m. There are sandwiches and quesadillas for lunch, but breakfast might be where you want to focus. Build-your-own omelettes offer 10 meat options and loads of cheeses and veggies to mix and match. There are also multiple French toast and pancakes options including gluten-free versions of both, sweet potato pancakes and challah French toast. And you can try eggs any style with meat and potatoes (homefries or hashbrowns) and add ons like sausage gravy and cream chip beef. Sit inside or spread out just outside where there’s painted sidewalk hopscotch for bouncy kiddos. 526 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-4774.
Branko’s Patisserie is another charming breakfast and lunch spot on Main Street with a simple but elegant French-inspired menu. Sit in the cozy, shabby-chic interior or enjoy the fresh air out front, sip a maple macchiato and try items like Alsatian-style French onion soup, buttery fresh brie baked in puff pastry or a provencal roasted leg of lamb. There’s a glass counter with pastry and desserts if you’d like to finish up on a sweet note. Branko’s is only open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so plan accordingly. 501 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-0311.
Paulie’s Hot Dogs is a super fun stop for a quick and tasty meal. The menu includes a slew of weiners, like the Pennsylvania Dog with chili, sauerkraut and brown mustard and the Coney Island Dog with a Sabrett frank, chili, chopped onions and yellow mustard. It’s full-service kitchen extends well beyond dogs into other fair style foods, offering popular cheesesteaks, loaded fries and fresh-made funnel cakes. There’s plenty of seating inside and out, and kids young and old will enjoy the arcade on-premise complete with skee-ball, digital slots and pool table. It’s open all day, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight on weekends), though closed Sunday and Monday. 403 Park St., Honesdale; (570) 253-1998.
Dyberry Forks is a popular, upscale casual go-to for vegan eaters and carnivores alike, as the kitchen crafts both with care. Vegans can enjoy appetizers like artichoke cakes with sriracha mayo and entrees including a plant-based burger on a brioche, jackfruit tacos in wonton shells and roasted cauliflower with pistachio pesto. Meat eaters can dig into brisket nachos or gluten-free prosciutto truffle burrata to start before moving on to a Wagyu burger, pork schnitzel with pecorino sauce or sticky ribs with coconut rice. Dyberry Forks connects with local farmers and producers for ingredients like Honesdale’s own Anthill Farm Agroforestry and Calkin’s Creamery. Head here for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 5 p.m. 939 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-2266.
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Bá & Me is a bright, lovely Vietnamese eatery with two New York locations and one in Honesdale, which offers lunch, dinner and coffee. Enjoy incredible Vietnamese cooking with Viet-American favorites like bánh mi, pho, dumplings, and rice and noodle bowls. Patrons are wowed by the fresh flavors in fan favorites like five-spice chicken noodle bowl and garden vegetable summer rolls. Try dessert, like a slice of house-made flan to finish up on a sweet note before cruising into the rest of your day. Bá & Me is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. and serves dinner Friday and Saturday only from 5 – 8 p.m. 1008 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 352-7213.
If you need a pizza fix, Honesdale has a few options for you. Eleganté Ristoranté & Pizzeria and Scarfalloto’s Towne House are both downtown, and Gretchen’s Grotto is just a 1-minute drive or 7-minute walk northwest. Eleganté, open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Sundays, offers dine-in, takeout and delivery of its NYC and Sicilian style pies including chicken parmesan pizza and shrimp and garlic pizza, in addition to traditional pasta and baked dishes like lasagna and eggplant parmesan. Scarfalotto’s has a massive diner menu with many Neapolitan and Sicilian pie choices with options like Hawaiian and meat lover’s for dine-in or takeout. It’s open daily at 6 a.m., closing after dinner every day but Tuesday when it closes at 2 p.m. Gretchen’s, which opens at 11 a.m. dailyhas a cozy, family restaurant vibe complete with the sliced Italian bread in a basket with little butter packets alongside. Its thin and crispy pizza is available by the pie or slice, dine-in or takeout, and diners can also feast on great lunch specials like grilled chicken pesto panini and pulled pork totchos, posted to its Facebook page, or large portion Italian dinners, like veal marsala. It’s closed Sunday and Monday. 851 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-3244, 920 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-1311 and 652 W Park St., Honesdale; (570) 253-6263.
Native is a must-stop eatery for visitors to Honesdale. The upscale, inventive menu combines an urban sensibility with a fierce dedication local sourcing. You’ll find a list of area farmers, producers and purveyors along the wall and throughout the menu, which is shareable in nature – but with plenty of options for you to have a dish to yourself. Pastas and proteins figure prominently, like house-made ricotta cavatelli with mushroom ragu and parmesan, Carolina-style BBQ smoked pork and mac and cheese, smoked duck rilette and a pork rib chop. You’ll find vegetarian and gluten-free options too, like grilled cauliflower with a tomato artichoke tapenade and almond praline and a bevy of provocative, irresistible desserts like tomato sorbet, flaky stone fruit galette with ice cream and a chevre cheesecake. Make a reservation – they will fill up – or roll the dice for a bar or outdoor seat. The service and food is divine wherever you land. Native is open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 – 9 p.m. 560 Main St #B, Honesdale; (570) 647-4933.
Tick Tocks on Terrace is a local favorite for a yummy meal and room to spread out. You can eat in the dining room, a bar area with high tops or on the sizable, umbrellaed deck. It’s open for lunch and dinner, late morning through evening, Wednesday through Sunday. There are lots of fried starters: cheese curds, poutine, pot stickers, onion rings, fried pickles and calamari for example, and then a hefty burger and sandwich selection, and classic, Italian-leaning entree options like steaks, gnocchi and seafood. Wednesday night is seafood night and Sunday is pasta night, with great specials, and there’s a daily happy hour from 4 – 6 p.m. with 50% off draft beers and house wines. If you want to go all out, try one of its house-made desserts like peanut butter pie with graham cracker crust. 760 Terrace St., Honesdale; (570) 253-3733.
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Be Kind Bake House, next door to Native, has a fantastic array of scratch made baked goods, with its ever-changing menu posted regularly on its Instagram page. Try classic and matcha brownies, cheesecake and morning buns or choose from cookies like chocolate chip, ginger and raspberry rosewater. For a savory turn, go with the daily options like galette, stuffed bagel bites and cheese twists, or the bread of the day. There are muffins, scones, pies and gluten and dairy-sensitive choices galore, so make this a regular stop on your route and try to keep up. Be Kind is open Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 560 Main St. Suite C, Honesdale; (570) 229-6600.
Gravity Ice Cream, home of the “dollar cone,” is a local favorite and awesome spot to scratch any ice cream itch. There’s soft serve, hand-scooped, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, egg cream, slushies, dole whips and lots more. Indulge your four-legged pal in a frosty paw and tuck into an apple crumb or salted chocolate sundae, a black raspberry shake or a classic-style banana egg cream or root beer float. The famed dollar cone, a miniature cake cone with vanilla, chocolate or twist soft serve really hits the spot without pushing you over the edge. Gravity is open every day, noon to “9ish.” 106 6th St., Honesdale; (570) 253-0445.
Where to Drink
For a caffeine fix with a view, check out Black & Brass Coffee Roasting Co., just a few minutes outside of downtown. The Honesdale location is one of three Black & Brass coffee houses in the Poconos, and it sits along a lovely waterfall. Enjoy all kinds of coffee and tea plus small treats, and cozy up at a table, on a couch or out by the waterfall. There’s free wi-fi and friendly service. It’s open every day, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 102 US-6, Honesdale; (570) 253-1248.
Here & Now Brewing Company landed in our drinking category, but don’t sleep on its food. It’s a hopping spot with outdoor and open air seating, offering a beirhaul kind of vibe. Dining-wise, there’s a bunch of great pizza like The Dinner Party with ricotta base, broccolini, prosciutto and roasted garlic oil, and smaller bites like chicken liver mousse, duck fat fries and creamy cauliflower soup. The beer is brewed there on a seven barrel steam system, with selections like a wet-hopped saison, a roast-y Irish red ale and a Mosaic hop IPA, to name a few. If you don’t like beer, try a craft cocktail like the lavender mule with ginger beer. Right next door is Here & Now’s gift shop with cool graphic tees, sweatshirts, hats and more. It’s open in the evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and from 1 – 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 645 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-0700.
Joey Boba Bubble Tea & Donuts is a welcoming little tea house with a tropical snack shack feel. The flavors will make your mouth water: Papaya Don’t Preach, Isabel’s Bussin Blueberry and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chonker, for example. You can have your boba hot, iced or frozen and opt for upgrades like peach, pomegranate and rainbow crystal. Owner Joey also has pop-up specials, like quesabirria pop-up dinners with pan-friend mozzarella on corn tortillas with an array of savory, saucy proteins available ’til sell-out. If Joey is there, don’t hesitate to say hello.
The Wine Room at Hotel Wayne is a new addition to hotel and its existing, higher-end Bistro 1202. This eye-catching hotel was originally built in 1827 and holds a stately, looming presence as downtown’s northern bookend. The wine lounge and store allow you to sip or eat in, or take out. Patrons enjoy casual bites like steak and tacos while unwinding with a nice vino, indoors or out. While you’re there, check out the Lackawaxen flowing across the street, and cross the pedestrian bridge for serene river views. 1202 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-3290.
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Runaway Train Brewery is a new watering hole at the north end of the rail tracks on the west side of town, offering up craft beers and super-tasty nosh. The train-themed brews run the gamut from Wet Your Whistle, a low ABV blonde pub ale to double IPA Tunnel Vision at 8.1%, and lots in between including the Day Tripper American IPA and Lucky Ticket, a dry Irish stout. Appetizers like beer sourdough pretzel sticks with beer cheese hit the mark, and the BBQ trio of wings, ribs and brisket is something of a pub-style holy trinity. Handhelds include a Cuban sandwich, big old burger, Asian chicken and a black bean veggie wrap. There are happy hour specials Wednesday through Friday, plus trivia nights, beer pong and live music. Runaway Train is open Wednesday through Sunday with varied hours. 2 Chapel St., Honesdale; (570) 228-2899.
For rustic-gourmet excursion, head about 25 minutes away to Second District Brew Farm, one of our favorite beer gardens in all of Pennsylvania. It’s a bucolic paradise, with rolling meadow views and a wood-fired menu. Second District is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to dark. Pets are welcome on the grounds and there’s cornhole, horseshoe and other games to play as you sip on a beautiful array of brews. At Second District, you’re only a stone’s throw away from Calkins Creamery, a dairy farm with divine artisanal cheeses for purchase, and well worth a stop. The creamery is open every day but Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 163 Fallsdale Rd., Milanville; (570) 616-1344 and 288 Calkins Rd., Honesdale; (570) 729-8103.
Antler Ridge Winery & Pub sits just a quick walk or 1 minute drive west of downtown, next to Gretchen’s Grotto, and offers a pleasant wine drinking experience with great BBQ to boot. It’s only open Friday and Saturday, noon and 11 a.m. til 7 p.m., respectively. The winery’s portfolio has all different styles, leaning a bit towards the sweet end of the spectrum. That said, you can enjoy a dry Chambourcin or Chardonnay, a semi-sweet Riesling or embrace the sweetness of its fruit wines and fan favorite Red Vixen, a concord table wine. The food is tasty and casual: fries, wings, pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, for example, and there’s beer for the non-winos among you. 654 West Park St. (Route 6), Honesdale; (570) 253-7878.
What to Do
For a truly spectacular view, check out Irving Cliff in Gibbons Park. There’s a parking lot just a minute from the overlook, and a one-mile hiking trail adjacent, which takes you down the mountainous terrain… and then back up. The cliff is named for Washington Irving, author of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, who scaled the rock face in order to take in the splendor. The site also once housed a glorious 125-room hotel that burnt down one month before its grand opening in 1889. These days, you can sit and enjoy views of downtown Honesdale, the Lackawaxen River and Dyberry Creek and the distant Moosic Mountains. 202 Gibbons Park Rd., Honesdale; no phone.
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Hop aboard The Stourbridge Line train for an easy ride along the Lackawaxen River Valley in a vintage rail car. The regular Pocono Express ride to nearby Hawley and 1.5 hours out and back. Rides are typically scheduled Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with all kinds of fun excursions and themes throughout the year, like the Dinner Train, Murder Mystery, Runaway Train Beer Tasting, Ice Cream and Family Game Night, Wine and Cheese Experience, Pumpkin Patch Express and the Hawley Explorer, a five-hour experience allowing you to really check out Hawley. When making your online reservation, make sure you choose a Honesdale departing train. Prices vary, starting at $25 for adults and $20 for kids (infants are free). 812 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 470-2697.
A little over 10 minutes north of downtown, find Moka Origins, a small-batch, specialty chocolate and coffee shop with a mission to support cacao and coffee farmers around the world. The facility is born out of Moka Farm in Cameroon, where a farmer’s training center focuses on employment and sustainable practice for cacao farmers. Just driving to Moka Origins is an adventure as you weave through the stunning 400 acre Himalayn Institute campus, behind which the shop sits. You can sample bits of chocolates, with flavors like lemon ginger and sea salt, and view the products being made, as the working factory is visible through large windows throughout the building. On Saturdays (at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), Moka offers free, 45-minute facility tours and tastings, where you can learn about chocolate’s origins and the process of making it. Finish your tour with an espresso drink or Moka’s signature drinking chocolate, and head outside to take in the tall pines, meadows and hiking trails of the Himalayan Institute retreat and training center. 952 Bethany Turnpike, Honesdale; (570) 979-1010.
Honesdale is a great place to check out local art. The Wayne County Art Alliance stays busy, offering a variety of gallery and public art for you to enjoy. Step inside its Main Streeet gallery for revolving exhibitions, take in the Great Wall of Honesdale just south of downtown, and check out cool seasonal exhibits like 2024’s Garden Art Totems, spread throughout town with a map to help you spot each totem. For more local art, take a quick jaunt to The Art Factory of White Mills, about a 10 minutes’ drive south, and check out the variety of talent showcased in this privately owned gallery.
Speaking of art, The Cooperage Project is an community hub in a restored barrel-making factory in the center of town with programming in the areas of food, youth and arts and culture. While you’re in Honesdale, see what’s happening there – you might catch a concert, bluegrass jam or dance performance. It’s also cooking up karaoke nights, DIY classes, drag bingo, film screenings and more. Cooperage is also organizer of the Northern Poconos Mobile Farm Market, which sets up in town through the summer selling produce and products from local farms. The Cooperage Project is open Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1030 Main St., Honesdale; (570) 253-2020.
There’s a ton of history in Honesdale and surrounding cities, with distinct and interesting small scale museums to showcase stories and achievements of the past. One such spot is the Wayne County Historical Society, which supports the Main Museum, J.B. Park Farm Museum and the Old Stone Jail. The Main Museum in downtown Honesdale has a $5 entry fee and, true to Honesdale style, more space and exhibits than you’d ever guess. Front and center is a full-size replica of the first commercial locomotive in the country, which came from Honesdale: the Stourbridge Lion. Continue on for art exhibits, a hands-on homestead for kids, native American exhibits, and much more. The Dorflinger Glass Museum showcases one of the country’s largest collections of brilliant-cut Dorflinger glass in the home of is founder and sits on a 500 acre wildlife sanctuary, making it a great destination for history, art and nature lovers alike. The establishment of Dorflinger Glass Works transformed the region into an industrial hub in the 1860s, and the glass’ appeal persists to this day. Don’t forget to check out the gift shop to take some home, and enjoy the sprawling trails through woods and meadows before or after your museum tour. Multiple locations.
There’s great shopping in this highly walkable downtown, with scarcely a chain store in sight. You’ll find that the shops sort of unfurl before you, with room after room, multiple floors and a lot more retail space than the regular-sized storefronts would suggest. Our favorite shop in town is Dyberry Mercantile, a moody, eclectic two-story gift shop, where every turn has a nostalgic surprise, from home goods to antique books and vintage clothing, all artfully curated. Stay long enough and you’ll find a treasure meant for you. Maude & Main and Gather sit side-by-side, offering cute, quirky and fun gifts, home decor and apparel with a shared, shaded patio in the back for a mid-shopping respite. The massive, 4,000-square-foot Wallflower has loads of women’s clothing, dreamy jewelry and unique home goods, while Art’s For Him and Her Too offers apparel for both men and women of an outdoorsy variety. Among the many options for thrifters and antique hunters, there’s Other Shop with a church thrift store feel, Crazy Otto’s Vintage for cool, curated clothes and Across the Tracks, an antique mall chock full of great finds. Other fun shops to poke through include Known Grove Books & More with lots of genres, super cozy arm chairs for reading, and a resident cat, Ghiggeri’s Fine Olive Oils & Balsamics for all palettes, and Mount Pleasant Herbary for botanical products, coming soon in a new location. As you peruse the town, we suggest hopping on the pedestrian bridges, like the 6th Street bridge with views over the Lackawaxen River, and finding shade in Honesdale Central Park. Multiple locations.
We hope you have a blast checking out all that Honesdale has to offer! More Honesdale info and fun can be found on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Tell us in the comments what other PA small towns you’d like to see us cover!
- Feature and other photos: Leigh Green
- Second District Brew Farm photo: Second District Brewing
- All other photos via Instagram: Courtesey of the respective businesses
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