There are places you stop after the hike. Griffin House makes you forget the hike was supposed to be the main event.

This century-old brick inn sits along Route 23A at the gateway to Kaaterskill Clove. Look for the black-and-gold griffin outside. Inside, the lights drop low, leather sofas gather around the fireplace, and a long oak bar anchors the Tavern. Twelve taps pour regional beer, cider, and familiar imports. Cocktails borrow their names from the Catskills. A burgundy billiards table makes a convincing case for one more round.

Then you step outside.

The Falling Waters Beer Garden opens toward the mountains, with cedar picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, lawn games, a communal wood-burning fire pit, and views of a nearby waterfall. Dinner can disappear into an entire evening out here, especially once the light begins to change over the Clove.

That is the magic of Griffin House. The Tavern, lodge, beer garden, music, and surrounding Catskills never feel like separate attractions. One experience keeps leading into the next.

Griffin House was built in 1925 as an Irish inn and hunting lodge and remained in the Griffin family until the 1970s. After several different chapters and eight years sitting vacant, the building was restored and reopened in 2023.

During the restoration, a 94-year-old member of the Griffin family returned with her daughter. She recognized the rooms from her childhood and could still picture her father behind the bar and her mother in the kitchen.

That history was not polished away. The old brick, dark wood, fireplaces, intimate rooms, and mountain-lodge character still feel as though they belong here. Griffin House is beautiful, but it is not precious. You can arrive in hiking boots, settle into a leather chair, and feel entirely at home.

Its newest chapter brings together Jessie Lee Walsh of Palenville’s beloved Circle W Market, and Jenny Oz LeRoy, who began working at Tavern on the Green as a teenager, later led the legendary restaurant, and now creates weddings and events at Oz Farm.

That is a serious amount of hospitality history under one roof, but Griffin House never feels formal or self-important. It feels local, generous, a little theatrical, and polished enough to make an ordinary night out feel like an occasion.

The kitchen understands exactly who walks through the door: hungry hikers, Catskills weekenders, date nights, concert crowds, and locals who know that comfort food becomes even more comforting beside a roaring fire.

Griffin House serves farm-to-table cooking with local touches and Catskills twists. The menu moves easily between tavern cravings and full dinner territory. Fish and chips arrive with triple-cooked fries and caper-dill tartar sauce. Steak frites gets chimichurri. Whipped lemon ricotta meets grilled bread and hot honey. Depending on the season, the menu may also include roasted chicken, cedar-plank salmon, a double-cut pork chop, the Tavern burger, or fried rice with local mushrooms and a sunny-side-up egg.

Even the foot-long Maxwell’s Hotdog carries a playful nod to Jenny Oz LeRoy’s family history.

The selections will change, but the appeal should not: satisfying enough after a day on the trails and thoughtful enough for a night you planned in advance.

The bar carries that mood into the evening. Twelve taps mix regional beer and cider with familiar imports, while cocktails such as the Camp Kaaterskill Cosmo, Rip & Wolf, and Mountain Storm turn the surrounding landscape into part of the drink list.

Every room has its own personality. The Tavern brings the oak bar, taps, billiards, and most of the evening’s energy. The Parlor is darker and slower, with custom tilework, leather seating, and fireplace warmth. The Rose Room is brighter and more intimate, with a private bar of its own.

Outside, the Lawn stretches toward the creek, mountains, waterfall views, fire pits, and an outdoor stage. Live music and seasonal gatherings can completely change the rhythm of the property. The Lawn has hosted major events including the Follow the Arrow music festival, turning this quiet mountain inn into an outdoor concert destination beneath the Catskills sky.

Nine ensuite guest rooms sit directly above the Tavern. Designed with the warmth of the Great Camps in mind, they combine handcrafted wooden beds, rich colors, natural materials, and private tiled showers. Most have queen beds, while the corner Church suite offers a California king.

Staying upstairs comes with one particularly excellent perk: nobody has to call the night early.

Lodge guests receive 24-hour access to the Night Kitchen for coffee, tea, snacks, and drinks, along with the Billiards Lounge for late games or a quiet seat by the fire.

A short walk from the inn, Camp Kaaterskill adds four private cottages with front porches, back decks, and mountain views. Three have one bedroom, while the Woodward cottage has two. The cottages can turn a romantic escape into a friends’ weekend, family gathering, private retreat, or full wedding celebration.

Weddings and private events can move through Griffin House instead of being confined to a single ballroom. A welcome dinner can begin in the Tavern. Cocktails can continue in the Parlor or Rose Room. Ceremonies, receptions, and live music can take over the Lawn. Nine lodge rooms and four nearby cottages allow at least part of the group to remain together after the last song.

Large outdoor celebrations can welcome more than 300 guests, while the Tavern, Rose Room, Parlor, and Porch give smaller dinners and intimate gatherings spaces of their own. Full and partial property buyouts are available, allowing couples and hosts to build an entire Catskills weekend rather than squeeze everything into a few scheduled hours.

Beyond the property, Palenville puts guests at the foot of some of the Catskills’ most famous scenery. Kaaterskill Falls, North-South Lake, historic overlooks, swimming holes, and popular trailheads are all close enough to share the same trip.

You can spend the day chasing waterfalls and mountain views, return for dinner and cocktails, and fall asleep above a tavern that has welcomed Catskills travelers for a century. Griffin House is not simply where the adventure ends. It becomes part of the adventure.

Come hungry. Order the cocktail. Play another game of pool. Stay for the fire, the music, and the mountains. The best part is knowing your room is already waiting upstairs.