Where to Eat and Drink in Saratoga

Long Island has historically hosted the Belmont Stakes, but this year’s Triple Crown closer is betting on Saratoga Springs. While Belmont Park undergoes renovations for the next two years, Saratoga Race Course — known for the annual Travers — will act as the Stakes’ interim 2024 and 2025 host.

As Belmont weekend rapidly approaches, Saratoga is saddling up for visitors; the track can accommodate 50,000 people daily over the four-day racing event, with the Triple Crown’s final leg on June 8. In anticipation, local restaurants and bars have already participated in a Belmont Jewel cocktail contest, while restaurants like Italian-American joint Solevo Kitchen and Social are preparing festival-specific menus. The race course will serve various concessions, though spectators can also bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Beyond the actual track, Saratoga County’s farms are a racehorse breeding ground, so look out for foals — thoroughbreds are often born between January and May — as well as culinary pit stops. The farm shop at Schuylerville’s King Brothers Dairy serves ice cream in fun flavors like fluffernutter, while both 9 Miles East and Comfort Kitchen use local ingredients for farm-to-table fare. 

Below, you’ll find additional suggestions for where to eat before, during, and after the Belmont races. Whether you want a sandwich for the grandstands or a brunch spot near Broadway, you’ll be champing at the bit for your next meal. 

Veer just off Broadway, Saratoga’s main thoroughfare, and you’ll stumble into this family-run cafe, perfect for a leisurely brunch. You may have to wait for a table — Sweet Mimi’s doesn’t accept reservations — but the lemon ricotta pancakes are worth any line. And make sure to snag a cinnamon roll to-go.

As much a deli as it is a market, Cardona’s sells Italian groceries and, more importantly, Italian meats. Pair mortadella or prosciutto with fresh mozzarella, or keep things classic with Saratoga’s best roast beef sandwich. Good luck leaving without an impulse purchase; a half moon cookie is a must. 

Peruse the shelves of this gourmet market to assemble the essentials: wine, cheese, and a specialty sandwich, like Putnam’s grilled cheese of the week. Take your lunch to the picnic tables at Saratoga Spa State Park, just a short drive away.  

With a name like Hamlet & Ghost, is it any surprise that this New American restaurant serves the coolest cocktails in town? Think — and drink — beyond a Belmont Jewel to try a spicy, honeydew margarita, or a maple, walnut, and blueberry amaro old fashioned. The mocktail list is equally creative, as is the short, but curated, dinner menu.

Signature cocktails capture the spirit of the Triple Crown, but beer doesn’t have to be the Belmont’s dark horse. In South Glens Falls, Common Roots Brewing Company sells both staple and seasonal craft brews on tap and in cans. Order a flight of IPAs alongside the crispy, fried chicken sandwich.

With three locations across the Albany region, The Whistling Kettle will transport you straight to London. Opt for the afternoon tea with a flavored chai and BLT scone sandwich. When only crumbs remain, browse the tea selection to pick up a few sample-sized bags of loose leaf.

With small plates, a raw bar, and entrees like filet mignon, 15 Church has earned its reputation as one of Saratoga’s top restaurants. It serves New American fare, replete with homemade pastas and a slew of specials. Reserve a seat on the outdoor patio, and order a few dishes to share.