By Eze-Admin 
Last Updated on January 7, 2022 by Nancie
New Hope, Pennsylvania is a beautiful country town, halfway between Philadelphia, PA and New York City, on the water, and filled with art, culture, theater, music, great restaurants, hiking, and water activities. Only an hour-and-a-half hour from New York City or Philadelphia, for years it has drawn city folks for a small town get-away.
Famous For Art, Culture, and History
Pennsylvania Impressionist painters also made New Hope a locally famous town; they visited and moved here to paint the gorgeous country scenery. Some of the most famous professors and artists from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, like Edward Redfield and Daniel Garber, moved to New Hope, and students visited to take classes and paint. With so many famous Bucks County artists working in New Hope PA, it influenced the fine arts and crafts that still can be found in the New Hope Art Galleries today.
George Nakashima, the famous Japanese woodworker who once studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, established his home in New Hope PA. Nakashima’s woodworking shop is still active today, producing his famous designs and fine custom wood furniture.
Many artists, craftsmen, and writers live in or near New Hope PA, and have for the past 100 years or so. James Michener grew up in nearby Doylestown. Michener was a great writer and world traveler, public servant, art collector, and philanthropist. He came back to the area to live towards the end of his life. You’ll find the Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA with its collection of world-class Pennsylvania Impressionists.
Visit the New Hope PA Shops and Galleries
Stroll along the 4-5 block Main Street where interesting shops are aplenty in New Hope PA. Top galleries with fine art, high-quality craft shops, jewelers, antiques, leather, pet accouterments, and even wine and cigar shops are found here. They carry fantastic gifts and accessories for the home. With delicious food and aromas escaping the restaurants, music drifting out to the street, all surrounded by a quaint town and gorgeous country scenery, New Hope is a delight to visit.
Art galleries offer painting, sculpture, photography, pottery, jewelry, and vintage art, contemporary and modern art. Some of the galleries exhibit works of art by the world’s most respected artisans. Elegant furnishings, unique home décor items, and collectibles are available in New Hope shops.
Other museums in New Hope include the Bucks County Children’s Museum and Phillips Mill Art Center.
Enjoy music in New Hope PA
Once New Hope was discovered, the area drew other famous people from music and theater. Oscar Hammerstein, who lived in nearby Doylestown, PA, wrote musicals and even filmed some of Oklahoma at his nearby Doylestown estate. Summer Stock Theater blossomed here and New Hope boasts the well-known Bucks County Playhouse. Stars from theater, stage, opera, and music have regularly come to New Hope PA for short vacations or to live.
New Hope has been called ‘The live music Capital of Bucks County.’ In the summer, there are free concerts all around the area. It is home to musicians, actors and actresses, and opera singers who want to live in the country with easy access to New York City. That means at any time in a bar, or restaurant, patrons could be treated to fantastic music – some for a fee, some free.
There are many scheduled music performances on weekends. During the week various venues have open mic night; we have been treated to some famous musicians at open mic night. A list of New Hope Open mic venues can be found at YELP.
My favorite music in New Hope is on the 1st Sunday afternoon of every month (check the schedule to be sure), when the excellent 20+ piece big band Midnight Sun Orchestra plays at Havana’s. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with good food and drink. While the food prices are a bit high, it’s worth it with free admission for the band entertainment.
Other things to do in and Around New Hope
There’s good local theater at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, and The Phillip’s Mill Players at the Phillip’s Mill Community Association. There are many other theaters throughout the Bucks County area, too.
Local wineries are on the self-guided Bucks County Wine Tour. The wine store on Main Street carries some of the local vintages.
Visit the Children’s Museum in Union Square. Paint a piece of pottery, or attend a movie at ACME Screening Room in Lambertville, where independent and documentary films are shown.
Outdoor Activity
The Delaware Canal through town provides very pleasant and often shaded walking paths that soothe the soul. Many people bike on these paths. In summer, people float, canoe or kayak down the Delaware River. Many parks, some with water activities, others with hiking, birding, sailing, rock climbing and wildflowers round out any visitor’s stay in New Hope.
Dining out in New Hope
New Hope has been known for its restaurants since my mother was young. Restaurants in New Hope, those across the river in Lambertville, NJ, and in nearby Washington Crossing, Lahaska, and Doylestown provide a large number of wonderful eating choices.
One of my favorite restaurants in New Hope is Café Blue Moose. The food is very good quality, and the owner, Skylar, is an excellent chef and an even better baker. Café Blue Moose has been rated #1 in New Hope for several years. Reservations are a must; for weekends make reservations 2-3 months in advance, or go mid-week or Sunday.
Here are a few New Hope restaurants that I like:
Up-to-date as of December, 2021
Where To Stay
Visit for the day or stay for a few. A variety of accommodation is available in New Hope and nearby, including charming bed & breakfasts, and boutique hotels. Booking in advance, with no deposit and easy no penalty cancelations is often possible. Check out prices and available dates.
Getting to New Hope
From New York:
- Bus – take the Trans-Bridge bus from the NY Port Authority to Lambertville, NJ and walk across the bridge to New Hope.
- Drive – Take I-78 to Route 202 into New Hope.
From Philadelphia:
- Train – Take a SEPTA train to Doylestown and connect to a Trans-Bridge bus to Lambertville, NJ or take an Uber or a taxi to New Hope from Doylestown.
- Drive –
- Travel north on Route 95N; follow it onto Route 295.
- Exit at Taylorsville Road in Lower Makefield Township. Take exit 10 from I-295.
- Continue on Taylorsville Road. Drive to PA-32N and follow it into New Hope.
Best Time to Visit
While I prefer summer and spring in New Hope, there’s a winter festival with ice sculptures and a parade. New Hope is less crowded in the winter. Fall is also beautiful with a colorful backdrop of leaves changing.
Often weekdays are less crowded. Stores and restaurants are generally closed on Tuesdays, and some are closed on Mondays.
Visiting New Hope and the surrounding area is filled with variety for all ages any time of year.
This post is was written and contributed by Wendy at Adventurous Retirement. You can read their about page HERE.
Check out more small towns in the Small Town Explorer Series HERE
This article may contain affiliate links.