REVIEW: ISOLA, Kinderhook
Isola Wine Bar, Kinderhook
Wine bar • European‐inspired small plates • wine classes & events
16 Hudson Street, Kinderhook, N.Y. | isolawinebar.com
We like it for: Casual drinks with friends, light dinners, wine classes + Zio’s curated hard-to-find, small-producer wines.
Must try: A slim rotating selection of mostly coastal and island European wines by the glass and bottle, plus a few beers and Italian sodas. Chef Mikayla’s Hudson Valley plates are inspired by European tapas and comfort foods from comte tart to tartare topped with potato chips—all designed to complement the wine list.
Vibe/Style: Cozy European wine bar. Light, airy, shabby-chic French country meets European enoteca, with soft whites, linen cushions and vintage plates; a long marble bar anchoring the space.
Sound: Conversational level, and a warm, eclectic playlist that leans toward mellow Spanish beats, like Nu Genea “Bar Mediterraneo,” “Disco Sole” or “Marechia.”
Isola is like stumbling into a cozy enoteca in a Mediterranean village—only you’re in sleepy Kinderhook. Owner and certified sommelier Hillary Zio fills the room with approachable, thoughtfully curated wines drawn from the islands and coasts of Europe, served with vibrant small plates by chef Mikayla Summers that marry local Hudson Valley ingredients with Old World flavors. Think home made pastas, a comte tart; trout croquetas, meatballs, steak tartare with homemade potato chips for crunch. The space, redesigned from a historic building with soft whites, linen seating and a long marble bar, nails a relaxed, feminine tone. You’re as likely to see couples sharing a bottle, or girlfriends curled up on the banquette seats.
Her small list leans into low-intervention, mineral-driven wines—think a skin-contact Sicilian orange, a Canary Islands rosé, or a rustic Croatian red — and Zio’s warm, un-snobby guidance encourages exploration rather than intimidation. With frequent wine classes and paired dinners, Isola is equal parts wine bar and community hub. Having recently bought the building, Zio has expanded with co-working space and has a private dining room for events.
Parking: Large parking lot
Nearby: 1. The Aviary 2. Morningbird 3. Saisonnier 4. Hamrah’s Lebanese 5. Broad Street Bagel Co.
Check out our guide: Where to Eat in Kinderhook.
