Located at the State Line Lookout in Alpine, New Jersey, the State Line Cafe is a delightful refreshment stand that caters to hikers and nature enthusiasts. This historic spot, initially called the "Lookout Inn" and built during the WPA era, offers a straightforward menu of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and a variety of coffee and snacks. With breathtaking views of the Hudson River, it's an ideal place to pause for a meal before or after a hike. The cafe features outdoor seating and restrooms for the convenience of its visitors. Although prices have recently increased, they remain quite reasonable compared to nearby options, ensuring fresh, made-to-order meals. You won't find any stale hot dogs or pre-prepared hamburgers here. The staff is friendly and engaging, always ready to share stories with guests, enhancing the welcoming atmosphere. The building itself is a charming reminder of the past when the Palisades served as a sought-after retreat for New Yorkers craving a connection to nature. During my visit, I chose a classic grilled hot dog topped with sauerkraut, along with yellow mustard and ketchup--keeping it simple but satisfying. I might explore their fish and chips or the popular grilled chicken sandwich on my next trip. For anyone looking to enjoy good food amidst stunning scenery, the State Line Cafe is a must-visit. read more

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Built in 1937 and originally known as "Lookout Inn, my partner and I decided to stop at the State Line Lookout Cafe after a nice hike for a bite. This casual establishment is a throwback to yesteryear inside a nice stone cabin with fireplaces to warm up during cold weather and the only restaurant/cafe around in the nearby area. I was greeted by the young staff. Their simple menu is a little diverse, from breakfast sandwiches, various burgers, and hot dogs to fries, but nothing too fancy. We decided on a cheeseburger, a tuna fish salad sandwich, large fries to share, and drinks for takeout. Service was friendly and quick. Prices are quite reasonable, and the food was hot, freshly prepared, and tasty. We can recommend it. read more

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Surprisingly good food! I got the hotdog, fries, and chocolate chip yogurt cake and it was all really delicious. Probably one of the best hotdogs I've tried in a while. I was also reccomend to try through hamburger one day as well. read more

Grab yourself a pen and a seat and if you have a free weekend, I'll dictate some of the ills and whoes of a city that functions like a cheap camera in just about every capacity save the city parks. And its abundantly clear to me now that monetary appropriation has made it's way up the Hudson River, perhaps it's an endowment or a foundation -- however the money arrives, I'd say that it's being well appointed. The water below was swelling up to noble heights from the mid valley and as the days and the seasons change the magical landscapes of these mountains in turn change quickly and with unusual hyper frequency in my reflections. In fair weather the hedge upon the cliffs wear Kelly green and the sky, a blue and purple outline, but when the clouds cast out, it's akin to a light smoke of grey hues, I know about these knolls and valleys - it's a Dutch thing, for they were once the lordship in the early times of the providence. From first glance, the cafe could pass as an original Dutch house, minus the yellow bricks, but with the slate roof shingles reflecting sunlight, latticed windows and surmounted with a noble looking weathervane, it looks as such to the initial glance. In this very building you can purchase what amonts to not much more than what's most likely being served up at your neighbors backyard BBQ - as you read down the list it's not the words that initially grab your attention, it's the big cast iron grill just to the rear. So when my hamburger touched down, the initial sizzle got my appetites attention as vapors of bacon and onions began to swirl throughout the exposed wooden rafters. I was asked about topping and I had to have them all, the young fella heaped it on good and well balanced creating a dazzling color montage within my bun. True, Americans love their hotdogs and hamburgers, occasionally disbursing credit more than necessary for the product produced. This is not that. This hamburger (although the cook temp could have been reeled back into medium from medium well) was quite delectable. Fresh toppings cut thick, with a little post wash just running off - the mid Hudson Valley has some sturdy vegetables - I've got them growing in my yard, it's the only area I buy from now as I now cultivate hearty tomatoes till late September. But this isn't a Farmers Almanac piece, so please excuse the solliquie tangent special -- I'm just saying -- That burger was a total knockout! read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - The hamburger apparently comes highly recommend... - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

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This spot is perfect for grabbing a quick bite before embarking on a strenuous hike or a lil post-hike picnic sesh at one of the picnic tables. It'a situated right next to the parking lot and you really can't miss it. There's a bathroom for women and one for men inside. I love how they require masks and only let one person into the bathroom at a time. The women's bathroom has at least two stalls and it's pretty clean. They offer a variety of sandwiches and burgers, and I ordered a BLT sandwich, but it was quite lackluster for about $5. Still, it gave me enough fuel for the hike. Afterward, I returned for a ginger ale and a cream soda. I noticed they also sold postcards! read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - the front of the building - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

Burgers, dogs, fries that are either tolerable or inedible depending on the day but as they say, it's the only game in town within the confines of Palisades Interstate Park. The smart visitor will bring their own lunch and enjoy the spectacular views without the gastric distress. Why complain if you've chosen to inhale some congealed onion rings before a three hour hike, as you really have no idea where those rings have been. Heads up McFly... try a protein bar instead and spare yourself an emergency liaison with a chemical toilet down the line. Happy trails. read more

Absolutely Horrible Management. I attended a lovely Car Show with over 90+ cars and attendees. Went into the cafe to find they had a limited menu to Hot Dogs and Chicken Fingers. The Cafe knew for months about the show taking place and were unprepared for the amount of people. This isn't the first time the car show has been there and food was absent from the cafe. It's highly poor management. Multiple people are the car show were extremely disappointed with how the cafe handled themselves. One attendee went to order an egg sandwich at 11:00AM to be told "we aren't making those at this time anymore because it's too much work". I have no involvement of the planning of the car show but I will also be sharing this with the director of the club because of how unhappy attendees were with the service, and management of the cafe. Like how can you be limited to 2 menu items? read more

The family decided to go hiking in the Palisades Interstate Park. There was only one place to eat in the park. So here's my review of the State Line Cafe in the Palisades Interstate Park, New Jersey. The Experience My sister Genie summed it up best as she slumped over the table "what could they be doing?" We ordered our food outside and grabbed a nearby table while we impatiently waited. It was past 2 o'clock and after our hike we were all starving. For simple fried food it took a while, probably 20-25 minutes. The Accoutrements I got the onion rings which were the first starved bite I took. They were perfectly simple.You could only taste two things: onion and fat and that's just what I wanted at that moment. The fries were far less satisfying. They were thinner than a marathon runner and varying levels of crunchiness from crispy to just took a swim in the Hudson soggy. The Main Course I had a craving for a hot dog and this jumbo dog really lived up to it's big name. It seemed to be a grilled variety with good flavor and the sauerkraut added some acidity. So long as you don't swallow it whole like those hot dog eating contest guys you'll enjoy this. I knew even the most jumbo of dogs wouldn't satiate my hike hunger so I ordered a cheeseburger as well. The first red flag was the kaiser roll it came on. Kaiser rolls might be good for a loaded up breakfast sandwich but they're too much bread for a burger. The second red flag waved over my taste buds when I bit into the burger and the only flavor was the char from the grill. The ground beef appeared to be a frozen patty of questionable origins. Skip the burger and get another dog or something else if you're extra gluttonous like me. The Verdict If you've just finished a hike at Palisades interstate Park and are starving or would like to enjoy some food with a view, order up some food from State Line Cafe. In any other scenario waiting a while for this amalgamation of mediocre ballpark foods isn't worth it. read more

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Good food at a good price with a beautiful view. Friendly service and accommodating special requests.

The State Line Lookout Cafe is a little snack bar and bookstore located at the State Line Lookout in the Palisades Interstate Park. It has it's own exit off of the parkway (look for the blue sign.) The cafe, when open, is pretty great. It's an old school, snack bar type of place, with a pretty basic menu of mostly hot dogs and hamburgers, that sort of thing. They also have some nice baked goods and some hot drinks as well, which is what we were after, after a chilly hike on the palisades. There's some seating around the perimeter, and a cozy larger room with fireplaces where you can relax and sip some cocoa and nibble on your brownie. There are books to peruse, a collection of bones of various animals that have been found in the park, and some nice photography. All in all, a great place to stop if you're heading north, or to have a nice snack after a hike. read more

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The truth is, the food here tastes only okay. But everything else about this place is just beautiful. The building has such a nice, relaxing, country feel. It's made with stone walls, and a wooden counter. There's an old fireplace. There's a lot of books for sale about the nature of the area, and the history of the area. The building is kept clean (including clean bathrooms which anyone can use). You have a choice of indoor or outdoor dining. But the pleasure of coming here is about more than just the cafe. Outside this cafe, you're just steps away from a cliff with one of the most gorgeous views of the Hudson River you will ever see. There's lots of trails in the woods you can hike through (along the cliffs, or away from them). If you know the right trail, you'll find a structure in the middle of the woods which is built as a castle but no bigger than a tool shed. Expect to see deer and all kinds of other animals. It amazes me how few people in New York City know about this place. But I can't recommend visiting it enough! read more

Cozy little place. Great views. I mean, outstanding views. Can't say enough about them. Very nice staff. Very friendly. Tasty breads made with yogurt. The chocolate chip is my favorite but the blueberry is great too. Very moist and delicious, not dry like most places. I was there today a few days after a snow storm and still enjoyed my time outside. read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - Quiet this time of year but still worth the stop. Take in some of the breath taking views. - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

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One of the best cafes in this table I highly recommend the cappuccino here is out of this world I would give this place 10 Stars if I could

Google maps showed this at a location farther south at the Alpine Lookout, glad we continued North to find it. Coffee and blonde brownie were good, beautiful views of the Hudson River and beyond on a clear day. read more

PROS: This little cafe is a cute, historic rest stop place that sells basic food (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, etc). The prices are very affordable and the food tasted great! The staff there was very friendly and the place was very clean. You had a ton of parking and a great view of the water. CONS: The place is very small on the inside. Maybe 4 tables that can hold 4+ people and 4 tables that holds only 2 people. If this place were to get crowded you wouldn't be able to find a seat and the service would be slow. OVERALL: I think this place is very nice and historic. Definitely​ a place to eat at if you were to ever hike the cliffs. Not good for large groups, but a group of up to 4 shouldn't be an issue read more

This is a nice spot to bring a picnic lunch or a pit stop on your way further north. There is a cafe with a basic menu at good prices. There are also real restrooms. Outside there are a good number of picnic tables and great views of course. read more

I had the fish and chips and it was delicious! The chips were a bit on the soft side but that's mostly personal preference. The fish was fresh, flaky, with a light crisp batter. The service was also very good. Everyone who worked there seemed very polite and kind. read more

Don't stop here for food, but stop here for the view! Enjoy a bird's eye view of the Newyork City overlooking the gigantic Hudson River. It's beautiful, calm n scenic. N food can be surely worked upon. The fries had no salt, n the sandwich had nothing but a runny egg. We were hungry n tired, so no complains... read more

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No frills cafe. Decent fresh chow at an unbeatable location. Highly recommend them for a quick lunch. Fish and chip is great.

Love this place. If you are in North Jersey, a hiker, and do not come here -- well, I have no words for you, except, your missing out -- BIG TIME! The Rock Scramble is one of the best experience of my life. It is somewhat difficult, but even a beginner can do it. However, make sure to bring lots of water and good footwear. Only other advice is to have fun. Oh, and expect 3 hours of hike, if doing the rock scramble. read more

Cozy and Busy cafe frequented by cyclists with basic breakfast menu that is very well done. Ordered a quiche for my g/f, but it was so-so. Sticking to the basics! read more

Visiting out of state.We were on our way from Manhattan to Newburgh but stopped here looking for food and coffee.Nothing fancy bit surprisingly good tasting food! Husband and I had the Angus hamburger with lettuce/tomato & onion(veggies fresh h crispy),son had grilled cheese with fries,friend had the hotdog,my sister had grilled cheese with onion rings and my niece the hotdog.Everyone all enjoyed their food and reasonably priced.Hungry & want a picturesque view?- visit State Line Lookout. read more

It has the vibe of a Bohemian cafe in Williamsburg or Downtown Brooklyn. And yet, it's a rest stop on the Pallisade. The views of the overlook are nice and so is the staff. read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

Great place for traditional American food with a fantastic view!!! Yummy angus burgers, onion rings, chicken tenders and foot long hot dogs! read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - Angus bacon cheeseburger! - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

One of the best places for breakfast and lunch. It's a relaxing spot with scenic views. The burgers and hotdogs are yummy! I drive 30 minutes just to eat here! And if you want to work off the calories, there's numerous trails overlooking the Hudson and NY. My favorite spot ever! read more

State Line Lookout Cafe - Awesome Food and a bunch of books about the Palidades and NJ History. - American Near Me - Alpine, New Jersey

One of my favorite places in the world to visit!! Close enough to the city to be easily accessible, yet far enough away to make you forget all about the city! The views across the Hudson are spectacular, while the ever present turkey vultures, circling above, will make you feel as if you are way out in the wilderness. The Stateline Lookout Cafe is a great little spot to catch a breakfast sandwich and some coffee before a morning hike. They're equally good for a nice lunch / meal after a long day of exploring the trails. (Of which there are plenty!) The bathrooms are always clean and the grounds always kept neat and tidy. Additionally, the NJ Palisades employees at the café are always super friendly and welcoming. They're equally adept at grilling up a yummy burger as they are in giving trail advice. I love this place and hope that it gets the support it needs to remainthe heart of the Palisades, continuing to welcome visitors, for years to come! read more

This little place is so so depending on the kid that cooks your burger. I not a fan of their blt they use a weird bacon. As for the burger they are okay they offer drinks and cakes as well. The bathrooms are clean. The food taste awesome after a long hike. read more

Hamburger & Hot Chocolate = Heaven! I always stop here from SC to Boston. Always Friendly Service & Great Views from the Palisades read more

A hidden gem !!! An old-world charm - unpretentious food cafe/restaurant - serving delicious simple fare- burgers, hotdogs,fries and hot and cold drinks. A small library further enhances the charm of the cafe. The people managing the lookout are extremely courteous and helpful. One of the staff actually spent an appreciable length of time trying to rescue a lost dog - speaks highly of the people working in the cafe ,, The views and the hikes are excellent, The proximity to NYC is a major plus point for both dog owners and non dog owners. I visit the place at least twice a week and have never been disappointed !!! Strongly recommend to all read more

Can't believe it took so long for us to discover this gem of a rest stop! Built in 1938 by the WPA, a beautiful building of chestnut and stone, it reminded us of stands of our youth. Food very satisfying-tasty, not greasy- grilled chicken on a roll with fresh lettuce, tomato& thinly sliced onions hit the spot. Staff charming. Warning: Apple directions completely wrong. And idiotic. It's a perfectly clear exit a few miles N of Exit 2 on the Palisades. We'll be back. read more

I love this place I go all the time the food is excellent and that staff is very friendly! Eric J. read more

Stopping here with my mother was purely diving timing. We had no idea there was a cafe here when we exited the Palisades Pkwy, but were very happy to find it. The cafe has such a beautiful sense of place to it. There is real history here, and the cafe staff were so knowledgable and kind in teaching us about it. There is something very special here. read more

Nice little cafe with a great view of the Hudson and a great cup of hot cocoa (even though it was made by a machine). We'll definitely be back! read more

I LOVE the State Line. While the food is not top notch, it is yummy and home cooked and really affordable. The atmosphere is great, with a real fireplace and all! It also has a little gift shop with great books about New York State. The views are awesome and the people kind. A great place for people who love to birdwatch or do a little hiking or cross country skiing. ! SO, if you are happy with simple food , and want a great place to relax, browse, hike and just spend a little quality time, this place is fabulous! read more

This place is an easily overlooked gem. Don't let the idea that it's a snack bar put you off. The food served is expertly done and delicious! I've got a bit of a family history here. My Dad used to bring us here on occasion when we were kids. Last October I was in the area and decided to stop in, not having been there in decades. Was is as good as I remembered? It's BETTER! I had the Angus burger platter and it was superb! They have various platters offered, and even a vegan platter should you be so inclined. An added attraction is a gift shop with various books of local New Jersey lore and history, in addition to other articles. The Inn has an interesting history itself. It was built as a Works Progress Administration project in 1938 and its rustic design made use of locally quarried stone and wood salvaged from chestnut trees killed by the blight of the early 20th Century. A bit of living "New Deal" history here. And you can't beat the view from the Lookout itself! 500 feet above the Hudson River! Bring your binoculars! Only two "negatives", if you want to call them that: 1) It's only open during daylight hours, 9:30 to 5:00, possibly later depending on the season. That's not so bad, is it? 2) Watch your speed on the Palisades Interstate Parkway! The PIP police are merciless! read more

The 3rd time for breakfast and coffee however female staff misinterpret a compliment coming from a Latino and seems social conversation rapport is not welcomed , next visit came and I see 3 cop cars from Palisades Parkway Police asking for my ID without cause other than letting me know after to my surprise claiming false reportings from a staff member merriting no grounds ..I felt discriminated against and surely don't recommend this place where they hand pick and target people not from the area ...not even any apologies on their part ... read more

prices are ok given the great view and touristic location. just typical fast food, burgers, fries, sandwiches, some pastries and desserts.. they have veggie burgers (the frozen pattie kind from the grocery store). staff were friendly young folks. read more