Where to stay along Delaware Avenue
Cafes and shops along the Delaware Avenue commercial strip in Albany
Albany's most livable neighborhood strip has around 40 short-term rentals at $110-$170, a notch cheaper than Center Square.
Who it suits
Delaware Avenue between Lark and Delaware Park is Albany's easiest neighborhood to spend a weekend in. The strip has The Fountain (Albany's oldest bar), Cafe Capriccio's neighbors, Ted's Fish Fry, Delaware Supermarket, and the historic Spectrum 8 Theatre. Rentals on Morris, Delaware, and Marshall Streets put you 10 minutes on foot from Lincoln Park and 15 from Empire State Plaza. It suits couples, quiet-preferring travelers, anyone visiting Albany Med (about a mile west), and second-time visitors who found Downtown too dead in the evenings.
Who it doesn’t suit
There are no hotels along Delaware, only rentals and a couple of B&Bs, so you lose front desks and gyms. It is a 25-minute walk to the Capitol — fine if you like walking, tedious if you don’t. Families wanting pools should book in Colonie. And parking around the busier stretches near the Spectrum Theatre gets tight on weekend nights; ask your host whether the listing includes off-street parking before you book.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Center Square, answered with this month’s numbers.
Delaware if you want a real residential neighborhood feel and slightly lower rates; Center Square if you want the densest restaurant walk.
The #18 runs Delaware Avenue to Downtown every 20-30 minutes on weekdays. It is a 12-minute ride to the Capitol.
