Our Story

Since 2022, The Lemon Squeeze has lived a few lives.
Through every phase, two things remained constant:
Our guests love live music and they appreciate the laid back-yet-elevated vibe we’ve offered.

So, our next phase was obvious: Becoming a full-on music venue with elevated cocktails, craft beer, and good vibes.

New Paltz has always been a place that supports, encourages, and loves live music, but had been without a dedicated venue for far too long.

Originally opened as a piano bar in 2019, founded by Gina O’Brien and Ed Carroll, The Lemon Squeeze slowly expanded its musical offerings, and with every additional act new crowds showed up; from jam to EDM, country to jazz, rock to reggae. A scene blossomed as we found our rhythm.

Whether you’re looking for a New Paltz date night, a girls night out, college-buddy reunion, or even just popping in solo, our goal is to create a space where you can catch a high-quality performance.

All are welcome.

What can you expect?

Live music throughout the month.
A delish bar menu with something for everyone: cocktails, mocktails, craft beer, wine, and spirits.
No dinner service, but a revolving selection of curated light bites.
An event rental space close to everything, right in the heart of New Paltz.

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From Chronogram magazine:

“New Paltz has always been a music town,” says The Lemon Squeeze manager Kevin Kopacko. “Our goal is to offer a variety of music, from free events with local artists to ticketed events with bigger names. We tried the piano bar model when we first opened, but over time saw that people preferred more variety. Since then, we’ve enhanced our sound and lighting and started booking a mix of genres from jazz to African to country with high-quality performers. New Paltz is a great spot for touring acts who are traveling from New York City because we’re right along the corridor and they’re able to do a show along the way.”