Ash’s Favorite Spots in Connecticut

François & Ashley
François & Ashley
Ash’s Favorite Spots in Connecticut

Food scene

The most delicious pastries in Downtown Mystic. Adorable decor and cute outdoor space. Added bonus, Mix, a craft cocktail rooftop bar, is located right above it!
106 locals recommend
Sift Bake Shop Mystic
5 Water St
106 locals recommend
The most delicious pastries in Downtown Mystic. Adorable decor and cute outdoor space. Added bonus, Mix, a craft cocktail rooftop bar, is located right above it!
Great breakfast and lunch spot in downtown New London. Best breakfast sandwiches in town!
13 locals recommend
Washington Street Coffee House
13 Washington St
13 locals recommend
Great breakfast and lunch spot in downtown New London. Best breakfast sandwiches in town!
Adorable little diner in the heart of Noank, which is great around and explore after eating a great breakfast
22 locals recommend
Carson's Store
43 Main St
22 locals recommend
Adorable little diner in the heart of Noank, which is great around and explore after eating a great breakfast
Perfect lunch spot in New London, right on the Wharf. Lobster rolls, fried clams, all seafood you can wish for!
36 locals recommend
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton St
36 locals recommend
Perfect lunch spot in New London, right on the Wharf. Lobster rolls, fried clams, all seafood you can wish for!
Casual atmosphere with elevated bar food. Great craft cocktails and beer selection
112 locals recommend
Engine Room
14 Holmes St
112 locals recommend
Casual atmosphere with elevated bar food. Great craft cocktails and beer selection
Delicious farm to table restaurant in Mystic, with award winning Chef David Stanbridge in the kitchen. Menu is ever evolving as it adapts to what what produce is available and what produce are in season. A must go!
31 locals recommend
The Shipwright's Daughter
20 E Main St
31 locals recommend
Delicious farm to table restaurant in Mystic, with award winning Chef David Stanbridge in the kitchen. Menu is ever evolving as it adapts to what what produce is available and what produce are in season. A must go!
Adorable little farm to table restaurant in open space of the Velvet Mills in Stonington. Small plates all locally sourced, perfect for casual date night.
16 locals recommend
Whitecrest Eatery
22 Bayview Ave
16 locals recommend
Adorable little farm to table restaurant in open space of the Velvet Mills in Stonington. Small plates all locally sourced, perfect for casual date night.
Delicious breakfast joint on Mason’s Island. Overlook beautiful Mystic and enjoy some of the best breakfast you’ve ever had in your life.
38 locals recommend
Kitchen Little
36 Quarry Rd
38 locals recommend
Delicious breakfast joint on Mason’s Island. Overlook beautiful Mystic and enjoy some of the best breakfast you’ve ever had in your life.
Amazing little seafood restaurant with a large variety of oysters to pick from. Great spot if you want to try a bunch of different local kinds. Dollar Oyster on Wednesdays during off-season.
30 locals recommend
Liv's Oyster Bar & Restaurant
166 Main St
30 locals recommend
Amazing little seafood restaurant with a large variety of oysters to pick from. Great spot if you want to try a bunch of different local kinds. Dollar Oyster on Wednesdays during off-season.
Voted best Mexican restaurant in the entire state of Connecticut in 2021! Crazy enough, the name of the restaurant might have been a nod to the famous movie starring Jack Nicholson, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. The founding owner, Jim Fitzpatrick, wanting to test his luck of the Irish and open a Mexican joint! 40 years later, Cuckoo's Nest is still in staple in the community. Indoor and outdoor seating available with a menu with something for everyone. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the dishes, but I personally recommend the street tacos and the 'taco truck' burrito! P.S: Live music on the patio every Thursday night during the nicer months! Call to confirm
17 locals recommend
Cuckoo's Nest Mexican Food
1712 Boston Post Rd
17 locals recommend
Voted best Mexican restaurant in the entire state of Connecticut in 2021! Crazy enough, the name of the restaurant might have been a nod to the famous movie starring Jack Nicholson, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. The founding owner, Jim Fitzpatrick, wanting to test his luck of the Irish and open a Mexican joint! 40 years later, Cuckoo's Nest is still in staple in the community. Indoor and outdoor seating available with a menu with something for everyone. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the dishes, but I personally recommend the street tacos and the 'taco truck' burrito! P.S: Live music on the patio every Thursday night during the nicer months! Call to confirm
Great for a cup of coffee, accompanied with board games. Great local hidden gem
13 locals recommend
Washington Street Coffee House
13 Washington St
13 locals recommend
Great for a cup of coffee, accompanied with board games. Great local hidden gem
Best wings in the state with so many flavors to chose from!
21 locals recommend
Hot Rod Cafe
114 Bank St
21 locals recommend
Best wings in the state with so many flavors to chose from!
Cute tavern with bar food that actually taste good :-)
13 locals recommend
Scotch Plains Tavern
124 Westbrook Rd
13 locals recommend
Cute tavern with bar food that actually taste good :-)
6 locals recommend
Castello of Niantic
11 E Pattagansett Rd
6 locals recommend

Bar scene

The Social invites you to try the most intricate and special beers, with over 50 on tap!!! The gastro-pub inspired menu that goes along with that is just great!
17 locals recommend
The Social Bar + Kitchen
208 Bank St
17 locals recommend
The Social invites you to try the most intricate and special beers, with over 50 on tap!!! The gastro-pub inspired menu that goes along with that is just great!
Local’s favorite bar, with great beer selection on tap, live music and pool tables!
7 locals recommend
The Oasis Pub
16 Bank St
7 locals recommend
Local’s favorite bar, with great beer selection on tap, live music and pool tables!
Great little Irish pub, with live music more times than not, in the heart of Downtown Mystic. Perfect pit stop after doing a little shopping
27 locals recommend
The Harp and Hound
4 Pearl St
27 locals recommend
Great little Irish pub, with live music more times than not, in the heart of Downtown Mystic. Perfect pit stop after doing a little shopping
Rooftop bar focused on craft cocktails. Small bites available as well, which are delicious!
15 locals recommend
Mix Rooftop & Bar at Sift
5 Water St
15 locals recommend
Rooftop bar focused on craft cocktails. Small bites available as well, which are delicious!
As seen on Bar Rescue, the TV show. Pretty fun experience walking into it. If you’re in the area, you should stop in and check it out!
Handle Bar & Grill
210 South Broad Street
As seen on Bar Rescue, the TV show. Pretty fun experience walking into it. If you’re in the area, you should stop in and check it out!
Gastro Pub on Main Street in Niantic. Great beer selection
30 locals recommend
The Black Sheep
247 Main St
30 locals recommend
Gastro Pub on Main Street in Niantic. Great beer selection
Simply amazing, recently named one of the ‘Best Bars in America’ by Esquire (they’re right). The small plates are incredible and pair so well with super eclectic and complex yet tasty cocktails. Live Music on Tuesdays and Fridays. Happy Hour at 5 PM.
The Port of Call
Simply amazing, recently named one of the ‘Best Bars in America’ by Esquire (they’re right). The small plates are incredible and pair so well with super eclectic and complex yet tasty cocktails. Live Music on Tuesdays and Fridays. Happy Hour at 5 PM.

Nature exploring

Adorable little beach about 15 mins from Downtown New London. Small water park and arcade, mini golf can be found there. Only arcade is open year round. Views of lighthouse
65 locals recommend
Ocean Beach Park
98 Neptune Ave
65 locals recommend
Adorable little beach about 15 mins from Downtown New London. Small water park and arcade, mini golf can be found there. Only arcade is open year round. Views of lighthouse
Adorable little park with french inspired architecture and garden design. Large fields to stroll through.
69 locals recommend
Harkness Memorial State Park
275 Great Neck Rd
69 locals recommend
Adorable little park with french inspired architecture and garden design. Large fields to stroll through.
83 locals recommend
Gillette Castle State Park
Gillette Castle State Park
83 locals recommend
Dinosaur Caves
Hidden local gem for anyone looking for a non-crowded beach
32 locals recommend
DuBois Beach
32 locals recommend
Hidden local gem for anyone looking for a non-crowded beach
58 locals recommend
Rocky Neck State Park
244 W Main St
58 locals recommend
Amazing State Park in Niantic, which offers both trails and beach access. Views from Pavillion are breathtaking.
58 locals recommend
Rocky Neck State Park
244 W Main St
58 locals recommend
Amazing State Park in Niantic, which offers both trails and beach access. Views from Pavillion are breathtaking.

Art and Museums

To feed your inner child. The penguins and jellyfish tanks are my favorite :)
341 locals recommend
Mystic Aquarium
341 locals recommend
To feed your inner child. The penguins and jellyfish tanks are my favorite :)
276 locals recommend
Mystic Seaport Museum
75 Greenmanville Ave
276 locals recommend
46 locals recommend
Mystic Museum of Art
9 Water St
46 locals recommend
52 locals recommend
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
300 Main St
52 locals recommend

Shopping

Cozy sweaters, cute dresses, great women’s clothes
FatFace Mystic
Units 6/7 8/10 W Main St
Cozy sweaters, cute dresses, great women’s clothes
Where I get presents for my family. Great variety of stores including Eddie Bauer, J Crew, William Sonoma and many more!
Westbrook Outlets
Where I get presents for my family. Great variety of stores including Eddie Bauer, J Crew, William Sonoma and many more!
Great little shop in Downtown New London, with a catered selections of over 20 local artists. Artsy vibes, clothing, decor, art, cards, they have a little of everything. Shopping local at its finest.
The Annex
Great little shop in Downtown New London, with a catered selections of over 20 local artists. Artsy vibes, clothing, decor, art, cards, they have a little of everything. Shopping local at its finest.
All the vinyl records you can dream of! Located right on Bank St in New London :)
The Telegraph
137 Golden St
All the vinyl records you can dream of! Located right on Bank St in New London :)
The Ditty Bag
7 Roosevelt Ave
Local designers from Connecticut all gathered in one spot just for you! Great for presents for your loved ones, or even for yourself. You’ll find fashion, home goods, candles and all many more items.
The Annex
Local designers from Connecticut all gathered in one spot just for you! Great for presents for your loved ones, or even for yourself. You’ll find fashion, home goods, candles and all many more items.

Wineries and Breweries

83 locals recommend
Jonathan Edwards Winery
74 Chester Maine Road
83 locals recommend
Some of the best local beer in the area.
Tox Brewing Company
635 Broad St
Some of the best local beer in the area.
Brew Pub
54 West Main Street
56 locals recommend
Stony Creek Brewery
5 Indian Neck Ave
56 locals recommend
Beer’d Brewing Co. - The Silo
225 Leonard Dr

The Fun zone

I mean axe throwing and indoor go karting in the same building… Sounds like a great afternoon to me!
18 locals recommend
SuperCharged Indoor Karting and Trampoline
1 Sachatello Industrial Dr
18 locals recommend
I mean axe throwing and indoor go karting in the same building… Sounds like a great afternoon to me!
After spending some at Ocean Beach, or just because, head down to the Arcade. A little more retro than Dave and Buster’s, but in the best way possible
MBM Fun Center Arcade
After spending some at Ocean Beach, or just because, head down to the Arcade. A little more retro than Dave and Buster’s, but in the best way possible