Meryl’s guidebook
Restaurant Recommendations
Mirsina's Restaurant
162 Main Stbreakfast and lunch. Some authentic Greek specialties.
Cristy's Restaurant
1261 Boston Post RdBreakfast. Outstanding pancake menu
Turtle Cafe
4 Westbrook PlBreakfast. Don't miss the breakfast crepes.
Monkey Farm
571 Boston Post RdLunch, Dinner. Local color. Big salads, burgers.
Lunch, Dinner. Pub food, nice bar, live acoustic music Friday & Saturday.
23 locals recommend
Penny Lane Pub
150 Main StLunch, Dinner. Pub food, nice bar, live acoustic music Friday & Saturday.
Haywire Burger Bar
730 Boston Post RdLunch, Dinner. THE place for burgers.
Lunch, Dinner. Beautiful setting. Relaxed atmosphere. Tasting room with live music. And outdoor patio with beautiful view, in season. (in Clinton, CT but so worth the drive!)
63 locals recommend
Chamard Vineyards Bistro
115 Cow Hill RdLunch, Dinner. Beautiful setting. Relaxed atmosphere. Tasting room with live music. And outdoor patio with beautiful view, in season. (in Clinton, CT but so worth the drive!)
Lunch, dinner. One of my favorites. Excellent seafood menu.
30 locals recommend
Liv's Oyster Bar & Restaurant
166 Main StLunch, dinner. One of my favorites. Excellent seafood menu.
Dinner. Friendly bar, nice atmosphere, good variety of pasta, fish, seafood dishes.
Red Hen Restaurant
286 Main StDinner. Friendly bar, nice atmosphere, good variety of pasta, fish, seafood dishes.
Things to do
See a show, or just pop in and check out the small exhibit on the life of Katharine Hepburn. The historic venue is perfect for live performances.
52 locals recommend
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
300 Main StSee a show, or just pop in and check out the small exhibit on the life of Katharine Hepburn. The historic venue is perfect for live performances.
The thousand acre wood. Well, 963 acres to be exact. It's the largest coastal forest between Boston and New York. Download a map at https://www.oslt.org/ and take a hike.
The Preserve
Deer Run RoadThe thousand acre wood. Well, 963 acres to be exact. It's the largest coastal forest between Boston and New York. Download a map at https://www.oslt.org/ and take a hike.
Kayak rental at one of the prettiest spots on the shoreline! Paddleboard rentals too.
18 locals recommend
Black Hall Outfitters
132 Shore RdKayak rental at one of the prettiest spots on the shoreline! Paddleboard rentals too.
Ivoryton Playhouse
103 Main StSee a play at the historic Ivoryton Playhouse.
Enjoy a show at the Goodspeed in the lovely village of East Haddam. Charming!
57 locals recommend
Goodspeed Opera House
6 Main StEnjoy a show at the Goodspeed in the lovely village of East Haddam. Charming!
Enjoy a cruise on the CT river. Departs from East Haddam and Middletown.
10 locals recommend
Lady Katharine Cruises
1 Railroad AvenueEnjoy a cruise on the CT river. Departs from East Haddam and Middletown.
Explore the beauty and wildlife of the lower CT river with a naturalist on board.
10 locals recommend
RiverQuest
67 Little Meadow RdExplore the beauty and wildlife of the lower CT river with a naturalist on board.
Cafes, Bakeries, Specialty Foods, Ice Cream
Ashlawn Farm Coffee
455 Boston Post RdReal coffee. Good vibe. Located next to the train station.
Vegan, vegetarian cafe. Breakfast & lunch. This place has a strong following. Their vegan pastries are popular, especially the cupcakes.
Shayna B's By The Sea
631 Boston Post RoadVegan, vegetarian cafe. Breakfast & lunch. This place has a strong following. Their vegan pastries are popular, especially the cupcakes.
Fenwick Ice Cream Co.
910 Boston Post RdReally, really, really, good ice cream. Made in CT too!
Soooo good. Best scones around. Cakes tartes, tortes, all the real deal baked with love by Dagmar, Austrian chef.
Dagmar's Desserts
75 Main StSoooo good. Best scones around. Cakes tartes, tortes, all the real deal baked with love by Dagmar, Austrian chef.
So our little town has TWO outstanding bakeries. Pursuit of Pastry has mouth-watering baked goods.
7 locals recommend
The Pursuit of Pastry
719 Boston Post RdSo our little town has TWO outstanding bakeries. Pursuit of Pastry has mouth-watering baked goods.
Walt's is a Main Street fixture and our local grocer/butcher/sandwich shop. If you're a meat eater, you will love their sandwiches. Roast beef and turkey are made in-store. The reuben is outstanding. Grab some sandwiches and then have a picnic at the Founder's Park, located at the end of Coulter Street, where you'll find picnic tables and a beautiful view of the CT river. (Keep driving on the gravel road til you reach the park.)
Walt's Food Market
178 Main StWalt's is a Main Street fixture and our local grocer/butcher/sandwich shop. If you're a meat eater, you will love their sandwiches. Roast beef and turkey are made in-store. The reuben is outstanding. Grab some sandwiches and then have a picnic at the Founder's Park, located at the end of Coulter Street, where you'll find picnic tables and a beautiful view of the CT river. (Keep driving on the gravel road til you reach the park.)