Local Stomping Grounds
Food scene
$$-Grab a picnic table, watch the sunset over the meadow, and BYOB. Pet friendly. Popular Seafood shack with an excellent fresh menu and raw bar, 10 minutes down the road. Get the Seared Tuna!! Go early or put your order in ahead of time!
15 locals recommend
West Shore Seafood
449 Bantam Lake Road$$-Grab a picnic table, watch the sunset over the meadow, and BYOB. Pet friendly. Popular Seafood shack with an excellent fresh menu and raw bar, 10 minutes down the road. Get the Seared Tuna!! Go early or put your order in ahead of time!
$$$- Mediterranean Fare totally worth the splurge for date nights. Excellent pizzas too. Call ahead early- only 5 minutes down the road. Closed Mon-Wed. I used to work here in college and gained 5 lbs :)
12 locals recommend
Oliva
15 Main St S$$$- Mediterranean Fare totally worth the splurge for date nights. Excellent pizzas too. Call ahead early- only 5 minutes down the road. Closed Mon-Wed. I used to work here in college and gained 5 lbs :)
Beer garden and patio dining by the river or fireside dining inside. Excellent English pub fare. Good bar scene. Popular place, so call for reservations! Open daily.
51 locals recommend
The White Horse
258 New Milford TurnpikeBeer garden and patio dining by the river or fireside dining inside. Excellent English pub fare. Good bar scene. Popular place, so call for reservations! Open daily.
$$$-Excellent sandwiches and coffee. Perfect place for a post-hike lunch on their picnic tables! Excellent Summer series music on Thursday evenings 5-7 BYOB!
19 locals recommend
Nine Main Bakery & Deli
9 Main St$$$-Excellent sandwiches and coffee. Perfect place for a post-hike lunch on their picnic tables! Excellent Summer series music on Thursday evenings 5-7 BYOB!
The Owl
18 E Shore RdAnother great place for garden dining, wine and light bites.
Best ice cream hands down, locally made by the cows 10 minutes down the road.
73 locals recommend
Arethusa Farm Dairy
822 Bantam RdBest ice cream hands down, locally made by the cows 10 minutes down the road.
Great bistro for cappuchinos, breakfast or lunch. Could make a great workplace coffee shop.
34 locals recommend
Arethusa a mano
833 Bantam RdGreat bistro for cappuchinos, breakfast or lunch. Could make a great workplace coffee shop.
$$$-ANYTHING YOU TRY HERE WILL BE AMAZING- Colorful and eclectic decor, great bar and martinis, award-winning menu, casual vibe. It's an experience dining here.
22 locals recommend
Good News Restaurant and Bar
694 Main St S$$$-ANYTHING YOU TRY HERE WILL BE AMAZING- Colorful and eclectic decor, great bar and martinis, award-winning menu, casual vibe. It's an experience dining here.
Marty's Cafe
4 Green Hill RdAnother great workplace coffee shop.
GW Tavern
20 Bee Brook RdGreat Tavern and Environment 10 minutes away! Closed Tue-Wed. Good bar.
A local, seasonal, family-friendly staple for ice cream, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
9 locals recommend
Popey's Ice Cream Shoppe
7 West StA local, seasonal, family-friendly staple for ice cream, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
Market Place Kitchen and Bar
641 Main St S$$$-American-style Restaurant, open every day!
$$ Nice sandwich cafe and bakery next to the prep school's campus. Excellent grab-n-go’s. Closed Sun-Mon.
9 locals recommend
The Po Cafe
5 Kirby Rd$$ Nice sandwich cafe and bakery next to the prep school's campus. Excellent grab-n-go’s. Closed Sun-Mon.
$$$ Winvian is an exclusive estate 10 minutes down the road that offers a Farm-to-Table restaurant and spa. Reservations are required for dinner for guests staying outside their private accommodations. There is a dress code. Closed Mon/Tue.
6 locals recommend
5-Diamond Restaurant at Winvian Farm
155 Alain White Rd$$$ Winvian is an exclusive estate 10 minutes down the road that offers a Farm-to-Table restaurant and spa. Reservations are required for dinner for guests staying outside their private accommodations. There is a dress code. Closed Mon/Tue.
New Food Truck Scene opened 2 weeks ago and I can’t wait to try! Wood-fired food truck, gourmet taco truck, and ice cream truck. Thursday-Sunday.
South Farms
21 Higbie RdNew Food Truck Scene opened 2 weeks ago and I can’t wait to try! Wood-fired food truck, gourmet taco truck, and ice cream truck. Thursday-Sunday.
Sightseeing
Lovely shaded riverside loop walking trail, plus a secret quartz mine.
17 locals recommend
Hidden Valley Preserve
198 Bee Brook RoadLovely shaded riverside loop walking trail, plus a secret quartz mine.
Best walked at dusk to see birds and beavers while walking ontop of the wetlands!
8 locals recommend
Little Pond Boardwalk Trail
Whites Wood RoadBest walked at dusk to see birds and beavers while walking ontop of the wetlands!
Magical sprawling walking trails next to the Shepaug for all levels. Discover the secret railroad tunnel or take a dip in the river.
49 locals recommend
Steep Rock Preserve
2 Tunnel RdMagical sprawling walking trails next to the Shepaug for all levels. Discover the secret railroad tunnel or take a dip in the river.
White Memorial has old-growth pine forests and a boardwalk through the wetlands. Very peaceful and plenty of flat trails.
White Memorial - Mattatuck Trail
300 S Plains RdWhite Memorial has old-growth pine forests and a boardwalk through the wetlands. Very peaceful and plenty of flat trails.
Entry is in the back corner of the graveyard, across from the entrance to the Private Community. Perfect for an easy flat hike or trail run
Bethlehem Land Trust
101 Main Street SouthEntry is in the back corner of the graveyard, across from the entrance to the Private Community. Perfect for an easy flat hike or trail run
Great walking trails through forest and meadows, 7 minutes away.
13 locals recommend
Flanders Nature Center
5 Flanders RdGreat walking trails through forest and meadows, 7 minutes away.
Nonnewaug Falls
Falls RoadWaterfalls anybody? Great family-friendly hike to the falls.
Farm Stand
Our local grocer closed and the two local farm stands have seriously upped their games.
Popular 3-Season Farm for Berry Picking, Apple Picking, and Pumpkin Picking. Hands down Best Apple Cider Donuts. Great baked goods and pies. They also have a playground, petting zoo, and trails to walk! Look on their website for summer series music and events!
19 locals recommend
March Farms
160 Munger LnPopular 3-Season Farm for Berry Picking, Apple Picking, and Pumpkin Picking. Hands down Best Apple Cider Donuts. Great baked goods and pies. They also have a playground, petting zoo, and trails to walk! Look on their website for summer series music and events!
Hidden gem 💎 24/7 honor system farm stand - cash or shmenmo- carries everything from local gourmet cheeses, duck eggs, pre made meals, spreads, preserves, ice cream. Makes all other farm stands jealous.
Percy Thomson Meadows
Hidden gem 💎 24/7 honor system farm stand - cash or shmenmo- carries everything from local gourmet cheeses, duck eggs, pre made meals, spreads, preserves, ice cream. Makes all other farm stands jealous.
Markets
Local groceries
The Market CT
793 Bantam Rd$$$- Like a mini Whole Foods
Washington Food Market Inc
5 Bryan Hall Plaza$$- Good for essentials
Northville Market
301 Litchfield Rd$$$- Gourmet market
New Morning Market
129 Main St N$$$- Mini Whole Foods. Great for specialty items.
Wineries
I've never been, but previous guests have enjoyed it on a ladies weekend!
24 locals recommend
Hawk Ridge Winery
28 Plungis RdI've never been, but previous guests have enjoyed it on a ladies weekend!
Spring Hill Vineyards
292 Bee Brook RdCall ahead for tastings!
Hopkins Vineyard
25 Hopkins RoadVisit their website for summer music events!
The Wise Old Dog
Boutique bottle shop with free wine tastings - call ahead!
Haight-Brown Vineyard
29 Chestnut Hill RdNever been - but it's the oldest in CT!