Mystic Guide
I’ve been to Mystic a lot. Here’s some good stuff.
Lodging
Inn at Mystic - I’m biased because I’ve been staying here for AGES. It’s a bit pricey but the views are really great and it’s quiet. A lot of property to walk around on and it’s right between Stonington and downtown Mystic. The attached restaurant has gone through multiple rebrandings so I can’t speak to it currently, but they usually offer complementary breakfast. Map
Steamboat Inn - Expensive but a great offering, especially in the fall. Sits right on the Mystic river, nice accommodations. Good breakfast/tea in the afternoon, close to everything. Map
Mystic Marriott - A few minutes further away but also a good option for volume, it’s a big hotel. Map
Hilton Mystic - A bit closer to the downtown area. Stayed here once or twice, can’t remember, but had no complaints. Map
Ocean House - Obligatory 5-star offering. Evidently it’s worth the money, haven’t stayed myself. Map
Groceries
Mystic Market - Shameless plug for this place because it’s tradition for me to go. Small market, lots of gourmet snacks/cheeses/good sandwiches/groceries in a pinch. Map
Big Y - Connecticut’s version of Stop ‘n Shop. Right near town, has everything needed. Map
Places to eat (this can be twice as long, I had to narrow it down)
Noah’s - One of my favorites for breakfast. Locals eat here, so you know it’s good. Pancakes the size of hubcaps. They also do good dinners and have a full bar. Comfort/American fare. Map
Oyster Club - High end but well worth the money. Freshest oysters and seafood, everything is top-notch. The rooftop bar is hip and tends to have cheaper food, but it may be closed by the time of the wedding (main restaurant is year-round). Either way, never had a bad meal here. New American/Seafood. Map
Engine Room - Also high end but well worth the money, same owners as Oyster House. This place skews younger and has more emphasis on a varied menu. New American. Map
Sift bakery - Best bakery in the area. Map
Abbot’s Lobster - The crusty local spot for seafood, but it’s really fresh and delicious. Mostly seafood. Map
Breakwater - Right near Stonington village. Local spot, emphasis on seafood but they have other stuff too. Casual/seafood. Map
Bravo Bravo - Excellent European option, right in downtown Mystic. Always buzzing with locals, good wine selection, varied menu. French/Italian. Map
Olio - Solid Italian food. A little far out but worth it if people are in the area. Italian/American. Map
Where the locals drink booze
Daniel Packer Inne - Probably one of my favorite haunts in the area. They have live music some nights, good mix of locals and tourists on the town. Map
The Harp and the Hound - Also very local. Very Irish. I remember the bartender giving me a really strong beer for free and I can’t remember the rest of the night. Map
Beer’d - Fun microbrewery right near Stonington and the venue. It’s in an industrial-building-turned-community-hub with lots of little shops/vendors. Map
The Malted Barley - Worth the quick trip to Westerly, RI for the quintessential ‘beer place’. Lots of taps with interesting brews and house-made pretzels with good dips. Map
Noah’s - as above, they have a full bar starting in the afternoon.
Pier 27 - If dive’s your vibe, here’s where to imbibe. Very local, let’s call it ‘unpretentious’. Attached to a pizza place which has decent Greek-style pizza (Angie’s). Map
Where the locals drink coffee
Noah’s - as above.
Sift and Rise - as above.
Nana’s - A new spot, one I haven’t been to yet. My cousin worked here though and she can vouch for everything. Map
Interesting stores and spots
Clyde’s Cider Mill - Cider. Cider donuts. Hard cider. REALLY hard cider called Blackout — aptly named. A little touristy but definitely worth the trip. Map
Mystic Disc - Support your local vinyl vendors! Lots of mainstream and obscure/hard-to-find records. Half my collection has come from here. Map
Mystic Army Navy - Fun store for old army trinkets, lots of cool stuff if you’re in the market for an old Navy watchman’s peacoat or a new knife. Map
Bank Square Books & Savoy bookstore - In Mystic and Westerly, RI. Obligatory local bookstore plug but they’re the best. Savoy has a nice café inside. Map / Map
Mystic Museum of Art - Paintings. It’s pretty neat but I haven’t been there in a while, so…probably still just paintings. Map
Mystic Seaport Museum - THE touristy spot but if you catch it at a good hour, worth the trip for sure. Lots of history. Map
Walks and hikes
Bluff Point State Park - one of my favorites. Nice trails that follow the coastline. Map
Groton Long Point - hard to park here, but you can walk along the beach and ogle nice beach houses. Map
Barn Island Wildlife Area - another easy hike around the coastline. Map
Downtown Mystic - shops, eateries, bars, lots of places to spend money. Map
Downtown Westerly, RI - as above. Worth seeing! Map
Watch Hill, RI - Because who doesn’t love to look at the beach and huge houses? Taylor Swift lives here. Map