Inside: Discover Extraordinary Living
Historic, pastoral, and boasting plenty of cultural and entertainment options, Litchfield is truly a “something for everyone” kind of town. The vibe is quintessential New England — a town center boasting stately, 200-year-old homes and an abundance of sites on the National Register of Historic Places — meets modern suburb — a wealth of fine-dining restaurants, stylish boutiques, art galleries, and antiques shops. Nature-lovers are also drawn to Litchfield for its proximity to nature centers, lakes, rivers, forests, covered bridges, flower farms, and equestrian and agricultural activities. Located two hours from New York City and within an hour to Bradley Airport, the town’s quiet appeal doesn’t come at the lack of convenience. Residents say it’s the best of both worlds: you can easily enjoy Litchfield’s rural charm and get to major destinations without hassle.
Here are some of the best things to eat, buy, see, and do in Litchfield:
Dining
West Street Grill
43 West St, Litchfield
A favorite of both residents and visitors for 30 years, West Street Grill is one of the best-known fine-dining restaurants in the region. Expect creative, modern cuisine served in a cozy but sophisticated dining room with all of the flair and polish of a big-city restaurant. In warm weather, diners flock to the al fresco seating overlooking historic Litchfield Green. The menu offers elevated French- and Italian-inspired bistro and trattoria food as well as expert wine pairings and a farm-to-table ethos. A recipient of many awards, West Street Grill was most recently named Best New-American Restaurant 2023 by Connecticut Magazine.
Arethusa Farm
822 Bantam Rd, Bantam
Way more than just a farm, Arethusa Farm — originally started as a dairy in 1868 — has become a culinary and argricultural hotspot. The offerings include fine-dining restaurant Arethusa al Tavolo, a “dairy-to-table” experience which showcases the farm’s products and has been ranked as Open Table’s “Top 100 in America” restaurant for two years in a row; Arethusa a Mano, a café stocked with hand-made baked goods like pastries, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and light lunch options; and the cult-like, super-premium Arethusa Farms Ice Cream, made in the on-site dairy plant using 16% buttermilk. The farm’s full line of dairy products, including cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk, butter, and sour cream are available for sale at the farm and its two other retail locations, in West Hartford and New Haven.
Culture
Litchfield Historical Society
7 South St, Litchfield
For a small town, Litchfield packs a big historic punch: Litchfield Law School was the first law school established in the U.S. and is the alma mater of two vice presidents, Aaron Burr and John C. Calhoun, as well as three Supreme Court Justices. It’s also the birthplace of Uncle Tom’s Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Details on these historic folks as well as the town’s entire past are available at the Litchfield Historical Society, which is free for visitors. Featuring exhibits, diverse programming, collections, and research, the Historical Society includes the Litchfield History Museum, the Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library, the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School, and the Tapping Reeve Meadow.
Shopping
The Market CT
793 Bantam Road, Bantam
Area foodies flock to The Market for its wide range of organic produce from small farms and other local producers. The Market, with a second location in New Milford, also offers a full line of hot and cold menu items (perfect for a lunch break!) as well as a catering service. And, on Friday evenings, customers can stop in to pick up a restaurant quality home-cooked meal to kick off the weekend — perfect for when you don’t feel like cooking.
Little-ish
8 Cobble Court, Litchfield
Prepare to “ooh” and “aah” at all of the adorable finds in this lifestyle shop for little ones. From toys to educational items, arts and crafts, clothing, kid-friendly personal care items, bath toys, decorative items, and even birthday-party kits, Little-ish has everything necessary to spark creativity and fun for the younger set. Its historic Cobble Court location adds to the charming appeal.
Parks & Recreation
White Memorial Conservation Center
80 Whitehall Rd, Litchfield
It’s hard to find a better place to spend a day outdoors than White Memorial, a 4,000-acre nonprofit park nestled near both the Bantam River and Bantam Lake. The free-admission park includes 40 miles of trails, 10 ponds for kayaking, a nature museum, campgrounds, and a marina as well as facilities to rent for special occasions, including an indoor residence center, a screened-in pavilion, and numerous outdoor fields. The Conservation Center is focused on conservation, education, recreation, and research and offers year-round environmental education programs for children and adults that are aimed at “inspiring understanding, appreciation, and respect for the natural world.”
