Inside: Discover Extraordinary Living
Elegant and picturesque, boasting a vibrant downtown, New Canaan remains one of Fairfield County’s most beloved towns. Residents cherish its sense of small-town friendliness, community appeal, and easy access to New York City along with its delightful mix of restaurants, shops, and green spaces. New Canaan is also known as a town that supports its history and the arts — both the Silvermine Guild Art Center and the Town Players of New Canaan are popular draws — while embracing a sophisticated, modern vibe. The downtown boasts a charming central green lined with highly browsable boutiques and upscale, buzzy restaurants while its outlying areas include hundreds of acres of protected open space containing woodland preserves and parks.
Here are some of the best things to eat, buy, see, and do in New Canaan:
Culture
The Glass House
199 Elm Street, New Canaan
This National Trust Historic Site was built between 1949 and 1995 by renowned architect Philip Johnson, who was inaugural curator of architecture and design at The Museum of Modern Art and an early proponent of modern architecture as well as the the first Pritzker Architecture Prize winner. Today, the 49-acre site boasts 14 structures, including the Glass House, and features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. In addition, visitors can shop at the Design Store for unique and beautifully designed home accessories to bring a bit of Johnson’s architectural mastery into their own spaces.
Dining
Solé
105 Elm St, New Canaan
Equal parts high-end dining and laid-back atmosphere, Solé is a sophisticated modern Italian and Mediterranean eatery offering eclectic twists on traditional dishes. Solé’s distinctive design really shines: herringbone/checkerboard flooring combines with natural wood details, warm lighting, and crushed velvet booths for a striking modern vibe that is both stylish and comfortable. On the menu, you’ll find handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and entrees like parmesan-crusted halibut and yellowfin tuna crudo. Darling outdoor seating plus special events and catering for private parties round out the offerings.
Gates Restaurant + Bar
10 Forest St, New Canaan
A New Canaan institution since 1979, Gates is the ultimate “something for everyone” place. The wide-ranging menu offers items for every palate: from sliders to bao buns, wings, burgers, salads, rice bowls, wood-fired pizzas, and entrees like pastas, steak frites, and BBQ ribs — all served in a fun, upscale-pub environment. In addition to this broad selection of comfort food, sourced locally whenever possible, patrons love Gates for happy hour, weekend brunch, and live music every Saturday.
Shopping
The Whitney Shop
100 Elm St, New Canaan
Since 1947, The Whitney Shop has been the go-to place for New Canaanites seeking elegant gift items. The second-generation, family-owned boutique, located in the heart of downtown, offers a wide selection, including hand-painted pieces, personalized keepsakes, and curated gift baskets. The wedding registry is popular with brides- and grooms-to-be for unique houseware and tableware, while expectant parents love the baby registry and selection of kids’ products including classic clothing for babies and toddlers, and nursery décor.
Parks and Recreation
New Canaan Nature Center
144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan
Nature lovers can spend hours at the 40-acree New Canaan Nature Center, exploring the secret gardens, visiting the aviaries for a glimpse of birds of prey, or enjoying 2+ miles of hiking trails. Kids will thrill to check out the boxwood maze in the Children’s Play Garden or go on a scavenger hunt. The Nature Center features a diverse range of habitats, including wet and dry meadows and woodlands, two ponds, dense thickets, an old orchid, and a cattail marsh. Special events occur throughout the year, such as learning luncheons, a harvest festival, and the annual holiday market.
Waveny Park Conservancy
Entrances at 677 South Avenue and off Lapham Road, New Canaan
With 250 acres of parkland surrounding the historic Waveny House, Waveny Park is of central importance to life in New Canaan. The park contains some 3.5 miles of jogging/walking trails, soccer, baseball, and softball fields; a picnic area; tennis courts; an artificial turf field; and a large open play area. It also contains Waveny Park Swimming Facility as well as the PowerHouse Performing Arts Center, The Carriage Barn, Spencer’s Run Dog Park, Lapham Community Center, and The Waveny Lodge. The Waveny Park Conservancy works in partnership with the town to preserve and protect the park, which was originally the country estate of the Lapham family and became New Canaan’s town park in 1967.
