Nick’s guidebook
Food scene
Don Carmelo's
7 Winfield StThe best Mexican restaurant in a city full of Mexican restaurants.
The best burger in town is the Local Burger. This lively pub-restaurant stands at SoNo's central intersection, behind giant windows under the Metro North tracks, and is never empty.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Local Kitchen & Craft Beer Bar
85 Mill Plain RdThe best burger in town is the Local Burger. This lively pub-restaurant stands at SoNo's central intersection, behind giant windows under the Metro North tracks, and is never empty.
At the opposite end of Washington St. from Local sits the oldest bar-restaurant in the city. A speakeasy during Prohibition, Donovan is now famous for its clam chowder--one of the best this New Englander (Nick) has ever tasted.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Donovan's
138 Washington StAt the opposite end of Washington St. from Local sits the oldest bar-restaurant in the city. A speakeasy during Prohibition, Donovan is now famous for its clam chowder--one of the best this New Englander (Nick) has ever tasted.
Tablao is known for its seven-day happy hour, complete with excellent tapas dishes to match whatever you drink.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tablao SoNo
86 Washington StTablao is known for its seven-day happy hour, complete with excellent tapas dishes to match whatever you drink.
Evarito's rooftop bar is SoNo's hot new spot (the downstairs restaurant is unremarkable). A beautiful view and a younger crowd make for a good spot to start and finish a night out.
Evarito's Mexican Kitchen & Bar
16 N Main StEvarito's rooftop bar is SoNo's hot new spot (the downstairs restaurant is unremarkable). A beautiful view and a younger crowd make for a good spot to start and finish a night out.
Based in SoNo, this bakery's breads are sold across southwest Connecticut, as far away as New Haven. Grab a pastry and coffee any day of the week before 2pm.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Sono Baking Company & Cafe
101 Water StBased in SoNo, this bakery's breads are sold across southwest Connecticut, as far away as New Haven. Grab a pastry and coffee any day of the week before 2pm.
Tucked away just across the bridge (4-min walk from our front door!) is a shabby-on-the-outside, delicious-on-the-inside Italian restaurant that's very popular with locals, with outstanding pizzas and pastas at un-inflated prices.
Valentino's Cucina Italiana
195 Liberty SquareTucked away just across the bridge (4-min walk from our front door!) is a shabby-on-the-outside, delicious-on-the-inside Italian restaurant that's very popular with locals, with outstanding pizzas and pastas at un-inflated prices.
A hip noodle bar that's become very popular since opening a few years back, and that stays open until 10 or later.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mecha Noodle Bar
116 Washington StA hip noodle bar that's become very popular since opening a few years back, and that stays open until 10 or later.
On the other side of the fountain from us sits a fun, casual bar that moonlights as a surprisingly good restaurant, serving an eclectic range of small dishes. Recommended are the Argentinian steak strips and the poutine--French fries and gravy.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Segundo
3 N Water StOn the other side of the fountain from us sits a fun, casual bar that moonlights as a surprisingly good restaurant, serving an eclectic range of small dishes. Recommended are the Argentinian steak strips and the poutine--French fries and gravy.
A local institution, Mr. Frosty's is a lovely 10-minute walk from our front door, over the bridge and around the rim of Veteran's Park, just up the street to Frosty's for any ice cream you can think of (including sugar-free vanilla for us diabetics).
Mr. Frosty's Ice Cream Shop
6 1st StA local institution, Mr. Frosty's is a lovely 10-minute walk from our front door, over the bridge and around the rim of Veteran's Park, just up the street to Frosty's for any ice cream you can think of (including sugar-free vanilla for us diabetics).
Sightseeing
If you have any itch at all for an aquarium, this one is worth the charge. From big (sharks) to small (glowing jellyfish) to in-between (regular seal shows), the Maritime's got it all.
Even better than the fish, though, is the old-school IMAX theater adjoined to it. You can see a 45-minute flick without entering the Aquarium. At thirty years old, and slated to be torn down soon, see the six-story screen while you can.
107 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Maritime Aquarium eNorwalk
10 N Water StIf you have any itch at all for an aquarium, this one is worth the charge. From big (sharks) to small (glowing jellyfish) to in-between (regular seal shows), the Maritime's got it all.
Even better than the fish, though, is the old-school IMAX theater adjoined to it. You can see a 45-minute flick without entering the Aquarium. At thirty years old, and slated to be torn down soon, see the six-story screen while you can.
Even if the swimming doesn't impress you (waves are 3-inches high), the view of islands and boats and oyster bed flags is worth a look. Grab a few raw oysters at Ripka's, fresh from the beds just 50 yards out.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Calf Pasture Beach
Calf Pasture Beach RoadEven if the swimming doesn't impress you (waves are 3-inches high), the view of islands and boats and oyster bed flags is worth a look. Grab a few raw oysters at Ripka's, fresh from the beds just 50 yards out.
It's raining? Just refurbished and purged of 30 years of popcorn grease, the Regent is a 5-minute walk down the street.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bow Tie Cinemas Regent
64 N Main StIt's raining? Just refurbished and purged of 30 years of popcorn grease, the Regent is a 5-minute walk down the street.
Take the ferry to visit the Norwalk Islands, culminating in the Sheffield and its lighthouse. Ferries travel 2-3 times a day from the Aquarium, a 2-minute walk (no exaggeration) from our front door.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sheffield Island Ferry
Take the ferry to visit the Norwalk Islands, culminating in the Sheffield and its lighthouse. Ferries travel 2-3 times a day from the Aquarium, a 2-minute walk (no exaggeration) from our front door.
Basics
A small supermarket awaits just a 4-minute walk down the street from us.
108 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
CTown Supermarkets
4918 BroadwayA small supermarket awaits just a 4-minute walk down the street from us.
A 9-minute walk to our MetroNorth station, from which it's 64-72 minutes to Grand Central Station.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
South Norwalk Railroad Station
A 9-minute walk to our MetroNorth station, from which it's 64-72 minutes to Grand Central Station.
Want a 6-pack? Just over the bridge, 99 Bottles has a wide array of specialty beers and staple wines on offer. Run by good people, we recommend it.
Ninety 9 Bottles
209 Liberty SquareWant a 6-pack? Just over the bridge, 99 Bottles has a wide array of specialty beers and staple wines on offer. Run by good people, we recommend it.