Take a see·eat
The cozy village of Mystic CT represents small town charm. The downtown stroll of restaurant options, opens doors to a diverse experience for an all girls night, dates nights, happy hours, and late nights. From a bar and a bite to wine and candlelight. From signature cocktails to local breweries on tap the restaurant experience quickly makes Mystic a reason to visit and revisit for any occasion. Take a see·eat and learn of some of the best restaurants Downtown Mystic has to offer.
Oyster Club
Within the TOP vacation spot of Mystic, every local will tell you to hit the iconic beach destination and area attractions then go for local taste at Oyster Club in downtown Mystic.
Every place has a story
Oyster Club comes with a guarantee. The Farm and Sea to table- menu is specifically prepared for the day- seasonal and local and fresh. The open kitchen view creates warmth and comfort in this upscale restaurant with faithful local sourcing.
Food & Drink:
“Keepin’ it Reel” – right off the boat straight to the kitchen- order-up some chowder, raw bar, or the fresh-catch fish. Catch the Happy Hour for a “BUCK-A-SHUCK” any night of the week.
“Keepin’ it Local”- veggies in season straight from the local garden and farm- from a side-dish to a plant-based cuisine the food caters to all nutritional desires
“Keepin’ it fresh”- The Farm To Hearth Bakery is only; natural, whole-grain, and straight from the oven
“Keepin’ it Hoppin”- Local Brews and Wines make it a night of seduction. The Charm of the local brews make each pour; whether beer, wine, or creative cocktail concoctions a sip closer to night of relaxation, laughter, and easy conversation
Ambiance:
The bar and restaurant marry a quant cottage feel with a historic nautical feel. In the heart of Downtown Mystic the escape to this elegant dinner retreat romantic and intimate or easily social as happy conversation can be shared across the bar.
Hostess can seat you in the dining room or point you to the first come-first serve bar. If there happens to be a wait, the lounge chairs and social waiting areas are available for the first round of drinks and exciting “people-watching”. The meals aren’t rushed but are consistently attended too. The glasses stay refreshed and the meals stay hot.
Friar Tucks
Every place has a story
Gary Hobert, a Mystic native brought a much needed spot to Downtown Mystic marrying a Sports Bar, Irish Pub, and Outdoor Seating into one. The thrill of the game inside with surround sound 360 TVs, wings, and a beer is perfect for your favorite team’s hoodies in the fall and local brews. The summer high tops in the backyard garden with live music signature dishes and seasonal craft cocktails creates a date night or happy hour getaway in a lost city feel “tucked” away in the factory square building commons.
Food & Drink:
Keepin’ it Sporty- get ready for Playoffs, Baseball games, NCAA Tournaments, and U.S Opens. All day sports days doesn’t have to only be on Sunday Funday! Start with Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s until the final game and the Night Cap
Keepin’ it Sudd-See- 24 drafts on tap; from IPAs to Stouts pick something rare, pick something local, the craft beers are constantly being rotated
Keepin’ it Bumpin- Live local Music and Trivia Night makes the night unforgettable with new friends and old as “cheers” are being shared with locals and travelers
Ambiance:
The classic story of a Tale of Two Cities; from sports bar to summer getaway, the beach-goers, to the local fisherman, the locals to the tourists, the vibe is relaxed and the beers are cold! Right in the heart of Water Street in Factory Square downtown Mystic. The Winner of CT Magazine Readers Choice Award for Best New Restaurant and Best Late Night Restaurant for 2018.
Bravo Bravo
Every place has a story:
Fine wine and authentic contemporary Italian food pairs pastas, sauces, and breads with local seafood. Ask the bartender to pair the red or white of choice with the entrees, or test a few signature cocktails. The eclectic new design of downtown Italy meets local Mystic with the vibe of young professional happy hours and romantic date nights.
Food & Drink:
Keepin’ it Sauc-See- whether it’s red, white, or green it can be garlicky or spicy. Fresh roasted red tomatoes, pestos, olive oils, or balsamic it can come with red pepper flakes, capers, creamy or spicy.
Keepin’ it Cheesy- Parmigiano Reggiano, Taleggio, Parmesan are the king of cheeses named after the producing areas, the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, and Modena. This is the Province of Reggio Emilia is one of the nine provinces of the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna famous for producing rich taste, strong aroma, and flavor.
Ambiance:
A perfect romantic date night! The fun lively background becomes background noise to a romantic date night as seating is intimate and the dining is elegant. The fine wine, the local bread and olive oil, and the appetizers, quiets down the pace of dinner to make it seem like a vacation away from the hustle of daily life.
Make sure to make a reservation but if you need to wait by the bar before the table is ready, the bar is a fun start to learning about blind dates or parents night out. The upscale atmosphere introduces the night with daily specials and recommendations for signature cocktails.
Red 36
Bright cocktails, big lounge chairs, and multiple bars make this experience a Newport Getaway with yachts docked up and sunsets overlooking the Mystic River. An extensive raw bar and outdoor setting quickly changes with the seasons with roaring fireplaces and cozy indoor seating. The fresh seafood, the waterfront views, the echo of ringing of church bells, the distant buzz of the drawbridge, all bring a new look to “staycation” with no streets in sight or clocks with closing times.
Food & Drink:
Keepin’ it sizzling-An extensive menu and skilled kitchen staff allows for variety with fried, steamed, stuffed, smoked, seared, grilled, oven-roasted choices
Keepin’ it raw- Littlenecks, cherrystones, daily local oysters. Shuck it and pile it high with 3 choices of tiered shrimp, clams, oysters, and lobster
Keepin’ it in the digits- let it be finger food; street tacos, pulled pork sliders, burgers, flatbreads, and wings
Ambiance:
The ambiance screams vacation. Take it on the ideal girls night or date night with people watching, fun flowing drinks and paint the town Rosé!! Sit back with the river views, fancy cocktails, light bites for great sunset bonding time.
Engine Room
Best Bar by far in Mystic, featuring 16 craft beers on tap and the areas’ largest bourbon selection. This menu is uniquely revised daily with locally sourced seafood, farm fresh vegetables and the widest burger selection. The ambiance of the rustic marine engine building has the biggest bar, high top and corner booths. A TV or Big screen may show the big game as well as local musicians and DJs on Saturday nights. The buzz of happy hour roles into the dinner crowd with buzzing laughter and flowing IPAs. Engine Room and Oyster Club are sister restaurants owned and run with the commitment to ingredients from local farmers, fisherman, and purveyors.
Food & Drink:
Keepin’ it orchestrated- like a seamless conductor the cocktails, brews and food rely on farms for the freshest ingredients. The bar team, kitchen staff, hostesses, and waitstaff work together to make a “CHEERS” like experience where the owners stop by to shake hands and the manager greets you by name at the door.
Keepin’ it out-of-the-box- theme the food for an out of the box experience; from Stonington Scallops, to Nashville Hot Wings, to Carolina Hush Puppies. Something for everyone as burgers can be ordered with the finest beef or vegetarian style mushroom, and the smoked tofu can be subbed for chicken.
Ambiance:
A cozy upscale feel, a local neighborhood retreat. A mix of rustic and beach-casual vibe brings the crowd for a quintessential Mystic experience. A business lunch, professional happy hour, date night, or family outing this experience will keep you coming back the fresh cocktails and diverse menu.
