New Haven, home to the beautiful Ivy League Yale University, dates back to the 16th century. Other interesting attractions include the Yale Center for British Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Grove Street Cemetery, whose 19th-century Egyptian Revival gateway is worth a visit. The city also has plenty of excellent restaurants to celebrate love from cozy cafés and elegant restaurants to fine dining establishments for a special night.
Consiglio's Restaurant
Consiglio's Restaurant is a long-standing family-owned and operated restaurant with an old-world setting that serves authentic Italian cuisine and hosts occasional dinner-theater events and cooking classes. Established over 80 years ago, the restaurant has been serving delicious Italian cuisine of fresh seafood, homemade pasta and from-scratch sauces, prime beef and veal dishes, fresh, local and organic salads and vegetables, and delectable desserts. The cuisine is paired with a selection of casual wines, imported and local beers, classic cocktails, and fine spirits, and the restaurant offers catering services for privet parties.
Address: 165 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-865-4489
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant is an upscale bistro with an elegant charm that offers a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Chapel and Yale Street. Set in a striking architectural building designed by acclaimed American architect Louis I. Kahn, the restaurant boasts a sleek design with solid concrete walls, elegant glass displays, contemporary décor, and a spacious, open-air, stone outdoor dining room which is perfect for alfresco dining in the summer. The sophisticated eatery serves a seasonal menu of farm-to-table cuisine prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and regional produce and is accompanied by fine wines from around the world, local craft and imported beers, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails. Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Address: 1104 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-777-2500
Pacifico Restaurant
Located in the heart of downtown New Haven, Pacifico Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant that serves extraordinary Nuevo-Latino cuisine in a warm and vibrant setting. Helmed by Colombian-born Chef Palomino, the eatery serves traditional tapas like Short Ribs Empanadas, Ceviche de Camaron, Queso Fundido, Boquerones, and entrées of Chicken Enchilada, Skirt Steak with Chino-Latino stir-fried rice, Seafood Paella, and Caramelized Salmon. Decadent desserts include Dulce de Leche Cheesecake and Tres Leche Pound Cake, and drinks range from homemade sangria and world-class mojitos. Pacifico Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 220 College St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-772-4002
Union League Cafe
The Union League Cafe is an award-winning French-inspired brasserie in the heart of New Haven’s historic theater and entertainment district that offers a lively atmosphere with Old World charm. Located directly across from Yale University, the elegant 19th-century-style café serves a superb menu of classic French cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients and a highly acclaimed wine list featuring top vintages from around the world.
Chef Jean-Pierre Vuillermet creates sublime dishes such as Grilled Organic Faroe Island Salmon, Nova Scotia lobster, Bouillabaisse, Housemade Gnocchi with fresh fava bean, and pan-seared Black Angus New York steak. The Union League Café is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, and dinner only on Saturdays.
Address: 1032 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-562-4299
Adriana's Restaurant & Wine Bar
Adriana's Restaurant & Wine Bar is an award-winning Italian restaurant that serves authentic Northern and Southern Italian fare in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Decorated in earth tones with art-adorned walls, the restaurant is helmed by Executive Chefs Valentino and Federico who bring the rich tastes of both Northern and Southern Italy to the heart of New Haven with ancient Italian recipes and fresh locally sourced ingredients. Signature dishes include Calamari Fritti, Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese, Linguine Alle Vongole, Bistecca Di Manzo Alla Griglia, and Osso Bucco Di Vitello, and the cuisine is paired with a selection of fine wines from around the world, imported and local beers, classic cocktails, and fine spirits. Adriana's Restaurant & Wine Bar is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sundays, and dinner only on Saturdays.
Address: 771 Grand Ave, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-865-6474
Brazi's Italian Restaurant
Brazi's Italian Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves authentic Italian cuisine in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Established in 1993 by Val Capobianco, Brazi's has an elegant dining room with modern décor, a casual bar that serves a wide variety of drinks from casual wines to cappuccinos and lattes. The extensive menu features a variety of appetizers, entrées, and desserts of traditional Italian dishes from fresh seafood and prime meats to housemade pasta and wood-fired pizzas. Brazi’s has a banquet room for private events, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 201 Food Terminal Plaza, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-498-2488
Caffe Bravo
One of New Haven’s top Italian restaurants, Caffe Bravo serves authentic Italian dishes and other European specialties in an elegant atmosphere. Established in 1994, Caffè Bravo prides itself on using only the freshest, top-quality ingredients and regional produce that provide the distinct and delectable tastes of Italy. Created by the head chef is Santos Caceres, the extensive menu features wood-fired pizzas and housemade pasta and from-scratch sauces, fresh seafood and catch-of-the-day fish, prime beef and veal dishes, such as breaded veal cutlets and crisp salads. The cuisine is paired with a selection of casual wines from Italy, imported and local beers, classic cocktails, and fine spirits. Caffè Bravo is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday and dinner only on Saturdays.
Address: 794 Orange St #2508, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-772-2728
Cast Iron Chef Chop House and Oyster Bar
Cast Iron Chef Chop House and Oyster Bar is a classic steakhouse and raw oyster bar that has been serving the finest cuts of aged steak, prime rib, and beef and fresh raw oysters on the half shell. Boasting traditional steakhouse décor with elegantly dressed tables and soft lighting, the steakhouse serves a menu of thick house-butchered cuts of USDA choice steaks, free-range chicken and pork, fresh seafood and fresh selection of oysters from the raw bar. The full-service bar has an extensive menu of fine wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, and handcrafted cocktails. Cast Iron Chef Chop House and Oyster Bar is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 660 State St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-745-4669
Goodfellas Restaurant
Goodfellas Restaurant old-school mobster-themed Italian restaurant and New Haven favorite that traditional Italian cuisine with an emphasis on farm-fresh ingredients. One of Connecticut's most highly acclaimed restaurants, the charming eatery has seen the likes of celebrities like Robert DeNiro, and Wahlberg, Al Pacino over the years and features a comfortable dining room with exposed brick walls, and white tablecloths - a perfect place for a romantic dinner. Guests can dine on classic Italian fare and sparkling Bellinis to sounds of Andrea Bocelli, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 702 State St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-785-8722
Heirloom - New Haven
Set inside the boutique Study at Yale Hotel on Chapel Street at the heart of Yale University Campus, Heirloom is a charming farm coastal restaurant that showcases the bounty of Connecticut and New England with delicious farm-to-table cuisine. The contemporary-chic restaurant boasts an inviting and elegant ambiance and serves seasonal menus of locally sourced and organic cuisine, along with an extensive selection of wines from around the world. Professional staff exudes friendly warmth and hospitality, and a full-service bar serves a variety of craft beers, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails. Heirloom is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, daily.
Address: 1157 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-503-3919
John Davenport's
Located on the 19th floor of Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, John Davenport's is a fashionable restaurant that serves contemporary, approachable, coastal New England fare against a backdrop of spectacular views. Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows that embrace panoramic views of the city, Long Island Sound, and Yale University, the restaurant offers an inventive menu of farm-to-fork cuisine prepared with fresh locally sourced and regional ingredients such as fresh seafood, prime meats, and organic vegetables. A selection of casual wines, imported and local beers, classic cocktails, and fine spirits are served from the bar, and the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, daily.
Address: 155 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-974-6858
L'orcio
L'orcio is an upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of New Haven that serves refined Mediterranean cuisine in an elegant and relaxed setting. Located in a beautifully refurbished historic home, the restaurant offers three stylish dining spaces, namely the main dining room, a sleek bar area, and a charming outdoor area with a wisteria-covered arbor for alfresco dining. The restaurant serves seasonal menus of specialty pasta like ricotta gnocchi, ravioli and pappardelle, a variety of Italian cuisine of meat and fresh fish, and delectable desserts of Tiramisù, Lemon Tart, and Chocolate Mousse Cake. L’Orcio is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Address: 806 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, Phone: 203-777-6670
Portofino
Portofino is a traditional Italian restaurant with tasteful décor, an elegant dining room with beautiful chandeliers and lampshades, and a lively bar that serves casual Italian fare such as housemade pasta, from-scratch sauces and wood-fired pizzas in a comfortable setting. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves authentic favorites like spaghetti, lasagna, veal parmigiana, and chicken marsala, along with signature dishes like lobster ravioli and chicken Albanese in a warm and welcoming atmosphere with soft candlelight. A list of casual easy-drinking wines is available to pair with the food, as well as imported spirits, classic cocktails, and craft beers. Portofino is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday.
Address: 937 State St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-562-1414
Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill
Located in Historic City Point New Haven, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is a seafood-centric restaurant with a beautiful seasonal deck boasting breathtaking water views. Overlooking the New Haven Harbor, the fashionable eatery celebrates the rich nautical history of the surrounding area with modern, clean lines, spacious dining spaces, large windows that flood the interiors with natural light and a massive fireplace for fireside dining in the winter. Award-winning Executive Chef Arturo Franco Camacho creates a seasonal menu of seafood, steak and raw bar dishes using fresh and sustainable ingredients and reinterpretations of classic recipes. The full-service bar has an extensive list of fine wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, and handcrafted cocktails. Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Sunday and dinner only on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Address: 100 S Water St, New Haven, CT 06519, Phone: 203-787-3466
Skappo Wine Bar
Skappo Wine Bar is a low-key Italian wine bar that has been a popular gathering spot for casual drinks and light fare for the past 15 years. This family-run restaurant serves an Italian-inspired, ingredient-driven menu of tasty appetizers, antipasti platters, fresh salads, fresh seafood, and meat entrées, and traditional Umbria dishes. Desserts include Cannoli di Ricotta, warm chocolate cake, and tiramisu, and platters of locally-produced cheeses complement a selection of casual wines from Italy and further afield, as well as local and imported craft beers and classic cocktails made with top-shelf spirits. Skappo Wine Bar is open for dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.
Address: 59 Crown St #3322, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-773-1394
Soul de Cuba Cafe
Soul de Cuba Cafe is a bright and colorful café that specializes in traditional Cuban fare in a vibrant, laid back setting with Afro-Caribbean vibes. Designed to preserving Afro-Cuban culture through authentic cuisine, drinks, and music, the café features a cozy dining room with peach-colored walls adorned with Afro-Cuban religious artworks, family photos, and Cuban memorabilia. Cuban music along with African and American jazz and traditional Yoruba rhythms play in the background as guests tuck into a seasonal menu of Cuban fare such as cangrejo y Camarones enchilada, pollo modern, Lechon Asado, aceitunas marinades, and pollo empanadas. The bar serves classic cocktails such as mojitos and caipirinhas, imported Cuban beers, and casual wines, and Soul de Cuba Café is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 283 Crown St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-498-2822
Tre Scalini Restaurant
Tre Scalini Restaurant is a classic trattoria-style restaurant overlooking Wooster Street that serves hearty homemade Italian fare and casual wines in a comfortable, family-friendly setting. The restaurant boasts an old-school setting with large window walls embracing charming street views, a cozy main dining room with plush cream-colored walls, a mezzanine balcony overlooking the main floor, and elegant chandeliers that cast a warm glow. The full-service bar has an outdoor patio for alfresco dining in the summer and serves an extensive award-winning wine list of 6, 700 bottles with over 425 wines by the bottle and 19 wines by the glass. Tre Scalini Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Address: 100 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511, Phone: 203-777-3373
ZINC New Haven
Centrally located in Downtown, ZINC New Haven is a contemporary eatery that specializes in New American farm-to-table cuisine with Asian influences in a sleek and stylish environment. Established in 1999, the restaurant is one of the city’s most popular gathering spots for locals and visitors and serves an innovative seed-to-plate menu of locally-sourced, sustainable, and globally-driven fare. A list of casual easy-drinking wines is available to pair with the food, as well as imported spirits, classic cocktails, and craft beers. ZINC New Haven is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner only on Saturdays and Mondays.
Address: 964 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-624-0507
