Locals Love: Hartford

Looking for local flavor? Hartford offers great selections from regional favorites to international flair. Dunn’s River in the city's North End and Sun Splash Bar & Grill in the South End are two Jamaican restaurants that are particularly popular. Find live music and mouthwatering Southern BBQ at Black Eyed Sally's and sweet treats at Capital Ice Cream. Enjoy South American and Caribbean inspired small plates and a cocktails at 50 Elm Café & Spirits or experience the vintage chic vibe with burgers at Social Republic.

If you’re staying in and around the capital city, you’ve got a lot of choices. Hartford’s Goodwin Hotel recently got a facelift and is now a boutique hotel that retains its history, heritage and authentic character. And the Hartford Marriott Downtown, located near the Connecticut Convention Center and the Connecticut Science Center, exudes a vibrant, modern flair.

Hartford’s lively Front Street District offers a myriad of entertainment options, including fine dining, quick bites, movies and live music performances at Infinity Music Hall. Just down the street, you’ll find Hartford new gem of a ballpark, Dunkin Donuts Park, home to the Connecticut Yard Goats and a great way to spend a day or evening. For a mellower type of hang out, Elizabeth Park offers gardens to stroll in, and, in summer months, evening movies and musical performances. And if you’re looking for a place with character, don’t miss Hartford’s City Steam Brewery, a landmark in Hartford history and a legend in local beer, or the funky Little River Restoratives for creative cocktails and more.

 

Some of Hartford’s best kept secrets are off the beaten track, but others are right in plain sight. Browse the collection of natural wonders and unusual oddities at the Museum of Curiosities—tucked away on the top floor of Connecticut's Old State House.  For a pick me up, grab a fresh brewed coffee at Story and Soil. Then between City Hall and the Woodsworth Athenium Museum of Art, discover a 50-foot, red-orange Stegosaurus statue constructed by sculptor and Connecticut resident Alexander Calder. Top the day off with a visit to Hartford’s Coltsville National Historical Park for a unique glimpse into mid 19^thcentury industrial America, not to mention the Thomas Hooker Brewery there.

Hartford is home to a rich artistic history. Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe made their homes in the city and you can still visit them today. The innovative Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continuously operating art museum in the country. And Hartford is home to award-winning theater as well. If you’d like to see the city from above, the On20 restaurant offers sweeping views to the Connecticut River Valley, along with highly rated cuisine, on the 20^th floor of One State Street.