I went to a wedding in New Haven, Connecticut over New Years this year. FRIGID temps and a blanket of snow made it hard to tour Yale’s campus and other New Haven top sights, but we were able to eat and drink our way around the town for a few chilly days.
How to Get There
I rode the Amtrak to New Haven from Washington D.C. — the trip took about 5½ hours. From the look of the highway traffic battling snow along the way, train was definitely the way to go.
Where to Stay
Courtyard New Haven: This hotel was about a ten minute walk from the center of New Haven. Staff was friendly, rooms were clean and there’s a bistro and small marketplace in the lobby.
The Study at Yale: Most of the wedding party stayed here. The lobby bar is a large and a good meeting place. The hotel also has a great penthouse space with a bar and a view over New Haven.
Where to Eat and Drink
You can’t go to New Haven without trying New Haven Pizza — we ordered Pepe’s and the coal-fired pizza did not disappoint. (Full disclosure though, I didn’t try the clam pie that they’re known for.) The Study at Yale has a good bar with a few good craft beers on tap and a handful of wines. Some of my friends went to BAR, an industrial-chic spot known for its pizza and beer. For daytime drinks or brunch, I really liked Box 63 — the comfortable pub has a weekend “acoustic brunch” with a guitarist. Cask Republic has a big selection of beers on tap, plus whiskies and some beer-whiskey (yep, it’s a thing). Ordinary had a good-size back room that fit our large group, but the bar staff were condescending and rude. And finally, Roia, where the wedding took place, was beautiful and had great food and drinks.
