The Ultimate Mom's Weekend Guide to Essex, CT: Where to Eat, Shop & Unwind
Main Street, Essex CT. Photo courtesy of Experience Essex.
Some weekends call for a change of scenery. The kind where you eat well, shop slowly, and remember what it feels like to be just you — not just Mom. I grew up in Essex, left for a long time, and came back. There's a reason.
Whether you're planning a girls' weekend with your closest friends, a solo overnight that your family insists is overdue, or just a really good Saturday with someone you love — Essex, CT delivers in a way that's genuinely hard to explain until you've been here. And if you grew up here like I did? Coming back as a mom hits completely differently. The best parts are still there, and somehow better.
It's New England's number one small town, it sits right on the Connecticut River, and its Main Street is made up almost entirely of independently owned restaurants, shops, and galleries. No chains. No franchises. Just real, warm, beautifully curated places run by people who care deeply about what they do.
I'm Amy — I grew up here, spent years away, and moved back just this past year. Opening Grace & Haven at 23 Main Street was my way of planting a flag and saying: we're home. Coming back as a mom, with fresh eyes on a place I'd known my whole life, made me fall in love with Essex all over again — harder, actually, than the first time. This is the insider guide, written by someone who never quite got over leaving.
Getting There & Where to Stay
Essex sits in the lower Connecticut River Valley, about 90 minutes from Boston, an hour from New Haven, and just over two hours from New York. There's no train directly into town, so driving is your best bet — and if you're coming from the north on Route 9, that last stretch into the valley is one of my favorite drives in Connecticut. It feels like a gentle announcement that you've arrived somewhere worth arriving.
Once you're here, you won't need your car. Main Street is completely walkable, and almost everything worth doing is within a short stroll of each other.
Where to Stay
The Riverbarn — Our top pick for a truly special escape. This beautifully converted barn is a short walk from downtown and feels like stepping into a warm hug the moment you arrive. The attention to detail is extraordinary, the setting is peaceful, and it books up quickly — plan ahead.
The Riverbarn, 1 Benson Lane, Essex CT. Photo courtesy of The Riverbarn.
The Griswold Inn — For the full Essex immersion, you can't beat sleeping right where history happened. America's oldest continually operating inn puts you steps from everything on Main Street — walk to dinner, walk to coffee, wake up already exactly where you want to be. There's something about staying here that makes the whole weekend feel like a different era. A very good one.
Water's Edge Resort & Spa in Westbrook — If you want to pair your Essex day with a genuine beach escape, Water's Edge is about 15 minutes away on Long Island Sound. Private beach, gorgeous water views, and an outdoor bar with some of the best scenery in the state. The move if your group wants a little more resort energy — and a great home base for exploring the whole shoreline.
Friday Night: Tacos, Cocktails & Settling In
Arrive Friday evening with your appetite and nowhere to be.
Dinner: Sayulita
Sayulita is where you start. The tacos are genuinely excellent — the octopus, the brussels sprout, and whatever the daily special happens to be — and the margarita flight is non-negotiable. Sit at the bar if you can. The energy in this room on a Friday night is exactly what a girls' weekend is supposed to feel like.
Drinks After: Noah's 63 Main
Walk two minutes down the street to Noah's 63 Main for a nightcap. The cocktail program here is one of the best in the Connecticut River Valley — thoughtful, seasonal, and made with care. The bar overlooks the river, and on a warm evening, the deck is magic. This is the kind of place you end up staying at longer than planned. No complaints.
Saturday Morning: Scones, Coffee & a Slow Main Street Stroll
8:30am — Coffee and scones at Savour Cafe
9:30am — Slow stroll down Main Street
10:00am — Boutique shopping (including a stop at Grace & Haven 😊)
11:30am — Docks, ducks, and a moment to breathe
12:30pm — Lunch at Olive Oyl's: SX First Lady + Birch Beer
Breakfast: Savour Cafe & Bakery
There is no better way to start a Saturday in Essex than a scone from Savour Cafe & Bakery. The macarons are the stuff of legend, the drip coffee from Joe's is dark and perfect, and the owner Kim is one of the warmest people you'll ever meet. One of the things I noticed most when we moved back last year was how much the town's independent businesses feel like family — Savour is a perfect example of that. Go early. The scones go fast.
Savour Cafe & Bakery — the best scones on Main Street, and we mean that sincerely.
The Main Street Stroll
After coffee, just walk. Main Street Essex is one of those rare places where every single storefront is worth slowing down for. Here are the shops that belong on every mom's list:
Grace & Haven — 23 Main Street
That's us. Women's clothing, baby and kids collections, and gifts curated with intention. Every order is wrapped beautifully, and if you need help finding something for someone — our Gift Concierge is free, personal, and exactly what it sounds like. Come in and stay a while.
Grace & Haven — 23 Main Street. Your first stop on Main Street.
Homeward Collective
Warm, curated, and full of women's clothing and beautiful things for the home. Their Essex location has settled in beautifully and is absolutely worth a full browse.
Nora Murphy's Little House
Coastal home furnishings with a distinctly New England soul. Great for gifts, great for your own home, and worth every minute you spend in it.
Toys Ahoy
If you're shopping for a child — or just for the child-at-heart — Toys Ahoy is the stop. It's the kind of independently owned toy store that barely exists anymore, which is precisely why you should support it. They wrap, and beautifully.
Weekend Kitchen
Everything for the home cook, plus cooking classes. Check their calendar — an evening class here would make an exceptional addition to a weekend itinerary.
The Docks
After shopping, walk down to the town docks. I grew up doing this — it was just what you did on a warm Saturday — and it hasn't lost a single bit of its magic. The Connecticut River stretches out wide and unhurried, the boats ease in and out of the marina, and for a few minutes the world gets very quiet and very good. Years away and I still thought about this view.
The town docks in Essex CT — a Saturday morning ritual worth building a weekend around.
Saturday Afternoon: A Little Luxury
Lunch: Olive Oyl's
Tucked into a converted gas station right in the heart of town, Olive Oyl's is a family-run gem and a true local institution. Order the SX First Lady — freshly cut roast beef from Cliff's Meats right here in town — and pair it with their signature Birch Beer in the nostalgic brown bottle. Sit outside if the weather allows. This one is non-negotiable.
Olive Oyl's, Essex CT — a Main Street institution housed in a converted gas station.
Spa: A Well-Deserved Afternoon
Two excellent options within easy reach of Main Street:
Graceful Aesthetics — a boutique medspa just minutes away with a calm, welcoming atmosphere and a talented team. Book a facial or a skin treatment and let yourself actually relax.
Privé Swiss — thoughtful, results-focused treatments in a serene setting. Worth booking in advance, especially on weekends.
If you'd prefer something closer to a full resort spa experience, Saybrook Point Spa in Old Saybrook is a short drive and well worth it.
Saturday Evening: Dinner & Live Music
Pre-Dinner Drinks: The Gris Wine Bar — or Back to Noah's
If you can't stop thinking about Friday night, Noah's will happily have you back — no judgment. But if you want something a little different, settle into the Gris Wine Bar for a quieter, more intimate start to the evening. A lovely glass of wine inside one of the most storied buildings in New England is a very good way to ease into dinner.
Dinner: Drift
Drift is our Saturday night pick. The deck overlooks the boatyard and river, the menu is seasonal and thoughtful, and the Shrimp & Grits — when they're on the menu — are not to be missed. If you're visiting in spring, the patio season is just beginning, and there's nothing like watching the last light go off the water over a really good dinner with people you love.
Drift, Essex CT — seasonal menu, river views, and a deck that earns every minute you spend on it.
After Dinner: Live Music at the Griswold Inn Tap Room
End the night at the Griswold Inn Tap Room — walls lined with maritime paintings and antique ship models, a fireplace, fresh popcorn from an antique popper, and live music most Saturday evenings that makes the whole room feel alive. It's one of the most atmospheric spaces in New England and the kind of nightcap that turns a good weekend into one you'll talk about for a while.
The Griswold Inn Tap Room — maritime history, live music, and the best popcorn in Connecticut.
Sunday Morning: The Hunt Brunch at the Griswold Inn
This is the non-negotiable anchor of any Essex weekend. The Griswold Inn Sunday Hunt Brunch runs 11am–1pm in their dining room — a beautifully appointed space inside America's oldest continually operating inn, with the kind of old New England charm that feels completely unhurried. The food is abundant and good, the setting is genuinely special, and it's the sort of brunch that earns a long, slow morning. Go. Dress up a little. Linger.
The Sunday Hunt Brunch at the Griswold Inn — a New England tradition since before anyone can remember.
What to Pack: Your Essex Weekend Edit
Essex has a particular aesthetic — coastal New England, easy and considered, the kind of style that looks effortless because the pieces are actually good. Here's what we'd bring:
- A soft, easy layer for morning coffee (a relaxed blazer or linen-blend top works perfectly)
- One good dress — something that goes from lunch to dinner with just a change of shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes you love (Main Street is made for strolling — you'll want something you can walk in happily for hours)
- A light jacket or trench for spring evenings — the river brings a breeze
- A tote bag large enough for the things you'll inevitably buy on Main Street
Everything on that list — and more — is available at Grace & Haven. Stop in and we'll help you find the right pieces. Or shop our Women's Collection online before you arrive. Every order ships free and arrives wrapped beautifully.
While You're in Essex: Plan Around These Spring Events
If your weekend lines up with one of these — count yourself lucky:
Daffodil Days — One of New England's most beloved spring traditions. Main Street and the surrounding area burst into yellow, the town comes out to celebrate, and the whole weekend takes on a particularly joyful energy. (Full guide coming soon — watch your inbox.)
CT Spring Boat Show — The first in-water boat show of the season in New England, held right here on the Connecticut River. Even if you don't own a boat, it's a beautiful backdrop.
Grace & Haven Events — We host regular events on Main Street, including our Sip & Stitch workshop and our Women in Business series. Check our events page to see what's happening when you visit — we'd love to see you there.
Coming to Essex and need the perfect gift to bring home?
Whether you're shopping for yourself, for a friend who deserves a thoughtful surprise, or for someone back home who couldn't make the trip — Grace & Haven's Gift Concierge is exactly what you need. Tell us about the person, your budget, and the occasion, and we'll curate the perfect pick.
It's free. It's personal. And it genuinely takes all the work out of gifting.
Reach us at amy@graceandhaven.co — we're quick to respond and love doing this.
Every Grace & Haven order can arrive wrapped like this — just ask at checkout. Because gifting should feel joyful.
Start your Essex weekend at Grace & Haven — or let us come to you.
With love from Main Street — and from someone who came home,
Amy Ihrke
Founder, Grace & Haven · 23 Main Street, Essex, CT
Open 7 days, 10–5. By appointment or chance — we love a surprise visit.
Questions? Email us at amy@graceandhaven.co.
