This Small Connecticut Town Has The Best Downtown
Every town, big or small, prides itself on its downtown. Frequently showcasing the town’s most stunning entertainment venues, restaurants, and historic highlights, a downtown district can often be the main reason a town is included on a traveler’s list. However, one town in Connecticut is a must-include in any traveler’s plans precisely because its downtown is so stunning. Essex, Connecticut, offers visitors and residents alike some of the highlights of a New England trip, in addition to the typical Downtown highlights: an immersion in history, a lively night on the town, and a great meal.
History
A charming small town typical of both Connecticut and New England as a whole, Essex has a rich history, and its Downtown reflects this, particularly Essex’s strong industrial roots. As an industrial hub, Essex had railroads and riverboats ingrained in it, and visitors can still experience that today. The first stop on the line into Essex’s past is the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, lying just off Main Street. Originally called the Valley Railroad back in 1868, enthusiasts and preservationists restored this central Connecticut transportation hub after it closed in the 1960s, and today it serves as a rare form of hands-on history.
Visitors can experience for themselves an authentic ride on a fully restored locomotive on a two-hour track, which carries them through not only a couple of captivating small towns but also to the Becky Thatcher, a fully functioning steamboat, which will take them on a brisk cruise before returning them to the train. The Museum also offers a dining car experience for those looking to refuel between trips or just to feed both their love of history and themselves. This rare combination of two iconic methods of travel in American history gives history buffs the best of both worlds. If Downtown Essex cannot fully quench your thirst for history, Essex itself is the industrial heart of a three-village township, so there are plenty of nearby attractions to supplement the bounty provided by the Downtown.
Food
Often, the very best of a city’s eateries are found in its downtown, and Essex is no exception. Its downtown is filled with a solid variety of eateries, from old-fashioned favorites to pizzerias and bars aplenty. Visitors can taste Essex’s history for themselves at the Griswold Inn. Open since 1776, this historic hotel offers several authentic dining rooms with modern menus including both scrumptious seafood, aged beef, and other filling favorites, while its Tap Room, which was originally built as a schoolhouse, offers more casual fare such as chowders and burgers, and has been called America’s most handsome barroom.
And while it isn’t Mystic, Connecticut, Essex has its own popular pizza places, such as Privateers Pizza and Provisions. A finalist in Ct Magazine’s 2024 Best Pizza in Connecticut contest, Privateers offers a variety of unique pies, such as a shucked white clam pizza.
Entertainment
The word “downtown” instantly calls to mind images of vibrant nightlife, artistic endeavors, and innovative individuals. Naturally, Essex’s downtown does not disappoint. Not only does Essex boast some of Connecticut’s finest theaters, but it also has one of the longest-running establishments in both the Constitution state and America itself: the Ivoryton Playhouse. Since its recreation hall days that began in 1911, during which it hosted every sort of performance from silent films and vaudeville to town hall meetings, the Ivoryton Playhouse has seen countless big names pass through it. Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, and Tallulah Bankhead, amongst many others, had this iconic summer theater as their backdrop.
Today, the playhouse offers year-round entertainment, including educational and children-focused programs and gripping dramas, as well as fan-favorite comedies and musicals. In addition to performance art, Downtown Essex has plenty of more stationary pieces on offer in the Essex Art Association. Having worked to showcase all styles of art from its location in a historic Main Street building, the Essex Art Association uses its three seasonal showings to present the best work of a variety of local artists, no matter if the artist’s style sticks to more traditional trails or blazes new ones. Innovation and technology are other downtown features in Essex, such as the Essex Indoor Golf Center. Founded by a veteran golfer, this cutting-edge virtual golf course has six simulator bays that recreate famous golf courses, allowing you to practice your swings and test yourself against the best golf has to offer, without having to rely on good weather.
Amongst the many downtowns of Connecticut and America as a whole, Essex stands out for its unique ventures. Instead of distancing itself from the town’s place in New England, Essex’s downtown embraces the classic charm and uses it to enhance its offered experiences. From its historical roots as an industrial transportation hub to its traditional Connecticut cuisine and entertainment options, this is one downtown destination that travelers should not miss when planning their next venture.
