Samantha Impaglia 
If looking for a coastal escape that’s just a few hours away from North Jersey, Mystic, Connecticut, will do just the trick. This tiny New England town is great for girls’ trips, family vacations, and weekend getaways alike, and it’s just under a four-hour drive from our area. From exploring the town like you’re Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza (and of course, trying a slice) to trying the local fare to shopping, coastal activities, and more, we’re here to let you know why Mystic is worth a visit. Read on for the best things to do in Mystic, Connecticut.
About Mystic
The name Mystic comes from the Pequot term “missi-tuk,” which means “a large river whose waters are driven into waves by tides or wind.” The area, inhabited by the Pequots, was originally a village located in Pequot Plantation (New London) at the head of the Mystic River. Colonists settled in the region after the 1637 Pequot War, and became a part of Connecticut permanently in 1662 after much dispute with Massachusetts.
In 1705, the town of Groton was created, making the Mystic River a boundary between the West side in Groton and the East side in Stonington. Although the unified name Mystic was adopted by the two towns around 1890, the two sides of the river remain separate townships to this day.
While known for its New England charm and coastal vibes, Mystic is also popular for its maritime history. The area thrived as a shipbuilding hub in the 19th century, with numerous shipyards along the river. Visitors can still explore Mystic’s maritime history today at the Mystic Seaport Museum, which is home to two historic ships.
Read More: A Day Trip Guide to Denville, New Jersey
Getting There
Mystic is just about 140 miles from the Montclair area, and it’ll take you about two hours and 40 minutes without traffic. To drive there, you’ll take the Parkway north and I-287 before reaching the Hutchinson River Parkway and eventually I-95 down the coast until you arrive in Mystic. If you’re looking to travel by rail, an Amtrak trip from Newark Penn Station to Mystic will take you between three and five hours, depending on which train you take.
Where to Stay
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We opted for an Airbnb called Mystic Harbor Studio during our stay, which was just a little over a quarter of a mile away from the downtown area of Mystic. Aside from that and lots of other vacation rentals, there are an array of hotels to stay at in town — including The Whaler’s Inn, Captain’s Mansion, the Inn at Mystic, and Taber Inn Mystic.
Places to Eat + Drink
Engine Room | 14 Holmes Street, Mystic
The Engine Room, tucked away on Holmes Street, is located in the restored Lathrop Marine Engine building with views of the Mystic River. The rustic New American restaurant and bar is home to the area’s largest bourbon selection, sixteen craft beers on tap, a full wine list, and locally-sourced comfort food with a Southern flair. Any one of the burgers is the dish to try here, with options like Randy’s Double Stack and the Mushroom Mae with Seacoast mushrooms and shallot-worcestershire aioli. Other dishes include salmon jerky, rotisserie chicken, BBQ cabbage, and Old Bay macaroni salad. The Engine Room is also a vibey spot for an evening drink or nightcap.
The Mariner | 21 West Main Street, Mystic
We kicked off our first night in Mystic with dinner at The Mariner, and it ended up being our favorite meal of the trip. The nautical-themed restaurant is full of blue and is decorated with maritime lights and photos of lighthouses, boats, oars, and more. The serene backdoor patio was the ideal choice for a nice night out, which we enjoyed alongside a draft beer and a lemon spritz mocktail with mint syrup. The meal consisted of some shared apps and entrees, including the quarter-pound crab cake with Old Bay mayo, charred Brussels sprouts with honey and smoked bacon (a must-order), and the spicy sausage ragu rigatoni with parmesan cream.
Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | 2 West Main Street, Mystic
Come for the ice cream, stay for the ice cream and the coffee. Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream is an iconic sweets and coffee shop that gets its name from literally being located on Mystic’s signature drawbridge. The homemade ice cream comes in a large number of flavors, including everything from vanilla chocolate chunk and Kahlua mocha fudge to white pistachio and wild blueberry. The coffee here is also top-notch, and we’ll admit we got it almost every single morning of our trip. The specialty lattes are not to be missed — we recommend the cinnamon honey latte.
Mystic Pizza | 56 West Main Street, Mystic
Best known from the 1988 rom-com of the same name starring Julia Roberts, Mystic Pizza is actually a pizza shop in downtown Mystic. The restaurant wasn’t able to shut down for the duration of filming, so no scenes were actually filmed on-site — but many locations in and around Mystic are the main backdrop for the film. We, of course, had to try the pizza here, and enjoyed our slices while gazing at the restaurant’s movie memorabilia and watching downtown Mystic go by in front of us. Diners can choose between sit-down indoor dining, quick service, and rooftop dining here.
Mystic Sweets + Ice Cream Shop | 7 West Main Street, Mystic
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This shop is located right near the drawbridge and is a go-to place for various sweet treats. It has been in town since 1992, and has a wide selection of handmade chocolate, fudge, ice cream, saltwater taffy, and more. We stopped here after dinner one night for a little dessert and enjoyed some of the truffles and chocolate-covered pretzels.
Oyster Club | 13 Water Street, Mystic
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Oyster Club is not only a good choice for New England fare, but it is also home to a rooftop oasis called The Tree House (more on that in a second). The boat-to-table seafood restaurant serves brunch and dinner in a relaxed setting and is known for its lineup of local oysters from Connecticut and Rhode Island. Other dishes you can expect to find include swordfish milanese, New England or Rhode Island chowder, steak frites, and brioche French toast. The Tree House is open year-round on Fridays and Saturdays, weather-permitting, and is a place to have dinner al fresco with views of the Mystic River.
Sift Bake Shop | 5 Water Street, Mystic
You might find yourself waiting in line for a taste of Sift Bake Shop, but we can confirm it’s worth the wait. As soon as you walk into the bakery, you’re engulfed in sweet and savory smells that leave you wanting one of everything on the menu. The menu includes artisanal breads, pastries, cookies, brownies, French macarons, quiche, sandwiches, salads, and more. There’s also a selection of hot and iced drinks, which come with an alcoholic add-on option if you’re feeling like Kahlua or Irish Whiskey in your coffee. MG recommends any of the breakfast pastries, especially the ham + cheese or spinach + artichoke croissants.
Taquerio | 30 Broadway Avenue, Mystic
This Mexican restaurant is located a little bit outside the downtown area, and is absolutely worth the trek. Taquerio is a vintage gas station turned go-to taco spot that is full of open air and good vibes. Weather-permitting, diners can choose to sit outside, and the inside area features vintage car decor. The menu features 15 different types of tacos with something for everyone, as well as rice and salad bowls, and the usual starters like chips and guac. Some of our favorite tacos were the fried avocado, barbacoa, carnitas, and pollo verde with queso fresco and roasted corn. There is also a brunch menu on weekends with breakfast burritos, mimosas, agave vanilla-spiked coffee, and more.
Via Emilia | 24 West Main Street, Mystic
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Via Emilia is an Italian restaurant in the heart of the downtown area with classic Italian vibes. The housemade pasta is the star of the show here, with the option for it to be made gluten-free. Options include the tagliatelle, gnocchi, cavatelli, and rigatoni verde with spinach and herbs, among other options. Also on the menu is a selection of antipasti items, roasted artichokes, locally-caught fish, crispy chicken breast with prosciutto, hangar steak, and more. If you’re with a group, consider ordering the salumi e formaggi, which comes with prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, salami, parmigiano reggiano, taleggio, provolone, olives, and marinated vegetables, and serves 2-4.
Places to Shop
Hang the Moon | 31 West Main Street, Groton
Hang the Moon was one of our favorite shops in downtown Mystic, and sells a huge selection of trinkets, gifts, accessories, and entertainment memorabilia that will leave you browsing for quite some time (guilty). There is a fun item in every corner of this spot — everything from cookbooks and candles to pet items, fun mugs, jewelry, and much more. In true Connecticut fashion, there is also a full area here dedicated to Gilmore Girls merch, including Luke’s Diner mugs, Suki’s recipe book, and trivia cards, among other things. We left with some matching Chilton keychains as a girls’ trip souvenir.
Just Mystic | 33 West Main Street, Mystic
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Just Mystic is a trendy shop right next door to Hang the Moon which is also a must-visit. The Mystic shop is a part of The Just Brand, which also sells a line of Portsmouth, New Hampshire merch. The store has Mystic-branded apparel, accessories, and home goods like crewnecks, t-shirts, hats, glassware, tote bags, magnets, and more. Make sure to stop by the photo booth inside the shop, which prints out two copies of Just Mystic-branded photos to take home with you.
North Swell | 18 West Main Street, Mystic
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Northswell is a clothing store selling nautical apparel and accessories like t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, sunglasses, and more. It was founded in 2017 by two best friends who wanted to “wanted to make something different and more unique than what was out there,” with the brick-and-mortar storefront opening in 2020. Some of the finds you can expect here include North Swell trucker hats, Mystic lobster shirts, and other graphic tees and logo shorts. Make sure to grab one of the many stickers on offer, which come in various designs like pelicans and surf trucks.
Sea Bags | 36 West Main Street, Mystic
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Sea Bags is a Maine-based bag brand with stores all over New England as well as in Cape May, New York, Delaware, Maryland, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Michigan. It is best known for its wide selection of bags, of course, all decorated with coastal patterns like sailboats and sand dollars. There is also a line of wine bags, belt bags, vintage finds, and even an NFL collection.
Activities to Do
Eastern Point Beach | 1 Beach Pond Road, Groton
A little under 20 minutes west of Mystic is Eastern Point Beach, a public beach in Groton that has all of the New England summer vibes. With a view of where the Thames River meets the Long Island Sound, beachgoers can enjoy calm waters and a relaxed atmosphere here while soaking up some Vitamin D. There is also a snack bar, bathrooms, showers, and basketball and volleyball courts.
Mystic Aquarium | 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic
When visiting Mystic, you must take a trip to this aquarium. The Mystic Aquarium is a top New England aquarium featuring a variety of aquatic exhibits that are enjoyable for both kids and adults. The Beluga whales are the star of the show here, but there are so many other animals to see. Aside from the whales, the aquarium is also home to African penguins, four types of seals + sea lions, sharks, Giant Pacific octopi, cownose rays, and sturgeons. There’s also a scenic marsh trek with a 230-foot boardwalk, where visitors can spot various plant life, turtles, bullfrogs, ducks, herons, bluegill, and bass. Explore all of the exhibits here.
Mystic Museum of Art | 9 Water Street, Mystic
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The Mystic Museum of Art is located on the river and was originally founded in 1913 as the Mystic Art Association. The building today is home to various rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection. On view currently is Gifts of the Ocean, with Juried Exhibition: Going Places and Moving to Mystic coming to the museum on Halloween. View the most current exhibitions here.
See More: A Weekend Getaway to Portland, Maine
Mystic Seaport Museum | 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic
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Another museum stop in town is the Mystic Seaport Museum, conveniently located right at Mystic Seaport, where you can also view the Charles W. Morgan and Joseph Conrad historic ships. The museum hosts a variety of interactive activities daily, including walking tours, sailing programs, and maritime-themed classes like sail-making, wood carving, celestial navigation, and chowder-making. There is also a planetarium here. View the full calendar here.
Olde Mistick Village | 27 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic
Right near Mystic Aquarium is Olde Mistick Village, a pet-friendly open-air village featuring local shops, restaurants, dessert spots, a theater, and more. The land was bought by the Olsen family in the 1960s and is meant to be a 1720s-style Colonial village complete with a town green, duck pond, gazebo, and unique buildings. It is inspired by Peddler’s Village in Pennsylvania, and still maintains its old-school charm to this day. There is a wide selection of shopping and dining options here, including metaphysical destinations, jewelry stores, chocolate shops, and pizza shops, among other things. We recommend a trip to Deviant Craft Donuts + Coffee for some doughnuts and apple fritters (pictured above).
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