above: Blackbird – Photograph by Venera Alexandrova
Looking for the best restaurants in New Canaan and Darien? The top salons, fitness studios, restaurants and boutiques? You’ve come to the right place. The Best of New Canaan • Darien 2025 list features our most loved and recommended businesses—voted by our readers. From fine dining and casual cafes to luxury spas, home services and local professionals, this comprehensive guide highlights everything that makes our towns tops in Connecticut.
RESTAURANTS
Best Service
Roger Sherman Inn
rogershermaninn.com
Business Lunch + Outdoor Dining + Seafood
The Rowayton Seafood Restaurant
rowaytonseafood.com
Creative Menu + Special Occasion/Date Night
Restaurant L’Ostal
restaurantlostal.com
Family-Friendly Restaurant
Bodega Taco Bar
bodegatacobar.com
Hotel Restaurant + Private Dining/Intimate Venue
Tavern at GrayBarns
tavernatgraybarns.com
New Restaurant
Blackbird
zhospitalitygroup.com/blackbird
Steaks
The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s
watersedgeatgiovannis.com
REGIONAL SPECIALTIES
American
Elm
elmrestaurant.com
Asian/Asian Fusion
Little Thai Kitchen
littlethaikitchen.com
Chinese
Ching’s Table
chingstable.com
French
Restaurant L’Ostal
restaurantlostal.com
Greek
Mykonos Kouzina
mykonoskouzinanorwalk.com
Indian
Chef Prasad
chefprasad.com
Italian
Papa Joe’s
papajoesdarien.com
Japanese
Hashi Sushi
hashisushinewcanaan.com
Mediterranean
Arden’s
ardensrowayton.com
Mexican
Bodega Taco Bar
bodegatacobar.com
Middle Eastern
Naya
eatnaya.com
Sushi
Fjord Fish Market
fjordfishmarket.com
Tapas
Pesca Peruvian Bistro
pescaperuvianbistro.com
Thai
Little Thai Kitchen
littlethaikitchen.com
CASUAL FOOD
Bagels
Upper Crust Bagel Co.
ucbcbagels.com
Bowls
Playa Bowls
playabowls.com
Burritos
Bodega Taco Bar
bodegatacobar.com
Frozen Yogurt
Swirl
203-594-9797
Hamburgers
Blackbird
zhospitalitygroup.com/blackbird
Ice Cream/Gelato
Gofer Ice Cream
gofericecream.com
Noodle Bar/Noodles
Miyuki Noodle Shop
miyukisnoodleshop.com
Pizza
Locali
localipizzabar.com
DROP-IN SPOTS
Breakfast
The Granola Bar
thegranolabar.com
Brunch + Lunch Spot
Rosie
rosienewcanaan.com
Café/Bistro
Arden’s
ardensrowayton.com
Coffee Shop
Neat
neatcoffee.com
Deli
Uncle’s Deli
unclesdeli.com
Diner
New Canaan Diner
203-594-7595
Family-Friendly Restaurant
Bodega Taco Bar
bodegatacobar.com
Food Truck
Tasty Yolk
thetastyyolk.com
Health/Organic Food + Salads
Greenology
greenologykitchen.square.site
Juice Bar + Vegetarian
Barvida
thebarvida.com
MARKETS AND MORE
Bakery
Flour Water Salt Bread
flourwatersaltbread.com
Butcher Shop
New Canaan Butcher Shop
newcanaanbutchershop.com
Cakes/Cupcakes + Gourmet Grocery + Gourmet To Go
Palmer’s Market
palmersdarien.com
Caterer
Four Forks
fourforks.net
Desserts/Pastries
Patisserie Salzburg
patisseriesalzburg.com
Farmers Market/Local Goods
New Canaan Farmers Market
newcanaanfarmersmarket.net
Liquor Store
Sipstirs
sipstirs.com
Seafood Market
Fjord Fish Market
fjordfishmarket.com
Wine Shop
New Canaan Wine Merchants
newcanaanwine.com
BAR BOASTS
Beer Selection + Pub
The Goose
thegoosedarien.com
Margaritas
Bodega Taco Bar
bodegatacobar.com
Martinis
Tavern at GrayBarns
tavernatgraybarns.com
Non-Alcoholic/Mocktails
The Waveny Bar & Grill
thewavenypolobar.com
Restaurant Bar
Ten Twenty Post
tentwentypost.com
Sports Bar
The White Buffalo
thewhitebuffalo.net
Wine Bar
La Cave Wine Bar
restaurantlostal.com/la-cave
Wine List
Spiga
eatatspiga.com
FASHION
Accessories
Helen Ainson
helenainson.com
Bridal/Event Dresses
A Little Something White
alittlesomethingwhite.com
Consignment Shop
Double Exposure
doubleexposureboutique.com
Department Store + Luxe Leisurewear + Men’s Shoes + Women’s Fashion
Darien Sport Shop
dariensport.com
Designer Boutique
Togs
togsct.com
Eyewear
Eyes on Elm
eyesonelmct.com
Jeans
J. Crew
jcrew.com
Lingerie + New Shop
La Source
lovelasource.com
Men’s Fashion
Vineyard Vines
vineyardvines.com
Swimwear
The Beach Corner
thebeachcorner.net
Teen Fashion
Magnolia
@magnoliadarien
Women’s Shoes
Shoe-Inn
shoeinn.com
JEWELRY
Designer Jewelry + Estate Jewelry + Selection of Local Designers + Special Occasion + Watches + Wedding/Engagement Rings
Manfredi Jewels
manfredijewels.com
Everyday Jewelry
Pennyweights
pennyweights.com
Fine Jewelry
David Harvey
davidharvey.com
HOME
Antiques & Vintage
Found & Design
foundanddesign.com
Closet/Organization
Mayflower Home Organizing
mayflowerhomeorganizing.com
Custom Kitchen Showroom
True North Cabinets
truenorthcabinets.net
Décor
Adirondack Store & Gallery
adkstore.com
Fine Art Gallery
Geary Gallery
gearygallery.com
Furniture
Arhaus
arhaus.com
Garden Center
Nielsen’s
nielsensflorist.com
Hardware Store + Paint + Windows/Doors
Ring’s End
ringsend.com
Home Tech
Robert Allen Multimedia
ramultimedia-ctny.com
Landscaping
Chatham Green Landscapes
chathamgreenlandscapes.com
Linens
The Linen Shop
thelinenshopct.com
Outdoor Furniture
Seasons Too
seasonstoo.com
Pool Design
Swimm Pools
swimmpools.com
Rugs
Darien Carpet
dariencarpet.com
Stone
Bella Pietra
203-655-1322
PAMPERING
Blowout + Eyebrow/Eyelash Services + Makeup Application + Waxing/Hair Removal + Women’s Styling/Salon
Lanphier
lanphier.us
Color
CKC Salon
ckcsalon.com
Cosmetic Spa
Element Medical Aesthetics
elementct.com
Day Spa
Egia Day Spa
egiadayspa.com
Facial
Ba Skin Lab
baskinlab.com
Makeup Shop
Bluemercury
bluemercury.com
Manicure + Pedicure
Posh Spa & Nail
poshct.com
Massage
New Beauty & Wellness
newbeautywellness.com
Men’s Styling
Hammer & Nails
hammerandnailsgrooming.com
Spray Tan
Goddess Glow
goddessglow.glossgenius.com
FITNESS & GEAR
Activewear
Darien Running Company
darienrunning.com
Barre
The Bar Method
barmethod.com
Bicycle Shop
Danny’s Cycles
dannyscycles.com
Dance Fitness
Anna Kaiser Studios
annakaiserstudios.com
Golf Equipment
Tri-Fit Custom Golf
trifitgolf.com
Gym + Indoor Cycling
Equinox
equinox.com
Pilates
Club Pilates
clubpilates.com
Private Fitness Training
Evolution
evolutionphysicaltherapy.com
Specialty Fitness Studio
Sama Yoga Center
samayogacenter.com
Yoga
Kaia Yoga
kaiayoga.com
FAMILY LIFE
Art Classes
Make-Modern
make-modern.com
Child Care
The Impeccable Nanny Agency
impeccablenannyct.com
Children’s/Baby Décor
Wee Mondine
weemondine.com
Children’s Clothes
Wiggles & Giggles
wigglesandgigglesshop.com
Children’s Haircuts
BonBon Hair Studio
bonbonhairstudio.com
Children’s Music Lessons
Jumpin’ Jams
jumpinjams.com
Children’s Parties
Hands on Pottery
hopct.com
Children’s/Youth Fitness
Darien YMCA
darien-ymca.org
College Prep
Dunbar Educational Consultants
dunbarconsultants.com
Toy Store
Darien Toy Box
darientoybox.com
DAILY ESSENTIALS
Auto Body
Grant’s Auto Body
grantsautobody.com
Bookstore
Elm Street Books
elmstreetbooks.com
Car Wash
Splash
splashcarwashes.com
CBD Store
Your CBD Store
getsunmed.com
Dry Cleaning
Fabricare Cleaners
fabricarecleaners.net
Entertainment Venue
The Playhouse
playhouse.cinemalab.com
Event Space
DCA Meadowlands
dariendca.org/meadowlands
Event Space/Wedding Venue
The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s
watersedgeatgiovannis.com
Florist
Earth Garden Flowers
earthgardenflowers.com
Gift Shop
She La La
shelala.com
Livery Service
Hoyt Livery Inc.
hoytlivery.com
Local Hotel
The Inn at GrayBarns
graybarns.com
Pet Supplies/Clothing
Pet Pantry Warehouse
ppwpet.com
Portrait Photographer
Calderwood Photography
calderwoodphotography.com
Wedding Photographer
Andrea Carson Photography
andreacarson.com
Shoe Repair
Darien Shoe Repair
203-655-6169
Stationery/Formal Invitations
The Whitney Shop
thewhitneyshop.com
Storage
Hollow Tree Self Storage
hollowtreestorage.com
Tailor
Greenfield Cleaners
greenfieldcleanerct.com
Veterinarian
New Canaan Veterinary Hospital
newcanaanvet.com