Best Restaurants in New Haven (2025)
Since 1934, this brick‑oven landmark defines New Haven’s apizza culture without the franchise hype. Beloved by locals for the Italian Bomb and clam pies, it’s been celebrated by Food & Wine and praised by The Infatuation and Connecticut Magazine.
Roger Sherman, a Founding Father and New Haven’s first mayor, once lived at this historic site across from Yale’s Old Campus; the current building, designed in the 19th century by local architect Richard Williams in the Beaux-Arts style, has housed a private social club, an opera house, and a theater. Since 1977, French-inspired brasserie Union League Cafe has lived here, becoming a go-to for celebratory occasions like graduation and parents’ weekend. Embrace the luxe vibe and start with duck confit or escargots, followed by butter-poached lobster or oxtail ravioli. Save room for pastry chef Teila Chappel’s desserts, like mon coeur, a bittersweet chocolate mousse with cherry compote, cherry coulis, and a cocoa biscuit.
Chef Manuel Romero’s Spanish‑Mediterranean spot delivers elegant plates and a midweek tasting menu in a sleek downtown room. Frequently cited for overall excellence, including Connecticut Magazine’s 2025 coverage and strong local critic praise.
Shell and Bones is the type of spot where you can gaze longingly across the Long Island Sound with a martini and exude big Meredith Blake energy. The dining room and patio both have great views of the water and docked yachts, and the seafood and service here are consistently excellent. The menu is packed with great meat and vegetarian options—you can even ask for your protein to be simply prepared with your choice of sauce if you have food allergies, or happen to have an aunt whose dietary restrictions fluctuate more frequently than the tides. Highlights include the mussel pot with pomme frites and the Alaskan black garlic cod, but you can’t go wrong with a giant tower of shells for a showstopper.
The menu changes almost daily at Tavern on State, an American restaurant serving the most inventive dishes in New Haven. In fact, they don’t even print menus—most nights, the chef will add something to the lineup right before opening. What is consistent here though is a commitment to seasonal ingredients. (During a late summer visit, we had juicy-sweet heirloom tomatoes as well as a peach dessert that tasted like a grown-up version of a McDonald’s pie.) Count on friendly servers who spend at least five minutes gushing about the new dish they tried this afternoon, and a cabin-esque dining room with a healthy dose of flickering candles.
After capturing New Haven’s affection with East Rock’s new American charmer Tavern on State and the city’s only whole-animal butcher shop Provisions on State, chef Emily Mingrone has made Northeast seafood the star of her latest venture. Whether you’re peering out of the portholes in Fair Haven Oyster Co.’s trendy midcentury modern dining room or sitting on the deck overlooking the Quinnipiac River, focus on small plates — like Maine scallop crudo or roasted littleneck clams with gochujang butter — paired with cocktails like the Diamondback Smash, a blend of shiso-infused bourbon, cognac, yellow Chartreuse, vermouth, and lemon. And of course order a round of East Coast oysters for the table, served with Zab’s Hot Sauce and nori mignonette.
Westville is one of New Haven’s quietest suburban neighborhoods, but chef Arturo Franco-Camacho — also known for City Point waterfront favorite Shell and Bones — has turned a former gas station into a daily destination for contemporary Mexican street food and nightlife, proving there’s an appetite for more action in the area. Take a seat at the emerald-tiled center bar or sit on the large, semi-enclosed terrace for a view of the Central Patio, a section of street reclaimed from cars to make room for arts markets and free dance classes from neighboring Alisa’s House of Salsa. Alisa Bowens-Mercado, who owns the dance studio, is also Connecticut’s first Black woman brewery owner; pair her refreshing Rhythm Brewing lager or a pisco sour with Franco-Camacho’s braised lamb barbacoa flautas or some quesadillas featuring wild mushrooms and huitlacoche.
Vibrant Thai cooking with a loyal local following, from curries to noodles and cocktails, plus a spacious patio. Recognized among the state’s top Thai restaurants in Connecticut Magazine’s 2025 coverage and praised by area writers.
A downtown mainstay since 1999, serving injera‑based platters, fragrant stews, and vegetarian feasts that anchor the city’s Ethiopian community. Highlighted by the state tourism board and local press for its cultural impact and staying power.
