Grace Farms

Grace Farms is, on its own, a marvel—an architectural ribbon unfurling across a Connecticut hillside. But our visit was made unforgettable not just by the landscape or the building’s quiet grandeur, but by our guide, a docent who turned a stroll into a story. From the moment she welcomed us, it was clear we were in capable, generous hands. She didn’t simply point out features or recite facts—she shared the place, weaving its mission, history, and philosophy into something personal and alive. We toured the back of house, peeked behind doors the average guest might miss, and paused in the luminous tea house, where she brewed a pot for us like a practiced host rather than a guide on duty. Each stop along the tour—whether the sanctuary’s hushed curve or a simple stretch of meadow—was layered with thoughtful context. She spoke not just about what Grace Farms is, but what it’s for: a space for peace, justice, community, and creativity. Her tone was calm and inviting, but never saccharine. She let the architecture breathe, but filled the silences with meaning. By the end, we didn’t feel like tourists. We felt connected—to the space, to the mission, and yes, to the woman who had walked us through it. It was thoughtful, beautiful, and wholly unique. Go for the building. Stay for the people. And if you’re lucky enough to be paired with a docent like ours, you’ll leave with far more than photos—you’ll leave with a sense of grace, indeed.

What a gorgeous little getaway! We took the drive from NY and wow, it was totally worth making the trip. I can't even tell you how big the farm is but there are these gorgeous architectures and lots of greenery and the weather on the day we visited was incredibly beautiful. I highly recommend grace farms if you're looking to get out of the city for a weekend trip!

Grace Farms is one of the most peaceful, inspiring places I’ve visited in Connecticut. Nestled on 80 acres of beautiful open space, it’s a thoughtful blend of architecture, nature, and purpose. The River building by SANAA is stunning — flowing through the landscape like a ribbon, it houses a library, tea pavilion, sanctuary, and more, all filled with natural light and panoramic views. This isn’t just a place to admire beauty — it’s a space built around values: community, justice, nature, and the arts. I loved the art installations, the exhibits on ethical design, and the opportunity to simply walk the trails and reflect. Admission is free, and there’s even a spot to enjoy tea and light bites. Highly recommend for anyone looking for inspiration, peace, or meaningful conversation. A hidden gem with heart.

I love coming to Grace Farms. It’s so peaceful and quiet. The seasonal offerings of fresh menu at the common area cafeteria is worth the visit. They have lots of healthy options. My husband and I like to relax listening to music and stare off into the views. I find people read, converse, walk around, shoot some hoops, enjoying the calm environment. Also, the facility is sparkly clean.

Amazing architecture in Conneticut! Dessert and tea are less sugary and decent as well.

One of the must visit place in CT. 80 acres of farm with the multiple spots for picnic and well designed building that blends with the surrounding landscape

Beautiful, quiet, spacious, airy place. This place is good to meditate for a time. Complimentary tea will help for that. Recommend for all New Yorkers!

I really love this place. Nature is so calming, so esthetic. The cafe has delicious food, a lot of tea kinds, love their mugs and soup bowls :) I am a photographer and photo shoots there is just my favorite. Atmosphere overall is great at Grace Farm. I visit as a photographer, just by myself, and with family.

I can't say enough good things about Grace Farms! My friends and I rented a car for the day to visit Grace Farms and when you spend $$$ on a rental car, you'd want the trip to be worth it. In this case, I can confidently say it was 100% worth it and we spent way more time there than we had anticipated. Designed by the Japanese firm SANAA, their buildings are a stunning architectural marvel and it was integrated harmoniously into its natural surroundings. The entire farm was so serene and peaceful and we loved walking around and exploring the grounds. From their 700 seat Sanctuary to their thoughtfully curated library to their very fruitful community garden, every space on the farm was so meticulously designed and we loved learning about the thought process behind the construction of each space. The best part? Entrance to Grace Farms is completely free and accessible to the public 6 days a week. Highly highly recommend visiting!

It's always a pleasure to visit Grace Farms. The place is quiet so it provides a level of peace that is usually hard to get when life is busy. Everything is neat, organized and clean. They also have a basketball/badminton court. It's a great place to spend with family, friends or your significant other.

Grace Farms is a beautiful, unique place to visit. Hearing that this nonprofit supplies the coffee and tea for the hotel where I stayed in Norwalk, I decided to visit. The property consists of several architecturally fluid buildings connected by walkways. These include an art gallery that highlights Grace Farms' sustainability and social justice efforts, a subterranean basketball court, library with a carefully curated collection of books, an event space, and cafe. My favorite area, however, was the Pavilion where I enjoyed a tea tasting by their master tea blender. The buildings are surrounded by 80 acres that include walking trails. Admission is free, but online registration for the day of your visit is required. Grace Farms is a wonderful place to visit, and I plan to return to attend one of their fall events!

I am in love with this place. What an absolute gem. The staff are incredibly friendly, knowledgable, and lovely. The food is sensational, we ordered the mushroom burger, soup du jour, coffee with unlimited refills, and the spicy Korean chicken sandwich. The grounds are immaculate, the architecture is unreal. Every building is wonderful in its own way. The gymnasium is fantastic with a basketball court, badminton, massive foam building blocks, ping pong table, and foosball table. The library has tons of comfy chairs, books, chess, cards, and a gift shop with lovely items such as their coffee and teas, tea pots, and double walled glass tea cups. The dining hall had MASSIVE 14 foot long tables and even though there was a decent crowd my friend and I could talk quietly and hear eachother perfectly. The acoustics in every building was sensational. Pam so kindly gave us the low-down on the 700 chair amphitheater. Each chair was modified to be in that specific spot. The sheer amount of planning and ingenuity is mind boggling. The acoustics were incredible and they had a quiet room for screaming babies with piped in sound so the person accompanying the baby wouldn't miss a beat. Come for the sustainable architecture and stunning grounds, stay for the fun, games, and delicious food. We spent 5.5 hours here and easily could have stayed longer. I greatly look forward to our return. Best cult ever.

My friend asked our group if we wanted to do a day trip out of the city up to Grace Farms and we had no idea what to expect but decided to give it a visit. The area was beautiful, from the scenic landscape, to the River Building that seems to flow down the hill, to the apple trees and the sensory garden. I was quite impressed by the turmeric latte, the chicken sandwich, and the popcorn that came with it, all had lots of flavor! We spent some time exploring the grounds, playing sports in the rec room, and tasting tea and learning about the mission of Grace Farms to fight human trafficking. Overall it was a great day and I would recommend to friends to go there if they want a peaceful escape from NYC.

Review of performance at Grace Farms: First time at Grace Farms for the Beauty &Logic discussion/performance. No assigned seating so I wasn't sure how that would work out. There were plenty of seats though even though I arrived 5 minutes before show time I was just a couple rows from the stage. The performance was in their Sanctuary space. It's a bit of a walk from the parking. I wish it were closer because it sounds like it's open and free as a working/gathering space and I loved the design, the openness and lighting. They mentioned how good the lunch was so I think you can go, work in one of the many open spaces, grab lunch, take a walk, hike (?) around the grounds, etc. As you walked in, they offered a glass of complimentary fair trade mint tea that they make there. No booze. It was tidy casual. Some ppl had their older their kids there. Others were solo like me. Others on dates. Will definitely be back for other performances. I love the Beauty and Logic offering that their musical director, Marcus Miller has put together.

Really loved checking this place out and had a good lunch. There was a kid event at their indoor playground. I could've sat forever there to read .. but that's impossible with a little one. Definitely checking out. Someone talked to me about joining the church since I guess the event was put on by Grace Church. All very nice ppl but told them I'm Catholic and that was that!

I have visted a few times over the past few months and each time there is a disgusting smell in the air like septic. It was really gross and the last time i went it made me gag. It seems like they are having issues with their plumbing and it didnt get fixed yet. The smell starts around the the "church"/library. I couldn't go to a service and come out and smell poop I just couldn't do that and I don't understand how people are tolerating it. Each time I visted I thought it would have been fixed, sadly no. I have decided to not go back.

More than just a community and events center, Grace Farms defies the notion that a space should have one defined purpose. For those in need of an escape from reality and a dose of nature, the grounds at Grace Farms offer beautiful outdoor spaces, architecture that is intentionally designed to fit into the landscape, and various rooms for use. From its tea tasting room to the quiet library space and cafe, you'll find yourself at peace and able to unplug from daily stressors. I was extremely impressed with this non-profits emphasis on sustainability and global welfare with their Design for Freedom project. I highly recommend checking out their events calendar for yoga, arts, and visiting lectures --- and be sure to take a tour to learn more about the architectural elements of the site.

This place is pretty cool. The serpentine style path makes it aesthetically pleasing from every angle and the architectural elements of the structure create a very tranquil experience. You can spend as little as an hour to walk the path, check out the library, recreation center, and cafe or you can spend the day. It's open and free to the public. You just have to show ID and sign in upon arrival.

Beautiful grounds and architecture. The coffee is great and the people are friendly. Great place to walk around and take photos.

Exquisite property that blows my mind every time I make a visit. Love the curation, the experience and the good zen vibes. The Library, the basketball court/gym and just the beautiful windy walk that resembles a river makes the perfect day with family or friends or solo. And absolutely love the cafe/restaurant. The food choices are always extremely fresh, diverse and so unbelievably tasty. You must stop for a meal when you are there! Bravo to the menu creator and the chef!

Amazing program!! Celebrated with The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra. What a performance by Carlos Rodriguez!!! Food was outstanding....Neena Perez!!!

Came here for the architecture but the food is pretty good too. Impressive design and nice environment

Wish we had a chance to stroll around the grounds more. Though was super satisfied with lunch - wife and I had the salad with grilled watermelon. Then our group headed down to the partially submerged court so the kids could romper around and have fun.

Honestly, my favorite place to go when I am in the area. Great food and there is always something to do. My boyfriend and I always make sure to stop by for lunch. You can play basketball, soccer, read in the library, and admire the great agriculture.

Everything about this grounds was beautiful. The hours I spent here were very tranquil, I enjoyed it a lot. The food was good too. Wish I lived closer so I can visit more often.

View: The architecture of this place is absolutely mesmerizing. You can essentially take a picture anywhere along the river belt or the entire site for that matter and have amazing shots. Things to eat/do: There are 2 spots you can leverage while you are at this sanctuary: the bakery or the tea shop. The have one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had. My girlfriend and I were basically fighting for the last bite. As for their tea selection, we decided to go with jasmine pearl tea from Fujian, China. Probably one of the best jasmine teas I've tried. Parking: Last but not least, there is a whole parking lot dedicated to this site and for people to just come and enjoy a nice hike or get some work done at their library. Last Remarks: Best part is that all of this is free and it's a wonderful thing that Grace Farm does to empower the local community. I highly recommend taking a visit and supporting them and their many causes.

Peaceful space and a great cafe for a lunch or tea time. Also, the library is thoughtfully stacked and a great place for reading and study.

I live visiting this place it's so pretty and peaceful. I love the Japanese architecture design and the color. Over all it's a great place to stop by

Beautiful architecture, serene landscape, soothing cups of tea- Grace Farms has all you could want for a lazy Sunday afternoon trip in Connecticut. The hubs and I had a lovely time admiring this community center and exploring the little trails. It also is houses a church, garden, and basketball court. It is a delightful space to spend time with people of all ages. My husband and I left feeling much more centered and are looking forward to our next visit.

If you're looking to go somewhere with the most rude, self-entitled staff I've ever seen, then this place is great. Our drive was long, our stay was short, and we won't be coming back.

I don't know how it took me soooo long to discover the existence of this place, but this has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the area. Not gonna lie, I was shocked that a place like this could exist north of the city, but I would describe this place as a complex of separate, glass-enclosed pavilions that are all connected by one common, winding roof. There's a gym with a basketball court, a tea pavilion, a cafe, a library, and an amphitheatre-like space, with walking paths encircling the entire area. The complex was designed by a Japanese architect firm (SANAA Architects), and this blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design allows for an incredibly cathartic day trip, whether you be touring the area with family, studying, or attending an event. In order to enter Grace Farms, you have to drive past a booth where they take your ID and give you a ticket (that I've never had to use). The cafe is VERY reasonably priced -- coffee is super cheap ($1 iced coffee, $1.60 regular coffee), and food will run you around $10 for a meal. The tea pavilion stocks high quality teas from various places in Asia and can run anywhere from $5-12 for a pot (with a free resteeping!). One last thing -- free wifi and outlet access in the library ;) Good study spot, and there are a good number of people doing work in the cafe after it closes after 3pm.

Exquisite architecture and landscape. One of my favorite places to visit. Also the food from the cafeteria and the tea from the tea room are delicious. Such a gem

Very bad experience this past Sunday 5/29 at 12pm. We (family of four) registered few days ago on 5/25 to visit this place. We drive there from Long Island NY and by the time we got there one and half hours later the park closed due to last minute event happening that moment. We were told to leave. Our kids are so sad and disappointed after a long ride. Not sure why management team not reaching out to people registered by email for advance notice????

We were visiting Weir farm and decided to check out this place since it was nearby and free. To our pleasant surprise, it is not a farm but more like an ultra modern well maintained sanctuary with "do not touch mattress" by a Danish artist /Architecture showcase /library for design enthusiast/ practice your slam dunk in sleek setting/playground for uber rich/great spot for selfies or whatever. It is designed by Japanese SANAA design firm, mimicking a meandering river on beautiful landscape. The architecture is open, minimalist with in and out space. It is nice although you feel you have seen it all in one visit and there is no mystery left waiting to be explored. A must place to visit if you happened to be in the area!

Truly a beautiful place! I've been there twice, and their food is really good too! Their menu does change from time to time, so please do keep that in mind! The grilled cheese is surprisingly the best, I probably would have never imagined myself saying that! A great study, and date spot as well, they got a large eating area, as well as a little library where you can study.

Don't come here if you only have cash. They only accept credit cards/ digital payments; which - for a self-proclaimed welcoming space - excludes the most normal of citizens. I asked the front desk person if there was any other way to get some food, but apparently not. And rather than agreeing to inform her manager of the issue, she just apologized, which is nice but ineffective. Hopefully they will correct this for future visitors.

What an amazing place, there are not enough words to describe it. Our favorites are community dinners once a month with extraordinary talented chef, and a real Japanese tea house that brews real tea! Just wonderful!!

Absolutely fantastic! Multi dimensional, other worldly, beyond fabulous experience combined with wonderful food. I had no idea this GEM was here! Everyone we encountered was so nice, friendly and talkative, it contributed to our wondering whether we were in another reality. Like some portal into where there's beauty, kindness and all that is good.

Visited recently with my best friend from another country, for her AIA Convention in NYC. Having been very faithful Kazuyo Sejima (the chief architect) fans, we both knew that we're here for a treat but still were so blown away by the entire complex. The most amazing fact I learned from the visit is that in order to ensure the custom curved glass panels installed properly to avoid any settlement issues, they had a land surveyor on site everyday during the glass installation. And because it is such a site-specific project, nearly every glass panel is unique (with only a handful of exceptions). Yes, that is exactly what you'd expect from Ms. Sejima of that kind of rigor and precision. In addition to the beautiful landscape and architecture, it has a wonderful cafeteria on site so you get to enjoy the produce from the farm. I tried a tapas sampler and every item was delicious (organic chicken salad sandwich, quinoa salad and cauliflower burger!). And the price was so reasonable beyond my comprehension. We had a great time here and I will likely bring more friends and family back when they visit New York. Definitely one of the nicest easy day trip / getaway from your daily sorrows in NYC.

Incredibly beautiful blend of architecture and nature ... very peaceful place .... Cute hiking trail ... worth to visit . I would suggest to combine 2 amazing architectural treasures within 10-15 minutes from each other Grace Farms and Glass House by genius architect Philip Johnson . Grace Farms just go in anytime and it's free . With Glass House go on there website to set up your showing and get your tickets .

It's a beautiful pace to visit! If you are New Canaan stop for lunch or walk in the farm.

Architect, lovers, humans - GO HERE! What a beauty! Grace Foundation has done a tremendous job of taking over which otherwise would have been a typical development and converting an equestrian into a community space. I am a fan fan fan of #SANAA and their design so this has been on the list since a while now! They have events - bird watching , architecture sustainability tours so make sure you watch your calendars and grab one of those opportunities. Getting there : No reservations, no entry fee just take your peace with you and you'll do great! Parking : 2. FREE on the site. There are 2 - North which is a t an upper level and the other one which starts at a visitor center they call it. We totally missed since the visitor center didn't really look like one (lol). But its your choice if you want to start at the top and walk down or at the bottom and walk up. Its a terrain! Experience : I have always loved Japanese Architecture for their ability of minimalist yet bold design sense. The organic, free flowing spaces maneuver you to their different spaces in no time. Take your time to absorb their curvy spaces. Their library has those SANAA designed bunny chairs- too cute! Food: Oh give it a try! YOU MUST! You would think its going to be at a premium cost, but there will be a receipt which will bring you to reality. We ordered a special tapas bowl - chicken quesadilla, caramelized walnuts and soy pineapple salad, pancakes; and a 4 slice pizza. Both the orders - soooooper tasty! and of course a lemon ginger hot tea in a glass mug. Perfect for the weather and all in for $23 WOW! Total value for money and such a beautiful, colorful platter. We spent about 2 hours here. Totally skip-able visitor center I guess. Spend time on the site sitting quietly at their auditorium looking outside the windows which get the nature inside!

Beautiful architecture, stunning landscape, calming, relaxing and serene. Came for a Saturday afternoon in late October, and it's a must visit during the fall. There's a cafe where you can order lite snacks: teas, coffees, assorted beverages, and small pastries. Sit and enjoy a latte in the "Commons" while viewing a beautiful landscape through floor to ceiling windows. There is a sanctuary with room at the front for meditating, and a quiet room where you can sit and take in the view peacefully. Nearby is a library with quiet, soothing music and chairs adjacent the windows to sit and work, read, write, create, and be inspired by the scenery. There is also a basketball court and athletic field for recreational use. There are walking trails and small ponds surrounding the buildings, which make for the perfect outdoor stroll with coffee. The buildings curve as does the landscape on which they sit. The materials used are mainly wood and rocks, which match the surrounding landscape and are minimally elegant. The reason I have to give it 4 stars is because when we arrived, the guy that sat at the front gate asked for our ID's and then said "or are you Latino" and laughed. I'm not sure if we took it the wrong way, but it certainly felt uncomfortable. Seemed weird for a place that's "for people to experience nature, pursue justice and foster community."

Otherworldly beautiful place (architecture and nature) that serves its community with green grounds, a library, meeting places, a beautiful auditorium, and even a sports court, where we saw kids playing basketball in what must be one of the most beautiful court around! Everyone we interacted with was so welcoming and seemed genuinely happy to work or volunteer here. We were there for earth day activities and were treated to the best falconry demonstration I have ever participated in. The master falconer Brian Bradley brought several owls and hawks and shared his love of the animals and training for over an hour. It was educational (the importance of predators and their unique characteristics, but also how animal training works) and awe inspiring. His love and enthusiasm for these birds was infectious and he was very engaging but not "actor-like" and genuine. Both of our kids (under 10) and us adults loved it, despite an unusually cold weather and a lot of wind that day.

Words can't describe the sheer beauty of both the exterior and interior of the complex. Walking around the grounds, you feel as though you've been transplanted to another world. The swooping architectural features reminds me of the new Apple campus in California. If you're coming to visit, definitely bring something to do because the amenities here are flexible.

This place is amazing!!! Came here for a quick visit with my girlfriend (she's an architect and helped work with sanaa on this project). The buildings look very unique and do blend into hills! The library has some amazing books, they even had Dan barbers new book! I just wanted to grab it and sit by the window and read. The commons had some pretty good food and very well priced! For a "community center" this cafe had some pretty tasty choices. Grilled cheese... Superb, creamy with thinly sliced tomatoes. And the beef empanadas are a great snack! Came in March when it was cold out, would love to come back when it's warmer.

Great space for any architecture nerd like me. We did the tea and architecture tour that ran about 1.5 hours. We got to have tea in the tea pavilion and walk around guided to learn about the architecture of the structure. I believe the tickets are $25 a person that goes back to the Grace Farms Foundation that runs the property and hosts many programs. SANAA, the architect, thought of everything from the grains of wood, furniture and multi function of each space. The building lays perfectly with the landscape and folds into the natural topography. There is the Commons where you can eat breakfast and lunch, a library, a great space to study and read, the Sanctuary, tea pavilion, indoor Basketball court (amazing! even played 2 rounds of basketball with my bf) and great meeting spaces. There are many activities planned for summer and a great space for family and kids~

Grace Farms--where nature and building infrastructure unite. If you're interested in architecture and/or nature, you need to go here. I went here in October with my boyfriend and his parents, and it was a great day adventure. The River Building opened recently, and the pictures simply do not do it justice. Every single detail for this building was constructed with a purpose. As their website suggests, "The walkways, courtyards and glass-wrapped volumes that form beneath the roof are remarkably transparent and invite people to engage with the expansive natural surroundings." The building was created with nature in mind. It is completely free to enter. There is a cafe where you can purchase food or drinks, but we brought our own lunch and had a picnic outside. It might be a bit chilly in the cooler months, but when we went, it was beautiful. I definitely recommend going in the fall to see the fall foliage. The colors were absolutely breathtaking, and it was fantastic to be surrounded by nature no matter which part of the building you entered. Within the connected buildings there is a theater/sanctuary, library, basketball court, eating area, various rooms to hold conferences, an underground big screen TV, and more. There are also plenty of places to explore outside. We didn't make it to the ponds, but apparently there are some. Perhaps we will venture back on a spring day to see them.

New Canaan is blessed to have a wonderful architectural masterpiece. The Zen feeling and tranquility on this must visit place should be one every adventurers list.

This is serenity. Acres and acres of walking trails, benches along the way to sit and take in all of nature's beauty. Delicious cafe to fuel up. Perfectly organized library. So clean. Worth the drive to escape the business of life for a couple of hours. Tip: have ID ready to show when you drive up to the gate. Cafe does not take cash. Can't wait to go back...

I have never been so let down by a place that I loved so much. They are a mostly outdoor venue, they can close all of the buildings and let people continue to come and walk the trails while wearing masks and social distancing, but they choose not to. Very sad.

Lone this entire experience. The grounds are amazing and the river building is my favorite. Had a nice fresh reasonably priced lunch.

This place is an amazing facility with a great cafe. Reasonable prices great food. Come for lunch and a walk.

The most beautiful day! The atmosphere totally intoxicating! The food was fresh delicious and so pretty to look at! Truly a wonderful experience for all

The architecture alone is worth visiting this place. Beautiful architecture with a serene view. This place is constantly being featured by Dezeen and other design magazines. What's so interesting about it is that it completely stands out from typical New England architecture while simultaneously.blending in so well. This is a great place to come work or have a business meeting because there is a conference room in the library and free wifi on premises. Also their cafeteria served wonderful based goods and fresh food daily, which makes it great for a group of friends to meet up here and chat. The whole experience at Grace Farms is wonderful and there's nothing else like it in the area.

Beautiful property to stroll around! The cafe and restaurant, and library were beautiful! No professional photo shootings were allowed.

This is a beautiful nature preserve, architectural gem, and community space located in the woods of New Canaan. It's a Pulitzer-prize winning design by a Japanese firm that incorporates nature into the design of the buildings. They offer beautiful scenery and community areas including an event space, library, cafe, basketball court, and more. It's a really incredible space that is available to the public that it a great place to explore nature or take a day trip from NYC. The staff is really kind and helpful to answer any questions you have about the architecture or the usage of the spaces. You can spend hours walking freely around the property or using their wi-fi in the cafe or library if you want to work or study remotely. It doesn't get better than this for your family outings or creative working needs!