There’s nothing that screams “New England” more than clam chowder. Good old New England clam chowder is the original and most popular, but some Connecticut restaurants make their chowder Manhattan-style or even create their own style. Whatever the style, everyone from Connecticut knows good chowder when they taste it. Check out these places for some of the best chowder you’ll ever taste.
- The Clam Castle, Madison
Facebook/The Clam Castle
Facebook/The Clam Castle With apologies to our neighbors to the east, Rhode Island clam chowder was perfected in Madison, Connecticut. The Clam Castle’s Rhode Island actually won Chowdafest in 2016. Of course, you can get good old New England clam chowder here too, and it’s incredible.
1324 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
- Sedona Taphouse, Norwalk
Facebook/Sedona Taphouse Norwalk, CT
Facebook/Sedona Taphouse Norwalk, CT At Sedona Taphouse, pair award-winning New England clam chowder with a craft brew. This sophisticated Norwalk restaurant has one of the largest selections of craft brews in the country.
515 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
- City Fish Market, Wethersfield
Facebook/City Fish Market
Facebook/City Fish Market While you’re picking up a cup of classic New England clam chowder, pick up some fresh fish or crustaceans. Don’t let the inland location fool you: the seafood here is as fresh as it gets.
884 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT 06109
- Take Five Cookery, Hartford
Facebook/Take Five Cookery
Facebook/Take Five Cookery This breakfast and lunch-only spot serves one of the most-awarded New England clam chowders in Connecticut. Not only are the clams fresh, some of the produce served here is grown on the restaurant’s own farm.
1 Financial Plz # 1, Hartford, CT 06103
- 348 Oyster Bar, Fairfield
Facebook/Town of Fairfield, CT
Facebook/348 Oyster Bar Oysters are the name of the game at this spot right off the highway in Fairfield. The Manhattan clam chowder has been called the best in Connecticut. Will you try it for yourself?
348 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825
- Crave, Fairfield
Facebook/Crave Fairfield
Facebook/Crave Fairfield The New England clam chowder at this Fairfield bistro can stand with the best of them, but they have equally great Manhattan and Rhode Island chowders on the menu too.
52 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
- The Blind Rhino, Norwalk
Facebook/OmNomCT
Facebook/OmNomCT Don’t let the flat-screen TVs and sports bar vibe fool you: this spot serves up some of the best creative chowder’s in Connecticut. FYI: there are fooseball tables. Let the loser-buys-chowder challenges begin.
15 N Main St, Norwalk, CT 06854
- The Irons Restaurant & Bar, Mystic
Facebook/The Irons Restaurant & Bar
Facebook/Chowdafest Tucked away in the Mystic Hilton, The Irons serves one of the best creative chowders in the state, and they have the awards to prove it. Another upside: the patio is swoon-worthy.
20 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355
- Rothbard Ale + Larder, Westport
Facebook/Rothbard Ale + Larder
Facebook/Chowdafest Please note, Rothbard Ale + Larder has permanently closed. Creative chowders are the highlight at this Westport gastropub. The menu includes a wedding kielbasa and oyster chowder you won’t find anywhere else.
90 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
- Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill, New Haven
Facebook/Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill
Facebook/Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill Cleverly-served New England clam chowder makes this New Haven spot worth the trip from wherever you are. An equally clever name that plays off Yale’s Skull & Bones adds a little whimsy.
100 S Water St, New Haven, CT 06519
Where’s your favorite clam chowder in Connecticut?
Facebook/The Clam Castle
With apologies to our neighbors to the east, Rhode Island clam chowder was perfected in Madison, Connecticut. The Clam Castle’s Rhode Island actually won Chowdafest in 2016. Of course, you can get good old New England clam chowder here too, and it’s incredible.
1324 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Facebook/Sedona Taphouse Norwalk, CT
At Sedona Taphouse, pair award-winning New England clam chowder with a craft brew. This sophisticated Norwalk restaurant has one of the largest selections of craft brews in the country.
515 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
Facebook/City Fish Market
While you’re picking up a cup of classic New England clam chowder, pick up some fresh fish or crustaceans. Don’t let the inland location fool you: the seafood here is as fresh as it gets.
884 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT 06109
Facebook/Take Five Cookery
This breakfast and lunch-only spot serves one of the most-awarded New England clam chowders in Connecticut. Not only are the clams fresh, some of the produce served here is grown on the restaurant’s own farm.
1 Financial Plz # 1, Hartford, CT 06103
Facebook/Town of Fairfield, CT
Facebook/348 Oyster Bar
Oysters are the name of the game at this spot right off the highway in Fairfield. The Manhattan clam chowder has been called the best in Connecticut. Will you try it for yourself?
348 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825
Facebook/Crave Fairfield
The New England clam chowder at this Fairfield bistro can stand with the best of them, but they have equally great Manhattan and Rhode Island chowders on the menu too.
52 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
Facebook/OmNomCT
Don’t let the flat-screen TVs and sports bar vibe fool you: this spot serves up some of the best creative chowder’s in Connecticut. FYI: there are fooseball tables. Let the loser-buys-chowder challenges begin.
15 N Main St, Norwalk, CT 06854
Facebook/The Irons Restaurant & Bar
Facebook/Chowdafest
Tucked away in the Mystic Hilton, The Irons serves one of the best creative chowders in the state, and they have the awards to prove it. Another upside: the patio is swoon-worthy.
20 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355
Facebook/Rothbard Ale + Larder
Please note, Rothbard Ale + Larder has permanently closed. Creative chowders are the highlight at this Westport gastropub. The menu includes a wedding kielbasa and oyster chowder you won’t find anywhere else.
90 Post Rd E, Westport, CT 06880
Facebook/Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill
Cleverly-served New England clam chowder makes this New Haven spot worth the trip from wherever you are. An equally clever name that plays off Yale’s Skull & Bones adds a little whimsy.
100 S Water St, New Haven, CT 06519
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
