Mystic Summer 2020

Scenic Mystic is OPEN for business and warmly welcoming visitors and locals alike. For everyone’s safety, please wear a face mask and maintain a six foot distance from others. The pedestrian walkways over the downtown bascule drawbridge are one way on each side of the road but the bridge still raises up majestically at 40 minutes past the hour to allow passage of boats. All restaurants provide ah-MAY-zing take-out food and menus are available on individual websites. Mystic boasts hundreds of stores, restaurants, and types of recreation for your enjoyment.

Here are a few business updates effective mid-July.

FUN

Mystic Seaport Museum: all 17 outdoor acres are open. Most village buildings are closed but a VR code may be scanned to see a short video about that building. Top deck only boarding of the sailing vessels Charles W. Morgan, Joseph Conrad, L.A. Dunton and Amistad. Free 25 minute Liberty river cruise. Free rental of rowboats, paddle boats, and small sailboats. 19th century games on the green. “A Way with Wood” exhibit in in the open Thompson building. Food is available weekends at the Galley, coffee may be purchased every day at the Wave Café (in the Thompson building), and the Tavern is open every day. MysticSeaport.org

Mystic Aquarium: online reservations only, two-hour timed entry slots, one way paths, indoor and outdoor exhibits are open. No sea lion shows. MysticAquarium.org

Adventure Mystic: personal watercraft rentals of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Bicycle rentals, tours and groups. AdventureMystic.com

Mystic Boat Adventures: Drive your own 2-person boat! Guided, narrated tours with local guides. Safe, stable and comfortable ride MysticBoatAdventures.com

Argia Cruises: Online tickets only in groups of 2 or 3 to accommodate 6 ft. apart distancing and maximum of 24 passengers. Call for 4 or more tickets. Gorgeous schooner sailing tour of the Mystic River and Fisher’s Island Sound. ArgiaMystic.com

Fields of Fire: online reservations only, small groups start at different places in the park. Bring your own helmet and gloves or $2 new gloves are available. Safe but challenging aerial ropes courses for all experience levels. FieldsofFireMystic.com

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center: In-person and online events. Facebook live videos Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 am. Natural history exhibits are open. DPNC.org

FOOD

Bravo Bravo: open Tues. – Sun. 4-8 pm. Fresh pasta, seafood, seasonal Northern Italian menu. BravoBravoCT.com  

Chapter One: steaks, burgers, seafood, great appetizers and adult beverages.  Chapter-One.com 

Daniel Packer Inne: indoor dining by reservation only. Classic shoreline meets creative international cuisine. CT Restaurant Hall of Fame. DanielPacker.com

Dog Watch BBQ: outdoor dining, limited indoor dining. Online reservations suggested. Tender, slow-smoked brisket. DogWatch Mystic

Engine Room: award-winning hand-crafted burgers, beer and bourbon. Open daily. EngineRoomCT.com 

Friar Tuck’s Tavern: open until 9pm weekdays and 10pm weekends. Live music on the patio Thurs. – Sat. 6-9pm,  Sunday 3-6pm. Monday patio trivia 6:30-8:30pm. FriarTucksMystic.com 

Grass & Bone: open daily for inside & outside dining. Purchase local meats, veggies, baked goods, and prepared meals online. Pick up at G&B, Stone Acres Farm, Watch Hill, Old Lyme, and Fisher’s Island. GrassandBoneCT.com 

Jealous Monk: indoor and outdoor comfort food, giant pretzels, and generous beer selection. Call ahead to get on waiting list. Jealous-Monk.com 

Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza: indoor & outdoor seating for pizza, wings & salads.  MangosPizza.com 

Mystic Diner: indoor and outdoor dining. Good choice when dining companions can’t agree where to eat. Breakfast all day with ample parking. MysticDiner.com 

Oyster Club: pop-up restaurant at Stone Acres Farm in Stonington Wed-Sat. nights until August 8th. Major renovations are underway and Oyster Club and the Treehouse will be open mid-August with inside/outside dining. OysterClubCT.com 

Pink Basil: outdoor dining only with gorgeous, expansive patios (some completely covered) serving sushi, Thai, and other Asian cuisines. Happy hour food and drink specials 3-5 pm. PinkBasilCT.com 

Red 36: Great view of the Mystic River and the two bridges. No reservations. Contemporary shoreline cuisine. Red36CT.com 

Rocks 21: indoor seating, happy hour, live entertainment, stunning views of the Mystic River. Safe outdoor seating on the lawn, deck, patio, or around the pool. Rocks21.com 

S&P Oyster: outdoor patio seating with gorgeous Mystic River views, indoor seating with new lighting installation by glass artist Jeffery P’an. New summer menu and new DOCKSIDE pick up. Sunday Brunch. SP-Oyster.com 

Samurai Noodle: indoor seating now open but no hibachi grilling yet. Happy hour food and drink specials 3-5pm. Sushi, fresh ramen, and much more. SamuraiNoodleMystic.com 

SIFT Bakeshop Mystic: outdoor patio dining. Raised deck dining with views of the Mystic River, ethereal croissants, sandwiches, and salads until 3:00pm. At 3:00pm the raised deck becomes MIX Rooftop Bar for ages 21+. Special fruit popsicles in bubbly, creative food menu. SiftBakeshopMystic.com 

The Mariner: indoor dining, outdoor patio, epic seafood and lobster rolls! TheMarinerMystic.com 

Via Emilia: deeply-satisfying, freshly made pasta with superbly crafted ingredients and indoor seating. ViaEmiliaMystic.com       

SHOPPING

Most stores in downtown Mystic and in Olde Mistick Village are open regular hours with a limited safe number of shoppers in the store at a time. Please wear your face mask and stay six feet apart from staff and other customers. 

New stores include Authentic 1, Bare Bones Aesthetics, Bee’s Knees Danforth Pewter, Lamplighter Trading Co., Manufaktura Factory Store, and Queenie’s Gift Emporium. 

Come to Mystic where food and fun play well together and shopping is a pleasure.

About the Author
Elizabeth Saede is a local author of Lobster Summer. She is also the author of thisismystic.com’s “On the Water” column. Elizabeth can be reached by email at Sunshine06378[at]gmail.com.