Bee & Thistle Inn

Top choice in Connecticut


Occupying a handsome, Dutch Colonial farmhouse dating from 1756, this classy establishment has beautiful, well-tended gardens that stretch down to the Lieutenant River. Most of its 11 plush, well-appointed rooms feature abundant antiques and a canopy or four-poster bed.

The Inn's romantic dining room, the Chestnut Grille, is the perfect setting for superlative New American cuisine. Lunch and dinner (meals $30 to $60) are served Wednesday to Sunday, often enhanced by a harpist. Reservations essential. Classic English-style afternoon tea ($40) is also a treat.