Repurposed Spaces — Unique Restaurant Experiences in Connecticut

Now serving flavor and fare instead of tickets and transportation, Connecticut is filled with old train stations that now have another purpose. Just as its name sounds, The Station Restaurant in Naugatuck is a prime example. Constructed in 1910 in grand Spanish Colonial Revival-style, this iconic building closed in the 1960s. Today, it’s been transformed into an ornate restaurant that accentuates the features of the original building—and serves up tantalizing seafood, chicken, steak, pasta and gluten-free favorites.

You can also check out Crown and Hammer Pub in Collinsville. Tucked in the center of a quaint New England town, this intimate restaurant serves delicious American fare in the historic Collinsville Train Depot—part of the iconic Collins Axe Factory complex. It takes its name from the symbols on the company’s logo. 

Or dine at Broken Symmetry in Bethel, which was a historic train station for almost 100 years. Today, it’s a southern California-inspired restaurant with nine rotating drafts and an everchanging selection of “Bar Fare” – featuring everything from burgers to pitas and doctored up nachos.

If you’re a car enthusiast or just looking for a unique dining experience, some of Connecticut’s finest restaurants were once facilities that worked on cars, trucks, motorcycles – you name it. If this sounds like your vibe, head over to The Stand in Branford. Originally a full-service gas station, it's now a filling station for folks with an appetite for authentic barbecue, local produce and community-building.

There’s also Olive Oyl’s, a charming spot that looks strikingly similar to its former self, inside and out. This repurposed car garage brings delicious carry-out bites to the heart of walkable downtown Essex. Enjoy healthy fresh soups and seasonal salads plus restaurant-style entrees like chicken pot pie, chili, chowders, stews, meat loaf, Cajun shrimp, short ribs, and more.

And vintage truly meets modern at Taqueiro in Mystic. This redefined gas station still has its original quirks with dashes of present-day charm, serving 15 kinds of tacos and other authentic Mexican dishes. 

Once humming with machinery for handfuls of purposes, Connecticut’s old mills now bustle with energy and serve top-notch dishes. Take Tavern at Graybarns in Norwalk, for example. The tavern hosted Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher on their honeymoon and received frequent visits from Hollywood heartthrob Spencer Tracy. The building began as a textile mill in the early 1800s, became a speakeasy in the 1920s, and then transformed into an inn. True to its history, Graybarns on the Silvermine River has remained the ideal setting to unite city slickers, international travelers and the local community over food and libation, relaxation and leisure.

Millwright’s Restaurant in Simsbury also has a historic past. The Hop Brook Mill, built in 1680 and now Millwright’s home, was a grist and sawmill in the village of Simsbury. The mill is now an award-winning romantic restaurant that offers sophisticated New England cuisine.

You can also try Present Company right next door in Tariffville, which produced fine fabrics in the 1860s. Today, the restaurant serves the finest farm-to-table American fare.

Serving delicacies instead of verdicts, some of Connecticut’s former legal buildings have taken on a new (and tasty) role. A must-visit destination for a true law-and-order feeling is Market Place Tavern in Litchfield. Overlooking the Litchfield Green, Market Place Tavern serves its patrons in one of the oldest penal facilities in the state. The jail, the oldest public building in town, was built to hold British prisoners during the War of 1812. According to the restaurant, “the jail cells overlooking the three-story bar are still intact, as are the bars on the windows that face the Litchfield Green." While you’re in the area, stop at The Courtroom, just around the corner. Set in a former courtroom of The Abner Hotel, The Courtroom offers tavern food crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy bold flavors amongst an atmosphere that was once the historic Litchfield County Courthouse. 

You can also try The Courthouse Bar and Grille in Putnam. During the early 1900s, this building was the home of justice. It’s now home to an eatery that serves hand-carved steaks and seafood, and prepares everything from scratch. Located in the heart of Putnam’s Antique District, you’ll find the menu and atmosphere designed with a courthouse and antique theme in mind.

There’s also Harrie’s Jailhouse set in Middletown, which is – you guessed it – a former jail. Once the historic Pameacha Jailhouse, the 175-year-old building now serves comfort food and classic cocktails…with a side of paranormal activity. Staff and customers have reported doors closing unexpectedly, unexplained window openings, and flickering lights.

Sit back, take in the historic surroundings, and enjoy an elevated dining experience at Twisted Vine, Derby's former bank - which also happens to be one of the most haunted restaurants in the United States. Built in 1892 and still maintaining the bank’s original vault, visitors can enjoy American cuisine with Italian, Asian, and Pacific Rim influences, according to the restaurant’s website. Grano Arso in Chester is another former bank – but operated until 2017 when this Italian Eatery came to life. Owners Joel and Lani, rooted in quality cooking experience, proudly serve top-notch dishes like scallops with zucchini, cappellacci de mare, and risotto. 

If you find yourself in northeastern Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, visit Willimantic Brewing Company, which was an active post office until 1966. Since 1997, Willibrew (as the locals call it) has been serving up award-winning craft brews.

Once Wallingford’s first public library, The Library Wine Bar and Bistro combines the essence of historic downtown Wallingford with the old-world traditions of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine. Built in 1899, it was restored back to its classic, architectural beauty by the Gouveia family of the nearby Gouveia Vineyards.

Foundry Kitchen and Tavern in Sandy Hook was once Newtown's first general store. This relaxed, upscale pub is housed in a brick veneer that first opened in 1908—and legend has it that one of its frequent shoppers was Marilyn Monroe.

And if dining in a firehouse piques your interest, OKO Kitchen in Westport’s got you covered. From 1931 to the 1980s, these brick walls were headquarters of the Vigilant Hose Company, firefighters protecting the community. Today, OKO offers an innovative take on traditional Japanese food and sushi. 

Looking for a dining experience you REALLY never expected? Connecticut has those too. Head over to The Engine Room in Mystic, a restored Lathrop Marine Engine building. Within the walls of this historic site, Lathrop machinists manufactured oil and gas engines from 1897 through World War II. Today, Engine Room features craft beers on tap, the area's largest bourbon selection, craft cocktails and wine, and a menu of locally sourced, creative American comfort food—with a focus on America's most beloved dish, the burger. Its sister restaurant, Oyster Club, is located right down the road. Swing by their Treehouse for another unique experience.

Or check out NewSylum Brewing Company for some dining with a side of history. Located at the historic Fairfield Hills campus in Newtown, this brewery serves its visitors in a repurposed psychiatric hospital that was originally built in 1930. Enjoy good food, great beer, and even better company – all while surrounded by the echoes of its past.