Salisbury, Connecticut

salisbury, connecticut the (quiet) corner pocket

From left: Joie Maison, Sweet William Coffee Shop & Bakery.

As the northwesternmost town

in Connecticut, Salisbury is at the intersection of Litchfield County, the Berkshires, and New York State (you can snap a photo of the CT-MA-NY tri-state marker at the northwest corner of town). It’s home to two prep schools, but also wild and mountainous black bear habitat. Salisbury has a small-town feel, with full-time and part-time residents whose lives often take them into Manhattan, just a little over two hours by car. It is also reachable by rail from Wassaic, only 20 minutes away. Who, upon seeing a little place with a “For Sale” sign on a well-kept lawn, wouldn’t feel a little tug?

EAT/DRINK Salisbury is a welcoming town, whether or not you own real estate there. It thrives on the mixture of people it attracts, from celebrities (Meryl Streep has lived there for years) to the shaggy hikers who come down a half a mile off the Appalachian Trail to pick up supplies at LaBonne’s Market.

Staying on Main Street, Sweet William’s Bakery is famous for pies, pastries, and cookies, while Neo Restaurant & Bar is a newish spot for Italian-inspired cuisine in an airy setting.

People drive from all over to dine at The White Hart Inn, a striking 1806 updated farmhouse overlooking the village green. The inn houses three dining rooms, a tap room with a full-service bar, two outdoor dining patios, and a large front porch offering drink service. If all that isn’t enough, Provisions is a casual café for breakfast and lunch. All serve “elevated British-inspired comfort food” that highlights seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms. The food is both exotic and local—a good reflection of the town itself.

To the southwest, in the Lakeville section of town, lie art galleries, a gas station (good to know), The Hotchkiss School, one of the premier independent boarding schools in the country, and a surprising number of good restaurants for such a small community, including The Boathouse, Black Rabbit Bar & Grille, Mizza’s, Deano’s (purported to have the best New York-style pizza for miles around), and Picante’s South West Mexican Grill. The Woodlands offers fine dining in a comfortable setting. The Green Café, in the converted firehouse that is now Studio Lakeville (a fitness center), is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and coffee/baked goods from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SHOP Even if you can’t buy a house here, you can still freshen up your existing abode. Discriminating taste is the common thread for the many home-good purveyors in town: Joie Maison, Passports Antiques, Black Squirrel Antiques, Honeychurch Home, and Thornhill Flower & Garden Shop make Salisbury a worthwhile shopping destination.

The Salisbury General Store (on Main) doubles as gift shop and the town’s pharmacy. A few doors down, Encore sells upscale discards on consignment from the well-heeled set. Bibliophiles have two excellent reasons to visit here too: Joie de Livres, a rare book and art gallery and browser-friendly Johnnycake Books, both of which specialize in collectible volumes.

SEE A landmark in Salisbury is Lime Rock Park. Lime Rock is one of Salisbury’s “hamlets,” but don’t look for thatched cottages. Since 1956 the 1.5-mile track at Lime Rock Park has been a mainstay on the American racing circuit; it’s also where amateur drivers can drive and dream and (if they qualify) compete. The 2022 season will open on Memorial Day weekend with the Trans Am Classic and end with the 40th annual Historic Festival on Labor Day weekend.

STAY Ahem, the aforementioned White Hart Inn has 16 guest rooms so you can roll right into bed after a scrumptious meal on the property. Situated at church-steeple level, the Earl Grey B&B inhabits the historic Chittenden House, offering two spacious accommodations amidst extensive gardens and old specimen trees. Nearby Lakeville has two more options for a Litchfield stay: Wake Robin Inn, a hilltop perch with 28 rooms, and the more corporate Interlaken Inn.

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