What do traditional traffic cops, award winning chefs, waterfront hotels and bars, high-end stores, classic car collections, and pop and contemporary artists all have in common? They can all be found on Greenwich Avenue.
Experience the Rodeo Drive of the East: Greenwich Avenue. The town of Greenwich has a few main streets, but one reigns among all–Greenwich Avenue, or what us locals refer to as just ‘The Ave.’ It has been called by some the Rodeo Drive of the East in terms of the shops you will find mixed with its high-end and casual dining options. While the shopping may be a bit more on the expensive and upscale side, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the Ave. There are a few specialty designer brands and fast fashion stores accessible to all and dining is on par with New York City, making it an enjoyable mid-day activity and the perfect place to people and car watch.
History of Greenwich Avenue
Before becoming the glamorous social strip it is today, Greenwich Avenue way back in the 1700s was actually a cow path down to the sea. After the railroad was built people began to see the charm of Greenwich and began building houses near Greenwich Avenue. The town started to become popular and several mom and pop stores developed. Over the years, Greenwich Avenue saw many fires (common in those days) and army recruitment drives during WWI, but it was really First Selectman Wilbur Peck who began the transformation of Greenwich into what it is today. In 1932 he completely gutted Greenwich Avenue transforming it into a pedestrian walkway. In the 1970s, corporate chains began to take over mom and pop stores developing into the social space you see today.
Quick Note: Where to Stay in Greenwich, CT?
As a local, there are 2 areas I would recommend to stay in Greenwich. One is next to Greenwich Avenue. This will allow you the flexibility to go out for drinks or to eat during any time of the day, go shopping, head out to the island beaches at the bottom of the avenue, or even take the train to any of the other Greenwich neighborhoods. If you find yourself near Greenwich Avenue, you are in the center of the action. If you choose to stay on the Ave, there are 3 different options, each very unique from the other. I would’ve recommended the historic Thomas Henkelmann in Belle Haven at #1, but it’s closed for restoration unfortunately. So right after Henkelmann, we have:
The second area I would recommend you stay in is Old Greenwich, which is walking and biking distance to Tod’s Point. Finding properties here is much harder, but the benefit is that you’re right on the water.
Shopping on Greenwich Avenue
High-end Shops
Shops you typically see on the Avenue include Tiffany & Co., Kate Spade, Hermes, Free People, Peserico, Joie, alice + olivia, Brooks Brothers, Tory Burch, Baccarat, Vineyard Vines (of course), Stuart Weitzman, and the list goes on.
High-end Department Stores and Jewelry Shops
For those who want the full blown curated experience, Greenwich has many high-end department stores such as Betteridge, Richards, Saks, and Shreve, Crump & Low.
Fast Fashion, Boutique Shops, and Consignment Stores
Of course there are also a few more affordable stores such as Ruby and Jenna, Brandy Melville, Zara, and Cos alongside some consignment shops worth stopping into like COUTUREDossier, Roundabout Designer Closeouts, and Consigned Designs to name a few. You’ll find nothing but high-end second hand items at these consignment shops and sometimes at a good bargain price! Other notable stores include boutiques such as Out of the Box and Great Stuff that have a collection of curated items.
Eating on Greenwich Avenue
There is no shortage of amazing places to eat when on the Ave. To this day, I have not eaten at one place I have not liked (I kid you not). The quality of the food, like the shopping, is of the best. I won’t name them all because that would spoil the fun of you uncovering them for yourself, but here are a few to get you started.
Fine Dining
L’Escale, which is part of the Delamar hotel, is the place to go for French fine dining on the waterfront. It’s located at the end of the Ave directly on the water. Order a bottle of their house rosé, their famed chicken paillard, and coveted crème brûlée. You won’t be disappointed.
Mediterraneo is known for their fresh seafood dishes, which can be enjoyed while people watching on the Ave from their seasonal patio. While the seafood is amazing, I have to admit that my go to splurge is their Wagyu burger. For those who don’t know, Wagyu is a highly coveted and very expensive Japanese beef. The burger cost almost $30, but it was worth every single penny. Not only was the meat tender and buttery soft, but it was healthy too. How you ask? Wagyu beef has the lowest cholesterol levels of all meats, even lower than fish or chicken, and it contains oleic acid which is considered good for your heart. It’s also believed to have anti-carcinogenic properties…I’m sold, anyone else?
Moli, an upscale Chinese-esque type restaurant, is located in an old Greenwich bank and has restored all the stunning architecture. The place reminds me of La Cathedrale in New York, but more open and airy. Other notable places include Terra, Back 40 Kitchen, and East End to name a few.
Casual Dining
When it comes to casual dining, their are plenty of international options down the Ave. Notice how I say down the Ave because it’s a one way street that only goes one way, and that’s down. You can stop for juices, crepes, and sandwiches at popular Meli-Melo Creperie, grab an amazing Italian panini to go from Paesano’s or stop next door at their sister restaurant for some amazing personal pizzas from Doppio. If you’re craving Asian, Steam is your go to for dumplings and dim sum and you can head to Abis if you’re looking for a show at a Japanese steakhouse.
Cafes and Ice Cream
I think if I had to choose a meeting spot for coffee or a hot chocolate and a chill cafe vibe, it would be CFCF Coffee Roasters. The cafe has a huge on-site coffee roaster proving that the coffee is as fresh and authentic as it gets. Every couple of hours one of the staff fills the large roaster with coffee beans and you watch as they get grounded, the smell of freshly ground beans permeating the room making for a super cozy feel. They also serve some amazing Italian paninis for lunch that are worth trying.
If you’re looking for gelato, not ice cream but gelato, the real deal comes at a price–about $6 for 2 scoops in a waffle cone. La Fenice is a small Italian gelateria that serves freshly made gelato, a few Italian pastries, and drinks. The Italian owner doesn’t share how they make their homemade gelato and waffle cones, but they learned from some of the best in the industry back in Rimini, Italy. Our favorite flavor is Stracciatella, a milk-based ice cream with irregular shavings of chocolate. This flavor is not easily found in the U.S., but is very common in Italy.
If you’re looking for something a bit more mainstream, Le Pain is always a good choice. It has plenty of indoor seating and good food. There is also a wonderful vegan bakery located at the top of the Avenue called By The Way Bakery, which makes excellent cold brew as well.
Art Galleries on Greenwich Avenue
There are a number of art galleries on the Avenue that rotate on a regular basis with cool artwork. Samuel Owen Gallery, C. Parker Gallery, and Weber Fine Art to name a few. The exhibits are fun beyond belief, think classic art repurposed with a contemporary twist, pop, street art, vivid colors, and culturally significant themes, classic works, and artists such as Andy Warhol, Barbara Segal, Benjamin Thomas Taylor, Taher Jaoui. I think Greenwich Avenue’s art galleries lean towards pop art, which what makes them so fun and relevant.
Luxury Experiences on Greenwich Avenue
For the longest time I would wait as long as I could to get my nails done because I wanted to get them done at Cozy Nails. Hidden behind CVS, this nail salon is not only top notch and serves some of the best nail salon service in the area, but also affordable. The staff goes above and beyond offering many long complimentary massages during the service, you never feel unattended. The staff is incredibly friendly and offers water, tea, and drinks so you can unwind during your service. All for the price of $12 for a manicure and $25 for a pedicure.
There are plenty of high end hair salons on the Avenue as well, but they can cost you half a months rent. Around $600 for color and a cut. Some offer spa services as well, but for those that don’t, there are plenty of other spa places to try out.
You may think that car watching sounds boring, but I promise you it’s an actual enjoyable activity in Greenwich. You’ll see people stop and take pictures or admire a nice car about every 40 feet. You’ll come across some very nice and expensive cars from the Bentley, Porsche, Maserati, Ferrari family, and see my personal favorite–classic car collections–come down the Avenue.
>> Next: What to Do at Greenwich Point Beach, Tod’s Point
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