Matthew & Stephen
Things To Do
The Charles
If you're looking for a great meal, this is the place to go. Located right in Old Wethersfield, The Charles has been awarded numerous times since its opening as one of the best restaurants in the area. And if you're a fan of bourbon, make sure you try their "Beast of Bourbon" cocktail. It's Matt's favorite!
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre
A bit of an eclectic mix of seed store, farmstand, bakery, coffee shop and restaurant, Heirloom Market is one of our absolute favorite places in Wethersfield. During the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, they will be having their annual "Spring Fest" featuring many local artisans and vendors. And if you are looking for a breakfast option before the wedding festivities begin on Sunday, consider coming here to grab a breakfast sandwich or burrito, a cinnamon roll or muffin and some delicious coffee. And don't forget to grab a sea salt chocolate chunk cookie. We may be biased, but they're the best!
Urban Lodge Brewing Co.
Our first date spot! We chose this brewery because it has an amazing patio, and as it was during the peak of COVID in early 2021, a great outdoor spot was crucial! Another spot on our trivia rotation (this time on Thursdays), we love Urban Lodge for their great beer, dog-friendly space (indoor and out) and truly fantastic patio. They also have live music and other events, so check out their website to see if anything fun is happening while you're here! Note - Urban Lodge is in Manchester, so this could be a good spot before the welcome party on Saturday, which is also in Manchester!
Mystic
If you're looking for a longer adventure, consider heading down to Mystic to explore the historic village! Mystic is filled with awesome restaurants, bakeries, shops and more. We are more than happy to provide more specific suggestions about what we'd do there, but suffice it to say it will include stops at Bank & Bridge brewing, Sift Bakery and Bank Square Books. And while grabbing a slice at Mystic Pizza may sound enticing, you can skip it - there's much better pizza to be had elsewhere around the state!
Conspiracy
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Middletown (about 15 minutes away from Wethersfield/Glastonbury). Fun fact - Steve had them make up a special menu of three of our favorite cocktails when we got engaged, and we celebrated with our friends and family here! Look for the marquee at the address, and go in the door directly to the right of it, and up the stairs. They have super fun and creative cocktails, from riffs on the traditional options to completely wild creations for the brave among us. Middletown also has some excellent restaurants nearby if you want to make an evening or afternoon of it and grab lunch or dinner. We'd be happy to give a recommendation of options in that area if you're interested!
Parkville Market
Food hall with tons of different options - one of our favorites is Las Tortas MX - get every taco they offer! But come with an appetite, it's worth wandering and trying a little something from as many of the counters as you can! And check out any of their bars to try some local beers, they usually have a great selection!
Sleeping Giant State Park
For those wanting to get outdoors and get active, we suggest heading to Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, about a 40 minute drive down I-91 from Wethersfield. Tons of trails to choose from of differing levels of difficulty, and at the top there is a beautiful stone observation tower! And afterwards, head into New Haven to replenish all those calories you burned with some delicious pizza (or apizza as the locals call it) - Modern is Steve's favorite!
Five Churches Brewing
One of our favorite local breweries, and also a go-to spot for trivia (Monday nights if you're staying through Memorial Day!) Make sure to try their milkshake IPAs, they'll usually have at least one or two wacky flavors on tap (such as Thin Mint, chocolate chip cookie or blueberry pancakes). For any gluten free folks, they have an extensive selection of gluten free beers! And if you're hungry, don't miss their pizza - even New Haven native Steve thinks it's great!
