When you first think of New Haven, your mind likely goes to one place: Yale. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that Yale comes to mind before you think of the town in which it’s located. And that’s ok – there’s arguably no more prestigious school for a town to be singularly associated with. But New Haven itself has certainly developed its own unique identity, while also embracing its hometown Ivy League school, and that unique combination definitely makes it worth a visit and one of our favorite college towns.
Where to Stay: Hotel Marcel
You might not guess that the Hotel Marcel actually is a hotel when you drive by it – it looks like an older office building with unique architecture, but an office building nevertheless. That’s for good reason: it was an office building in the 60’s. Now, it’s been retrofitted into a mid-century modern boutique hotel that is remarkably environmentally friendly, and ranks as one of the better hotels we’ve stayed in.
The decor perfectly sets the tone, and candidly, it’s tough to think of such a standout hotel in a city that isn’t a metropolis. The hotel’s standard onsite restaurant is one of the higher-rated restaurants in town (it serves a high-end, but perfectly adequate breakfast each morning), but the story of the hotel and the efforts to go beyond standard hotel environmental practices further emphasize the point. The Hotel Marcel surprised in the absolute best of ways.
Where to Eat: Encore by Goodfellas
In the spirit of New Haven being a college town, you might expect a local dive-type pizza place or burger joint here, but Encore is the type of high-end Italian fare that you should go out of your way to seek out when it’s available.
I stuck with the classic orecchiette bolognese, and it was all you’d hope for in a standard – high-quality ingredients and excellent execution. For dessert, I tried both the Goodfella’s ‘Cupcake’ and the Amaretto Cheesecake, and both were top quality desserts – unique takes on standard desserts that were both worth your time. Add an extensive wine list and some excellent live music to set the upscale Italian mood, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better restaurant in New Haven.
What to Do: Visit Yale
Ok, this one likely isn’t a shocker – New Haven is a great city with its own identity outside of the Ivy League school within it… but it’s Yale. The second you set foot on campus, you feel the aura that it all its own. Taking a stroll around campus isn’t often an activity that stands out in a town, but it couldn’t be more worth it. The architecture of each building carries a gravitas that matches the oldest and most historic of national landmarks. Don’t get me wrong, simply visiting isn’t anywhere near the actual experience of attending an Ivy League school, but you feel the prestige the second you set foot on campus. It’s an experience that is completely unique to the school, and is worth taking the time for.
New Haven stands out as the quintessential northeastern college town – replete with the history and charm that you mentally picture when you think of New England. Beyond that, though, you’ll find a town with a well-developed identity that complements, but stands alone from the school that it’s most commonly known for. You may visit New Haven for Yale, but you’ll leave with an appreciation for the rest of the town, too!
