New London County is comprised of several cities and straddles the Thames River directly in the middle of Boston and New York City. There are some great bars in the area and picking the top three is no easy task. Taking many things into consideration such as location, menu, and atmosphere this list is compiled to provide a look into the bar scene present in New London, CT.
1)Hanafin’s Irish Pub – This bar is located at 310 State Street right in down town New London (06320). Offering a full menu including traditional Irish fare such as Bangers and Mash or Guinness Beef Stew this bar has you covered in the hunger department. The beers on tap number around 20 with all the favorites available. Hanafins is known for the live music every weekend featuring many local bands as well as out of town bands. There is a trivia night and a popular game called Drinko on Wednesday s.
The crowd tends to be younger with the close proximity of a few colleges such as Connecticut College, Mitchell College, and the Coast Guard Academy. There are some dartboards and several active leagues throughout the year. The owner and his sons run the place and the atmosphere is top notch with beautiful woodwork throughout the bar. A must visit if you are visiting and a staple if you live in the area, Hanafin’s Irish Pub http://www.hanafinspub.com/ is the best bar in New London County.
2) Legends Rock Bar – A bar known for the heavy metal and other venues. The owner loves live music and caters to what his customer’s want. A list of bands and events are kept up to date on their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/legendsrockbar. Legends Rock Bar is located at 1598 CT-12 Gales Ferry, CT 06335. There is a pool table, a dart board, and a nice stage with many upgrades.
The best time to visit this bar is in the summer where outside there is a horseshoe pit and a volleyball net. The bar also offers a full menu with typical bar food and excellent wings. There are ample TVs to follow sports during the respective seasons. The owner frequents the bar and ensures a lively atmosphere is present while keeping the place safe and fun.
3) Dutch Tavern – A small hole in the wall bar once frequented by Eugene O’Neil the playwright. While there is not much room and the bar the atmosphere is pure New London. Located at 23 Green Street downtown New London the lunch is decent during the days. Stop by for a famous tuna melt @ $3.15 and a pint of beer. Watch the game at night or gather some conversation. The charm of this place is unmistakable and the people who frequent the bar are the best that New London has to offer.
The website is http://www.dutch-tavern.com/site/Welcome.html and the stories are just as great as the people you meet. Order a Schaefer’s and play a little pinball to absorb the ambience.
