Greenwich (Connecticut)

Greenwich is divided into several neighborhoods, including Byram, Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, and Glenville. The town is part of the New York Metropolitan Area, and it's home to a number of sleek office buildings full of hedge funds and holding companies that presumably benefit from being so close to the city.

The neighborhood of Greenwich consists of the central business district and the famous main drag, Greenwich Avenue. Here you will find stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple and Hermès.

The Post Road, Boston Post Road, West Putnam Avenue, and East Putnam Avenue all refer to the same road: US Route 1.

Greenwich is a sister city with Kitzbühel, Austria; Vienne, France; Hangzhou, China; and Nacka, Sweden.

• 🌍 Putnam Cottage, 243 East Putnam Avenue (United States Route 1), ☏ +1 203 869-9697. The name of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam became associated with the house as it was the scene of his daring and historic ride down a steep slope, now known as Put's Hill, with the redcoats in hot pursuit. This historic scene is depicted in the seal of the Town of Greenwich and the name of Putnam is found throughout the State of Connecticut. Putnam Cottage is maintained as a Revolutionary Era tavern museum open to the public, and a location for historical reenactments. (updated May 2029)
• 🌍 Bush-Holley House, 39 Strickland Road, ☏ +1 203 869-6899. A National Historic Landmark in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich, Connecticut. It was constructed circa 1730 and in the late 19th century was a boarding house and the center of the Cos Cob Art Colony. It is operated by the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich. Bush-Holley Historic Site features the circa 1730 Bush-Holley House, home of Connecticut’s first art colony. From 1890 to 1920, the house was run as a boarding house and was a gathering place for artists, writers and editors. Scores of art students came to study with leading American Impressionists John Henry Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, Theodore Robinson and Childe Hassam. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. 
• 🌍 Bruce Museum of Arts and Science, 1 Museum Drive, ☏ +1 203 869-0376, info@brucemuseum.org. Established in 1912, a town-owned institution with sections devoted to art and natural history. 
• Horseneck Brook. The site where Major General Israel Putnam escaped from the redcoats on horseback. 

Shopping on Greenwich Avenue is expensive, but quite a unique experience. There are a number of upscale stores, particularly along Greenwich Ave. which will help relieve you of great amounts of money, the largest being Saks Fifth Avenue.

Greenwich offers various types of cuisines, including Italian, French, Thai, and more. Eateries in town run the gamut from fast food chains, such as McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell, and other inexpensive options - at Chicken Joe's, a take-out venue and home of the famous "High School Special" (235 East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob. Hurry though, it closes very early!), a full meal can be had for $3, and be sure to try their special spicing - to mid-range and upscale restaurants.

One popular dining option in town is pizza. Pizzerias of note are Arcurri's, Planet Pizza, Glenville Pizza, Pizza Factory, and Pizza Post. For a wider selection of Italian-style cuisine, there are restaurants such as Bella Nonna and Terra Ristorante Italiano.

Asian restaurants are in abundance in Greenwich in every price range. For those seeking Chinese food, there are take-out options, such as Yangtze Riverside Restaurant. Moderately-priced Chinese restaurants include Hunan Cafe and Hunan Gourmet. Other Asian cuisines are available in Greenwich, as well. Asiana Cafe and Penang Grill in Central Greenwich offer pan-Asian cuisine and Abis which offers Japanese food in both traditional and Hibachi style. Little Thai Kitchen, in Byram, offers authentic Thai food at reasonable prices, and was reviewed favorably in The New York Times. These are but a sampling of the wide array available - perusal of a restaurant guide, such as Zagat's, will offer more information.

For those seeking a more refined dining experience, Greenwich boasts many upscale eateries. One is Restaurant Jean-Louis, home to award-winning French chef Jean-Louis Gerin, 2006 recipient of the "Best Chef in Northeast America" distinction from the James Beard Foundation. Other high class restaurants include the Homestead Inn which offers a wonderful setting and Rebecca's in Glenville where you get a mondain almost European feel with delicious food, wine and service.

• 🌍 Falafel Taco Greenwich, 28 Greenwich Avenue, ☏ +1 203 485-0088, eatgreenwich@falafel-taco.com. Israeli-Mexican fusion, with combinations like falafel with salsa on a tortilla or pita. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. (updated Dec 2022)

Alcohol is of course available in many restaurants at all hours, however the only dedicated bar in town is called Taboo located on Railroad Ave. across from the Train Station. As Connecticut is a state with Blue laws there is a restriction on the sale of alcohol; Alcohol is not sold after 9 PM on Saturdays or on Sundays, if you want to buy some during this time, you can head right across the border to Wesscon (plain sign on an island right across for the Carvel) on Sundays until six or to an all-night gas station in Port Chester.

• L'Escale, 500 Steamboat Rd.. Save all other restaurants in the town, this is by far the most notorious from all aspects! It is not unusual to find members of the town's elite frequenting this chic establishment every night of the week! Members of the finance community from as far away as New Jersey regularly venture to this venue for A+ food and other spoils. Formerly the site of the Showboat Motel, the "skandalist" reputation of its predecessor unofficially lives on (i.e., high-class escorts are a frequent site). The bottom line is, it is worth every minute and every dollar for any occasion! 
• 🌍 Gregorys Coffee, 342 Greenwich Avenue. Popular, comfortable coffee shop, a branch of a mostly Manhattan-based local chain. Also offers breakfast including delicious vegan sandwiches. (updated Dec 2022)

• Travelers with larger budgets might consider the upscale Delamar Greenwich Harbor hotel, the Hyatt Regency, or the JHouse.
• Hyatt Regency Greenwich, 1800 East Putnam Avenue, ☏ +1-203-637-1234. 
• NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Stanton House Inn, 76 Maple Avenue, ☏ +1 203 869-2110, info@stantonhouseinn.com. One of only two remaining bed and breakfasts in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Stanton House Inn is within walking distance of Greenwich Avenue. 185. (updated Oct 2017)

• The Town of Greenwich has a website with quite a of information.

Greenwich is probably one of the safest towns in America with crime rates well below the state and national levels. In fact you can walk around all night and feel completely assured that nothing bad is likely to happen except possibly tripping on a root.

That said, it would be wise to walk on the side of roads even on quiet side streets as many teenagers tend to enjoy speeding down them.

Also, an overprotective police force is a problem. As Greenwich has a pretty low crime rate, bored police officers like to bust people for minor traffic violations just to keep themselves busy. Stay calm and pay the fine, getting excited about the injustice of the situation will only lead to more problems. Also, if you are any other race beside white or dress in a "hip hop" manner, expect extra police attention.

To the east is the Town and City of Stamford, which is right next door to Greenwich. There you can find the Stamford Town Center Mall and the attached Landmark Square Multiplex. To the west is the village of Port Chester, New York, which is home to a sizable movie theatre (16 auditoriums).