Our stay at the Historic Griswold Inn

Location: Essex, Connecticut

The Griswold Inn opened in 1776 and continues to welcome guests today, making it one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the country.

I have a deep love for old historic hotels. I am wooed by the quirky shaped rooms, the wallpaper and the wide floor boards. I don’t want a credit card door entry. Hand me a big old brass key and I am blushing.

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Checking into the Griswold Inn

The walls were adorned with framed pictures of old ships. All of the beautiful neutrals blended seamlessly into each other. Ah, I am fanning myself just thinking about it.

My son and I booked a standard twin room that looked over the main street. Our antique spindle beds stood so tall that they required wooden step stools for climbing into them.

It took me back to childhood days at my Great Grandmother’s house where we had to run and jump to get into the beds.

As we were sitting in our room, we heard drums and fifes outside. Wait, did we actually just go back in time?

We ran outside to find the Sailing Masters of 1812 marching down Main Street in full regalia, stopping right in front of the inn for an impromptu performance.

This fife and drum corps carries on the traditions of the War of 1812. We felt so lucky to stumble upon it.

One of the best things about the Griswold Inn, or “the Gris” as locals refer to it, is the central location. We could walk to all of the main attractions in Essex right from the inn.

There is a quaint little coffee shop right across the street as well as Sweet P’s delicious ice cream. My son was over the moon that he could walk to a toy store.

Historic Dining at the Griswold Inn

We visited during the busy weekend of the Connecticut Spring Boat Show. Even though both the indoor and outdoor seating at the tavern were fully booked, a wonderful hostess found a way to squeeze us in at a table.

Eating at the tavern was an experience in itself. The dimly lit room glowed with oil lanterns on each table, while Revolutionary War-era rifles lined the walls alongside framed scrolls filled with elegant script. Massive fireplaces stood around every corner, a reminder of when they were the tavern’s primary source of heat.

You could just picture soldiers clinking their pewter mugs of ale together and sloshing it on the floor, shouting about a revolution. George Washington was actually rumored to have been one of those people.

After our meal, we wandered down to the waterfront. A mute swan glided across the Connecticut River as the sun set, and the whole scene felt completely idyllic.

There were no televisions in the rooms, which only added to the atmosphere. As with many historic hotels, the floors are not well insulated, so rooms above the dining room can be a bit noisy. It felt like a fair trade, though, since we loved looking out over Main Street and watching everything happening below.

In the morning, we were treated to a lovely continental breakfast and hot coffee.

The Griswold Inn also offers a fantastic family cottage located just across the street. This two story standalone building features two queen beds, a pull out loveseat, two bathrooms, and a fireplace, making it a great option for larger families.

I will be honest, I came out to Essex for the inn. But I quickly fell in love with this dreamy little sea side town. The Griswold Inn is worth the trip in and of itself. I loved it so much that I returned soon after for a romantic night there with my husband.

I can’t wait to return with the rest of the family and stay in the family cottage. With Mystic just 30 minutes down the road, there is so much to do in the area. If you want to keep exploring, check out our guide to the best things to do in Mystic.