TRAVEL GUIDE | CABANA TRAVEL | WORLD OF CABANA

 

A longtime style editor turned interior designer, Jane Keltner de Valle - one half of Studio Giancarlo Valle and co-founder of CASA VALLE and Paloroma - shares a personal insider's guide to Connecticut: a quietly cultured corner of New England filled with lobster rolls, antique treasures, and modernist design secrets.

 

BY JANE KELTNER DE VALLE | CABANA TRAVEL | 18 APRIL

 

My Favorite Place to Stay: Mayflower Inn

It doesn’t get more quintessential New England than the Mayflower Inn. It’s tucked away in the bucolic rolling hills of Washington.The spa and restaurant are excellent. We love dining outside on the terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens.

My Favorite Restaurant: Westshore Seafood

During the warmer months, we lean toward casual, al fresco dining. Westshore Seafood is a favorite local haunt for Maine-style lobster rolls and raw oysters at roadside picnic tables. It’s our tradition to head down the road to Arethusa Dairy for ice cream after.

My Favorite Cozy Pub or Bar: GW Tavern

I love GW Tavern, in the bar room, for classic New England pub fare. It’s a kid-friendly place and always buzzing with locals.

 

 

My Favorite Coffee Shop or Café: Arethusa a Mano

Here, everything is homemade down to the cream cheese! Arethusa was founded by the late George Malkemus when he was the president of Manolo Blahnik and has become a beloved landmark in the area. The cafe is the perfect spot for lazy weekend mornings. There’s also an ice cream shop and fine dining restaurant across the street.

My Favorite Antique Store: Michael Trapp in Cornwall

Michael Trapp in Cornwall is a treasure trove of antiques, vintage rugs, and objets d’art.

My Favorite Shop: Guy Wolff Pottery

I go to Guy Wolff for planters and the best stories about Marcel Breuer, who was his uncle, and Alexander Calder, whose grandson Sandy Rower he grew up with. 

My Favourite Park or Green Space: The boardwalk at White Memorial

A long, winding loop surrounded by constalks, marsh, and blue sky—it looks like a painting. Lake Waramaug is another picturesque summertime spot.

 

 

My Favorite Hidden Treasure: Belden House and Mews

Our dear friends, Charlie and Anthony Champalimaud of Troutbeck, just converted an 1800s mansion into the most divine hotel called Belden House and Mews. It’s in the Litchfield historic district a short walk from town, and beautifully pays homage to the rich history of the area while simultaneously ushering in a new era. 

My Favorite Thing to Do: Drive-in Cinema

There’s an old-school drive-in movie theater in Amenia called Four Brothers. You can watch a film under the stars, with popcorn, candy and cocktails delivered to your car. 

My Favorite Place of Architectural Interest The Calder Estate

It’s private property so you can’t go in, but there’s no better roadside voyeurism—the lawn is a virtual sculpture park. There is a whole history of modern art, architecture, and design in the area, including a handful of Marcel Breuer homes. Our friends live in one with a poolside Calder mural. The dichotomy of modernism and Colonial is really unique and special. Breuer’s Bohemia wonderfully documents some of this history.

 

Join the Cabana family

×