Overview
Black Rock is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
2 things to do · 9 places to eat · 7 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Black Rock
Captain's Cove Seaport
A local seaport that has been a neighborhood tourist attraction since 1982. Perfect place for an afternoon or evening with the family. The small boardwalk has several gift shacks and shops no bigger than a walk-in-closet…
Showcase Cinemas: Bridgeport
One block away from Fairfield Avenue. Shows a wide variety of movies, perfect for any rainy day.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Aug. (climate data from nearby Waterbury)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HVN Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven — 19 mi away. Directions
- ISP Long Island MacArthur Airport, Islip — 26 mi away. Directions
- LGA LaGuardia Airport, New York — 43 mi away (major hub). Directions
Take I-95 South to exit 25. Take a left off of the exit onto Fairfield Avenue. Follow that road down about a mile to restaurant and bar area.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Captain's Cove Seaport
- Lunch Home On the Range
- Afternoon Showcase Cinemas: Bridgeport
- Dinner Harborview Market
- Evening Six Seven Tea Room
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Black Rock is a smaller division of the greater city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. It is a seaside community teeming with everyone from young families to retirees looking to settle in a beautiful waterfront home, without the costs of surrounding coastal towns. In the past several years Black Rock has established itself as the up and coming place to raise a family in Fairfield County. With two middle schools, a booming bar and restaurant area on Fairfield Avenue (fondly called The Avenue), and a community spirit that truly shines through neighborhood events and local support for members of the community, Black Rock will continue to grow and thrive.
Get in
By plane
- Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Located in Stratford, Connecticut about three miles from the central business district of Bridgeport, +1 203-576-8163, ext 283
By car
- From All Points North:
Take I-95 South to exit 25. Take a left off of the exit onto Fairfield Avenue. Follow that road down about a mile to restaurant and bar area.
- From New York:
Take I-95 North to exit 23. At the first light take a right onto Kings Highway. Follow Kings Highway to next light. At the light make a right onto Fairfield Avenue. Follow Fairfield Avenue down about a mile to restaurant and bar area.
By boat
- Bridgeport Ferry, +1 888-44-FERRY, Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry runs back and forth between Bridgeport, Connecticut and Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York. The ferry runs year round. Cars and pets are welcome aboard.
Get around
Black Rock is an excellent area for walking or biking and many locals can be seen getting around this way.
Car rental
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 370 North Avenue, Bridgeport, +1 203-367-2055
See
- Saint Mary’s by the Sea, A beautiful developed walkway along Long Island Sound—a perfect place for a run, a walk with the kids, or a place to read a good book. Bring binoculars to watch the various boats, ferries, and wildlife. Great views of local beaches and Black Rock Harbor, as well as the Fayerweather lighthouse built in 1808. At one end of the boardwalk there is a little beach where local fishermen can be found by the dozens.
- Ellsworth Field, Ellsworth Street. A centrally located public activities area complete with three baseball fields, two tennis courts, a playground, and a seasonal “snack shack”. During the spring and summer the field is teeming with t-ball players and snap-happy parents. Ellsworth field is also the location of Black Rock Day—a summertime festival complete with a neighborhood parade as well as food, drinks and live music.
Do
Do Captain's Cove Seaport
A local seaport that has been a neighborhood tourist attraction since 1982. Perfect place for an afternoon or evening with the family. The small boardwalk has several gift shacks and shops no bigger than a walk-in-closet. Each miniature shop is built in Colonial or Victorian style, making for a fairytale-like experience. Great for kids! Harbor cruise tours of Black Rock and Penfield lighthouses—said to be haunted by ghosts of former keepers—are available weekends from May through September. Great casual seafood restaurant on sight as well as an upstairs bar—perfect for watching the game—or a large outdoor porch great for looking out onto historic Black Rock Harbor. Live entertainment is usually the highlight of this attraction. Large outdoor deck area for dancing or outdoor dining. Live bands frequent this local hotspot. Expect a crowd that varies from young families to old sailors.
Do Showcase Cinemas: Bridgeport
One block away from Fairfield Avenue. Shows a wide variety of movies, perfect for any rainy day.
Buy
Shop Kip's Ski Shop
Year round shop offering a decent variety of skis, snowboards, and snow gear. Rentals are available.
Shop Day One Skate Shop & Artspace
A small shop around the corner from Fairfield Avenue that offers skateboards and gear as well as providing a local space for budding artists to demonstrate their work. Despite the daunting appearance of several skaters hanging out front, the shop takes pride in their contributions to the community and is highly involved in local art and skate events, as well as Black Rock Day.
Eat
Eat Home On the Range
A true home-style breakfast place, where a little love is scrambled into the eggs. Well-priced, memorable meals to start your day off right. Eating quarters are tight, but with the lighting and mismatched candy colored dishware, the feeling is of a cozy breakfast nook.
Eat Harborview Market
The heart of soul of the Black Rock neighborhood. If you are a local, expect to see at least ten familiar faces. If you’re new to the area, expect to be treated like a local. A casual deli and grill with a unique breakfast and lunch menu. Weekends are completely packed with the after-church crowd and local families. The best homemade chocolate-chip cookies you’ll find! Sunday mornings some local musicians keep the atmosphere cheery and upbeat and the outdoor dining area is quaint and comfortable.
Eat The Field
A warm and richly decorated restaurant with spacious dining area and full bar. The service can be slow at times, mainly due to the crowds generated by its reputation for great food and drinks and its ideal location on Black Rock Avenue.
Eat Ash Creek Saloon
A local neighborhood favorite, this Black Rock Avenue hotspot is always consistently busy. With a centrally located bar and western theme, the restaurant feels very warm and homey, despite its rather large size. The wait-staff is always friendly and regulars can be seen several nights a week. Voted “Best Ribs in Connecticut” by Connecticut Magazine, and “Weekly Best of Fairfield County Readers’ Poll 2009”. Worth a visit!
Eat Café Tavolini
Personal touches keep customers coming back to this memorable Black Rock Avenue newcomer. In its first year it earned Fairfield County’s “Best New Restaurant 2007”, “Best Italian Restaurant 2007” and “Most Romantic Restaurant 2007”. Interesting and innovative Italian menu items as well as $6 lunch specials. The food is very “mama’s kitchen” tasting but with an extremely romantic environment. Decorated in deep reds and rich golds and equipped with an outdoor lounge area and indoor bar, this Italian eatery is perfect for date night. Leave the kids at home for this one.
Eat Taco Loco
THE place for Margaritas! Not exactly the most scenic or spacious restaurant, but the food and drinks make it well-worth the street-side seats. Voted “#1 Best Mexican Restaurant 2009” and “#1 Best Margarita 2009”. Well-known for catering events and local business meetings. Fun, friendly environment that’s great for a night out.
Eat Bloodroot
A feminist vegetarian restaurant. Celebrating their 32nd year in Black Rock as an authentic and eccentric dining experience. The menu is displayed on a small chalkboard above a large window into the kitchen. Patrons place their order and are called up by name to pick up their food. The ceilings are lined with tapestries and vintage Indian blankets and the walls are covered with images of “strong women”, which can range from famous female poets and writers, to your very own grandmother. Cats wander around the restaurant and the grounds freely. Patrons bus their own tables when they are finished. A NY Times article calls Bloodroot “a salon for activists”. And although lively political conversation is usually only tables away and posters for animal and women’s rights are in clear view, most diners come for the unique and delicious food. The waterfront location is well-known for gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies and receptions. Definitely a unique experience!
Sweets
Eat Timothy's Ice Cream
Timothy's no longer uses the salt-and-ice churners that stand in the front window, but the ice cream made here remains classic. It is simple, sweet-but-not-too-sweet ice cream that draws quite the neighborhood crowd. Walking distances from tons of restaurants, it makes for the perfect dessert excursion.
Eat Helados Vazquez
A European-style gelatteria that has over 20 flavors of homemade gelato. Cash only. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 11:30AM - 10PM
Drink
Drink Six Seven Tea Room
This tea room—the size of a walk-in-closet—is eccentrically decorated and provides for a cozy tea experience. Homemade cupcakes and other sweets are available with your tea and tea leaves are ground and sifted at your table for you. Definitely a unique experience and a great spot to read a book on a cold winter day.
Drink The Acoustic Café
Small cafe tables, dim lighting, funky wall art, an intimate vibe, and a full bar make the Acoustic Cafe reminiscent of a NYC Greenwich Village night club. They present a wide variety of musical styles, from bluegrass to hip hop, so checking the website calendar on any given day is a must. Admission charge varies according to artists. Fairfield County’s Weekly Poll gave it "Best Place to Hear Local Music“, ”Best Open Mic" and "Best Place to Hear Alternative Music" in 2009.
Drink The Bitter End
No frills here! Great place for a laid-back beer, but city-slickers and high-heeled glamour girls looking for a martini may get a look or two. An older crowd gathers here and if you’re looking for a place to park your Harley, there’s always four or five out front. If you’re looking for a heavy rock, cloud of cigarette smoke type place, this is the place for you!
Drink The Field
At around ten o' clock the majority of the dinner tables are removed and the Field becomes THE bar in Black Rock. Often times, live bands set up in the main dining area which then becomes a dance floor. Great wine and mixed drinks. Come ready for a great time, but expect a young crowd and your ears to be ringing for a few hours following.
Drink Ash Creek Saloon
Wednesday nights are always packed for karaoke, a local favorite. The bar is centrally located within the restaurant, although space to move around can be a little tight. Live bands provide for a loud, concert-like experience, but the convenient Fairfield Avenue location and the no fuss bar menu keeps locals coming back for more.
Drink Lady Luck
Teased by locals as the “Ed Hardy Bar”, the vibrant, tattoo styling conveys an atmosphere of a bar that could be found on the New Jersey shore. The bar is usually packed with hair-gelled guys with a scantily-clad girl on their arm and the nightly DJ’s usually play the most popular rap and hip-hop music of the moment. The V.I.P. area can be reserved for parties or special events. Lady Luck most definitely gives you a more club-like experience.
Drink Snickering Squirrel Saloon
A more casual bar equipped with pool tables and video games and a full bar. Another hotspot for the younger crowd.
Sleep
Stay Best Western Black Rock Inn
Cutoff. Convenient location directly off I-95, minutes from Sacred Heart and Fairfield University campuses. Free high-speed internet in all rooms and complimentary continental breakfast. Children under 17 stay free! Pet-friendly! There is a fitness room on site. Located fifteen minutes from the Bridgeport Ferry.
Nearby
Bridgeport
City / town · 8 listings · 2 mi away
Fairfield
City / town · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Trumbull
City / town · 9 listings · 5 mi away
Stratford
City / town · 23 listings · 6 mi away
Westport
City / town · 1 listings · 7 mi away
Milford
City / town · 7 listings · 10 mi away
Norwalk
City / town · 23 listings · 11 mi away
Wilton
City / town · 33 listings · 11 mi away
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