RUSTIC CAFE

The Rustic Cafe has been a landmark on Route 1 in East Lyme for over 70 years! It has been a restaurant, dance hall, a wine bar, a local watering hole, and continues to be one of the greatest "little secrets" to all of those whom have visited this tiny bar on their way to or from the shoreline... Built in 1947 as the Rustic Inn, it was a large restaurant, bar and dance hall. It was known to have the likes of Frank Sinatra stop by for evenings out. After a devastating fire in the mid '60's, it was rebuilt in 1969 to its present, cozy size and renamed the Rustic Café. It had a brief stint as the wine bar the Fiddleleaf Inn, but was brought back to its roots in 2007. Now eccentric locals and summer tourists alike enjoy the freshest seafood, tastiest ribs and renowned hamburgers paired with delicious beer and cocktails in an open wood-beam atmosphere under the original iconic sign.

Primary location: East Lyme United States