Waterbury, CT Road Trips

Waterbury is the fifth most populous city in Connecticut (estimated at 110,000) and is historically known for the manufacturing of brass. This is reflected in the city's motto "Quid Aere Perennius?" ("What Is More Lasting Than Brass?") which is inscribed onto a marble frieze inside City Hall.

1 Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, ☏ +1 203-753-0381. The Waterbury area's more than 300-year history is chronicled here and the main gallery is devoted to exhibiting the works of Connecticut artists. Among the exhibits is a collection of over 15,000 buttons which was donated by the town's now-defunct Button Museum. The museum occupies the former Masonic Temple building on Waterbury's historic Green. (updated Jun 2019) 2 Waterbury City Hall, 135 Grand St. Designed by famous architect Cass Gilbert, the City Hall building on Grand Street opened in 1915. It underwent an extensive renovation that brought back the original splendor of this 90,000-sq ft "Georgian Revival Style" municipal jewel. The Chase Building across the street and other nearby buildings make up the Cass Gilbert Historic District (so designated in 1978), one of the only places in the world where a collection of the architect's buildings are within walking distance. (updated Jun 2019)

1 Palace Theater, 100 East Main St, ☏ +1 203-755-4700. The area's premier performance venue, the renovated Palace Theater opened in 1922 and boasts ornate domed ceilings and grand lobbies. Taking in this magnificent building is as much fun as the performance itself. (updated Jun 2019) 2 Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, 2132 Middlebury Rd, Middlebury (6 miles west of Waterbury off Hwy 64), ☏ +1 203-758-2913. Daily 11AM-8PM. Amusement and water park with coasters, waterslides, and views of Lake Quassapaug. $32.99 one park, $42.99 combo pass. For under 48 in., seniors (55̟+), and militaryː̩$27.99 one park, $37.99 combo pass. Parking ̩$10/car. (updated May 2025)

Waterbury is fortunate to have many great choices in restaurants. A sampling follows below: Frankie's Hot Dogs, 700 Watertown Avenue, ☏ +1 203-753-2426. A landmark in Waterbury since the Caiazzo Family opened it in 1933, Frankie's is the most famous hot dog joint in town. There are other franchised locations as well, but the Watertown Avenue site is the original. D'Amelio's Italian Eatery, 718 Highland Avenue, ☏ +1 203-573-1743. D'Amelio's, in the heavily Italian-American influenced Town Plot neighborhood, has a tasty and reasonably-priced lunch menu, traditional home-style Italian favorites, an extensive list of entrees, a nice bar, and friendly service. La Tavola Ristorante, 702 Highland Avenue, ☏ +1 203-755-2211. In the Town Plot neighborhood, La Tavola has established itself as one of the finest Italian restaurants in Connecticut. There's a lively bar crowd, and an extensive wine selection. You won't find their "Prosciutto Wrapped Gorgonzola Stuffed Figs" (or many other unique mouth-watering items) anywhere else. Diorio Restaurant and Bar, 231 Bank Street, ☏ +1 203-754-8866. Diorio's is a landmark restaurant in downtown Waterbury which opened in the 1920s. For years, it has been highly rated for its classic Italian cuisine. The old-school tile flooring, tin ceiling, mahogany bar, and colorful scenic murals on the mirror offer a glimpse into the past. Great choice for a power business lunch, or before or after a show at the Palace Theater.

Ború's Bar, 357 West Main Street, ☏ +1 203-596-0946. 12-2. Ború's Bar is one of the better Irish Bars in Waterbury. Young, inclusive atmosphere, quality beers and other drinks. Good burgers and steaks. Nice bartenders and folks in general are pleasant. 457 Lounge and Grill, 457 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT, ☏ +1 475-235-2287. Wing and burger bar.

1 Courtyard by Marriott, 63 Grand Street, ☏ +1 203-596-1000. (updated Nov 2019)

Waterbury is at the junction of two major highways: Interstate 84 (east-west) and Connecticut Route 8 (north-south). It is in Central Western Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River. Major Connecticut cities within a 35 minute drive include: Hartford and New Britain to the east, Danbury to the west (all three of which are located on I-84), New Haven to the south (via Connecticut routes 63 or 69), Bridgeport to the south (via Route 8), Torrington to the north (via Route 8), and Meriden to the east (via I-84 to I-691). 1 Waterbury train station is on the Metro-North rail line which connects Waterbury to the train stations of several Naugatuck Valley towns to the south. Through connections at Bridgeport, MTA trains lead to coastal "Shoreline East" stations (to the east) and to Fairfield County stations (to the west) that terminate at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Waterbury is served by inter-city bus lines, and also has a fairly extensive local bus system, which provides service into the late evening. You can catch a bus at the Waterbury Green or from many other places in town. There are also cab services.