5 Must-Do Spring Activities
in New Haven

Cherry Blossom in Wooster Square

A short walk from New Haven Green is Wooster Square, home of the famous traditional pizzerias, Pepe’s and Sally’s. A popular location all year around, Wooster Square isn’t only known for its Italian routes. Every spring, locals and tourists flock to Wooster Square’s Park to marvel at its stunning cherry blossom.

Every year (apart from 2020 and 2021), there is a cherry blossom festival that commemorates the planting of 72 Yoshino Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in 1973. It’s become a very popular event that hosts thousands of visitors each year with live music and great food. This year it’s a bit different due to social distancing concerns but it’s still going to be awesome! Be there on April 24th, 2022 from Noon until 4:30!

Festival or not, you should still take a stroll over to the park around mid to late April and really capture the blossom in full bloom. It’s even included in National Geographic’s list of “Best places to see cherry blossoms in the US”. Mark it in your calendar, remember to fully charge your phone or bring a camera, and why not grab a pizza while you’re over there?

Enjoy a spot of outdoor dining

Downtown New Haven is known year-round for its dining options. With the milder weather returning, outdoor dining is back on the menu and as we continue to social distance and keep safe, an element of normalcy is returning thanks to spring!

Whether it’s a morning coffee and a catch up with friends or a birthday dinner and cocktails, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants available with outdoor seating. My outdoor dining recommendations include:

Cafes

• Maison Mathis (By Broadway’s Shops at Yale)
• Orchard Café on the Green (enter through New Haven Public Library and sit on the terrace)
• G Café Bakery (Public seating on Orange Street)

Brunch

• Union League Café (Chapel Street with outdoor dining behind building)
• Claire’s Corner Copia (Chapel Street)
• South Bay (Mediterranean on College Street)

Dinner

• Geronimo (Mexican on Crown Street)
• Sherkaan Indian Street Food (Broadway)
• The Trinity Bar & Restaurant (Irish pub on Orange Street)
• Pacifico (Latin American on College Street)

Cocktails

• Elm City Social (on College Street)
• Geronimo (Again! amazing food and drinks)

Vintage and Boutique Shopping Downtown

Although spring is the time to tidy and clean, it’s also the time to refresh and renew! There are some vibrant and quirky independent shops downtown full of hidden treasures for your apartment and for your closet! Whether you’re into all things vintage or looking for something unique, New Haven has the stores for you.

One of my favorite stores to explore is EBM Vintage on Chapel Street. It’s a few steps from New Haven Green and is filled with houseware, fabrics, furnishings, clothes and some impressive house plants. Their vintage clothing area is called Civvies Vintage and specializes in clothing from 1900s through 1970s.

For second-hand books and a cup of coffee, check out Book Trader Café and spend hours looking through their towering shelves that are filled to the brim! There are more independent stores up Chapel Street including Merwin’s Art Stop and Dwell New Haven to browse on a sunny weekend.

Enjoy the delights that New Haven has to offer this spring. Get outdoors, meet up with friends and explore some of city’s hidden gems!