50+ Litchfield Magazine Reader’s Choice 2024 Winners

Litchfield Magazine 2024 Reader's Choice Awards More than 50 Litchfield people and businesses won awards in Litchfield Magazine’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Contest, published in this Best of Litchfield County issue.

That impressive total includes nearly 20 first-place winners. The Spa at Litchfield Hills led the local winners with a total of five awards, including several first-place awards. See Litchfield’s winners below and the full list online at Litchfield Magazine.

Best Restaurant

Arethusa al Tavolo

Chef Dan Magill focuses on inventive entrees with local ingredients in a chic setting.

Restaurant – Burger

The Village Restaurant

Offers a cheeseburger platter, a black bean burger, and a beyond burger.

Restaurant – Fine Dining

1^st Place: Arethusa al tavolo

Innovative impeccably prepared farm-to-table menu that celebrates the products of the Arethusa Dairy Farm.

Restaurant – New Restaurant

Clubhouse Provisions

Newly renovated interior clubhouse serving Modern American cuisine blended with French & Korean influences, along with classic golf fare.

Bakery

1^st place: Bantam Bread

Still living up to their mantra “from scratch, by hand, all natural after 25 years,” and produces some of the best artisan breads, fruit crostatas, and a variety of desserts.

The Bakehouse

Offers the finest array of breads, cakes, scones, and cookies.

Café

1^st Place: Toast & Co.

Litchfield County’s Toast & Co serves up delicious fresh brewed coffee, including their house roast, a customized two bean blend called Rain Forest Alliance Bold—smooth, delicious, and a customer favorite. Enjoy a comfy spot outside or indoors while sipping on their coffee or espresso.

Caterer

1^st Place: Meraki

Meraki offers a delicious variety of salads, including vegan, dairy free, nut free, gluten free and sugar free. They have fresh baked goods every day with muffins, scones, coffee cakes, and breads. For breakfast they offer local egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, hash bowls, and more. Their lunch menu is available all day.

Cocktails

1^st Place: Marketplace Tavern in the Old Litchfield Jail

The restaurant is in the oldest public building in Litchfield featuring “American tavern food” with craft beers and cocktails made with local spirits.

@ the Corner

Located in the heart of Litchfield, @ the Corner serves craft beer, cocktails, and artisanal food.

Distillery

1^st Place: Litchfield Distillery

Newly expanded, fine craft spirits are distilled one batch at a time. Tours and tastings are conducted seven days a week alongside a convenient retail outlet.

Wine Store

Village Wine Cellar

Providing wine, liquor and beer to the Litchfield community since 1982.

Antiques Shop

Housatonic Trading Company

Antiques, fine art, home furnishings, objets d’art, and other finds.

Auto Dealership

1^st Place: Litchfield Ford

Carries a wide range of used and pre-owned vehicles from Ford to other top makers.

Barber

2. Byrdeman

Provides cuts, color, wet shaves, beard maintenance, and more in a chic atmosphere in historic Litchfield.

Best Kept Secret

1^st Place: Byrde + the b

A full-service luxury salon, shop, and art gallery led by Emmy-award winning stylist, Scott Bond in the heart of Litchfield.

Brows

3. The Spa at Litchfield Hills

Offers eyebrow tints, brow design and shaping, and henna.

Campground

2. Cozy Hills Campground

Bring your own tent, trailer, motor home, or rent one of their RVs or cabins.

Clothing Shop – Men’s

3. R. Derwin

Offering a men’s section that includes European sportswear and a broad selection of American-made clothing.

Clothing Shop Women’s

3. Workshop Inc.

Workshop Inc. sells sophisticated and diversified women’s apparel and accessories.

Dance Studio

2. Sparkle & Shine Dance

SASD offers classes in acrobatics, jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, and more.

Dentist

2. Litchfield Dental Associates – Dr. Steven Sideris

Dr. Sideris prides himself on making sure that his patients have a great dental experience.

Eyelashes

2. The Spa at Litchfield Hills

The Spa at Litchfield Hills offers voluminous, thick, natural looking lash extensions.

Facials

1^st Place: The Spa at Litchfield Hills

Full-service day spa and salon with world-class treatments including luxe manicures and pedicures, skin care, massages, energy cleansing treatments, hair care, and spa and bridal packages. The Spa at Litchfield Hills offers voluminous, thick, natural looking lash extensions, waxing, facials, hair, spa, and nails. The place to be pampered, offering standard manicures/pedicures, the Glow, the Softie, the Spa, and the Luxe. Celebrity favorite treatments include their popular Fire & Ice Facial.

Farmers Market

3. Litchfield Hills Fresh Farm Market

Supports Connecticut artisans through selling sustainable locally grown produce and products.

Financial Advisor

1st Place: Cailyn Paradise – Edward Jones

Cailyn primarily focuses on helping retired individuals and families manage the complexities that come with wealth.

Fitness Studio or Gym

2. Litchfield Hills Fitness

Full service gym offering fitness classes, personal training, small group training, and more.

Florist

2. Bantam Blooms

This shop has provided expertly crafted, fresh, and affordable premium floral arrangements and gift baskets.

Hair Salon

1^st Place: The Spa at Litchfield Hills

3. DPZ North

Prescribes the service best fit for you from classic to trendy and everything in between.

Hardware Store

1^st Place: Ace Hardware of Litchfield

Ace Hardware have been in business for almost 40 year and is family owned. They pride themselves in being more than your typical hardware store—they have an extensive bbq section, a gift shop full of products made by other small and local businesses, and power equipment and rental departments.

Hiking Spot

2. White Memorial Conservation Center

White Memorial offers over 40 miles of trails that cover various habitats and are open to non- motorized recreation.

Historical Location

1^st Place: Topsmead State Forest

Nestled in the Litchfield Hills, Topsmead State Forest remains a precious piece of a past era with fine craftsmanship and understated wealth evident throughout the former summer estate of Miss Edith Morton Chase.

Kids Art or Music Classes

3. Litchfield Music Center

Provides a relaxing and welcoming environment to learn in and a audio recording studio.

Kitchen Store

3. CP Farmhouse

A family-run small business that features a wide variety of Amish-made furniture and country farmhouse home decor.

Library

3. Oliver Wolcott Library

Provides services, materials, programs, and facilities that creates lifelong learning and a welcoming environment.

Manicure/Pedicure

1^st Place: The Spa at Litchfield Hills

Museum

1^st Place: White Memorial Conservation Center

A 501(c)(4) organization, dedicated to protecting its forests and countryside, and offers countless trails and paths for visitors to explore. White Memorial offers over 40 miles of trails that cover various habitats and are open to non- motorized recreation, as well as a glimpse into the natural diversity found throughout the wildlife sanctuary.

Opthomologist/Optometrist

1^st Place: Eyes on Litchfield

Dr. Tommasina practices full scope optometry and is TPA and DPA certified. She relocated to Litchfield in 2013 from Michigan where she had six other optometric practices.

Pet Boarding

3. Katalyst Kennel

Each kennel consists of a private indoor and outdoor suite with an oversized outdoor space.

Pet Store/Boutique

2. Litchfield Pet Supply

Natural pet food, treats, and supplements available at this mainstay pet store.

Photographer – Portraits

1^st Place: Lindsey Victoria Photography

Lindsey Turner specializes in branding for businesses and professionals, family and in-home newborns, and fine art school portraits.

2. Nutmeg Photography

Terry and Melissa focus on newborn, children, and family photography.

Photographer – Weddings

2. Nutmeg Photography

Fun-loving and skilled photographers provide the finest in photography services.

School – Preschool/Daycare

3. School on the Green

Parent-cooperative preschool offers a flexible program with an enriching learning environment.

School – Private Grades K-8

3. Litchfield Montessori School

Nurturing the child’s love of learning, preserving the child’s sense of wonder, encouraging independence and fostering respect for our world’s social and cultural diversity.