Clinton, Massachusetts, is a Worcester County town of approximately 14,000 residents situated along the South Branch of the Nashua River at the northern end of the Wachusett Reservoir — a compact former mill town whose identity was forged in the 19th century by the carpet and textile industries that once made it one of the most prosperous industrial communities in central Massachusetts, and whose handsome downtown historic district of brick commercial blocks, civic buildings, and Victorian-era architecture stands as a testament to that industrial golden age. Incorporated as a town in 1850 from portions of Lancaster, Clinton developed rapidly around the Lancaster Mills carpet complex — for a time one of the largest carpet factories in the world — and the town’s working-class, immigrant-rooted character has persisted through successive economic transformations into the present day, giving Clinton a genuine community texture that many larger and wealthier neighbors lack. The Clinton Historical Society at 210 Church Street is the keeper of Clinton’s civic memory — open Saturdays from 9 AM, described as a hidden gem and a terrific local resource with super friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff and a surprising array of artifacts, where visitors can obtain family information and attend lectures on the immigrant communities that shaped the town. The Downtown Clinton Historic District anchors the town’s remarkable Victorian streetscape, and Central Park at 242 Church Street sits at its heart — a beautifully maintained small urban green space described as a very small but beautiful and well-maintained green space in the middle of the city, featuring the 1890 Foster Fountain, a Spanish-American War Veterans memorial, and well-manicured grounds that reward a peaceful midday visit. The Icon Museum and Study Center at 203 Union Street is Clinton’s most nationally significant and most universally praised cultural institution — open Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM with a collection of Russian, Greek, and Byzantine-era icons spanning three floors, ancient chants and choral works playing throughout the museum, a gorgeous architectural and decorative design, a lovely Tea Room with an illuminated ceiling and three restored jail cells available for research, docents described as lovely, and an overall quality described as hard to explain how a museum could delight so many senses and sensibilities — a cultural wonder described by one visitor as an absolute hidden gem where time and money and love invested shows, and by another as stunning and beautiful iconography that is not to be missed.
Clinton’s outdoor landscape is defined above all by the Wachusett Reservoir that flanks its eastern and southern borders — one of the largest reservoirs in New England and a source of drinking water for metropolitan Boston whose presence has limited development and created extraordinary open water and trail access for Clinton residents and visitors alike. The Train Tunnel on Boylston Street is Clinton’s most uniquely atmospheric and historically fascinating outdoor destination — a remnant of the Central Massachusetts Railroad built in 1903 as part of the re-routing required when the Wachusett Reservoir submerged earlier sections of track, described as a cool and creepy old abandoned railroad tunnel where visitors bring flashlights and boots to walk through standing water at the east end across a fashioned boardwalk of boards and branches, with lots of graffiti on the walls adding interest to the landmark, an overall creepy vibe described as neat and worth researching the history before going, and parking conveniently available at the Wachusett Dam just a five-minute walk up the road. The North Dike — Wachusett Reservoir Dike Path in adjacent Lancaster is Clinton’s most breathtakingly scenic everyday walking destination — described as probably one of the most beautiful locations in the area with incredible views, great open space for walking and picnicking, and the opportunity to watch people fishing peacefully in chairs as the sun begins to set — an experience described as very beautiful and one of the best places to come just as the light changes over the water. Sterling Street Brewery at 175 Sterling Street doubles as both a Clinton dining and outdoor destination — open Tuesday through Sunday from noon or 3 PM with a spacious, clean interior, board games, dog-friendly outdoor seating, tater kegs described as a must-try, live music and food trucks on weekends, a sour beer called the Sweet Cecilia described as one of the best sour beers one visitor had ever tasted, a solid variety of IPAs and pale ales, a college bar feel with better beer, and an atmosphere described as a great place to gather with friends — a gem tucked away by the train tracks that rewards discovery.
Clinton’s dining scene is remarkable for a town of its size, anchored by an exceptional High Street restaurant corridor and enriched by a growing Brazilian community that has brought some of the most authentic and enthusiastically reviewed food in the region. Clíntons Bar & Grille at 27 High Street is Clinton’s most acclaimed and comprehensive restaurant — open daily from 11:30 AM with potato chip encrusted haddock over asparagus risotto described as perfectly balanced, a prime ribeye described as better than ever — charred outside, juicy and tender inside — chicken parm described as a perfect 10, butternut squash ravioli described as enjoyed, oysters described as sweet and briny, lobster bisque described as full of chunks of succulent lobster in a buttery and creamy base, a filet cooked perfectly with a wine reduction described as absolutely delightful, server Jamie described as attentive, friendly, and professional without being intrusive, and an overall quality described as the best restaurant around with top-notch taste and great value for money. Delícias da Nossa Terra at 9 Sterling Street is Clinton’s most deeply loved and most personally moving restaurant — open most days from 11:30 AM with a buffet-by-weight and Brazilian barbecue counter where Picanha is described as always nice and top notch, the pizza and sweet and savory pastéis described as absolutely delicious and tasting like home by Brazilian reviewers, cook Luzia described as a sweetheart who is super attentive, welcoming, and passionate about what she does, Fabiana described as so warm, kind, and welcoming that you can tell she really loves what she does and cares about every single person who walks through the door, and an overall atmosphere described as family-like and affordable and clean and quiet — a restaurant described as a great find where everything is made with love and care and where it truly feels like visiting a friend’s kitchen back in Brazil. The Vegan Nest Café at 54 High Street rounds out Clinton’s dining picture as its most surprising and joyfully disruptive culinary destination — open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 7 AM, a fully vegan brunch spot described as amazing by omnivores and vegans alike, the vegan bacon egg and cheese sandwich on sourdough prompting a skeptical non-vegan to declare it crack and want another, pecan waffles described as blowing minds, eggless eggs described as the first that truly tasted like a real egg by a vegetarian who thought they could never give up eggs, the chicken empanada special described as so so good, house-made vegan meats described as delicious, and an overall quality described as one of the best vegan omelet experiences after eight or nine years of veganism — a hidden gem in Clinton that converts skeptics and delights believers in equal measure.
