Niantic Public House and Brewery

Relaxed brewpub with good, a good attitude and friendly staff. A little hidden in a strip mall but worth the investment to locate. Worth the visit just for the murals.

Loved it. Great atmosphere. Good beer.

Niantic Public House & Brewery: Solid Beer, Great Vibe, but the Bar Setup Needs Help

Final stop—or technically, our first—on our Niantic-to-Mystic beer crawl was Niantic Public House & Brewery, conveniently located near our Airbnb. The town was buzzing with tourists, and we caught the tail end of a local car show just up the street. The scene had great small-town energy, and live music was just setting up when we arrived. Bonus points for easy parking behind the building.

The space has a cool, industrial vibe with bold murals from local artist Jacob Cullers giving it some character. The taproom itself is big, open, and welcoming, with plenty of seating at the bar and throughout the space. The décor isn’t exactly cohesive, but it has personality—and for a laid-back beer hang, that works.

We tried Mystery of Juiceboxin’, a super juicy New England IPA brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops (juiceheads, this one's for you), and D.S.D., a stronger, bolder Imperial IPA. Both were solid pours and easy to enjoy. I ended up going back for a second, which—if you’ve read any of my brewery reviews—you’ll know is my personal barometer for whether a place is worth the stop.

The vibe here is clearly geared toward community—super family-friendly, casual, and unpretentious. The live music was a nice touch too. J.C. Revival, a local duo, was playing that afternoon and added just the right amount of energy without overwhelming the space.

Now… let’s talk about the service.

The bartenders themselves were friendly, upbeat, and doing their best—but the layout of the bar is absolutely killing them. Glassware is at the front, taps and sinks are in the back, and it felt like they were in a constant loop just trying to fulfill basic orders. Even on a slow day, service was sluggish simply because of how inefficient the setup is. You could see how hard they were working, but the system they’re working within just doesn’t make sense.

A bar remodel focused on flow and function would go a long way here—not just to improve speed, but to take some pressure off the staff, who really were trying their best.

Bottom line: The beer is worth the visit, the space has charm, and the energy is welcoming. But if you go, pack a little patience. Here's hoping they invest in a more functional bar setup—because with better service speed, this place could be a standout.

We’ve frequently the public house since it opened so many years ago. It is a welcoming space with energetic and friendly staff service good beer.

Small brewery and tap room.
Has a cool vibe
Beers were ok

Friendly staff and great beer!

Loud music, unfriendly beertender, it was a ghost town. The beer is okay we have been a few times but turn down your crappy music and get a better attitude and maybe you might have more customers

Second time we're here!

We love Niantic Public House and Brewery. The drinks are great, bartenders are super friendly, and we always have a good time there.

A nice, local brew house with a good selection of local beers, seltzers, ciders, and a couple wines. The inside has a number of murals that liven up an otherwise utilitarian space.

Not the place to be on a hot summer's day, less sticky outside than in. Beer selection could be better.

Fun place and environment, bad beers and ciders

Great beer and friendly, helpful staff.

The Dullahan was great

Fun place and environment, bad beers and ciders