Mystic Pizza — knot so loud

When you drive through Downtown Mystic, most often you’ll see someone or a group taking a selfie photo under the Mystic Pizza sign. The pizza parlor is the inspiration for the romantic-comedy movie, Mystic Pizza. It was filmed in Mystic, CT and the surrounding areas in 1987-88.

Mystic Pizza is a romantic-comedy movie following the lives of three young women (starring Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor) who work at Mystic Pizza as waitresses. It also follows their romantic adventures. The screenwriter was inspired when she visited Mystic Pizza to use it in the movie.

When I visited Mystic for the first time in the summer of 2010, before I officially moved here, I couldn’t help but notice the amount of people taking pictures at Mystic Pizza! This is when I learned of the movie. I had never seen the movie but when I moved here, I finally watched it. Now it is one of my favorites that I watch on repeat!

Many do not realize that the pizza parlor in Downtown Mystic wasn’t the one used in the movie. The restaurant couldn’t afford to close for the duration of the filming so they created a fictional Mystic Pizza set in Stonington. After the movie was released, the original Mystic Pizza underwent a renovation to be similar to the one in the movie. If you do go for a slice of heaven, the restaurant is filled of memorabilia of still photos, posters, etc on the walls with the movie showing on all TV’s. Mystic Pizza also offers merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, stickers, glasses and more. At the time of the movie release, Mystic Pizza couldn’t keep up with the demand so a second location opened in North Stonington in 1991. Mystic Pizza II is at 211 Providence New London Turnpike, North Stonington. The menus are very similar using the same family ingredients for their pizzas. Mystic Pizza II has a more low key setting while Mystic Pizza is mostly filled with visitors who visit Mystic. Either location is worthwhile to check out and the pizza is really good!!

I do suggest that you watch the movie first before you take the self guided tour around the Mystic region. It’s fun to see the filming locations! Do keep in mind that some are private residences, so please respect the homeowners and do not trespass on their properties.

In Mystic, Connecticut:

56 W Main Street - The original Mystic Pizza (not filmed in movie, but inspired it).
Drawbridge - A couple scenes were filmed here. One scene is when Bill and Jojo exchanged words about the fishing boat’s rename (which was an insult to Jojo). The second scene shows Charlie driving over the drawbridge with Daisy on the way to their first date.
75 Greenmanville Ave - The planetarium where Kat worked. It is the Mystic Seaport’s Treworgy Planetarium. It requires a museum admission to enter the planetarium.
105 Greenmanville Ave - The pizza critic scene was filmed in the tavern at Latitude 41 Restaurant. (UPDATED 6/5/2023: Latitude 41 is no longer there, it has been demolished).

*Mystic Pizza [the inspiration] - 56 W Main St*

*Drawbridge [a couple scenes filmed here] - Downtown Mystic*

*Planetarium at Mystic Seaport Museum [Kat’s workplace] - 75 Greenmanville Ave*

*Latitude 41 [interior shots] - 105 Greenmanville Ave*

In Stonington, Connecticut:

72 Water Street - The fictional Mystic Pizza location was filmed here. It currently is the home of New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS).
66 Water Street (behind NESS) - The interior shots of ‘Mystic Harbor Yacht Club’ where Charlie and Daisy had their first date. It is currently the Breakwater restaurant.
Cannon Square Park - A brief scene was shown here when Kat delivered a pizza to her mom.
53 Church Street - The home of Charlie Windsor (Daisy’s boyfriend). It currently is a private residence. You can see the house from the sidewalk.
201 North Main Street - 'Peg Leg Pub’ where Daisy met Charlie.
North Main Street x Pequot Trail - The hitchhiking scene. Charlie and Daisy were filmed here hitchhiking when Charlie’s car had a flat tire.

*NESS [Mystic Pizza restaurant] - 72 Water St*

*Breakwater [Mystic Harbor Yacht Club] - 66 Water St*

*Cannon Square [Kat delivering pizza] - Stonington*

*Private residence [Charlie Windsor’s family home] - 53 Church St*

*Private property [Peg Leg Pub] - 201 N Main St*

*Pequot Trail [car breakdown/hitchhiking scene] - Pequot Trail x N Main St*

In Pawcatuck, Connecticut:

185 & 187 Mechanic Street - the homes of Daisy, Kat and Jojo. Both are currently private residences. You can view the home from the sidewalk or drive-by. The interior scenes of bedrooms/second floor were filmed at 17 Broadway Ext, Mystic (also a private residence).
Fishing docks - Bill’s work place was filmed in one of the marinas off Mechanic Street, right across from the houses.

*Private residence [one of the girls home] - 185 Mechanic St*

*Private residence [the other girls’ home] - 187 Mechanic St*

*Marina [Bill’s workplace] - Mechanic St*

In Noank, Connecticut (GPS might use Groton for city):

15 Riverside Ave - Ferriera Lobsters, the workplace of Daisy and Kat’s mom. It is the location of Ford’s Lobsters.
87 Front Street - The movie opened with the exterior of the church where Bill and Jojo’s wedding took place. It currently is a private residence. You will notice that the steeple is gone. The interior scenes were filmed at 780 State Pier Rd, New London (formerly a church, now is a homeless shelter).

*Ford’s Lobster [Ferriera Lobsters] - 15 Riverside Ave*

*Private residence [church] - 87 Front St*

In Westerly, Rhode Island:

Breen Street - Tim Travers’ home. The house filmed in the movie has been demolished.
4 Water’s Edge Road - Tim Travers’ client home that he was renovating. It is a private residence, which you can see from the road.
60 Ocean View Highway - The country club where Charlie had dinner with his sister (Daisy mistook the sister as a date). It is the location of Misquamicut Club.

*Private residence [Tim’s client home he was renovating] - 4 Water’s Edge Rd*

*Misquamicut Club [country club] - 60 Ocean View Highway*

The Mystic area has been in a few movies. A few Hallmark holiday movies were filmed in Mystic and Stonington as well other locations across the Nutmeg State. Meryl Streep and Tommy Jones filmed a movie Hope Springs (2012) in Stonington, CT. The Cannon Square was frequently shown in Hope Springs, as well the Breakwater restaurant. Mystic Pizza movie is one of the reasons why visitors come to Mystic! It’s amazing that 30+ years later, the movie is still popular. Happy hunting and don’t forget to get a slice of heaven!