Doubletree Hotel Norwalk, which has eight floors and 265 rooms, is on the outskirts of the town of Norwalk, a three-minute drive east of Darien. Leisure facilities at the hotel include a 24-hour gym and indoor heated swimming pool. The on-site Saffire restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves dishes like butternut squash bisque, chicken pot pie and barbecue babyback ribs. A five-minute drive from the hotel, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk features loggerhead sea turtles, seahorses and sand tiger sharks.
A seven-minute drive west of Darien and set on the eastern edge of Stamford, Americas Best Value Inn Stamford includes wireless Internet, parking and continental breakfast in the rates for its 95 rooms. There's an on-site restaurant, Rio Mexico, and a varied choice of dining options within a few minutes' drive. These include Giovanni's Steak House, Smokey Joe's BBQ and Brasita's, serving authentic Spanish cuisine. The 80-acre Stamford Museum & Nature Center, with a working farm, an otter pond and nature trails, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Housed in a modern six-story building with 86 rooms, the Amsterdam Hotel in Stamford is a 10-minute drive from Darien. The hotel provides continental breakfast, and Stamford has a varied selection of dining options within a 10-minute walk. These include the Villa Italia Ristorante, Myrna's, offering dishes from Lebanon, and a branch of Morton's The Steakhouse. A six-minute drive from the hotel and overlooking Long Island Sound, Cove Island Park includes two sandy beaches, fishing spots and hiking and biking trails.
A 10-minute drive from Darien and set in a 10-story building featuring contemporary architecture, the Holiday Inn Stamford-Downtown has 379 rooms over 14 floors. The hotel has a fitness center and an indoor pool. The on-site 700 On Main Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves an American menu. Dining alternatives nearby include the Telluride, serving a fine-dining menu with dishes from around the world, Fu Ji Japanese-Chinese restaurant and the Barcelona Restaurant & Winebar, serving Spanish cuisine.
