Family-Owned on Morris Cove

Our Story

More Than a Venue.
A Family Tradition.

For generations, Amarante’s Sea Cliff has welcomed families, friends, and neighbors to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments along the shores of Morris Cove.

Discover Our History Meet Our Team

A place where generations gather.

A Place Where Memories Begin

Some Places Are Remembered
for How They Make You Feel

Amarante’s Sea Cliff has always been a place where people feel welcomed. It is where couples begin their marriages, families mark important milestones, organizations bring their communities together, and friends return each summer to enjoy the waterfront.

Rooted in Family

Amarante’s is shaped by generations of family involvement, personal care, and pride in every celebration held here.

Known for Hospitality

Guests are welcomed with warmth, thoughtful service, and the feeling that their occasion truly matters.

Connected to the Cove

Our waterfront setting is part of the experience, connecting every gathering to the beauty and history of Morris Cove.

“Our setting may bring people through the doors, but the way they feel here is what brings them back.”

Our History

A Waterfront Tradition
More Than a Century in the Making

Long before it became Amarante’s Sea Cliff, this shoreline property was already a gathering place. Its history has always centered on food, music, celebration, and the beauty of Long Island Sound.

The 1920s

Before Amarante’s

A Beloved Shoreline Gathering Place

During the Roaring Twenties, guests arrived by trolley and chauffeur-driven cars to enjoy dinner, dancing, and evenings overlooking Long Island Sound.

Even during Prohibition, The Inn became home to a hidden speakeasy, adding another memorable chapter to the property’s colorful history.

1962

The Amarante Family Story Begins

Andy “Sonny” Amarante Purchases the Sea Cliff

After serving in the United States Navy and graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven, Sonny dreamed of creating more than a restaurant.

He wanted to build a place where people could gather and celebrate life’s greatest milestones.

The Following
Decades

A Tradition Takes Root

A Dream Becomes Part of the Community

Through hard work, memorable food, and genuine hospitality, Sonny’s dream became reality. As families celebrated weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, Amarante’s Sea Cliff became woven into the fabric of Connecticut’s shoreline community.

Today

The Tradition Continues

The Same Family Values, a New Generation

More than six decades later, the Amarante family continues to welcome guests with the same commitment to food, service, community, and meaningful celebration that began with Sonny’s original vision.

The Next Generation

Three Sisters Carrying
the Tradition Forward

Today, the Amarante family tradition continues through Lisa, Mary, and Teresa. Each sister contributes her own talents while sharing the same commitment to family, hospitality, and the waterfront property they have known throughout their lives.

President

Lisa Standish

As president, Lisa helps guide Amarante’s Sea Cliff while protecting the family values at the heart of the business. Her leadership ensures the venue continues to grow without losing the personal hospitality that has defined it for generations.

Bar Manager

Mary Brushett

Mary oversees the bar experience with a focus on welcoming service and memorable celebrations. From wedding receptions to summer evenings at The Deck, she helps create the relaxed, hospitable atmosphere guests associate with Amarante’s.

Property Aesthetics & Event Styling

Teresa Garcaeu

Teresa helps shape how the property looks and feels. From greenery and seasonal flowers to centerpieces and event details, her creative eye brings warmth, beauty, and thoughtful character to the grounds and celebration spaces.

Different roles. One family. One shared commitment to making every guest feel at home.

Meet the Entire Team

Proud to be part of the Morris Cove community.

Community Roots

Deeply Connected to Morris Cove

Long before Amarante’s Sea Cliff became a destination for weddings and celebrations, this property was part of the fabric of Morris Cove. Generations of families have gathered here to mark life’s greatest milestones.

Many of those same families continue to return today, bringing their children, grandchildren, and friends to experience the hospitality and waterfront setting they remember.

We are proud to support local organizations, work alongside talented Connecticut businesses and vendors, and welcome guests from near and far to discover our shoreline community.

Local Organizations

Connecticut Vendors

Generations of Families

New Haven’s Shoreline

Explore the History of Morris Cove

What We Believe

The Values Behind
Every Celebration

Our venue has changed and grown over the years. However, the values guiding the way we welcome, serve, and celebrate with our guests have remained the same.

Hospitality Comes First

Every guest deserves to feel genuinely welcomed from the moment they arrive until the celebration comes to an end.

A Beautiful Setting Matters

The shoreline, changing light, and views across Morris Cove give every gathering a naturally memorable backdrop.

Great Food Brings People Together

Every menu is thoughtfully prepared because meaningful celebrations deserve memorable food shared around the table.

Every Event Is Personal

No two celebrations are exactly alike. Our team listens, collaborates, and helps shape an experience around each host.

These values began with one family’s vision—and they continue in every guest we welcome today.

Gather by the Water

A Place for Every
Kind of Celebration

Although every gathering is different, they all share something important: people coming together to create a memory worth keeping.

Weddings

Waterfront ceremonies, cocktail hours, chef-prepared menus, and elegant receptions in The Grand Ballroom or The Inn.

Explore Weddings →

Private Celebrations

Showers, birthdays, anniversaries, quinceañeras, holiday parties, and other milestones made more memorable by the waterfront.

Explore Private Events →

Corporate & Community Events

Meetings, conferences, fundraisers, galas, employee celebrations, and community gatherings supported by attentive service.

Explore Corporate Events →

The Deck

Seasonal waterfront dining with coastal favorites, cocktails, live entertainment, and summer sunsets overlooking Morris Cove.

Visit The Deck →

Looking Ahead

Proud of Our Past.
Excited for What Comes Next.

Our history gives Amarante’s Sea Cliff its character, but every new gathering keeps the story moving forward. Each celebration brings new people, new traditions, and new memories to the waterfront.

As the next generation carries the family business forward, our purpose remains simple: care for this special place and continue welcoming people during the moments that matter most.

Every New Chapter

Every wedding.

Every anniversary.

Every graduation.

Every community milestone.

Every sunset dinner.

Every celebration.

Each one becomes another page in the story of Amarante’s Sea Cliff.

Become Part of Our Story

We’d Love to Welcome You to the Waterfront

Whether you are planning a waterfront wedding, a milestone celebration, a community gathering, or your next corporate event, we would be honored to help make it memorable.

Come walk the property, explore the event spaces, meet our team, and discover why generations of families have celebrated at Amarante’s Sea Cliff.

Schedule a Private Tour Meet the Team

Amarante’s Sea Cliff

62 Cove Street, New Haven, Connecticut
203-467-2531 · events@amarantes.com